On May 14 the Religious Studies Center commemorated its fiftieth anniversary with a gala held at the Hinckley Center, where guests gathered to enjoy good food, great company, and thoughtful messages on the Center’s history. In attendance was President Jeffrey R. Holland, founder of the RSC, who expressed gratitude to all who support the Center’s mission of advancing gospel scholarship.

He reflected on his eighty-five years of life, including the profound influence of the other members of the Quorum of the Twelve and First Presidency, as well as a life-threatening illness that, in his words, “took me to the edge of eternity.” Toward the end of his remarks, he said, “If I could have you feel what I feel about those years, these experiences, and that association, you would run from tonight and you’d grab your pen and pencil and iPad and laptop, and you’d teach and testify and testify and teach—and you’d do it on the run.”

Founding

President Holland founded the RSC in 1975 as an avenue for BYU faculty to “write and share their teaching with an ever-widening audience of students, alumni, and Latter-day Saints generally.”[1] He later articulated an even more expansive vision of the Center, that it would be a contributor to global unity and peace in preparation for the Savior’s return.[2]

Today the RSC joins with BYU Studies and the Maxwell Institute under the umbrella of a new unit known as “BYU Religious Scholarly Publications,” led by assistant academic vice president Reid Neilson. The Center is housed in the hundred-year-old Heber J. Grant building on the historic Temple Hill of south BYU campus. Day-to-day operations are carried out by a team of eight faculty and staff members, supported by five student employees and interns.

BYU president C. Shane Reese (left) with President Jeffrey R. Holland (right) at the RSC’s celebration dinner. Photo by Richard B. Crookston.

Milestones

From its inception, the RSC has occupied a distinctive place in advancing BYU’s mission through scholarship that pairs reason with revelation. And according to publications director Jared Ludlow, the numbers are impressive: In the five decades of its existence, the RSC has worked with 1,275 authors to publish more than four hundred books and seventy-two peer-reviewed issues of the Religious Educator. It has copublished with Deseret Book since 2009 and hosts ongoing religious and academic conferences such as the BYU Religious Education Symposium in Honor of Sidney B. Sperry, the BYU Easter Conference, and the Church History Symposium. Additionally, it publishes the continuing work of the Book of Mormon Academy and The Brigham Young Journals.

Executive editor Devan Jensen has worked at the RSC for twenty-four of its fifty years and says that he’s seen many changes in that time. He recalls that initially publications were “mainly print based with limited circulation” but that now “the RSC has embraced digital platforms (including an enhanced website, podcasts, and YouTube), making its scholarship accessible to a global audience for free.”

Ludlow called the RSC website “one of the gems of Church scholarship,” with “1.85 million active users and 3.6 million page views from virtually every country in the world.”

The Gala

The fiftieth anniversary gala was a meaningful tribute to five decades of impactful work. Alongside President Holland, the evening featured remarks from BYU president C. Shane Reese, assistant academic vice president Reid L. Neilson, Director Ludlow, associate publications director Michael Goodman, emeritus professors Kent Jackson and Camille Fronk Olson, and dean of Religious Education Scott Esplin.

The event was organized by RSC publications coordinator Leigh Ann Copas, who reflected, “One of the most memorable parts of the evening was hearing the personal reflections shared by each speaker. Their heartfelt stories deeply resonated with many in attendance and reminded us that the mission of the Religious Studies Center is not only intellectually enriching but spiritually essential. Many left the evening feeling inspired and reaffirmed in their commitment to advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Looking Ahead

Ludlow said, “As we celebrate fifty years of inspired work, we honor the past and look forward with hope and a commitment to excellence. The RSC’s mission remains clear: to build faith, foster understanding, and share the light of the gospel with the world.”

In that spirit, the RSC welcomes all to support its mission, whether by subscribing, sharing, writing, or submitting. We hope that more and more people will take advantage of this wealth of religious scholarship to supplement their personal gospel study.

Visit us online at rsc.byu.edu and follow us on YouTube @BYURSC.

Notes

[1] Jeffrey R. Holland and Thomas A. Wayment, “The RSC Turns Forty: A Conversation with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland,” Religious Educator 16, no. 2 (2015): 2.

[2] Jeffrey R. Holland, “. . . Of Countries and Kingdoms,” BYU Studies 18, no. 1 (1977): 5.