BYU: Mormon-isms In Light of Religious Education

Enjoy the following picture I took and an article containing some humorous content:

(Picture taken in the Wilkinson Center on BYU Campus)

PROVO, Utah—“Mormon-isms” are nothing new to Brigham Young University and as the Fall 2012 semester commences many are heard throughout the university.

Most professors use a course’s first class to heed students to follow the Honor Code. Dr. Brent Gilchrist, a political science professor, encouraged his students, if they cheated, to tell him before it was too late—before he became responsible for their eternal marriages and salvation. Supposedly, some of his previous students have made him responsible in such a way by confessing to cheating after having finished his class and were about to go to the temple. Gilchrist told his students that he did not want that responsibility; that they should keep that information between them and God after they finish his class.

“Mormons are more guilt-ridden than Jews—they will confess!” Gilchrist joked before moving on with his lesson.

Brigham Young University is a religious university where the students and instructors have no shame in discussing freely their religion, whether or not they are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. However, not all discussion is formal. In fact, a lot of discussion is made in light humor.

“We deserve attention at least as a Satanic cult for the damage that we, and Jehovah's Witnesses, have done to Christian History,” Professor Alonzo L. Gaskill humorously said to his Christian History class as he spoke on how Mormons are not considered Christians in the mainstream Christian world.

Many people throughout the United States say that religion has no place in the classroom. In Utah, many such people say that Mormonism has no place in the classroom either. At BYU, this mainstream thought is rejected and the sanctity of a religious education is preserved.

“For the establishment of Zion in the 21st century: you never check your religion at the door. Not ever” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said at the most recent CES (Church Educational System) devotional.

Religion is a focal point in the BYU curriculum. Most classes begin with prayer and religious and language classes will often also include a hymn. BYU is an environment where faith is encouraged, not discarded.

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Notes to my readers:

Please feel free to check out my Kerman Girl blog which portrays my life and experiences.

Also, I tend to write my blogs in a multitude of formats. Though, I've noticed that the above format seems to attract more readers so I may experiment with that format some more, but I'll have to be more careful when I translate it for my Spanish posts.

One more thing: I've been wanting to give a big shout out to all of my readers and their countries. I love learning about other countries and about how the church grows in these parts of the world. In a future post I will try to highlight various people from these countries who attend BYU.

I love you America!
Te quiero Chile!
Te quiero Mexico!      (La tierra de mis antepasados!)
Ich liebe dich Deutschland!   (Germany)
Te quiero Peru!
I love you UK!
Ik hou van je België!   (Belgium)
Я люблю тебя Россия!  (Russia)
Te quiero Argentina!
Te quiero El Salvador!
Te quiero Panama!

Finally: Please see my profile on Mormon.org and, perhaps, create your own!