As we commemorate BYU’s legacy of the past 150 years, we celebrate more than just an institution; we honor a vision. Religious Education at BYU is at the heart of that vision—a beacon of light illuminating the path of discipleship, intellectual expansion, and lifelong learning and service. From humble beginnings within a frontier academy to a global influence shaping millions, BYU Religious Education embodies and exemplifies the university’s sacred mission to “assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.”[1]

Since its inception, Brigham Young University has stood as a unique institution—one where faith and intellect are harmonized, where spiritual and academic pursuits are paired aspirations. In preparation for its sesquicentennial, every unit on campus was asked to explore ways it has been a beacon of light to the world over the past 150 years. Richard O. Cowan’s book Teaching the Word: Religious Education at Brigham Young University[2] provides an excellent overview of our history from its beginnings up through 2008. Much of what follows here is a summary of many highlights found in Brother Cowan’s book.

Spiritual Beginnings: The Foundation of Faith

From its earliest days, religious instruction at BYU has been core and foundational, not a tangential afterthought. The original deed of trust was administered to the Brigham Young Academy in 1875 with the directive that every student be instructed in every subject common to any academy of learning in that day. The deed went one step further, however, by including the injunction that “the Old and New Testament, the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants shall be read and their doctrines inculcated in the Academy.”[3] Karl G. Maeser, the academy’s first principal and one of its most influential early leaders, declared that the school would never teach anything that conflicted with the revelations of God. Those religious education roots were maintained and strengthened throughout the early years of the academy. James E. Talmage was teaching classes at the academy in 1879 when he said, “All our conduct in this academy, of teachers as well as students, all our discipline, all our studies are conducted according to the spirit of the living God.”[4]

The early years were not without their challenges. In 1911 President Joseph F. Smith advised all teachers at BYU to avoid teaching anything that could prove misleading or undermine faith in the students. This direction was reflected in the 1912–13 course catalog, which overtly outlined the purpose of theological courses as being based in scripture. This would promote theoretical understanding and practical application of gospel principles rooted in latter-day revelation so “students may have faith in God and develop a religious character.”[5]

A Brief Overview from 1920 to 2000

From 1875 through 1930, all BYU faculty members taught religion classes in addition to courses in their own areas of specialty. In 1930 Guy C. Wilson, who had started the Church’s first seminary at Granite High School in 1912, became the first full-time religion teacher hired at BYU. He was soon joined by others, including Sidney B. Sperry in 1932 and J. Wyley Sessions in 1939. Brother Sessions had started the first Institute of Religion program for the Church in 1926 and then directed similar institute programs at other universities before moving to Provo.

In 1940 the newly formed Division of Religion, directed by Brother Sessions, created four departments, each with a chairman: Bible and Modern Scripture, Theology and Religious Philosophy, Church History, and Church Organization. This organizational change coincided with the construction of the original Joseph Smith Building (JSB) on campus. In the 1940s the JSB functioned much like an institute program with dances, stage productions, activities, and even a dining program that would later move to the top floor of the Wilkinson Center.

In 1947 Sidney B. Sperry was appointed as the first director of Religious Instruction. This renaming shifted the focus entirely on teaching and scholarship as social and cultural activities were eliminated from the purview of the college. Brother Sperry was the first to take a lecture series to other parts of Utah and to Idaho, Nevada, California, Washington, and Alberta, thus laying the groundwork for future Know Your Religion and Education Week offerings. He also led the first BYU Travel Study tour to the Holy Land in 1953. During one 11-year period, religion faculty numbers increased more than sevenfold (from four in 1947 to twenty-nine in 1957), scripture courses significantly expanded, and PhD programs in religion were established.

In 1959 the Board of Trustees changed the name from Division of Religion to College of Religious Instruction, with David H. Yarn Jr. being appointed as the first dean. The four departments were expanded into five: Biblical Language, Bible and Modern Scripture, History and Philosophy of Religion, LDS Theology, Church Organization and Administration, and Religious Education.

In the early 1960s the long-standing practice of allowing students to fulfill religion requirements by taking religious-themed classes in other departments was discontinued. This adjustment increased the number of students enrolled in traditional religion classes. The Book of Mormon was established as the basic required course for all freshmen around this time.

During the four years of Dean B. West Belnap’s tenure, the religion faculty increased from thirty-one to forty-one. His successor, Dean Daniel H. Ludlow, was highly trusted by the General Authorities and was instrumental in providing course reductions to allow the religion faculty to create Church curriculum and activities that would be used across the world for the next twenty-five years. In 1965 Dean Ludlow became one of the first educators in the country to use the television to deliver lectures.

