Brigham Young University is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year! BYU continues to be a key component within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to not only educate some of its members in academic fields but also provide a strong focus on spiritual learning and development. The university exists because of the Church, and the Church is strengthened by BYU and its graduates going forth to serve. Yet both premises would not be true if the university broke off its close relationship with the Church or if its faculty, staff, and graduates did not strengthen their testimonies as part of their BYU experience. Humility is required to realize the need for prophetic direction in the university leadership and in one’s private life. Academia can too easily lead one to slip into thinking one knows everything and is better than others. But Jesus Christ taught that to truly succeed and prepare for our divine destinies, we must become as little children and serve those around us. A covenant we make with God is not a diploma we put on the wall to mark a completed course of study, but rather it is a living, vibrant relationship that continues to guide and bless us.

Our efforts to seek spiritual knowledge, connection, and experiences help us draw closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Religious Education at BYU and the BYU Religious Studies Center aim to support the discipleship development of both those at the university and beyond. As we celebrate this sesquicentennial year, may we renew our efforts to fulfill the prophetic destiny of this special university and to strengthen our personal covenant relationships with Deity.

This issue of the Review magazine highlights some of the accomplishments of Religious Education over the university’s 150-year history. In addition, Scott Esplin discusses recent changes pertaining to the professional teaching faculty in Religious Education. We also hear about new teaching ideas shared via the Y-Religion podcast. One article reports on a recent regional Church history trip taken by faculty from Church History and Doctrine through many parts of Idaho where Church members have played significant roles. Kerry Muhlestein shares his perspective on a recent conference held in Italy honoring Antonio Lebolo, who was instrumental in acquiring the papyri related to the Book of Abraham. We highlight a few upcoming books: a Book of Mormon Academy volume on the so-called war chapters in the Book of Mormon and a collection of essays on the Old Testament, From Wilderness to Monarchy, covering the books of Joshua through Kings.

With respect to other anniversaries, we also share a little about the twenty-fifth year of the Religious Educator journal, which is published three times a year, and the celebratory banquet the RSC held to mark its fiftieth-year anniversary.

Jared W. Ludlow
Publications Director
BYU Religious Studies Center