PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAYED BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAYED BEEN. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAYED BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAYED BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY. [APPLAUSE] >> WE WANT TO WELCOME OR GRADUATE, THEIR APPEARANCE, THEIR EXTENDED FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ON THIS HISTORIC DAY. WE LOOK SO FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SUCCEED IN YOUR CHOSEN PROFESSION BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IN SUR VER ADVICE TO CHRIST AND OTHERS. >> WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH OUR HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONSES TO ALL THE GRADUATES AND THEIR FAMILIES. >> HI, THIS IS PASTOR DAVID. I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. OUR DPRAD WAITS WILL GET USED TO HEARING THAT DAY BUT I WANTED TO SPRNLLY SAY DETERIORATION TO THE MOMS AND DADS, BROTHERS, AND SISTERS AND COMMUNITIES WHO ARE REPRESENTED HERE WHO HAVE COME NOT TO JUST SELL GRATE THE HARD WORK BUT HONESTLY, YOU. IT'S TAKEN THE ENTIRE VILLAGE TO SEE THIS GAP AND GOWN MOMENT. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING, THANK YOU FOR WORKING EXTRA HOURS, THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS, AND THE DEDICATION, ALL THE HARD WORK THAT'S GONE INTO SEEING THIS DAY COME INTO FRUITION. [APPLAUSE] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE PRESIDENT OF RIB RIB, JERRY FALWELL AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DONALD J. TRUMP. [APPLAUSE] [CHANTS OF SAY]. >> WOULD YOU REMAIN STANDING FOR AN OPENING WORD OF PRAYER. AND AFTER PRAYER PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANC AND OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM. OH, LORD OUR LORD HOW EXSLINT IS THY NAME IN ALL THE EARTH? WE STAND IN GREAT RESPECT OF YOUR NAME. THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE ALL NAMES. THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WE THANK YOU FOR THE SPECIAL GRADUATES. WE THANK YOU FOR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES, BOTH HERE AND ABROAD WHO OFFER THEIR SUPPORT FOR THESE SPECIAL GRADUATES. WE THANK YOU FOR LIBERTY UNIVERSITY WHO STRIVES DAILY TO DEVELOP CHRIS CENTERED MEN AND WOMEN WITH THE VOLUME, O KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS ESSENTIAL TO IMPACT THE WORLD. AN INSTITUTION THAT LOVES GOD, COUNTRY, AND THOSE SWORN TO DEFEND HER. BUT MOST OF ALL WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR DWRR OHL. O HOLY WORD AND THE PROMISES THEREIN. WE'RE THANKFUL FOR JOHN 3:16. FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON S, THE LORDEE SUGGESTION CHRIST, TO COME UPON THIS EARTH TO LIVE A SINLESS LIFE, TO DIE A CRUCIFI CRUCIFICTION TO OFFER DEATH AND SAL RATION TO WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD. FOR WHO SO EVER BELIEVE IN HIM WILL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVER LASTING LIFE. WE PRAY ARE YOU PLEASED WITH WHAT YOU HEAR AND WE PRAY IN YOUR NAME, IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS STANDS,ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INCAN I VISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [APPLAUSE] ♪ O SEYDOU SEE ♪ ♪ BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ WHITECOAT WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED ♪ ♪ AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST FWLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS ♪ THROUGH THE PERLIOUS FIGHT ♪ OV'R THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE ♪ ♪ THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE TOOPEW THROUGH THE NIGHT♪ ♪ THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ ♪ OH, SAY DOES THAT SPAR SPRANGINGED -- STAR SPRANGINGED BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ O'VR THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪ ♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪ [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, PLEASE BE SEATED. TODAY WE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR ONE OF OUR ALUMNI. LAST NIGHT WE HONORED WALLACE AND EALANOR TURNBULL WHO HAVE SERVED AS MISSIONONNERS TO HAITI AND HAVE PROVIDED YOU NUMEROUS SCHOLARSHIPS. DANIEL RECEIVED THE PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP AND HE CAME TO LIBERTY HE GRADUATED IN 2016 -- 2006 WITH A DEGREE IN LEADERSHIP. HE GREW UP IN HAITI. HE COFOUNDED BRIDGE CAPITAL, THE FIRST SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT FIRM IN HAITI WITH A GOAL OF CREATED 100,000 NEW JOBS BY THE YEAR 2020. ADDITIONALLY HE HAS BEEN A PROFESSOR OF PREP -- PREP ENTREPRENEURSHIP. IN MARCH 2016 HE PUBLISHED HIS FIRST BOOK. THE BELIEVES THE ONLY WAY TO END THE GLOBAL CYCLE OF POVERTY IT TO HE WILLPOWER TO MEET THEIR OWN FEDS PROFIT AMOUNT AND SUSTAINABLE. AS HE SAID POVERTY INCORPORATED NO ONE WANTS TO BE A BEGGAR FOR LIFE. LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP, DANIEL BELIEVES THAT JOBS, NOT GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS, ARE THE ONLY REAL PATHWAY OUT OF POVERTY. [APPLAUSE] >> HE HAS BECOME A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER CONSULTANT FOR HIS INTELLIGENCE, CHARACTER, AND UNPRECEDENTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WAS RECENTLY FEATURED IN FORBES MAGAZINE. HE IS RECOGNIZELY INTERNATIONALLY AS AN EXPIT ON ISSUES REGARDING THE ROLE OF BUSINESS IN ELIMINATING POVERTY ASK HAS SPOKEN IN OVER 15 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. WE'RE PROUD TODAY TO SAY THAT HE REPRESENTS LIBERTY UNIVERSITY IN ALL OF THESE PLACES. DANIEL, WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN PRESIDENT FALWELL AND ME HERE AT THE PODIUM. [APPLAUSE] HIS WORK AND TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO END POVERTY IN HIS HOME LAND THROUGH ENTREPRENEUR AM ENDEAVORS AND JOB CREATION. WITH THE POWER INVESTED IN ME THE DOCTORATE OF BUSINESS IS HEREBY CONFERRED WITH ALL THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES THERE UNTO. [APPLAUSE] >> I WANT TO WELCOME LU PRAISE. THEY WERE THE GROUP FROM LIBERTY WHO PERFORMED AT THE WASHINGTON CATHEDRAL AT THE INAUGURATION, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO PERFORM THE SAME NUMBER. BUT I DON'T SEE THEM. THERE THEY ARE. ALL RIGHT? [LAUGHTER] >> OK. IT'S ALL YOURS. FORD >> AT THIS TIME I WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU AND I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME IN WELCOMING TO THE PODIUM OF THE PRESIDENT OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, JERRY FALWELL. