Quinoa and Olive Trees: Strengthening the Lord’s Vineyard
I believe that our Father in Heaven expects us to develop this unity and cultivate our diverse talents and abilities so that we can be counted among the “few” servants in the allegory of the olive trees charged with pruning and edifying His vineyard (Jacob 5:70). He has spared the vineyard, as well as all of us, for this sacred purpose.
What it Means to Be Educated
What is it that you think you want to know to consider yourself an educated person, to be part of civic and professional life alongside people from different religions in this, the most religiously diverse nation in human history?
Orson Hyde, the Holy Land, and Brigham Young University
In the garden is a sign that reads, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”—a quote from Psalm 122:6. And so we must. We must hope for and pray for peace.
Elections, Hope, and Freedom
We must strive for mutual understanding and treat all with goodwill. We must exercise patience. We should all speak out for religion and the importance of religious freedom. We must, above all, trust in God and His promises.
Religion: Bound by Loving Ties
True religion, the tie that binds us to God and to each other, not only seals our family relationships in eternity but also heightens our delight in those family experiences while in mortality.
Why Scientists Playing Amateur Atheology Fail
Christian Smith discusses why scientists cannot disprove religion and any attempts to do so will fail. He encourages all to give each opinion a fair chance.
“It Is Not Good That . . . Man Should Be Alone”
To a large extent, the depth of our eternal happiness will be determined by the quality of our relationships with others.
Pure Religion
If you want to be happy, feel the Holy Ghost, and grow closer to the Savior, then practice pure religion.
Strengthen the Things That Remain
Members of different faiths need to work together to affirm religious liberty, necessary in preserving human rights, human dignity, and human flourishing.
Faith and the Public Square
In American history this sublime and serious combination of religion and democracy has overall been a force for great good. Some of the most important movements of conscience in our history emerged from the convictions of religious people and used the language and liturgy of faith to build popular support.
Few Are Chosen: Comparative Religion and the Public Sphere
Scholar Noah Feldman discusses how comparative religion has played a role in history, politics, and the establishment of the United States.
Building Bridges to Harmony Through Understanding
It is imperative that Jews, Christians, and Muslims learn how to share their common spiritual roots and their common futuristic hopes without prejudice in order to avoid discrimination and religious and racial hatred so that they all can raise their children in peace and security on the basis of “Ethics of Sharing.”
Religion, Mental Health, and the Latter-day Saints
Daniel K Judd discusses the influence of religion on mental health, as well as the need for Latter-day Saints to be more aware of those who are suffering.
What Did Josiah Reform? The Earlier Religion of Israel
The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
Service: The Essence of True Religion
In the final analysis, then, the greatest testimony we can ever give to others is an exemplary life devoted to service.
Scholarship and the Gospel
"I believe that there is more going on here than our own merely human efforts can fully explain."
The Dream Is Ours to Fulfill
They fulfill their dreams by coming to this oasis of learning in a spiritually parched world, yearning to ask the young ruler’s question: What shall I do? And they come believing that the faculty and staff here will tell them what to do.
Kinship, Religion, and the Transformation of Society
Social anthropologists study people in those parts of the world that have not yet experienced the full consequence of the industrial revolution. These people still derive a large part of their living from the food they grow themselves, from the animals they herd, or from their hunting and gathering activities. They expect the place where they were born to be their permanent home, and they rely on the cooperation of…
God in Our Lives
We cannot simply ignore God until we feel we need something from Him. To reap the mortal and eternal blessings of faith, we must foster a belief in Him continually. We must make Him the focus of our lives.
How to Write an Anti-Mormon Book
Learn how authors of anti-Mormon materials use specific strategies to convince readers of their trustworthiness, knowledge, and lack of bias.
Science and Religion
The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
Our Purpose Here at a Church School
Antoine R. Ivins reminds students that, among our goals at BYU, our purpose here should primarily be to develop a spirit of testimony and obedience to God.
Why Religious Education!
Religious education—in homes, churches, and institutes of religion everywhere—are necessary for our spiritual and moral health.
Protecting Political Freedom
As the central government's power ever increases, we must protect our political freedom and show that we will take a stand as members of the Church.