Alan K. Parrish was a professor of religious education at Brigham Young University when this was written, and he has written books and articles related to American education and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, most notably a biography of John A. Widtsoe.

Brother Parrish was born and raised in Logan, Utah. He served in the Southwest British Mission of the LDS Church, based in Bristol, England. After his mission he received a bachelor's degree and an MBA from Utah State University. After being in business for a short time, he was recruited to work for the Church Educational System beginning as a seminary teacher. He then taught institute adjacent to UCLA and served as bishop of the UCLA ward, while at the same time receiving an EdD degree from the University of Southern California.

From 1978 to 1984, Brother Parrish was the director of the LDS Institute of Religion in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1984, he joined the faculty of BYU.