Integrity, Happiness, and Respect for Individuals

Editor's Note

As we begin this issue, we say goodbye to Thomas A. Wayment, who accepted a position in the Classics in the College of Humanities at BYU. We thank him for five years of leadership as publications director of the RSC and for choosing and processing the articles in this issue.

In “Truth Endures,” Elder D. Todd Christofferson teaches that truth and integrity still matter. He also shares his memories as a law clerk to a Supreme Court justice during the Watergate scandal.

Several excellent papers came from last year’s Seminaries and Institutes of Religion annual training broadcast. Elder Kim B. Clark, Commissioner of the Church Educational System trumpets the importance of deep learning and of feeling joy in the Lord, while Grant Anderson also encourages religious educators to “be happy in this work,” reminding that “this is the gospel of happiness.”

Lori C. Newbold, director of training services of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, encourages teachers to “see the one,” developing a “Christlike ability to see each student’s individual needs, strengths, and divine potential” and to see “beyond labels and outward appearances.”

Marlo Lopez, who grew up in the Philippines, tells the story of a Caucasian seminary teacher in Laie, Hawaii. Lopez observes that ethnic students are often marginalized in our seminary and institute classes, feeling conflicted between their ethnic culture and the gospel culture. We must be prepared to help them by developing multicultural competency.

Gathering a variety of perspectives, Tyler Balli traces the wide range of responses to the term Lamanite among the Hispanic community. “The term Lamanite,” Balli writes, “is a complex word whose history carries vestiges of racial superiority, rebellion, and curses on the one hand and righteousness and glorious promised blessings on the other.”

We hope you enjoy these articles and many more.

Scott C. Esplin

Editor in Chief