Business Education at BYU

Spencer W. KimballThis university shares with other universities the hope and the labor involved in rolling back the frontiers of knowledge even further, but we also know through the process of revelation that there are yet "many great and important things" (A of F 1:9) to be given to mankind which will have an intellectual and spiritual impact far beyond what mere men can imagine. Thus, at this university, among faculty, students, and administration, there is and must be an excitement and an expectation about the very nature and future of knowledge that underwrites the uniqueness of BYU.

- Second Century Address

Spencer W. KimballYour double heritage and dual concerns with the secular and the spiritual require you to be "bilingual." As LDS scholars, you must speak with authority and excellence to your professional colleagues in the language of scholarship, and you must also be literate in the language of spiritual things. We must be more bilingual, in that sense, to fulfill our promise in the second century of BYU.

- Second Century Address

Spencer W. KimballWhile the discovery of new knowledge must increase, there must always be a heavy and primary emphasis on transmitting knowledge--on the quality of teaching at BYU. Quality teaching is a tradition never to be abandoned.

- Second Century Address

Spencer W. KimballTo go to BYU is something special. There were Brethren who had dreams regarding the growth and maturity of Brigham Young University, even to the construction of a temple on the hill they had long called Temple Hill, yet "dreams and prophetic utterances are not self-executing. They are fulfilled usually by righteous and devoted people making the prophecies come true." (Wilkinson, Brigham Young University.)

- Second Century Address

Spencer W. Kimball… you need to lengthen your stride, quicken your step, and (to use President N. Eldon Tanner's phrase) continue your journey. You are headed in the right direction! Such academic adjustments as need to be made will be made out of the individual and collective wisdom we find when a dedicated faculty interacts with a wise administration, an inspired governing board, and an appreciative body of students.

- Second Century Address

John S. TannerThe purpose of scholarship at BYU … is not, and must never be, to satisfy our own vainglory nor to advance our own careers. Nor is it solely to advance truth and knowledge, though this is a worthy purpose and one specifically endorsed by BYU’s institutional objectives. The primary purpose for the Church’s large investment in faculty scholarship … at BYU is to enable us to be a refining host for our students. Hence, we must strive for excellence, as President Kimball says, “not in arrogance or Pride, but in the spirit of service.”

- A House of Dreams

John S. TannerMay each of you continue to be successful in all you do. May you be extraordinary teachers who gladly teach and gladly learn, and who find great joy in seeing your students learn. May you be scholars who are blessed with the thrill of discovery and creativity, whose scholarly and creative work bring joy, honor, and acclaim to you and to BYU. And may you also find enduring happiness in being good colleagues and mentors to your fellow faculty, rejoicing in the success of colleagues and student alike.

- Rejoice With Them That Do Rejoice

Stephen Nadauld

“There is something about the human spirit that dislikes the status quo. The status quo is not inspiring. We believe in eternal progression and life long learning. Research is the framework for learning and progressing.”

- As quoted by Grant McQueen

C. S. Lewis

What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects—with their Christianity latent.

- God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics

Education Philosophy

The mind is not a receptacle; information is not education. Education is what remains after the information that has been taught has been forgotten.

- Robert M. Hutchins, President, University of Chicago, 1929-1951

LearningThe Essence of Worship

12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace; 13 And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; 14 And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first.

- D&C 93

24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; 26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth; 28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

- D&C 93

LearningThe Essence of Worship

19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.

- D&C 93

LearningThe Essence of Worship

Pedagogy: Know, Do, Be 51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given— 52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; 53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.

- D&C 76

To Be, or Not to Be …

Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been…

- Alma 9: 28

Learning by Faith

… seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

- D&C 88: 118

Faith

• The assurance of things hoped for that are true

• The evidence of things not seen- Hebrews 11:1, Alma 32:21

• The principle of action in all intelligent beings

- Lectures on Faith

Faith• Faith as the assurance of things hoped for looks to the

future. • assurance and hope make it possible for us to walk to

the edge of the light and take a few steps into the darkness—expecting and trusting the light to move and illuminate the way.

• Faith as the evidence of things not seen looks to the past and confirms our trust in God and our confidence in the truthfulness of things not seen.

• Assurance, action, and evidence influence each other in an ongoing process.

- David A. Bednar, Seek Learning by Faith, Ensign, Sept. 2007

C. S. Lewis

Now the whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have His way, come to share in the life of Christ. Christ is the Son of God. If we share in this kind of life we also shall be sons of God. … Every Christian is to become a little Christ.

- Mere Christianity, p. 137

Dr. John A. WidtsoeThe wonderful pedagogy of the temple service, especially appealing to me as a professional teacher, carries with it evidence of the truth of temple work. We go to the temple to be informed and directed, to be built up and to be blessed. How is all this accomplished? First by the spoken word, through lectures and conversations … then by appeal to the eye … Meanwhile the recipients themselves, the candidates for blessings, engage actively in the temple service … I wish instruction were given so well in every school room throughout the land, for we would then teach with more effect than we now do.

- Temple Worship, The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, April, 1921

Dr. John A. WidtsoeKnowledge becomes serviceable only when it is used; the covenant made in the temple, or elsewhere, if of the right kind, is merely a promise to give life to knowledge, by making knowledge useful and helpful in man’s daily progress.

- Temple Worship, The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, April, 1921