On Tuesday, May 2 at 11:30 a.m. in the BYU-Idaho Center, Brett Crandall, public affairs director, will give his devotional address. He will center his message on the significance of truth from both a gospel perspective and in general.
With a journalistic background, Crandall values truth and wants to help students understand the information they consume and where it comes from to better discern fact from fiction.
“I wanted to talk about the importance of understanding where your information is coming from — not just news sources, but also when you’re studying the gospel and trying to understand some tough subjects,” Crandall said. “Where are you getting that information? Is it from a YouTuber, is it from an Instagram influencer or is it from a credible source?”
He also wanted to focus on seeking truth in a more profound manner because he wanted to share a message that would resonate with those who typically attend the weekly devotionals — 18-25-year-olds. He also posted a question in the devotional discussion board in which he encourages students to participate to be better prepared to receive his message.
Crandall also invites students to ponder who they speak with and where they go when in need of information. He recommends that those who turn to influencers rather than Church leaders ask themselves why they prioritize their trust in that way. Overall, though, he wants students to understand that knowing what is and isn’t a trustworthy source, regardless of the context, isn’t something that comes easily.
“It is not always easy to know what is a trustworthy source,” Crandall said. “You’re going to have to rely on following the prophet. You’re going to have to put in some effort and you’re going to have to rely on the Spirit.”
Crandall grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and served a mission for the Church in San Bernardino, California from 2005-2007. Upon graduating from BYU, he spent six years as a TV news reporter and meteorologist for Local News 8. He started working with BYU-Idaho in 2015 as the media relations manager. A year and a half ago, he began his current role in public affairs.
He and his wife have four children together ranging from 2 to 10 years old. He recently earned the Farmer Merchant Banquet Award for “Director of the Year.”