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO OFFICIALLY WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO LIBERTY UNIVERSITY'S 44th ANNUAL COMMENCEMENTS EXERCISES. APOLOGIZE FOR THE COMPUTER GLITCH. BUT THAT'S TECHNOLOGY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. TODAY WE'LL CONFER NEARLY 19,000 DEGREES AND MAKE HISTORY BY WELCOMING A SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT TO CAMPUS. [APPLAUSE] >> THIS IS BY FAR THE LARGEST ATTENDANCE WE'VE EVER HAD AT COMMENCEMENT. OUR PREVIOUS RECORD WAS AROUND 38 THOWRK. TODAY THEY TELL ME WE HAVE OVER 50,000. [APPLAUSE] >> THIS IS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE WHEN PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH -- THIS THE ONLY THE SECOND TIME A SITTING PRESIDENT HAS SPOKEN AT LIBERTY. GEORGE H.W. BUSH WAS OUR SPEAKER ON MAY 12, 1990. BUT NORTE DAME HAS HAD A TRADITION -- THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTE DAME HAS HAD A INTEREST DIG THE LAST FEW GENERATIONS TO HAVE THE SITTING PRESIDENT -- OR THE NEW PRESIDENT TO DELIVER HIS FIRST COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT NORTE DAME. WE'VE ALWAYS RESPECTED AND ADMIRED NORTE DAME UNIVERSITY. IN FACT, FROM OUR VERY BEGINNINGS, WE ASPIRED TO BE FOR EVANGELICAL YOUNG PEOPLE WHAT NORTE DAME IS FOR CATHOLIC YOUNG PEOPLE. I'M PROUD TO SAY TODAY THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CHOSE TO DELIVER HIS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, NOT AT NORTE DAME, BUT AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. [APPLAUSE] >> I WANT TO BEGIN BY OUR GUESTS OF HONOR. THE CLASS OF 2017. WOULD ALL OF OUR GRADUATES PLEASE STAND. [APPLAUSE] >> WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU AND THANK GOD FOR EACH ONE OF YOU. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING. DO NOT TAKE THIS ACHIEVEMENT LIGHTLY. YOU HAVE EARNED THIS HONOR. YOUR YEARS OF HARD WORK, SACRIFICE, AND DEDICATION HAVE MADE THIS DAY A REALITY. HAD HAS BEEN A GENUINE PRIVILEGE FR ME AND ALL THE FACULTY AND STAFF TO SERVE AND YOU TO BE PART OF YOUR LIVES. CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES, YOU MAY BE SEATED. [APPLAUSE] 4,96 #- MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2017 ARE GRADUATED HONORS, 114 7 ARE GRADUATED WITH A PERFECT 4.0 GPA. I KNOW HOW MUCH FIRST HAND HOW MUCH WORK, DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE WAS REQUIRED FOR YOU TO ACHIEVE SO MUCH AND I SALUTE YOU FOR THIS INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. ONLINE STUDENTS REPRESENT 85 PERCENT OF THIS YEAR'S GRADUATING CLASS. [APPLAUSE] YOU ARE A PICTURE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND A PICTURE OF THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN AMERICA. YOU DID WHAT YOU NEEDED AND ORDERED TO GET A JOB OR START A FAMILY, AND THEN YOU WANTED TO GO FURTHER SO YOU TOOK CLASSES ONLINE AT NIGHT, ON THE WEEKENDS, AFTER THE KIDS WENT TO BED. YOU WORKED HARD. YOU STUDIED HARD. YOU TURNED YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITY AND YOU HAVE MUCH TO BE PROUD OF TODAY. AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO FIVE EMPTY CHAIRS ON THE FRONT ROW DRAPED IN REGALIA. WE'RE WARGD POSTHUMOUS GRADUATES TO THE FOJ PERSONS -- I'M SORRY POSTHUMOUS DEGREES. DORIS WALKER. RICHARD FORTNER, SKYLER SPENCER. BENJAMI ANYMORE WORTHINGTON, AND TIMOTHY ADAMS. WOULD THE FAMILIES PLEASE STAND. [APPLAUSE] FAMILY MEMBERS, FEW HERE CAN IMAGINE THE PAIN THAT YOU FEEL BUT TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT YOUR LIBERTY FAMILY IS PRAYING FOR YOU. WE THANK GOD FOR THE LEGACY OF YOUR LOVED ONES AND THE LIVES THEY'VE TOUCHED. THIS WEEK IS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF MY FATHER'S SUDDEN PASSING IN HIS OFFICE AS AGE 73. MY FATHER WOULD FIND A WAY TO WEAVE INTO EVERY SPEECH AND SERMON THAT STUDENTS SHOULD NEVER QUIT AND NEVER GIVE UP. DAD LOVED TO QUOTE WINSTON CHURCHILL WHO SAID SUCCESS IS GOING FROM FAILURE TO FAILURE WITH UNDIMINISHED ENTHUSIASM. HE OFTEN SAID A MAN'S GREATNESS IS NOT DETERMINED BY HIS TALENT WEALTH BUT RATHER BY WHAT IT TAKES TO DISCOURAGE HIM. YOU WILL FACE OBSTACLES THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER. AT TIME EVERYTHING WILL SEEM HOPELESS AND YOU WILL SCREAMING TO QUIT AND GIVE UP. BUT PRESERVING IN THE DARKEST HOURS IS WHAT SEPARATES THE WINNERS FROM THE LOSERS. ONLY IF YOU PRESS ON WILL YOU ACHIEVE GREATNESS. JUST AS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER, MY FATHER AND I WERE VERY CLOSE. WHEN HE PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY, I NOT ONLY HAD TO DO WITH THE DPREEF OF LOSING SOMEBODY SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN A GREAT FATHER WITH WHOM I HAD WORKED DAILY FOR 20 YEARS AND TRAVELLED WITH AS A CHILD AS HE WENT FROM TOWN TO TOWN SPREADING THE NEWS ABOUT THIS COLLEGE. BUT I ALSO HAD TO STEP INTO A PUBLIC ROLE THAT CAZ COMPLETELY OUTSIDE MY COMFORT SOVEREIGN. THE STRESS OF DEALING WITH THAT AT ONCE WAS ALMOST UNBEARABLE, BUT WHEN I LOOK AROUND TODAY I'M SO GLAD THAT I HEEDED MY FATHER'S ADVICE AND DEFIBRILLATOR THROW IN THE TOWEL AND QUIT. THE CLASS OF 2017 HAS STUDY UNDER GODLY PROFESSORS AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS ON CAMPUS. YOU'VE LEARNED NOT JUST HOW TO MAKE A LIVING BUT ALSO HOW TO LIVE. YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS IT LIVE YOUR LIVES BY THE GREAT COMMANDMENT, LOVE GOD WITH YOUR HEART, SOUL, AND MIND AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS AS YOURSELVES. AS A STUDENT BODY YOU WORKED WITH STEPH CURRY TO SEND OVER 20,000 PAIRS OF SHOES TO PEOPLE IN THE CONGO. YOU HELPED HURRICANE AND TORNADO VICTIMS IN LOUISIANA, MISSY FRANKLIN, AND GEORGIA AND VOLUNTEERED TO HELP THOSE IN NEED LOCALLY. WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID YOU MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT YOU EARN BUT YOU MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT YOU GIVE. DISTRIBUTE TANS OFTEN OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT IN ORDER TO GIVE AND SERVE OTHERS YOU NEED RESOURCES. AND YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR OWN CAREERS FIRST. CREATING EMPLOYMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECT TIFF WAY OF SERVING OTHERS. LIBERTY'S MISSION IT TO TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUCCEED IN EVERY PROFESSION AND TO BE THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR CAREER, REMEMBER THAT NOTHING CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF PER SIGNIFICANCE -- PERSISTENCE. TALENT WILL NOT. GENIUS. UNREWARDED GENIUS IS ALMOST A PROVERB. EDUCATION WILL NOT. THE WORLD IS FULL OF EDUCATED DERELICTS. