There Are Still People Who Care About Morality

In the same week that Rutgers University is considering co-ed dorm rooms (in other words, students shacking up with the approval of the school), and super star actor Charlie Sheen is acting like a self-centered, drugged out maniac, another university and another super star actually restored my faith that there are some people who still care about morality and standards in our society. The University is Bringham Young University and the super star is a a basketball player by the name of Brandon Davies. Now I am not a fan of the Morman church and their non-Christian theology, but I respect their honor code, and even more, their standing by it even when it hurts their team's chances in the March madness NCAA playoffs. The team is currently ranked number 3 in the nation, and Davies is one of their best players and leading rebounder.
This week he confessed to breaking the honor code by having sex with his girlfriend. The honor code requires students to live a chaste and virtuous life, attend church regularly, and abstain from alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, drugs, and premarital sex. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that he was extremely remorseful and heartbroken according to a source close to the team. Cougars teammate Jimmer Fredette says Davies "told us everything. He told us he was sorry and that he let us down. We just held our heads high and told him it was okay, that it is life, and you make mistakes, and you just got to play through it."
You may or may not agree with the moral standards set by the school. I am sure people will and many in the main stream media will ridicule the school and Brandon for what many see as out dated, quaint, puritan standards of conduct. But Brandon knew those standards and agreed to them when he became a student. And he is willing to abide by them even when it cost him the rest of this season. As school officials noted, there was nothing criminal that resulted in his dismissal from the team. The issue was moral, and morals matter. They matter to Brandon Davies, and they matter to BYU. No excuses, no sweeping it under the rug, no passing the buck or shifting the blame. Other churches, universities, and super stars should take note, taking the high road comes with a cost, but in the long run, it is the right road.
Blessings,
Dr. Paul