THE MATTHEW COWLEY SOCIETY: BENEFITING STUDENTS AND PROGRAMS AT BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY HAWAII

THE MATTHEW COWLEY SOCIETY: BENEFITING STUDENTS AND PROGRAMS AT BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY HAWAII

ELDER MATTHEW COWLEY was a man of faith, beloved by those he served. In New Zealand he is still referred to by the Maori title tumuaki, meaning revered leader. He spent his life ministering to the people of Polynesia and elsewhere. Elder Cowley had vision, and miracles followed. He was a simple, uncomplicated, ordinary, wonderful man, said a longtime friend. Of all the men I have ever known, I have never known one with more faith. The Matthew Cowley Society recognizes those who, like its namesake, bless the people of Polynesia and Asia. Brigham Young University Hawaii is focused on serving students from the Pacific Rim. The society consists of those who support the university through a deferred-gift arrangement (a will, trust, gift annuity, life insurance policy, or retirement account). THE MATTHEW COWLEY SOCIETY 3

THE LIFE AND LEGACY of Matthew Cowley began in Preston, Idaho, in 1897. He was reared in Salt Lake City, and at age 16 he received a call from President Joseph F. Smith to serve a mission in New Zealand. This first mission lasted five years. Elder Cowley loved the Maori people and learned their language, becoming a great orator. As requested by President Heber J. Grant, he translated the scriptures into Maori. After returning home he married and then graduated from law school. In 1938 he was asked to return to New Zealand as the mission president a position he held for nearly eight years, serving through the end of World War II. In 1946, shortly after arriving back in Salt Lake City, he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by President George Albert Smith. As an apostle Elder Cowley presided over all missionary work in the Pacific. In this role he dedicated Hong Kong for the preaching of the gospel in 1949. His ministry lasted until 1953, when he died unexpectedly at age 56. More than 60 years after his death, his faith continues to inspire lives and build testimonies. 4 THE MATTHEW COWLEY SOCIETY

From this school, I ll tell you, will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good toward the establishment of peace internationally. President David O. McKay February 12, 1955 Church College of Hawaii Groundbreaking Address School of Prophecy AS A YOUNG APOSTLE in 1921, while visiting a Church-owned elementary school in Laie, David O. McKay felt impressed that the Church needed an institution of higher learning in Hawaii. This feeling continued to grow: After the Oahu Stake was organized in 1935, frequent mention was made of the need of a church high school and college in Hawaii. President McKay [had] encouraged the stake and mission leaders in laying plans for the establishment of a church school at Laie.... After the war, the subject was raised again and often became the theme of discussions with visiting Brethren, particularly Elder Matthew Cowley, who was a warm supporter of the idea.* When he became president of the Church, David O. McKay quickly moved the initiative forward. In 1955, 14 months after Elder Cowley passed away, President McKay returned to Laie and broke ground for what would become Brigham Young University Hawaii. During his address he boldly prophesied that the school would produce men and women who will be leaders leaders not only on this island but everywhere.... From this school, I ll tell you, will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good toward the establishment of peace internationally. Over the following six decades BYU Hawaii has become a preeminent international center of learning in the Pacific. In addition to gaining the secular knowledge and skills in their chosen disciplines, BYU Hawaii students receive an education of the heart by developing the spirit, character, and integrity that prepares them to be lifelong learners, moral leaders, and builders in the kingdom of God. *Edward L. Clissold, quoted in Reuben D. Law, The Founding and Early Development of the Church College of Hawaii (St. George, UT: Dixie College Press, 1972), 37. THE MATTHEW COWLEY SOCIETY 7

A Student Focus ONE OF THE KEY components of accomplishing Brigham Young University Hawaii s prophetic mission has always been bringing together a diverse population of students from more than 70 countries mainly in Asia and the Pacific Islands to live, study, and work in a Christ-centered laboratory of intercultural leadership development. This diverse student body results in a broad spectrum of financial need. Donor-funded student aid programs provide educational opportunities and enhance the BYU Hawaii experience for hundreds of students each year. The university s primary vehicle for student aid is I-WORK, a unique program that provides international students with tuition, room, and board through employment opportunities, grants, and forgivable loans. Without this assistance, many students would be unable to attend BYU Hawaii. Indeed, the students who benefit most from the life-changing experience of studying at BYU Hawaii are often those who depend on the assistance of the donor-funded I-WORK program. 8 THE MATTHEW COWLEY SOCIETY