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP MY FATHER HAD A SPEECH BY LEGENDARY VINCE LOMBARDI ON HIS OFFICE WALL ENTITLED WHAT IT TAKE TO BE NUMBER ONE. VINCE HOME BOREDY WOULD NOT THE SUPER BOWL MORE TIME THAN ANY OTHER COACH EVEN BEFORE IT WAS CALLED THE SUPER BOWL. THE SPEECH ENDED WITH THIS, I BELIEVE IN GOD AND I PLEEIVE IN HUMAN DECENCY BUT I FIRMLY PLEEIVE THAT ANY MAN'S FINEST HOUR HIS GREATEST FULFILLMENT IS THAT HOME WHEN HE HAS WORKED HIS HEART OUT IN A GOOD CAUSE AND LIES EXHAUSTED ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE VICTORY. THAT WAS NOVEMBER 8TH FOR YOU, WASN'T IT, PRESIDENT PRESIDENT? [APPLAUSE] >> MICHAEL JORDAN SAID I FAILED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN MY LIFE, AND THAT IS WHY I SUCCEED. JOHN ROCKERFELLER SAID DON'T BE AFRAID TO GIVE UP THE GOOD TO GO FOR THE FREIGHT. AND I HAVE APPRECIATED PINK FLOYD'S WORDS OF ADVERTISE WOMAN DON'T EXCHANGE A WALK-OFTEN PART IN THE ROLE FOR A LEAD ROLE IN A CAGE. YOU'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT ONE FOR A MINUTE. BUT THE CLASS OF 2017 I HOPE YOU NEVER FORGET THEZ PRINCIPLES. AND RIGHT NOW IT'S MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU A MAN WHO HAS LIVED ALIVE ACCORDING TO THESE SAME PRINCIPLES OF NEVERRITY QUITTING. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS A MAN WHO I GREAD LIT ADMIRED AND WHO I AM PROUD TO CALL MY FRIEND AND MY PRESIDENT. HE'S A MAN WHO SPEAKS THE PLAIN, COMMON SENSE TRUTH, A MAN WHO HAS SUCCEEDED IN BUSINESS AND IN POLITICS, DEFYING COULD NOT CONVENIENTAL WISDOM TO BILLION THE 45th PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES AS A CHAMPION OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CITIZEN, INCLUDING MANY WHO FELT FORGOTTEN AND NEGLECTED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT. SINCE HIS ELECTION HAVE I NOTICED A NEW HOPE AND A NEW OPTIMISM SWEEPING THIS COUNTRY. AS A COUNTRY WE NEEDED FRESH AND BOLD LEADERSHIP. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LOVE FOR ORDINARY AMERICANS AND HIS KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, AND BOLD LEADERSHIP QUALITIES MADE HIM THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB. MR. TRUMP POSSESSES THE RESOLVE TO PUT HIS COUNTRY FIRST AND TO NEVER GIVE UP NAY WORLD THAT IS INCREASINGLY HOSTILE TO OUR VALUES. INSTEAD OF ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL POLITICIAN THE AMERICAN VOTERS WISELY CHOSE A SUCCESS OF THE BUSINESSMAN TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY. BUT DONALD TRUMP OFFERS MORE THAN CRUST BUSINESS. HE'S A MAN WITH WONDERFUL AND SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN WHO LOVE THEIR FATHER, A MAN WHO IS PERSONABLE AND RELATES TO THE COMMON MAN. PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS WILLING TO RISK HIS BUSINESS EMPIRE, HIS COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLE, HIS REPUTATION, AND HIS FAMILY WAS WILLING TO SACRIFICE THEIR PRIVACY ALL FOR THE COUNTRY THEY LOVED AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. HE REAFFIRMED THIS NATION'S SUPPORT FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL. HE APPOINTED A CONSERVATIVE PROLIFE JUS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE SUPREME COURT. HE APPOINTED MORE MEN -- [APPLAUSE] >> HE APPOINTED MORE MEN AND WOMEN OF FAITH TO HIS CABINET THAN ANY PRESIDENT IN RECENT MEMORY. I BOMBED THOSE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WHO WERE PERSECUTING ASK KILLING CHRISTIANS AND EARLIER HE CHOSE MIKE PENCE -- [APPLAUSE] >> AND EARLY HE CHOSE MIKE PENCE AS HIS RUNNINGMATE, AND JUST LAST WEEK HE SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IN THE ROSE GARDEN FULFILLING A PROMISE TO RETURN POLITICAL FREE SPEECH RIGHTS TO CHURCHES, TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND UNIVERSITIES LIKE THIS ONE. [APPLAUSE] REPEALING THE JOHNSON AMENDMENT WAS THE FIRST ISSUE HE MENTIONED TO ME AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS CAMPAIGN, AND LAST WEEK HE PROVED HE'S A MAN OF HIS WORD. I DO NOT PLEERVE ANY PRESIDENT IN OUR LIFETIME HAS DONE SO MUCH THAT HAS BENEFITED THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN SUCH A SHORT TIME SPAN THAN DONALD TRUMP. HE VENTURED INTO POLITICS AT A I TIME WHEN OUR NATION HAS NEVER BEEN MORE POLARIZED. HE DESERVES OUR RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR ENDURING DISHONEST A TACTS FROM THE MEDIA, THE ESTABLISHMENT ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT AND FROM ACADEMIA. HIS ATTACKERS NEED TO HEED OF WORDS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON. HE SAID I NEVER CONSIDERED A DIFFERENCE OF POLITICS IN POLITICS OR RELIGIOUS AS CAUSE OF WITHDRAWING FROM A FRIEND. YOU ARE PRESIDENT'S ENEMIES NEED TO ONCE AGAIN BEGIN PRACTICING THE TOLERANCE THAT THEY HAVE SO OFTEN PREACHED. