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9/13/1947 - Brigham Young University by Albert Ravenholt

AR Provo U Walter S Rbgers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Rogers Any discussion Brigham Young University involves consideration Mormon Church youth program In addition being center oward degrees regular academic University school religious instruction within Church Jesus Chris Latter Day Saints It administered apart tuition xncome supported Church respects reflects attitude Church toward education We arrived campus during slack period summer quarter beginning qusxer Our schedule three Our impressions therefore limited One asked professors sudents Wa especially university contributing The answer another building charact The remark summar primary concern sudents their professors indicates obvious manner which school differs ohers visited summer The University founded insistence Brigham Young enrolled students expects larger number The students attendance during spring quarter states foreign countries including Canada Although college authorities insisted diwcrimination estimated percent students ormons Students enrolled Brigham Young University access I least expensive University educations available United States Tition total academic three quarters there added tariff state students Board available school cafeteria little month Rooms single housing project rented month rooms private families usually I0 In greatest number students I00 majored sciences N popularity students departments commerce education There however increasing emphasis science Board Trustees approved construction I science building The University prides itself music department hopes build choir rival St Olaf College Northfield Hinneso Combined their regulr classes sudents Brigham Young given steady religion Each student required participate least class religion quarter The subjects study range consideration ormonism Thought Practice Priesthood Church Government course entitled Courtship andarriage The latter organized attempt Latter Day Saints challenge risin divorce Sudents around campus forbidden smoke drink Adherence strict moral preached apparently practiced The faculty entirely mnbers Mrmon Church The majority their undergraduate Brigham Young later their M A frequently Ph D degrees larger universities The University lacked library facilities required advanced research Beginning Ph D offered religion To quote faculty member lowest professors state possibly country Associate professors received roughly there staff professors included As consequence capable taught until established reputation moved Those remained number usually religious reasons Other professors prominen posts large universities response Church joined staff Brigham Young taking salary Faculty attitude President Howard S McDonald scceed boosting salaries close level other Vestern universities He eginning granting percen emergency living allowance general salary increase Student interest Brigham Young parallels emphasis education Efforts concentrated making Church center social There social fraternities sororities Although students veterans national veteran organiza campus The administration prevent splintering student factions In effort their ideas I evening several their homes veteran housing roject which crowded mountain range ringing valley When I conversation mention ideas drawn response other universities sometimes seemed I taling foreign language T students civilization moving period crisis But these fellows insisted solution conversion world principles ormon Church They thought United Nations commendable temporary effort important toward world acceptance belief which offers permanent solutlon these veterans dependent funds primarily their G Io allowance Still paying percent their month tithe Church One fellow whomI talked going morning without Church Each hurch operates produce goods communal granary nother young presiden University Branch Church Latter DaY saints The ormons professional priesthood therefore Branc President responsible devoional services Church administration veteran village When completed education expects become teacher Utah public schools I suspect friends concerned religious values average studen Brigham Young religious fanatics They appeared young their religion matter course They attractive qualities religious individuals their blind spots Probably interesting students Brigham Young Unersity those Who returned their missions The University administration estimated there about enrolled They about years volunteered forei mission worko When young volunteers passed local bishop notifies mission board Salt Lake City If board suitable vacant volunteer receives Before leaving allowed months arrange affairs brush understanding Mormonism school maintained purpose Church headquarters If young family afford outlay contribute money support during mission The Church usually transportation costs icases where lacks means finances mission I talked fellow supoorted mission brmthers Tnen returned helped support while The Mormons their missions foreign assignments preach gospel abroad though frequently involve differen United States Canada Outside North Ameri concentrated England Northern Europe recently Latin America No emmatic effort prepare understand country which Designates gotten given lectures general aspects mission themselves brief general features country which going They expected learn language arrived their destination become mission establishmen The considered philosophy behind program expressed Eormon leader We foreign country learn there In practice others insisted their missionaries absorb considerable culture countries visited purely matter becoming effective Only return again countries where their mission experience But there hundreds ormons scattered throughout speak fluent German French Dervish still correspond friends while abroad One keener iormon unusual being completely absorbe movemen stand group historical phenomenon He reasoned sociologically L ormons probably gained their mission given The leadership developed assignments given Church Jesus Christ 0fLit DaY Saints vigor ossiblem membership million Sincerely yours Alber Ravenho