Religious Education Commons^™

Front Matter

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

She That Showed Him Mercy, Ellis William Leroy Jr.

BYU Studies

I am a physician—a retired one now. I loved my work. It was what I always wanted to do, and I loved the people I cared for. I enjoyed taking care of them in all places and under all circumstances. In the hospital, I took care of them in the intensive care unit, the medical wards, and the office. I especially loved caring for them in their homes when they could no longer come to the office, or when they lived in a nursing home. It was required in my work to provide a bill for my service. I wished …

Full Issue

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Book Of Mormon Grammar And Translation, Stanford Carmack

BYU Studies

This paper discusses some of the Book of Mormon’s nonstandard grammar, showing how in many cases it was not the kind of grammar that Joseph Smith would have been expected to produce, since it was neither his native usage nor a presumed biblically influenced English. In these contexts, if he had been in control of the wording of the text, it is highly likely that he would have expressed things differently. Quite a few examples are provided in support of this claim, along with additional matching examples found in early modern texts.

Tasting God’S Light: Saints And The Spiritual Senses, Philip Abbott

BYU Studies

While many Westerners once assumed that sensory perception is more or less constant and universal, scholarship in the area of sensory studies has shown how volatile and diverse sensory discernment can be. For instance, though Western epistemology categorizes sensory knowledge into five senses, people across world cultures do not agree on the number of human senses that exist (some enumerate two, four, six, or seven senses), nor do they agree on how the senses function. As anthropologists have illuminated, these various notions of sensory perception lead people to translate sensory experience into vastly different worldviews. Thus, researchers have concluded that …

Preserving History: The Progression Of Recordkeeping In The Church, Wayne Crosby, W. Tyson Thorpe

BYU Studies

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a variety of experiences with living the gospel and coming closer to Jesus Christ. Where people live, what age they are, and what their family situations are can all impact how they see God’s hand in their lives, as can a multitude of other factors. For this reason, it is important for historians examining the lived experiences of Latter-day Saints to have a variety of records to draw on in their analyses and explorations. Thankfully, the keeping of histories in Church units has been an important part of the …

All One People, Susan Elizabeth Howe

BYU Studies

In his BYU Studies article “Building an Innovative ‘Latter-day Saints without Borders’ Organization,” Warner Woodworth recounts both his own and his students’ extensive work to better the lives of the poor, but he gives credit to many other Latter-day Saint groups who are carrying out similar efforts. All One People, an organization located in Manti, Utah, is one of these groups. Woodworth says that these groups “[act] as ‘social entrepreneurial’ Christians who draw on their faith, rely on scriptural values, harness their educations, and call forth their business skills in designing and launching effective humanitarian services.” These are exactly the …

Artist Statement—Our Mothers Knew It, Ashley Jensen

BYU Studies

This piece explores the immense trust and emotion the families of the two thousand young men fighting under Helaman’s command may have felt as they sent their sons off to battle, with a special emphasis on how the mothers and sisters may have felt. When we think of Helaman’s army, we most often reflect on their characteristics, spiritual courage, and the physical battles they fought. But how often do we reflect on the feelings and personal battles their families may have been fighting in their own hearts?

On The Day My Missionary Son Departs, Darlene Young

BYU Studies

. . . seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me —Genesis 22:12

This poem was a finalist in the 2024 BYU Studies Poetry Contest.

Making Mistakes, Shamae Budd

BYU Studies

My four-year- old son is not a quiet child. He is the kind of child that people call “spirited,” “high energy,” or “all boy.”

My four-year- old son is not a quiet child. He is the kind of child that people call “spirited,” “high energy,” or “all boy.” His enthusiasm for the beautiful, rare cosmic bliss of living seems limitless. His zeal exists in all directions, at all times of day, and in all seasons and sizes and shapes and colors. It is technicolor joie de vivre. As an illustration, he recently spent the morning stomping from room to room …

Full Issue

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Full Issue

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Understanding Perfectionism, G E. Kawika Allen, Jacelin Clayton, Emma Moore, Debra Theobald Mcclendon

BYU Studies

Perfectionism is a widely known personality characteristic, but it is not always understood. It can motivate and promote growth, or it can stifle and promote low self-worth with consuming negative thoughts and behaviors. Toxic perfectionism occurs when individuals demand perfection and become highly critical of themselves or others, turning normal mistakes into shame and self-hatred or hatred of others.1 It often includes an all-or- nothing mindset—viewing a performance as either a total success or a total failure—with no in-between. 2 And even success is fleeting for toxic perfectionists because they find flaws in their apparently perfect performances or in the …

Are Latter-Day Saints Perfectionists? Guest Editor’S Introduction, W. Justin Dyer

BYU Studies

A while back, I was sitting in a university meeting at the beginning of another school year. A therapist was facilitating a helpful discussion on the growing concern of student mental health. When toxic perfectionism came up, the facilitator mentioned in an offhanded way that we have a particular problem with this at Brigham Young University (BYU) because of “the gospel.” This statement was not much of a surprise given the seemingly common attitude that BYU students (and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in general) struggle with perfectionism.