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND DR. HAWK INS, PLEASE JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM. IN RECOGNITION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S COMMITMENT TO HIS COUNTRY, AND TO THE CITIZENS OF WHO HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN BY THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT AND FOR HIS UNWAIVERRING DETERMINATION TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AND IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HIS BOLD LEADERSHIP OF OUR NATION WITH THE POWERS VESTED IN ME BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY THE DOCTORATE OF LAWS DEGREE IS HEREBY COULD NOT PERKED BY DONALD J. TRUMP WITH ALL THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES APPERTAINING THERE UNTO. [APPLAUSE] NOW TO DELIVER OUR 44th COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS JOIN WE ME IN WELCOMING WITH BACK TO LIBERTY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2017. THAT'S SOME ACHIEVEMENT. [APPLAUSE] >> THIS IS YOUR DAY AND YOU'VE EARNED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. AND I'M THRILLED TO BE BACK AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. I'VE BEEN HERE -- THIS IS NOW MY THIRD TIME. AND WE LOVE SETTING RECORDS, RIGHT? WE ALWAYS SET RECORDS. WE HAVE TO SET RECORDS. WE HAVE NO CHOICE. IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR SINCE I'VE SPOKEN ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS, ASK SO MUCH HAS CHANGED. RIGHT HERE THE CLASS OF 2017 DRESSED IN CAP AND GOWN GRADUATING TO A TOTALLY BRILLIANT FUTURE. AND HERE I AM STANDING BEFORE YOU AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SO I'M GUESSING THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE TODAY WHO THOUGHT THAT EITHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS -- EITHER ONE -- WOULD REALLY REQUIRE MAJOR HELP FROM GOD. DO WE AGREE? [APPLAUSE] >> AND WE GOT IT. BUT HERE WE ARE CELEBRATING TOGETHER ON THIS VERY JOYOUS OCCASION. AND THERE'S NO PLACE IN THE WORLD I'D RATHER BE TO GIVE MY FIRST COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AS PRESIDENT THAN HERE WITH MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. [APPLAUSE] >> AND I ACCEPTED THIS INVITATION A LONG TIME AGO. I SAID TO JERRY THAT I'D BE THERE. AND WHEN I SAY SOMETHING, I MEAN IT. LAWS PLAWS >> I WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT JERRY FALWELL AND HIS INCREDIBLE WIFE BECKY, STAND UP, BECKY. [APPLAUSE] >> FOR THEIR KIND WORDS, THEIR STEADFAST SUPPORT AND THEIR REALLY WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP. LET ME ALSO EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO THE EBB FIRE FALWELL FAMILY, TREY, SARA, WESLY, LAURA AND CAROLINE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO MAKE THIS UNIVERSITY SO EXCEPTIONAL. MOST IMPORTANTLY TO OUR NEWFOUNDLAND GRADUATES, EACH OF YOU SHOULD TAKE IMMENSE PRIDE IN WHAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED. THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP OF AMAZING PEOPLE WE WANT TO CELEBRATE TODAY AND THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MADE THIS JOURNEY POSSIBLE FOR YOU. YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS? NOBODY. YOU FORGOT ALREADY. YOU'RE GOING TO GO AND DO WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING TO DO. SOME ARE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY. SOME ARE GOING TO BE HAPPIER DOING OTHER THICK THINGS. THEY'RE YOUR PARENTS AND YOUR GRANDPARENTS. DON'T FORGET THEM. HAVE YOU HAVEN'T FORFORGOTTEN Y, HAVE YOU? NEVER, EVER AUTHORIZING ET THEM. ESPECIALLY THIS WEEKEND LET'S MAKE SURE WE GIVE A REALLY EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MOMS. [APPLAUSE] >> DON'T FORGET OUR MOMS. BECAUSE GRUTSZ, TODAY IS YOUR DAY. TODAY IS YOUR DAY, BUT IN ALL OF THIS EXCITEMENT DON'T FORGET THAT TOMORROW IS MOTHER'S DAY. RIGHT? I HAD A GREAT MOTHER. SHE'S LOOKING DOWN NOW. BUT I HAD A FREIGHT MOTHER. I ALWAYS LOVED MOTHER'S DAY. WE'RE ALSO DEEPLY HONORED TO BE JOINED BY SOME OF THE NEARLY 6,000 SERVICE MEMBERS, MILITARY VETERANS, AND MILITARY SPOUSES, WHO ARE RECEIVING THEIR DIPLOMAS TODAY. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND. PLEASE STAND. [APPLAUSE] >> WOW. [APPLAUSE] >> THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT JOB. WEE PROFOUND FOUNDLY GRATEFUL TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHO HAS SACRIFICED TO KEEP US SAFE AND PROTECT GOD'S PRECIOUS GIFT OF FREE DOSM. IT'S TRULY A TESTAMENT TO THIS UNIVERSITY AND TO THE VALUES THAT YOU EMBRACE THAT YOUR GATHER WAITING CLASS INCLUDES SO MANY PATRIOTS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN UNIFORM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TO THE CLASS OF 2017, TODAY YOU END ONE CHAPTER BUT YOU ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN THE GREATEST ADVENTURE OF YOUR LIFE. JUST THINK FOR A MOMENT OF HOW BLESSED YOU ARE TO BE HERE TODAY AT THIS GREAT, GREAT UNIVERSITY LIVERRING IN THIS AMAZING COUNTRY, SURROUNDING BY PEOPLE WHO YOU LOVE ASK CARE ABOUT SO MUCH. THEN ASK YOURSELF WITH ALL OF THOSE BLESSINGS AND ALL OF THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN WHAT WILL YOU GIVE BACK TO THIS COUNTRY AND, INDEED, TO THE WORLD? WHAT I AM IMPRINT WILL YOU LEAVE IN THE SANDS OF HISTORY? WHAT WILL FUTURE AMERICANS SAY WE DID IN OUR BRIEF TIME RIGHT HERE ON EARTH? DID WE TAKE RISKS? DID WE DARE TO DEFY EXPECTATIONS? DID WE CHALLENGE ACCEPTED WISDOM AND TAKE ON ESTABLISHED SYSTEMS? I THINK I DID. BUT WE ALL DID. AND WE'RE ALL DOING IT. OR DID WE JUST GO ALONG WITH CONVENTION. SWIM DOWNSTREAM SO EASILY WITH THE CURRENT AND JUST GIVE IN BECAUSE IT WAS THE EASY WAY, IT WAS THE TRADITIONAL WAY OR IT WAS THE ACCEPTED WAY? REMEMBER THIS. NOTHING WORTH DOING EVER, EVER, EVER CAME EASY. FOLLOWING YOUR CONVICTIONS MEANS YOU MUST BE WILLING TO FACE CRITICISM FROM THOSE WHO LACK THE SAME COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND THEY KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE OR THE GUTS OR THE STAMINA TO TAKE IT AND TO DO IT. IT'S CALLED THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED. I KNOW THAT EACH OF YOU WILL BE A WARRIOR FOR THE TRUTH. WILL BE A WARRIOR FOR OUR CUB -- COUNTRY AND FOR YOUR FAMILY. I KNOW THAT EACH OF YOU WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT, NOT WHAT IS THE EASY WAY, AND THAT YOU WILL BE TRUE TO YOURSELF ASK YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR BELIEFS. IN MY SHORT TIME IN WASHINGTON, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN. A SMALL GROUP OF FAILED VOICES, WHO THEY THINK KNOW EVERYTHING, AND