LDS Flow A comprehensive online experience for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
So, this interesting thing came up at a recent dinner. My best friend's father mentioned he'd never send his kids to BYU. When I asked why, he said he'd heard in Elders Quorum that "BYU isn't what it used to be" and has become too liberal.
He went on to claim that some professors are teaching ideas that contradict gospel principles, causing students to doubt the Church. I was pretty skeptical and told him I thought it was more likely students were just figuring things out for themselves in college.
When I pressed him for evidence, all he could say was that it came up in Elders Quorum. Then he suggested I look into it myself.
Now, I'm kind of the odd one out in my friend's family when it comes to politics, so I can't help but think this is more about political views than actual Church doctrine.
He specifically mentioned a BYU professor supposedly teaching that the Church has made mistakes and that we should acknowledge past issues. I know the Church has some controversial history, but I find it hard to believe BYU faculty would be openly critical like that.
I'm wondering if there's any truth to what he's saying. Does BYU even hire non-member professors? The whole thing seems unlikely to me, but now I'm curious about what's actually going on at BYU these days.
BYU still maintains a predominantly conservative leaning throughout its faculty and administration. The changes your friend's father is worried about, while perhaps noticeable to some, haven't fundamentally altered the overall conservative nature of the institution.
It's worth noting that BYU rarely hires non-member professors. The instances where this happens are few and far between. If professors were really teaching things that blatantly contradicted Church doctrine, you can bet students would speak up about it, and many would likely drop those classes. News like that would spread quickly across campus.
While BYU, like any institution, may face challenges and changes, I don't think there's any real risk of it being fundamentally altered or "overthrown" as some might fear. The core values and principles that BYU stands for are still very much intact.
Sure, there might be some professors who approach certain topics from different angles, or encourage critical thinking about complex issues. But that's a far cry from actively undermining the Church's teachings or BYU's mission.
In the end, BYU remains a Church-owned institution with a clear commitment to gospel principles. While it's natural for people to have concerns, especially when they hear second-hand accounts, the reality is likely much less dramatic than your friend's father suggests.
Jesus loves us. 💘
