In response to the increasing "personal problems of church members . . . in number and seriousness," together with the absence of "revealed truth about human behavior" among professionals "to combat these problems," BYU President Dallin Oaks proposes to the Board of Trustees that "an Institute for Studies in Values and Human Behavior be established at BYU to sponsor and conduct research that would assist in preventing and changing [deviant] behaviors which lead people away from eternal life." The trustees approve Oaks's proposal and back the appointment of BYU psychologist Allen Bergin as its director. Noting that "too many LDS behavioral scientists do not harmonize their professional concepts with their religious stands," Bergin explained that his "first project [would] be to state as clearly as possible to the behavioral scientists . . . that Jesus Christ teaches in principles of behavior. He later adds, "What we can do is receive inspiration in our research and then seek reviews by the authorities [of the church] for their interpretations, disapproval, or whatever, if doctrinal questions are raised by it." Institute member Victor Brown, Jr. writes to BYU officials, "Our basic theme is that truth lies with the scriptures and prophets, not with secular data or debate."
90 years ago today - Sep 1, 1936
German mazazine DER STERN reports on a lecture by Dr. Max Haenle from Tubingen, a non-Mormon who visited Utah in the late twenties and became a friend of Anthony W. Ivins, First Counselor to Heber J. Grant. The article says that Haenle made "comparisons ... throughout the whole lecture between the Mormon state founded 86 years ago by Brigham Young in Utah and Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. . . . In its political productivity, its organization forms, and its unswerving successes in the various areas of governmental, social, and communal life," he proclaimed, "Utah bears a really striking similarity to our Germany of today. Here as well as there, the unshakable faith in and willingness to die for their Fuhrer [respective leaders] is the foundation and prerequisite for all further development."
120 years ago today - Sep 1, 1906
[Heber J. Grant to Anthony W. Ivins]
"Bro[ther]s. [John W.] Taylor and [Matthias F.] Cowley have got just what they were entitled to [diciplined, including being dropped from the quorum of twelve for promoting polygamy], and did not get it as soon as they should. They presumed to be a law unto themselves. There are many things that I can tell you that will throw light on the situation. The young man [i.e., Henry S. Tanner] in the Y.M.M.I.A. will go to hell all right if he does not repent of the position he now occupies. Bro[ther]. [Francis M.] Lyman or no man that has ever lived will be able to influence Pres[ident]. [Joseph F.] Smith to accept his'the man's policy. Jos[eph]. F. Smith is the strongest man that has stood at the head of the Church since the Prophet Joseph Smith. Bro[ther]. Lyman is not in the same class when it comes to real force of character. You or no man that lives need have the least anxiety of Pres[ident]. Smith allowing Bro[ther] Lyman to dominate the President. I see from your letter that you are not at all worried in that direction. Your position is the only correct one and that is to see that every presiding man in your Stake sustains the present policy of the Church or gets out of office. There is not the least safety in any other position. I supposed the bone that you were going to pick with me was what some good friend said to you as to what I had told him, but you dropped the picking, and so did I and am now more than willing to let it wait until we meet."
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Anthony W. Ivins, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]