PHOTOS: Elizabeth Smart’s ‘From Adversity to Empowerment’ lecture

Elizabeth Smart told her personal story and gave valuable advice at the “From Adversity to Empowerment” lecture on Friday. One piece of advice she gave came from her mother, the morning after she was home again. Her mother said, ”Elizabeth what these people have done to you is terrible…they stole 9 months of your life away from you that you will never get back, but the best punishment you could ever give them is to be happy.”

Kennedy Deraedt

Elizabeth Smart spoke at Stephens Auditorium on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. Smart was abducted as a 14-year-old in 2002 and told her story, “From Adversity to Empowerment.” Along with Smart’s lecture, there was a resource fair held in the Celebrity Cafe and a book signing at the end of the event.