Education In Zion: Gallery in the Jospeh F. Smith Building

HFAC, More than an Acronym

The HFAC was named in honor of the fifth president of BYA/BYU, Franklin S. Harris. Since his early boyhood, Harris had been encouraged to pursue higher education by influential people such as John Widtsoe. Harris’s greatest inspiration, a teacher at the Juarez Academy in Arizona named Guy Wilson, kindled Harris’s desire to become an educator. Following his graduation from BYA, Harris attended Cornell University and obtained a doctorate in agronomy.

Harris assumed his position at BYU when the university was in dire financial needs. Although the university’s credibility and curriculum were lacking compared to other universities, he was undaunted and sought to make changes. Among his many accomplishments, Harris upgraded the collections of the library from 17,030 volumes to over 138,500 volumes.[1] To accommodate such a large increase in books, Harris had to commission a new library to be built; he named it the Hebert J. Grant Building. Harris also hired more accredited educators with doctorates and urged existing faculty members to earn their doctorates as well. His vision of education extended beyond the scope of the campus; he founded Leadership Week, later renamed Education Week to instruct and enrich the community.

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment he’s known for is acquiring the land that is BYU’s campus today. Despite criticisms, Harris said “I can never purchase enough land to provide for the future growth and development of this campus.”[2] To hear more stories about the forerunners of Brigham Young University, visit the Education in Zion Gallery at the top of the spiral staircase in the JFSB.

Politicians at BYU

Over the years, many significant world leaders have visited BYU and been impressed with both the campus and the students. In connection with the recent Presidential Inauguration, EIZ opened a small photo exhibit on politicians who have visited BYU.  A surprising number of politicians have visited including Harry Truman, Hubert Humphrey, Bobby Kennedy, Nelson Rockefeller, Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and others. Each has brought his or her own political style to campus and has been warmly welcomed regardless of political affiliation.

There are diverse political beliefs in the United States, but, regardless of our own political affiliation, everyone makes up a part of a unified whole as citizens.  The exhibit is meant to encourage visitors to think about politics and how they can get involved and make a difference.  We are blessed to live in a country that allows us the opportunity to exercise our agency in an effort to make a change in the world.

Along with photos and fun facts about each politician highlighted, the photo exhibit discusses the role of citizenship that each of us should play as students at BYU. Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encourage members to be actively involved in their communities and in the political process. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “We are involved in an intense battle. It is a battle between right and wrong, between truth and error, between the design of the Almighty on the one hand and that of Lucifer on the other. For that reason, we desperately need moral men and women who stand on principle, to be involved in the political process. Otherwise, we abdicate power to those whose designs are almost entirely selfish.”[1]

Come to the politicians’ exhibit at Education in Zion to see what a force for good you can be!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnSnQNGMRWU[/youtube]

Ka Buke a Moramona: The translation of the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian

The Translation of the Book of Mormon into other languages is an important aspect of the gospel and of the Education in Zion Gallery.  Like other translations, the Hawaiian translation of the Book of Mormon was vital in spreading the gospel and connecting missionaries with the Hawaiian people.

When he arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in 1850, George Q. Cannon noticed the missionaries were focusing their teaching efforts on English-speaking-white inhabitants because the missionaries didn’t know the Hawaiian language. However, Elder Cannon wished to work among the native inhabitants and “felt that [he] could not do otherwise and be free from condemnation.” [1] Because of his desire to teach the native inhabitants about Christ, Elder Cannon made it a goal to translate the Book of Mormon. With the help of Jonathan Napela, the first native Hawaiian to receive his temple endowment, Elder Cannon was able to see this dream realized. [2]

For the Hawaiian members to have a copy of the newly translated Book of Mormon, Elder Cannon published the book on a press purchased with donations from the Hawaiian Saints. [3] When finally printed and distributed, most of the copies of the Book of Mormon were left unbound to keep them affordable. [4]

Throughout the world, the gospel has been spread through the knowledge of other languages and cultures, some of which are featured in the Education in Zion Gallery. Innumerable lives and generations continue to be blessed through the diligence and love of others.

Suggested Links:

The Education in Zion gallery’s online text and documents:

http://lib.byu.edu/sites/education

inzion/resources/online-database/

George Q. Cannon’s Biography:

https://byustudies.byu.edu/showtitle.aspx?title=6681

Footnotes:

Education for Eternity

Spencer W. Kimball said, “The uniqueness of BYU lies in its special role—education for eternity—which it must carry in addition to the usual tasks of a university. This means concern—curricular and behavioral—not only for the ‘whole man,’ but also for the ‘eternal man.’ Whereas all universities seek to preserve the heritage of knowledge that history has washed to their feet, this faculty has a double heritage—the preserving of knowledge of men and the revealed truths sent from heaven.”  (“Climbing the Hills Just Ahead: Three Addresses,” Educating Zion [Provo: BYU Studies, 1996], 43.)

New Student Orientation this semester had this theme of education for eternity. The gallery contains many stories of those who understood this concept and consequently put their education as a high priority because. These stories are inspiring and help all of us remember the significance of our education at BYU, not just for our temporal welfare but for our eternal well-being.

One example of those who have made eternal education a priority was Brigham Young Academy’s first principal, Karl G. Maeser. He taught arithmetic, pedagogy, elocution, language, history, geography, and theology. The poor academy was short on resources, so he even worked as a janitor. No job was below this great man. Whether it was mopping a floor or comforting a new student, he was willing to do anything God required of him to build the academy.

At the beginning of a new semester, may each of us remember why we are at BYU and how we can use the education and experiences we gain here to better ourselves and others for eternity.

The Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues

The Lord promised in D&C 90:11 “Every man shall hear the fullness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power.”

At 19 years old, Alma O. Taylor was among the first LDS missionaries called to Japan. Elder Heber J. Grant told Alma that he “would be the main instrument in the hands of the Lord in translating the Book of Mormon into the Japanese language.”[1]

The gravity of such a task made him “fear and tremble from head to toe.” Humbled by his assignment, Alma first and foremost asked the Lord for help. He also sought the help of a famous Japanese novelist to deliver the work in correct literary format.[2]

In his missionary journal, Alma reflected his constant prayer and supplication concerning translating the Book of Mormon. On one account, while his mission president testified of the Lord’s will to strengthen and help his servant with the translation, Alma said, “I say when Pres. [Horace S.] E[nsign]. said these things my heart fairly leaped within me, for I knew God had heard me when I went alone in a fasting condition before Him and supplicated Him with all my soul in behalf of the B[ook]. of M[ormon].”[3] (Neilson, The Japanese Missionary Journals of Elder Alma O. Taylor, 194).

Alma O. Taylor spent nearly nine years in Japan proselyting, strengthening, learning and translating. His tenacity is an example to all of us!