From 1963 to 1969, the college had simplified its structure into two departments, one for undergraduate education and one for graduate education. By 1969, there was a feeling that specialties would be beneficial for scheduling and collaboration, so three new departments were established: Ancient Scripture, Church History and Doctrine, and Philosophy.

Since 1940 the Board of Trustees had required that students take two credits of religion every semester they attended classes, adding up to sixteen completed religion credits come graduation. In 1972, during Dean Roy W. Doxey’s tenure, the Board reduced that requirement to fourteen credits, and it has remained there ever since. Also in that year, the Board voted to discontinue granting doctoral degrees. With that adjustment, the Department of Philosophy was moved to the College of General Studies. The president of BYU at that time, Dallin H. Oaks, shortened the name of the College of Religious Instruction to Religious Instruction to signal that the religious education of students was central to the mission of the university, and he expected that every teacher on campus should be able to teach a religion class if called upon to do so. This became known as the “transfer faculty program.” The Sidney B. Sperry Symposium was established in 1973 to increase the impact of Religious Instruction beyond the campus.

In 1974 Jeffrey R. Holland became the new dean at the age of thirty-three. Dean Holland increased the number of transfer faculty from thirty-five to eighty-five. To help build collegiality and foster more discussion among the religion faculty, Dean Holland started a Friday “Brown Bag Seminar” where teachers would take turns leading gospel discussions, sharing teaching ideas, and receiving feedback on their research. To provide additional opportunities for religion faculty to publish their research, Dean Holland started the Religious Studies Center (RSC) on campus in 1975 and served as its first director.

When Dean Holland was named as the Commissioner of Education for the Church in 1976, Ellis T. Rasmussen was appointed as the new dean. He helped develop stronger curricular connections with Seminaries and Institutes. Under his leadership, Susan Easton Black was hired into a full-time position in Religious Instruction, becoming its first female faculty member.

Robert J. Matthews served as the dean from 1981 to 1990. In 1983 Religious Instruction underwent another name change, becoming Religious Education. During Dean Matthew’s tenure, greater emphasis was placed on scholarship and writing. The roles of two associate deans were established with one overseeing curriculum and teaching duties and the other directing the work of faculty research and publications. In 1985 the religion-core requirement was adjusted to include two Book of Mormon classes, one New Testament class, and one Doctrine and Covenants class. The new Joseph Smith Building was dedicated in 1991 by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Robert L. Millet served as the dean from 1991 to 2000. When he was introduced to the faculty as the new dean, Elders Neal A. Maxwell, Dallin H. Oaks, and Boyd K. Packer all attended. They charged Dean Millet to find new ways to bless the Church and the whole world through the work at BYU.

In 1997 Keith Perkins created an independent study course that became one of the first Internet-based courses in the nation. Dean Millet helped reinstitute the master’s degree program in Religious Education. He also initiated the Religious Educator journal at the RSC. Richard N. Holzapfel served as the journal’s first editor in chief.

Religious Education from 2000 to the Present

From 2000 to 2025, Religious Education has had five deans: Andrew Skinner (2000–05), Terry Ball (2006–13), Brent Top (2013–18), Daniel Judd (2018–21), and Scott Esplin (2021–present). During these years, BYU Religious Education has seen many changes and improvements in our ability to be a beacon of light to the world. Some of those efforts include the following:

There has been an increase in academic publishing as well as gospel scholarship being produced. The RSC hired R. Devan Jensen as executive editor in 2001, a move that helped to triple the RSC’s output.

Three new symposia were started to meet different needs: the Church History Symposium, the Student Symposium, and the Easter Conference.

Religious Education has also played a key role in supporting Church initiatives. Faculty members have served on the Church’s Gospel Topics projects, contributed to the Joseph Smith Papers, and provided expertise in curriculum development and correlation review for the Church’s educational and messaging efforts.

The chaplaincy program was started, and the master of religious education program was expanded.

The religion-core requirements changed for all CES entities. Students are now required to complete four cornerstone courses along with three elective classes. The cornerstones are The Eternal Family, Foundations of the Restoration, Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel, and Teachings and Doctrines of the Book of Mormon.

In 2019 the Board of Trustees approved a guiding document called “Strengthening Religious Education in Institutions of Higher Education” (SRE). This document provides a purpose statement and framework for all universities within CES. It has become a major foundation for our teaching, research, hiring, promotion, and citizenship work.

We developed significant remote and online teaching capabilities due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

Technological innovation has also played a role. With the rising tide of online education and digital media, BYU faculty have been at the forefront of creating content that reaches millions of people beyond campus. From podcasts and YouTube videos to virtual courses and scripture apps, Religious Education has helped bring gospel learning to a global audience.

