Daily Archive

Brigham Young University has been referred to as the Lord’s university since its beginnings, but what does it mean for a university to be the Lord’s?

Jeffrey R. Holland and Spencer W. Kimball both used the exact phrase “the Lord’s University” to refer to BYU when speaking to The Daily Universe in 1980.

J. Reuben Clark, Jr. stated one reason to call BYU the Lord’s was because it has, “a dual function, a dual aim and purpose – secular learning, the lesser value, and spiritual development, the greater. These two values must always be together, but the spiritual values … must always prevail.”

And while BYU’s mission statement today still addresses the need for spiritual and intellectual development, it does not prioritize one as more important than the other. It states that spiritual and academic learning – along with building character, lifelong learning and service – are all interconnected.

So what makes BYU the Lord’s University?

Is it because all buildings on campus are dedicated? Is it because tithing money is used for the benefit of the institution and its students? Perhaps it’s because of the emphasis on spiritual education along with academic education.

What does it mean for students who are part of the Lord’s university? Does it mean they are smarter or more righteous? Does it mean nothing bad ever happens at BYU? Does it mean BYU’s sports teams should never lose?

Carri Jenkins, assistant to the president for University Communications, unofficially stated BYU does not have an official definition of what it means to be the Lord’s university.

Public Affairs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chose to “respectfully decline to respond,” when asked for what it means to be the Lord’s University.

Students, on the other hand, were vocal and diverse in their responses when stating why they thought BYU was or was not the Lord’s university.

Some felt the phrase was too elitist.

“It’s not the ONLY university of the Lord, but it is an institution founded by the church and tithing of the members,” said Devin Athey from Casper, Wyo., majoring in mechanical engineering. “It can be negative if people assume it’s the only place you can go to get an education.”

Some felt the phrase was a true representation of BYU’s atmosphere.

“The more I’m here and the more I experience it, the more I hope this is what the celestial kingdom is like,” said Carrie Van Dusen, a pre-communications major from Minneapolis, Minn. “We should take pride in the fact we integrate the secular and the spiritual.”

Some felt the phrase was too exclusive.

“The only institution that is truly the Lord’s is the church itself,” said Logan Daniels from Pleasanton, Calif., majoring in political science. “It can be the Lord’s university at any university because it’s a personal experience. If you’re going to use your education to benefit the Lord, then you’re part of His university.”

Some felt the phrase was reflective of students’ activities.

“I think other schools have qualities the Lord doesn’t approve of like drinking, smoking and swearing,” said Megan Dance from Fall City, Wash., majoring in theater. “The Lord wouldn’t want to call it His university if that was going on.”

Some felt the phrase was conditional.

“It’s up to us to make it the Lord’s University,” said James Wigginton from Sacramento, Calif., majoring in international relations. “Education is a way to give back to the Lord. That makes me a part of Zion.”

And some felt the phrase could arouse an inappropriate amount of arrogance.

“We are fond of saying that BYU is the Lord’s university, but we do not make it so by self-labeling or self-congratulations,” said Dallin H. Oaks in 1979 as president of BYU. “Nor do we achieve that standing by whining excuses, by self-righteous posturing, or by trivial rhetoric in the ‘[Daily] Universe’ or other public press. Neither do we become great scholars or educated persons by being hired by or admitted to the University.”

President Oaks warned of the incorrect usages of the phrase, but students still do it. Students will sometimes refer to BYU as the Lord’s university in order to make their arguments seem more valid or to prove BYU is better.

“There is sometimes a ‘holier than thou’ feeling when that term is used,” Daniels said. “We get religious instruction, and that does invite the spirit, but it’s not like that doesn’t happen anywhere else.”

But for some students, it’s those things that really don’t happen anywhere else that makes BYU the Lord’s university.

“If we have the privilege of coming here, and since the money is the Lord’s, we can help Heavenly Father’s sons and daughters,” Wigginton said. “In Mosiah it says you’re in debt to the Lord. It’s not just an option to go forth and serve, but a holy obligation.”

“I’m grateful and lucky to be on this campus,” Dance said. “BYU is dedicated, no other schools have that. People here are inspired. It’s very high standards. We pray and sing hymns in our classes. I’ve never learned with a spiritual aspect before. I love BYU.”

That is all.

-Scotty