Religion And Perfectionism, Michael A. Goodman

BYU Studies

Perfectionism has been a frequent topic of interest to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In official Church material and in other sources aimed at a Latter-day Saint audience (such as podcasts and blogs), the problems of toxic perfectionism have continued to receive attention in scholarly and clinical literature. The concept has been addressed several times in general conference addresses, including by members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.1 The Church has produced official videos and articles for youth,2 young adults,3 and adults.4

Faith And Stem Education: A Path To Mutual Elevation In Catholic Schools, Michael Szopiak, Matthew Kloser

Journal of Catholic Education

Amidst increasing religious disaffiliation, often due to a perceived tension between faith and the STEM disciplines, Catholic schools provide critical opportunities for young people to recognize how these domains can be mutually elevating. The field, however, lacks guidance as to how this integration should occur in practice. This conceptual paper first provides an overarching framework for how aspects of the Catholic tradition, like Scripture and the Catholic social tradition, can shape traditional educational domains of STEM teaching and learning. Secondly, we provide a heuristic of three criteria for deeply engaging students at the interface of the Catholic faith and the …

The Sound Of Silence: The Significance Of Nurturing Spirituality, Self-Transformation, And Academic Excellence In Augustinian Schools, William R. Driscoll

Journal of Catholic Education

This article examines silent reflection within the context of Augustinian Catholic schools. Tracing the rich lineage of Augustinian spirituality, it explores how cultivating interiority serves as a transformative practice that fosters spiritual growth, nourishes a deeper understanding of self and others, and compliments academic inquiry. Through a synthesis of theological, educational, and psychological perspectives, this article illuminates the multifaceted benefits of integrating silent reflection into the educational ethos of Catholic schools. Emic descriptions from students, teachers, and leaders provided insights into silent reflection programming designed to enrich the holistic development of students.

Providing Specialized Preparation For Counselors In Catholic Schools, Timothy J. Cook, Jan J. Powers, Jiwon Kim

Journal of Catholic Education

School counselors are needed now more than ever. Providing Catholic school counselors the specialized formation they need to be effective in the Catholic school context is essential. This study addressed two research questions in this regard: (1) What competencies (e.g., understanding, incorporating) and topics do Catholic school principals and school counselors believe are important for school counselors to fully contribute to the educational and faith-based mission of Catholic schools; and (2) How might the research findings inform pre-service education and/or continuing education and formation of school counselors for the Catholic school context? Online surveys were developed using the “Defining Characteristics …

Increasing Parent Faith Engagement At A Parish School, Grace Mazza Urbanski

Journal of Catholic Education

Increasing faith engagement among Catholic school shareholders is a priority for school leaders. Catholic school communities can learn from this year-long project with a parish school. Sacred Heart Parish School serves approximately 300 K3-8th grade students. Like many parish schools, Sacred Heart sees a growing number of parents disengaged with the faith life of the parish and school, despite 98% of them being registered parishioners. The parent population enjoys robust and regular social activities, but report they are uncomfortable or uninterested in faith activities. The mission of Sacred Heart Parish School is to nurture “children’s growth in the Catholic faith,” …

The Interplay Of Principals And Politics In The Context Of Ohio’S Edchoice Scholarship Program, Adam J. Dufault, Melodie Wyttenbach

Journal of Catholic Education

The role of a Catholic school leader is complex, dynamic, and changing, especially in states where parental choice legislation has been enacted. This study utilizes Bolman and Deal’s (2017) organizational framework to examine the political nature of the role of the Catholic school leader. Specifically, this study explores the ways the Catholic school leader navigates the politics of accessing and advocating for government funds. Drawing from interviews with eight Catholic school principals who have utilized the Ohio EdChoice voucher program, this study captures the experiences of these principals through the lens of the political frame. Findings reveal lessons learned on …