We have seen an increase in experiential learning opportunities for students. This has come in various forms such as travel study experiences being offered to more students, archeological digs, interfaith dialogues, service learning opportunities, animation and visualization projects, and options for more students to work on self-selected creative projects as part of their grades.

The past few years have also seen significant relationships being built with our sister institutions within the Church Educational System (CES). The Commissioner’s office set up a religious educators committee to meet three times per year. This committee is composed of administrators from Seminaries and Institutes (S&I), BYU, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii, and Ensign College. This committee reinstituted the CES Conference for Religious Educators, which has now been held for the past two years.[6] Through these relationships, we have also participated in more meaningful interfaculty exchanges and interactions with BYU–Idaho and S&I. We have also started new podcast initiatives here that involve other teachers, administrators, and students within the CES family.

BYU Religious Education also worked to create a new motto for use in messaging and publicity efforts. The new motto is “Inspiring all to come unto Christ through study and faith.”

Religious Education as Core to BYU’s Mission

Moving forward, our efforts to be a beacon of light to the world are shaped by the SRE document, which clearly defines our role and purpose as follows:

Religious education holds a unique and cherished place in the mission of [BYU]. It stands at the very center of [BYU’s] purpose.

In CES institutions every class in every subject should be taught with the Spirit of God by faculty who bathe their subjects in the light of the gospel and who are role models of faithful discipleship. What gives religious education its distinctive character is its focus on teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ directly and devotedly.

Religious education has a critical role to play in strengthening the faith and deepening the conversion of CES students.[7]

Today, the Religious Education faculty includes gifted teachers and accomplished scholars in scripture, Church history, ancient languages, world religions, and doctrinal subjects. These professors have a dual commitment to faith and reason.

Religious Education at BYU is intentionally student-focused. Faculty members frequently mentor students, facilitate active learning and service learning, and model discipleship in their personal and professional lives. We strive to make our religion classes safe places for students to ask questions, explore doctrines, and deepen their relationship with God.

Shaping Disciples and Leaders

Perhaps the most significant beacon of light emanating from Religious Education at BYU is its students. For 150 years, graduates have gone on to become missionaries, parents, Church leaders, educators, and civic contributors who carry with them a foundation of faith rooted in their BYU experience.

BYU Religious Education teaches not only doctrine but discipleship. Students learn how to live the gospel, not just understand it intellectually. They are invited to make and keep sacred covenants, serve others, and develop Christlike attributes. In a world increasingly marked by confusion and relativism, BYU offers clarity, conviction, and compassion.

Many alumni recount their religion classes as among the most influential of their college years. Professors often become lifelong mentors. Testimonies are deepened, questions are wrestled with honestly, and students leave more prepared to be faithful, thoughtful Latter-day Saints in an ever-changing world.

Looking Forward: The Next 150 Years

As BYU enters its next chapter, Religious Education remains central to the university’s identity and mission. In a time when faith is often challenged and moral anchors questioned, the need for a spiritually rooted, intellectually vibrant education is greater than ever. Religious Education at BYU stands ready to meet that need.

New generations of students will continue to be taught by consecrated teachers who blend academic excellence with spiritual power. Innovations in teaching and learning will expand the reach of the gospel message. Scholarship will continue to strengthen testimonies, support Church initiatives, and build bridges with the broader world.

In every way, BYU Religious Education embodies the university’s prophetic destiny to be a beacon of light to the world. It is not merely a campus unit; it is a mission. It is not simply about credit hours; it is about conversion.

Religious Education has been at the heart of BYU’s mission from the very beginning and has guided generations of students, scholars, and truth seekers and will continue to serve as a beacon of light to all the world.

Notes

[1] “Mission of the University,” aims.byu.edu.

[2] Richard O. Cowan, Teaching the Word: Religious Education at Brigham Young University (Religious Studies Center, 2008), https://rsc.byu.edu/book/teaching-word.

[3] Deed of Trust, quoted in John P. Fugal, “University-Wide Religious Objectives: Their History and Implementation at Brigham Young University” (PhD diss., Brigham Young University, 1967), 36.

[4] “Theological References,” October 13, 1879, book 2, p. 9, University Archives, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, BYU.

[5] Annual Catalogue, 1912, 82, published in Brigham Young University Quarterly 7, no. 4 (May 1, 1912).

[6] https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/event/religious-educators-06-2025.

[7] “Strengthening Religious Education in Institutions of Higher Education” (Church Educational System, 2019), 1.