GIVING IS A MANIFESTATION OF A GENEROUS HEART. Those who choose to give to Brigham Young University Hawaii provide scholarships, enhance curricula, and help prepare students to return to their home regions and succeed. Deferred gifts are particularly important to BYU Hawaii because they provide much-needed resources and allow administrators and trustees to more specifically plan for the future. The Matthew Cowley Society emblem features the seed of the kauri tree, which is the largest tree in New Zealand and is considered by many local people to be wise and sacred due to its longevity. The kauri seed is a symbol of the potential, strength, and endurance of the support provided by members of the Cowley Society. Elder Matthew Cowley is sometimes compared to the great kauri tree, being called Matiu Kauri by the people of New Zealand out of deep respect for his faithful, compassionate service. Members of the Cowley Society continue the legacy of Elder Cowley by planting seeds through their deferred gifts, which grow to bless many lives. If you wish, professionals in Gift Planning Services at LDS Philanthropies will work with your financial and legal advisors to help you create a plan that meets your needs and blesses BYU Hawaii. These gift-planning services are offered at no charge to you. If you want to live well, get the spirit of giving. Do not ever forget the spirit of giving.... If you get that spirit, you will always be happy. Elder Matthew Cowley 10 THE MATTHEW COWLEY SOCIETY

An Invitation to You MEMBERSHIP in the Matthew Cowley Society is open to anyone who invests in the future of BYU Hawaii through a deferred gift. Members of the society regularly receive information on the progress of the university and are invited to society events. Society members know that their gifts will be gratefully received by the university and used as intended. There are no minimum donation amounts or fees required to belong to the society. Documentation of your plan, while not necessary for society membership, is greatly appreciated. We invite you to join the Matthew Cowley Society. If you have already put in place or are considering a deferred-gift arrangement (through a will, trust, gift annuity, life insurance policy, or retirement account) with BYU Hawaii as a beneficiary, please contact Gift Planning Services at LDS Philanthropies, a department of the Office of the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. LDS Philanthropies Gift Planning Services giftplanning@ldschurch.org 1-800-525-8074 give.lds.org ABOUT LDS PHILANTHROPIES Fundraising efforts for BYU Hawaii, including coordination of the Matthew Cowley Society, are conducted by LDS Philanthropies, the Church department that encourages and facilitates philanthropic support for programs and charities affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visit give.lds.org for more information. THE MATTHEW COWLEY SOCIETY 13

Aloha! THANK YOU for your interest in the Matthew Cowley Society. We feel gratitude and joy when we give to Brigham Young University Hawaii, and we know that your lives will be blessed for your support of the university and its wonderful students. The students at BYU Hawaii are exceptional, and we love them as our own children. They come from all over the world to learn and grow at BYU Hawaii, and they return home prepared to lift themselves and those around them. People helped us when we were students at the Church College of Hawaii (now BYU Hawaii), and now we are paying it forward to the next generation of students. These are exciting times for BYU Hawaii. The university is growing, and our deferred gifts are increasingly important because they allow administrators and trustees to better plan for the future. We encourage you to join the Matthew Cowley Society by making a deferred gift in support of BYU Hawaii. Please contact the giftplanning professionals at LDS Philanthropies to explore your options. Mahalo, Anna and Earl Cropper Chairs, Matthew Cowley Society 14 THE MATTHEW COWLEY SOCIETY

I feel that BYU Hawaii has an important role to play in the international Church as we prepare students who are able to serve with a spirit of love and peace. Your support of these students hastens the work of the university and helps build the kingdom one life at a time. John S. Tanner PRESIDENT OF BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY HAWAII 2015 Brigham Young University Hawaii. All rights reserved. Photos by Monique Saenz, BYU Hawaii. Historic photos, pages 3 and 4, courtesy of the Church History Library. Historic photo, page 7, courtesy of BYU Hawaii Archives. Fundraising efforts for BYU Hawaii, including the production of this brochure, are conducted by LDS Philanthropies, a Church department that encourages and facilitates philanthropic support for programs and charities affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (visit ldsp.org for more information).