BYU Studies

Jeffrey Paul Thompson reviews an evocative photographic journey documenting the remarkable life and contributions of Elizabeth Dennistoun Wood Kane, celebrating her as an influential 19th-century polymath and explorer.

Richard Lyman Bushman offers thoughtful reflections on the historical, spiritual, and symbolic significance of the Gold Plates, inviting listeners to reconsider their impact on faith and history.

Robbie Taggart presents a poignant poem exploring faith, loss, and healing, inspired by the biblical story set in Nain, inviting listeners into a deeply reflective and spiritual experience.

Nicholas J. Frederick investigates the theological intersections between scriptural symbolism, Earth's age, and ongoing divine revelation, addressing some of the profound mysteries and debates within Church doctrine.

Eli Peterson shares insights and reflections on the artistic process behind "This Is . . .", revealing how art captures and communicates deep spiritual and emotional truths.

Join Jared Halverson as he explores the powerful and transformative experience of engaging deeply with scripture, highlighting its ability to evoke wonder, spiritual insight, and enduring wisdom.

Sarah Hafen d'Evegnée’s essay beautifully weaves personal narrative with metaphor, exploring life’s intricate patterns, choices, and the profound meaning found in everyday experiences.

Brandon S. Plewe details the formative years of local church administration, uncovering how early structures and practices shaped the Church’s growth and governance from 1830 to 1845.

Roger Terry delves into Royal Skousen's landmark Critical Text Project, emphasizing its scholarly significance in enhancing our comprehension and appreciation of the Book of Mormon.

Cassidy Nichole Pyper argues compellingly that Alma's teachings intentionally include and elevate women, illuminating a more inclusive perspective of Book of Mormon narratives and their enduring spiritual significance.

Joseph M. Spencer provides an engaging exploration into the Book of Mosiah, highlighting how its narratives can captivate readers and enrich their spiritual understanding through a profound sense of wonder and awe.

Explore the vivid personal writings of Brigham Young, offering intimate insights into his life, conversion experience, and profound faith. LaJean Purcell Carruth presents his unfiltered perspectives, enriching our understanding of this prominent historical figure.

1. Love as a Law: Love is described as the substance of God’s law, not a reward to be earned. It is a commandment to love God and others unconditionally.

2. Parable of the Prodigal Son: Both sons in the parable misunderstand love as a reward. The younger son feels unworthy, while the elder son feels entitled. The father represents God’s unconditional love.

3. Perfectionism vs. Perfect Love: Perfectionism is seen as a backward approach to love, focusing on being lovable rather than loving perfectly. God’s perfect love is unconditional and not based on merit.

4. Righteous Judgment: True judgment is about how to love others, not about who deserves love. Love should be given freely, even to enemies.

5. Practical Application: The article encourages readers to stop treating love as a reward and start obeying it as a law, participating in the work of loving others without conditions.

This article wraps up this special issue of BYU Studies focusing on Latter-day Saints and perfectionism.

1. Religious Teachings: Explores how religious teachings can influence perfectionistic tendencies, both positively and negatively.

2. Spiritual Perfectionism Differentiates between striving for spiritual growth and unhealthy perfectionism that leads to guilt and anxiety.

3. Role of Grace: Emphasizes the importance of understanding and accepting grace to counteract the negative effects of perfectionism.

4. Community Support: Highlights the role of religious communities in providing support and reducing perfectionistic pressures.

5. Balancing Effort and Faith: Encourages balancing personal effort with faith in divine assistance to achieve a healthier approach to perfectionism.

What influence does religion have on toxic perfectionism? Michael A. Goodman explores research findings in this important article.

This article by Mark D. Ogletree was published in BYU Studies 63, no. 4 (2024).

Key points from this article:

1. Types of Perfectionism: Adaptive (positive outcomes) vs. Maladaptive (negative mental health outcomes).

2. Mental Health Impact: Maladaptive perfectionism increases anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout in adolescents.

3. Influences: High parental expectations and societal pressures contribute to perfectionistic traits.

4. Interventions: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness can help manage perfectionism.

5. Supportive Environment: Creating a supportive environment and encouraging balance can mitigate negative effects.

“Parental Influence on Adolescent Perfectionism” by Jenet Jacob Erickson, Olivia Forsberg, and McKenna Schmidt. Published BYU Studies 63 no. 4 (2024).