UNDERSTAND EVERYONE WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY ELSE HOW TO LIVE AND WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO THINK. BUT YOU AREN'T GOING IT LET OTHER PEOPLE TELL YOU WHAT YOU BELIEVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE RIGHT. LAWS [APPLAUSE] >> SNOWS. O SHOWS OF YOU GATHER WAITING HERE TODAY WHO HAVE GIVEN HALF A MILLION HOURS OF CHARITY, LAST YEAR ALONE, UNUNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF WORK AND CHARITY AND IEW UNIVERSITIES OR COLLEGES CAN CLAIM ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE, WE DON'T NEED A LECTURE FROM WASHINGTON ON HOW TO LEAD OUR LIVES. I'M STANDING HERE LOOKING AT THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICAN LEADERS. THERE MAY VERY WELL BE A PRESIDENT OR TWO IN OUR MIDST. ANYBODY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE PRESIDENT? RACE YOUR -- RAISE YOUR HAND. IN YOUR HEARTS, ARE INSCRIBED THE VALUES OF SERVICE, SACRIFICE AND DEVOTION. NOW YOU MUST GO FORTH INTO THE WORLD AND TURN YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS INTO ACTION. AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE LAND OF DREAMS, BECAUSE AMERICA IS A NATION OF TRUE BELIEVERS. WHEN THE PILGRIMS LANDED AT PLYMOUTH, THEY PRAYED. WHENHE FOUNDERS WROTE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THEY INVOKED OUR CREATOR FOUR TIMES. BECAUSE IN AMERICA, WE DON'T WORSHIP GOVERNMENT, WE WORSHIP GOD. [APPLAUSE] >> THAT IS WHY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS PUT THEIR HANDS ON THE BIBLE AND SAY SO HELP ME GOD, AS THEY TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE. IT IS WHY OUR CURRENCY PROUDLY DECLARES IN GOD WE TRUST, AND IT'S WHY WE PROUDLY PROCLAIM THAT WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD EVERY TIME WE SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [APPLAUSE] THE STORY OF AMERICA IS THE STORY OF AN ADVENTURE THAT BEGAN WITH DEEP FAITH, BIG DREAMS, AND HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. THAT IS ALSO THE STORY OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE VISIONARY FOUNDER OF THIS GREAT INSTITUTION, REF JERRY FALWELL, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW EXCITED HE WOULD BE IF HE COULD SEE ALL OF THIS AND HOW OF YOU TODAY, AND HOW PROUD HE WOULD BE OF HIS SON AND OF HIS FAMILY. IN JUST TWO DAYS WE WILL MARK THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF REF -- REVERAND FALWELL'S PASSING. I USED TO LOVE WATCHING HIM ON TELEVISION. HEARING HIM PREACH. HE WAS A VERB SPOACIAL MAN. HE WOULD BE SO PROUD NOT JUST AS WHAT YOU'VE ACHIVEED BUT OF ALL THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN YOU'VE BECOME. ASK JERRY, I KNOW YOUR DAD IS VERY PROUD. [APPLAUSE] >> CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT JOB, JERRY. HIS LIFE IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF FAITH TO CHANGE THE WORLD, THE INSPIRING LEGACY THAT WE SEE ALL AROUND US IN THIS GREAT STADIUM, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL STADIUM, AND IT S PACKED. I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT. SAID HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FILL UP A PLACE LIKE THAT. IT IS PACKED, JERRY. [APPLAUSE] >> IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CARDIOVASCULAR PUS AND IN YOUR SMILING FACES, BUT IT ALL BEGAN WITH A VISION. THAT VISION WAS OF A WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITY FOR EVAGELICAL CRIB TOONS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE BOY DID YOU COME OUT AND VOTE THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE OLD ENOUGH, IN OTHER WORDS YOUR PARENTS. ENOUGH ENOUGH. BOY OH, BOY YOU VOTED. YOU VOTED. NO DOUBT MANY PEOPLE TOLD HIM HIS VISION WAS NOT POSSIBLE. AND I AM SURE THEY CONTINUE TO SAY THAT SO LONG AFTER HE STARTED, AT THE BEGINNING WITH JUST 154 STUDENTS. BUT THE FACT IS NO ONE HAS EVER ACHIEVED ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT WITHOUT A CHORUS OF CRITICS STANDING ON THE SIDE LINES EXPLAINING WHY IT CAN'T BE DONE. NOTHING IS EASIER OR MORE PATHETIC THAN BEING A CRITIC. BECAUSE THEY'RE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T GET THE JOB DONE. BUT THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE DREAMERS. NOT TO THE KIRILL CRITICS. THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THEIR HEART NO MATTER WHAT THE CRITICS SAY, BECAUSE THEY TRULY BELIEVE IN THEIR VISION. AT LIBERTY YOUR LEADERS KNEW FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT A STRONG ATHLETIC PROGRAM WOULD HELP THIS CAMPUS GROW SO THAT THIS SCHOOL MIGHT TRANSFORM MORE LIVES. THAT THAT IS WHY A CRUCIAL PART OF JERRY FALWELL ' S VISION FOR MAKING LIBERTY A WORLD CLASS INSTITUTION WAS HAVING A WORLD CLASS FOOTBALL TEAM. MUCH LIKE THE GREAT TEAMS OF NORTE DAME. GREAT SCHOOL. GREAT PLACE. IN FACT, VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE IS THERE TODAY DOING A FABULOUS JOB, AS HE ALWAYS DOES. [APPLAUSE] >> A FEW YEARS AGO THE NEW YORK TIMES EVEN WROTE A STORY ON THE GREAT AMBITIONS OF THE LIBERTY FLAMES. THAT STORY PROMPTED A LONG TIME PRESIDENT OF ANOTHER SCHOOL TO WRITE A LETTER TO JERRY. IT'S A LETTER THAT THE REVERAND WOULD HAVE BEEN HE VERY, PLEASE D TO READ. JERRY TELL MEZ THAT LETTER NOW HANGS ON THE WALL IN THE BOARD ROOM OF YOUR GREAT UNIVERSITY. IT CAME FROM THE LATE FATHER THEODORE HEDDBERG, WHO WAS THE BELOVED PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY NORTE DAME 35 YEARS AGO. LIKE THIS SCHOOL'S FOUNDER, HE WAS A TRULY KINDHEARTED MAN OF VERY, VERY DEEP FAITH. IN THE LETTER FATHER HESSPER RECALED THAT NORTE DAME'S OWN RISE FROM A SMALL MID WESTERN SCHOOL TO A NATIONAL POWERHOUSE. THEN I WROTE I THINK YOU ARE ON THAT SAME TRAJECTORY NOW, AND I WANT TO WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND ENCOURAGE YOU FROM THE STARTING AND FROM BEING ABLE TO START VERY SMALL AND ARRIVING IN THE BIG TIME. THANKS TO HARD WORK, GREAT FAITH, AND INCREDIBLE DEVOTION THOSE DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE. AS OF FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. THE LIBERTY FLAMES ARE PLAYING IN THE FBS. THE LIE HE-- HIGHEST LEVEL OF COMPETITION IN NCAA FOOTBALL. DON'T CLAP. THAT COULD BE TOUGH. DON'T CLAP. THAT COULD BE TOUGH. I'M A LITTLE WORRIED. I DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE SCORES HERE. JER CRI, ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE? THOSE OTHER PLAYERS ARE BIG AND FAST STRONG, BUT I HAVE A FEELING YOU'REINGGOING TO DO VEY WELL, RIGHT? FROM THE MOST HUMBLE ROOTS YOU'VE BEEN A POWERHOUSE IN BOTH EDUCATION AND SPORTS. AND JUST WAIT UNTIL THE WORLD HEARS THE FOOTBALL TEAMS YOU'LL BE PLAYING ON YOUR SCHEDULE STARTING NEXT SEASON. PRESIDENT FALWELL GAVE ME A LIST OF SOME OF THOSE SCHOOLS. THE ONES YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY IN 2018. