Love
at
f i r t h g st s i
Graphics by Hannah Manalang
Sparks fly as students and faculty speak of unexpectedly finding their eternal companions BY BROOKE GURYN Students and faculty described their first times meeting as “magical” and shared how they determined if their eternal companions were the ones for them. They explained how reaching out to the Lord, praying often, taking time to get to know one another and pursuing their 24
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questions in faith helped them find their answers. Malia Malala, a former student and the spouse of Ojay Malala, an alumnus from Michigan, recalled her first experience meeting her husband at a school dance. After getting ready for bed, she said she took up a friend on their offer to go to the dance and go in her pajamas. A friend of hers introduced them at the dance, and Malia Malala said they were both attracted to each other. Despite this, they did not talk much due to the loud music and the dark dance floor. Coincidentally, the next day they were both at the temple taking pictures, and both of them took double takes, she said.
“When we were at the temple, I felt a spark and all types of feelings. Every time he smiled, it made me smile. Every date since my cheeks hurt because I loved his smile, and I [am] the happiest when I [am] with him.” Ojay Malala added, “The Sunday we saw each other at the temple, it shocked me. I thought she was very cute. I felt a spark.” Larry and Joyce Smart, former senior missionaries currently working in the Mathematics department at BYUH, shared they experienced love at first sight. They were both in a pre-med meeting. Larry Smart saw Joyce Smart, but she didn’t see him until they ended up working at the
