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Gemie Martin's education at Brigham Young University began 40 years ago, when the Moab native transferred from Snow College to start work on a bachelor's degree.

Two years later, in 1976, Martin, pregnant with her oldest daughter, dropped out of BYU two courses shy of her degree.

But Thursday, the 61-year-old — who now lives in Plano, Texas — was standing with her fellow graduates, waiting to enter the Marriott Center for BYU's commencement ceremony, the culmination of her long-held goal of finishing that degree.

"It feels like a big accomplishment to me," she said. "It's been difficult. I'm competing with really young minds to take those classes and my memory is gone."

Martin said it was "quite a journey" to earn her cap and gown, and she's looking forward to other things now that her studies are completed.

"Next for me is to play with my grandkids and do genealogy," she said.

Thursday's commencement at BYU, owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recognized 5,648 students from all 50 states and 63 foreign countries, earning a combined 5,881 degrees.

The event was attended by several LDS general authorities, such as Elder Wilford Andersen, Elder Allen Haynie and Elder Carlos Godoy, as well as Matthew Holland, president of Orem's Utah Valley University.

The commencement address was offered by Elder Steven Snow, a member of the LDS Church's First Quorum of the Seventy who currently serves as church historian and recorder.

He spoke of the importance of documenting history and encouraged students to remember to be grateful, to remember to contribute to BYU and the LDS Church and, most importantly, to remember their families.

"Your first priority is your immediate family or the family you will one day create," he said. "Nothing will bring you more happiness and joy than strong relationships."

Honorary degree recipient Robert George, a professor at Princeton University and visiting professor at Harvard University known for his Christian conservative writings, praised the value of a private, religious-based education.

He told students to be proud of the education they received, saying "secularization is by no means inevitable" and religious institutions, like BYU, should avoid the pitfalls of mimicking their academic peers.

"This is not the time for faith-based colleges and universities to be sloughing off not only what makes them different but, in an important respect, superior," he said.

That sentiment of a unique education was repeated by several speakers. Honorary degree recipient and former BYU president Cecil Samuelson described the school as "heaven-supported." And student speaker Ryan Barrett said it is not the scientific concepts, historical events or artistic appreciation that differ from one university to another.

"Who we are is more important than what we know," he said. "As BYU graduates, we have the unique responsibility and opportunity to be lights on a hill in this darkened world."

Braedon Blaylock, a 24-year-old exercise science major from Virgina, said it was hard to believe he had reached the end of his time as an undergraduate student. He said he would miss the everyday culture of campus, the sporting events and the classes with his excellent professors.

"BYU is a special place," he said. "You can only be here for so long."