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THE NAMES JUST CAME OUT? WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR THEM? I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED. U M MASS, VA VA. AUBURN. JERRY, ARE YOU SHOE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING? [LAUGHTER] >> JERRY AUBURN. I DON'T KNOW THA ABOUT THAT. THIS COULD BE TROUBLE, JERRY. RUTGERS. BRIGHAM YOUNG. ARMY. I MIGHT BE AT THAT GAME. WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO ROOT FOR, TELL ME? I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S A TOUGH ONE, JERRY. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT ONE, JERRY. BUFF WILLBUFFALO. VIRGINIA TECH. OH, NO, JERRY. OLD MISS. [LAUGHTER] >> AND WAKE FOREST. THOSE ARE TOP SCHOOLS. MAYBE IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS I'M COME TO A GAME, RIGHT? YOU'LL BUILD IT UP. GOOD LUCK. THE SUCCESSFUL YOUR ATHLETIC PROGRAM ARRIVING ON THE PICK STAGE SHOULD BE A REMIEBD MINDER -- REMINDER TO EVERY NEW GRADUATE OF JUST WHAT YOU CAN SA CHIEF WHEN YOU PURSUE A BIG VISION AND NEVER, EVER QUIT. IF I GIVE YOU ONE MESSAGE TO HOLD IN YOUR HEARTS TODAY IT'S THIS, NEVER, EVER GIVE UP. THAT I AM BE TIMES IN YOUR LIFE YOU'LL WANT TO QUIT AND GO HOME, YOU'LL WANT TO GO HOME PAPS TO THAT WOND WONDERFUL MOTHER THAT IS WATCHING YOU AND SAY, MOM, I CAN'T DO IT. I CAN'T DO IT. JUST NEVER TWIT. GO BARK HOME AND TELL MOM, DAD, I CAN DO IT. I CAN DO IT. I WILL DO IT. YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I'VE SEEN SO MANY BRILLIANT PEOPLE. THEY GAVE UP IN LIFE. THEY WERE TOTALLY WILL -- BRILLIANT. TOP OF THEIR CLASS. THEY GAVE UP. I'VE SEEN OTHERS WHO REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THAT TALENT OR THAT ABILITY, AND THEY'RE AMONG THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE TODAY IN THE WORLD BECAUSE THEY NEVER QUIT OR GAVE UP. JUST REMEMBER THAT. NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR WHAT YOU PLEEIVE IN AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU. CARRY YOURSELF WITH DIGNITY AND PRIDE. DEMAND THE BEST FROM YOURSELF AND BE TOTALLY UNAFRAID TO CHALLENGE EBB TRENCHED INTERESTS AND FAILED POWER STRUCTURES. DOES SOUND FAMILIAR, BY THE WAY? THE MORE PEOPLE TELL YOU IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, THAT IS CAN'T BE DONE, THE MORE YOU SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED TO PROVE THEM WRONG. TREAT THE WORD IMPOSSIBLE AS NOTHING MORE THAN MOTIVATION. RELISH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AN OUTSIDER. EMBRACE THAT LABEL. BEING AN OUTSIDE CERTIFICATE FINE. EMBRACE THE LABEL. BECAUSE IT'S THE OUTSIDER WHO'S WHO CHANGE THE WORLD. THE MORE THAT A BROKEN SYSTEM TELLS YOU YOU'RE WRONG, THE MORE CERTAIN YOU SHOULD BE THAT YOU MUST KEEP PUSHING AHEAD. YOU MUST KEEP PUSHING FORWARD. AND ALWAYS HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE YOURSELF. MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE. YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE, THEY'RE FORCED THROUGH LOTS OF REASONS, SOMETIMES INCLUDING FAMILY, TO GO DOWN A PATH THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN. TO GO DOWN A PATH THAT LEADS THEM TO SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T LOVE, THAT THEY DON'T ENJOY. YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE OR YOU MOST LIKELY WON'T BE VERY SUCCESSFUL AT IT. SO DO WHAT YOU LOVE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE A FRIEND WHO IS HERE WITH US TODAY WHO CAN SERVE AS NOT INSPIRATION TO US ALL. SOMEONE MONTH DOESN'T KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD QUIT. REAL CHAMPION. A TRUE CHAMPION. BOTH ON THE FIELD, OFF THE FIELD, HE'S A HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK FOR THE BUFFALO BILLS, REALLY A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE. AN AMAZING GUY. JIM KELLY. WHERE IS JIM? HE'S HERE SOMEPLACE. STAND UP, JIM. [APPLAUSE] >> WHAT A FREIGHT MAN, JIM KELLY. HE WAS TOUGH. JIM, DO YOU HAVE IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'D BE MAKING TODAY? THEY'D HIT JIM, WHO WAS LIKE TACKLING A LINEBACKER. THEY'D HIT JIM FOUR GUYS, FIVE GAYS THAT WEIGHED 320, AND HE'D KEEP GOING TOWN THE FIELD. HE WAS MUCH MORE THAN A QUARTERBACK. HE HAD TREMENDOUS HEART, AND HE KNEW HOW TO WIN. JIM IS TOUGH AND HIS TOUGHEST FIGHT OF ALL WAS THAT HE BEAT CANCER NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. [APPLAUSE] >> AND I SAW HIM AND HIS INCREDIBLE WIFE AS THEY WERE IN A VERY LOW MOMENT, JILL. VERY, VERY LOW MOMENT. AND IT WAS AMAZING THEY WAY THEY THOUGHT. IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD. I WOULD HAVE SAID MAYBE, MAYBE IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT HOPE, BECAUSE OF JIM AND JIM'S HEART. BUT I WANTED TO JUST SAY IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY, JIM. THESE PEOPLE ARE BIG, BIG FANS. IF YOU COULD GET A YOUNG VERSION OF JIM KELLY, YOU'LL BE BEATING A HADLOT OF TEAMS, JERRY. SO INTERESTINGLY, THOUGH, I SAID I WONDER WHAT JIM IS DOING HERE? HIS DAUGHTER, ERIN, CROSSES THE GOAL LINE TO YOU AND TODAY WITH YOU. SO, ERIN, STAND UP. WHERE ARE YOU, ERIN? WHERE IS ERIN? [APPLAUSE] >> CONGRATULATIONS, ERIN. CONGRATULATIONS. GATHER WAITING FROM LIBERTY. GREAT CHOICE. THANK YOU. LIBERTY UNIVERSITY IS A PLACE WHERE THEY REALLY HAVE TRUE CHAMPIONS. AND YOU HAVE A SIMPLE CREED THAT YOU LOVE BY. TO BE REALLY CHAMPIONS FOR CHRIST. WHETHER YOU'RE CALLED TO BE A MISSIONARY OVERSEAS, TO SHEPARD A CHURCH OR TO BE A LEADER IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU ARE LIVING WITNESS OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE. AND I MUST TELL YOU, I'M SO PROUD, AS YOUR PRESIDENT, TO HAVE HELPED YOU ALONG OVER THE PAST SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I SAID I WAS GOING TO DO IT. AND JERRY, I DID IT. AND LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT'S TAKEN PLACE ESPECIALLY LAST WEEK. WE DID SOME VERY IMPORTANT SIGNINGS. [APPLAUSE] >> RIGHT, JAMES? VERY IMPORTANT SIGNINGS. AMERICA IS BETTER WHEN PEOPLE PUT THEIR FAITH INTO ACTION, AS LONG AS I AM YOUR PRESIDENT, NO ONE IS EVER GOING TO STOP YOU FROM PRACTICING YOUR FAITH OR FROM PREACHING WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART. [APPLAUSE] >> WE WILL ALWAYS STAND UP FOR THE RIGHT OF ALL AMERICANS TO PRAY TO GOD AND TO FOLLOW HIS TEACHINGS. AMERICA IS BEGINNING A NEW CHAPTER. TODAY EACH OF YOU BEGINS A NEW CHAPTER AS WELL. WHEN YOUR STORY GOES FROM HERE, IT WILL BE DEFINED BY YOUR VISION, YOUR PRECERTIFICATE . O -- PRESERVING AND YOUR GRIT. THAT'S A WORD JIM KILLY KNOWS VERY WELL, GRIT. IN THIS I'M REMINDED OF ANOTHER MAN WHO HAS JOINED US HERE TODAY. HIS NAME IS GEORGE ROOJERS. UNIVERSITY SFO AND VICE-PRESIDENT FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY. DURING WORLD WAR II GEORGE SPENT THREE AND A HALF YEARS AS A PRISONER OF WAR. HE SAW MANY OF HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS DIE DURING THE BATON DEATH MARCH. HE WAS THE VICTIM OF STARVATION AND TORTURE. WHEN HE WAS FINALLY SET FREE, HE WEIGHED JUST 85 POUNDS AND WAS TOLD HE WOULD NOT LIVER PAST -- LIVE PAST THE AGE OF 40. TODAY GEORGE IS 98 YEARS OLD. [APPLAUSE] >> GREAT. GREAT. THAT'S SO GREAT, GEORGE. IF ANYONE EVER HAD REASON TO QUIT TO GIVE INTO THE BITTERNESS AND ANGER THAT WE ALL FACE AT SOME POINT, TO LOSE HOPE IN GOD'S VISION FOR HIS LIFE, IT WAS, INDEED, GEORGE ROGERS. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HE DID. HE STOOD UP FOR HIS COUNTRY, HE STOOD UP FOR HIS COMMUNITY, HE STOOD UP FOR HIS FAMILY, AND HE DEFENDED CIVILIZATION AGAINST A TIDE OF BARBARITY, THE KIND WE'RE SEEING TODAY AND WE'VE BEEN WITNESSING OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, AS YOUR PRESIDENT, WE ARE DOING VERY, VERY WELL IN COUNTERING IT. YOU JUST HANG IN THERE. THINGS ARE GOING ALONG VERY, VERY WELL. YOU'LL BE HEARING A LOT ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK FROM OUR GENERALS. [APPLAUSE] >> THINGS ARE GOING ALONG VERY, VERY WELL. THROUGH IT ALL, HE KEPT HIS FAITH IN GOD, EVEN IN THE DARKEST STEPS OF DESPAIR, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS OF HIS GENERATION. GEORGE CAME HOME TO A NATION FULL OF OPTIMISM AND PRIDE AND BEGAN TO LIVE OUT THE AMERICAN DREAM. HE STARTED A FAMILY. HE DISCOVERED GOD'S PLAN FOR HIS HIM AND PURSUED THAT VISION WITH ALL HIS MIGHT, POURING HIS PASSION INTO A TINY COLLEGE IN A PLACE CALLED LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA. DID YOU EVER HEAR OF THAT? LYNCHBURG? WE LOVE IT. DO YOU LIKE IT? WE LIKE IT, RIGHT? [APPLAUSE] >> I FLEW OVER IT A LIMB WHILE AGO. IT'S AMAZING. WHAT STARTED AS A TEAM WITH A FEW GOOD FRIENDS HE HELPED SHEPARD INTO THE LARGEST CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD. JUST LOOK AT THIS AMAZING SOARING, GROWING CAMPUS. AND I'VE BEEN WATCHING IT GROW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A FRIEND OF LIBERTY FOR A WILL NOT TIME -- LONG TIME NOW, JERRY. THANKS IN GREAT PART TO GEORGE'S FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG HEARTS AND SOULS HAVE BEEN ENRICHED AT LIBERTY AND INSPIRED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. GEORGE, WE THANK YOU AND WE SALUTE YOU, AND YOU JUST STAY HEALTHY FOR A LONG TIME, GEORGE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> NOW IT FALLS ON THE SHOULDERS OF EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY TO PROTECT THE FREE DOSM THAT PATRIOTS LIKE GEORGE EARNED WITH THEIR INCREDIBLE SACRIFICE. FORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS FROM YOUR TIME RIGHT HERE ON THIS CAMPUS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND TO SERVE GOD, FAMILY, AND COUNTRY. AS YOU BUILD GOOD LIVES, YOU WILL ALSO BE REBUILDING OUR NATION. YOU'LL BE LEADERS IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, STEWARDS OF GREAT INSTITUTIONS, AND DEFENDERS OF LIBERTY. AND YOU WILL BE GREAT MOTHERS AND FATHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS, AND GRANDFATHERS, LOVING FRIENDS, AND LOVING FAMILY MEMBERS. YOU WILL BUILD A FUTURE WHERE WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO CHASE OUR DREAMS NO MAT BEAR THE CYNICS AND THE DOUBTERS HAVE TO SAY. YOU WILL HAVE THE CONFIDENCE IT SPEAK THE HOPES IN YOUR HEARTS AND TO EXPRESS THE LOVE THAT STIRS YOUR SOULS. AND YOU WILL HAVE THE FAITH TO REPLACE A BROKEN ESTABLISHMENT WITH A GOVERNMENT THAT SERVES AND PROTECTS THE PEOPLE. [APPLAUSE] >> WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS WE SHARE ONE HOME AND ONE GLORIOUS DESTINY. WHETHER WE ARE BROWN, BLACK, OR WHITE, WE ALL BLEED THE SAME RED BLOOD OF PATRIOTS. WE ALL SALUTE THE SAME GREAT AMERICAN FLAG, AND WE ARE ALL MADE BY THE SAME ALL MIGHTY GOD -- [APPLAUSE] >> AS LONG AS YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU ARE LEARNED HERE AT LIBERTY, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE PRIDE IN YOUR BELIEFS, COURAGE IN YOUR CONVICTIONS, AND FAITH IN YOUR GOD, THEN YOU WILL NOT FAIL. [APPLAUSE] >> AND AS LONG AS AMERICA REMAINS TRUE TO ITS VALUES, LOYAL TO ITS CITIZENS, AND DEVOTED TO ITS CREATOR, THEN OUR BEST DAYS ARE YET TO COME. I CAN PROLS YOU THAT. -- PROMISE YOU THAT. [APPLAUSE] >> THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCEPTIONAL MORNING. IT'S BEEN A GREAT HONOR FOR ME, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, THE STUDENTS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, THE FAMILY, FOR GETTING THEM THERE. AND I WANT TO THANK AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO LIBERTY. MAY GOD BLESS THE CLASS OF 2017. MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CHALLENGE ENTRENCHED INTERESTS >> SINCE WE HAD A COMPUTER GLITCH EARLIER, THE PRESIDENT HAS DECIDED TO STAY TO HEAR LU PRAISE WE'VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH LIKE THEY DID AT THE INAUGURATION. GO AHEAD. >> IF YOU'D ALL BE SEATED. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT THE DEGREE CANADA DATES FOR THE CLASS OF 2017. THAT THE SECRET SERVICE NEEDED TO GET HIM OUT OF HERE BEFORE THE CROWD EXITS. BUT HE SENDS HIS APOLOGIES. ON THIS COMMENCEMENT DAY YOU STAND IN THE NEW RELATIONSHIP TO LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. EYUNIVERSITY THAT LOOKS UPON YOU AS ITS SONS AND DAUGHTERS. THIS INSTITUTION HAS SUCCEEDED, IF YOU HAVE LEARNED HERE THE ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY, UTILIZING NOT ONLY MAN'S STORE OF KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM BUT GOD'S WISDOM IN MAKING LIFE'S DECISIONS. TODAY YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A KNEW FREEDOM BUT WITH THAT FREE DOSM COMES NEW RESPONSIBILITIES. WE TRUST THAT YOUR EDUCATION OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HAS PREPARED YOU TO ENJOY THAT LIBERTY TO ITS FULLEST AND TO EXCEPT THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES WITHOUT FEAR. HAVE YOU A HIGH AND NOBLE CALLING AND A FINELY TUNED GUIDANCE SYSTEM THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. NEVER AGAIN ON THIS EARTH WILL WE BE ASSEMBLING TO AS WE ARE TODAY. AS YOU LEAVE YOU'LL GO INTO ALL WALKS OF LIE AND CORNERS OF WORLD CARRYING WITH YOU GOSPEL. AS YOU DO, YOU SHOULD NOT FIND SATISFACTION WITH THE COMMONPLACE IN CHARACTER, ATTITUDE OR VALUES. BY YOUR EXAMPLE YOU SHOULD RAISE THE INCHED ELECTRIC TWAL AND MORAL TONE OF SOCIETY. ONLY ETERNITY WILL REVEAL THE FULL IMPACT OF YOUR LIVES AND YOUR EDUCATION AT LIBERTY THAT HAS HAD UPON THIS WORLD AND THE WORLD TO COME. IT IS OUR PRAYER AS YOU LEAVE THIS CAMPUS, THAT YOU WILL HAVE A FULL LIFE BASED UPON FAITH IN AND DEPENDING UPON GOD. PERSONAL, INTEGRITY AND RESPECT FOR YOUR FELLOW MAN. WE HOPE THAT HOW EVER FAR YOUR JOURNEYS MAY TAKE YOU, THEY WILL BRING YOU BACK TO THIS CAMPUS TO WHICH YOU WILL ALWAYS BELONG. AND PRESENTING YOU NOW TO RECEIVE YOUR DEGREES AS WE CHARGE YOU TO LIVE A LIFE OF DEINVOICING TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND DEPEND DENSE UPON THE HOLY SPIRIT FR STRENGTH, DIRECTION AND GROWTH. IN TESTIMONY OF YOUR CONDUCT AND PURPOSE BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, AND UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FACULTIES OF THE UNIVERSITY, I HEREBY CONFER UPON YOU THE DEGREE OF THE UNIVERSITY WITH ALL THE RIGHTS AND THE PRIVILEGES APERTAINING THERE UNTO. YOU MAY NOW MOVE YOUR TASSELS. [APPLAUSE] >> LAST NIGHT WE HAD -- THE BEST SERVICE I CAN REMEMBER IN MANY, MANY YEARS, AND JAMES ROBINSON BROUGHT THE KEYNOTE. I'VE ASKED HIM TO CLOSE THE CERTIFICATE HONE TODAY IN PRAYER. SO PLEASE WELCOME REVERAND JAMES ROBERSON. >> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON ALL OF YOU HERE, AREN'T YOU GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE PRESIDENT WHO WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED OR MANIPULATED BY ANY TOMORROW OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS? [APPLAUSE] >> OR BY A BIASED MEDIA THAT SO OFTEN IS FAR MORE THAN FAKE NEWS, IT IS DECEPTIVE NEWS, AND AFTERNOON ASSAULT ASK DISTORTION OF ALL TRUTH. AND I AM PRAYING TO GOD ASK THAT THIS PRESIDENT WILL BE HELD UP WITH SO MUCH PRAYER THAT HE WILL LEAD US AND DEFEND THE PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH FREEDOM WAS ESTABLISHED AND MUST STAND. I THANK GOD FOR HIM. DID YOU KNOW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT MOST OF THE KINGS HAD A PROPHET IN THEIR EAR. MANY OF THEM WERE NOT INVITED BACK FOR THE SECOND MEETING. SO WERE NOT INVITED FOR THE FIRST. WE HAVE A PRESIDENT, DR. FALWELL, WHO HAS INVITED PASTORS, PRIESTS, AND PROPHETIC VOICES INTO HIS LIFE AND FRANKLY, I'M NOT CERTAIN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR PRESIDENT JERRY FALWELL PRAYING FOR HIM AND LETTING US KNOW HE HAD STRENGTHS MANY HAD NOT SEEN. WOULD YOU SAY THANKS TO GOD AND THANKS SO JERRY FALWELL? [APPLAUSE] JOIN ME IN PRAYER. FATHER, I AM ASKING YOU TO PUT A SHIELD OF PROTECTION AROUND OUR PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, OUR NATIONAL LEADERS, PROTECT THEIR FAMILY AND DIRECT THEIR STEPS. AND I ASK YOU TO POUR OUT UPON ALL OF THESE GRADUATING STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES THAT SUPPORTED THEM AND INSPIRED THEM AND ENCOURAGED THEM, I PRAY YOU WILL HAVE A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION TO THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS WHERE THEY WILL HEAR THE TRUTH THAT LIFTS ITS VOICE IN THE PUBLIC SCARE. THEY WILL HEAR THE STILL SMALL VOICE AND THEY WILL HEED THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU SENT TO DWELL WITHIN US, TO ENABLE US. AND PRAY, DEAR GOD, THAT YOU WILL POUR OUT YOUR MANI-FEST BLESSINGS ON THIS NATION. AND AS WE SO ON PRAY GOD BLESS AMERICA, I AM PRAYING AMERICA WILL ONCE AGAINST BLESS YOU BY LOVING WITH ALL OF OUR HEART AND LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR. AND PRAY, DEAR GOD, YOU WILL BE SO LIFTED UP IN OUR INDIVIDUAL LIVES AND IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE BEAUTIFUL FAMILY OF BELIEVERS SO THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE THE CHILDREN OF THE PERFECT FATHER. WHEN WE GO OUT OF HERE THIS DAY, I PRAY WE'LL GO OUT OF HERE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GREAT COMMISSION TO BE WITNESSES TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH BUT BEGINNING AT HOME IN JERUSALEM, WHERE WE RESIDE. TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR FRIENDS. AND I PRAY, DEAR GOD, THAT YOU WILL GIVE EACH ONE OF US THE COURAGE AND THE COMPASSION AND THE CONVICTION TO BE CONSISTENT WITNESSES FOR CHRIST BECAUSE WE KNOW THE ONLY HOPE WE HAVE IS THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE GOSPEL. IF WE HAVE PERFECT LAWS THEY WILL NOT BE OBEYEDLY LAWLESS HEARTS. NOT EVEN THE PERFECT TEN COMMANDMENTS UNTIL THE POWER OF YOUR TRANSFORMING TRUTH CHANGES THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS. FOR HERE AND NOW AND ETERNITY AND MAY WE TOGETHER SAY, THY WILL BE DONE BECAUSE YOUR KING DEMOCRAT AS COME IN US AND TO THINE BE THE GLORY FOREVER EVER AND EVER, APERSON. [APPLAUSE]