Key Points: Parental Influence: Parents' own perfectionism can impact their children, especially through modeling behaviors and psychological control. Fathers' and mothers' perfectionism influences boys and girls differently. Psychological Control: Psychological control, such as withdrawing love and shaming, is strongly linked to the development of toxic perfectionism, particularly in girls. Fathers' psychological control has a significant impact on daughters' perfectionism. Family Dynamics: Family chaos and disengagement are predictors of higher levels of toxic perfectionism in youth. Boys are more affected by family chaos, while girls are more affected by family rigidity. Parenting Styles: Authoritarian parenting combined with psychological control can lead to toxic perfectionism. Authoritative parenting, which balances high standards with warmth and responsiveness, is considered ideal. Cultural Factors: Cultural changes, such as competitive individualism and meritocracy, contribute to the rise in perfectionism among young adults. Recommendations: Parents should focus on creating a supportive and flexible family environment. Emphasizing unconditional love and acceptance can help mitigate the development of toxic perfectionism in children.

This article by W. Justin Dyer, published BYU Studies 63, no. 4 (2024) explores how perfectionism develops and changes during adolescence.

Key points from this article:

• Development of Perfectionism:
  • Perfectionism tends to increase slightly from age 12 to 18.
  • Discrepancy perfectionism (feeling you are not meeting expectations) and social perfectionism (feeling the need to be perfect for others) follow similar trajectories.
• Perfectionism Trajectories:
  • Youth can be categorized into low, mid, and high perfectionism groups.
  • 34% of youth fall into the low group, 48% into the mid group, and 18% into the high group.
• Influence of Social Media:
  • High social media use is linked to higher levels of perfectionism.
  • 22% of those using social media for three hours daily are high in perfectionism, compared to 13% of those who do not use social media.
• Gender Differences:
  • Girls are more likely to be high perfectionists compared to boys.
  • Nearly twice the percentage of girls are in the high perfectionism group than boys.
• Geographical Differences:
  • Youth in Utah have higher rates of perfectionism compared to those in Arizona and California.
  • 18% of youth in Utah are high in perfectionism, compared to 13% in Arizona and 11% in California.
• Sexual Orientation:
  • Sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) have higher rates of perfectionism.
  • 27% of SGMs are high in perfectionism, compared to 14% of non-SGMs.

What is perfectionism? Does healthy perfectionism exist? What are the consequences of toxic perfectionism? This article by G. E. Kawika Allen, Jacelin Clayton, Emma Moore, and Debra Theobald McClendon explores perfectionism and scrupulously as it pertains to Latter-day Saints.

Key Points:

1. Definition and Impact: Perfectionism can motivate growth or stifle it, leading to low self-worth and negative behaviors. Toxic perfectionism involves demanding perfection and being highly critical of oneself or others.​
2. Healthy Perfectionism: This involves setting high goals and striving for rewards while being flexible and understanding if expectations are not met. It is linked to responsibility, hard work, and thoroughness.​
3. Toxic Perfectionism: Distinguished by a fear of mistakes, toxic perfectionism can be self-oriented, other-oriented, or socially prescribed. It often leads to feelings of hopelessness and personal failure.​
4. Types of Toxic Perfectionism:​
   • Self-Oriented: Demanding perfection of oneself with irrationally high goals.​
   • Other-Oriented: Demanding perfection from others, leading to strained relationships.​
   • Socially Prescribed: Believing one must be perfect for someone else, leading to low self-esteem and a need for validation.​​
5. Consequences: Toxic perfectionism is associated with poor physical health, anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders. It can lead to constant feelings of fear and harsh personal criticism.​
6. Causes: Factors include high societal expectations, controlling parenting styles, and conditional parental love. Societal trends show increasing rates of perfectionism among younger generations.​
7. Perfectionism and Religion: The article explores the intersection of perfectionism and religion, highlighting both positive and negative impacts on mental health within religious contexts.

BYU Studies 63 no. 4 (2024) focuses on Latter-day Saints and perfectionism. This introduction by Justin Dyer sets the stage for an exploration of the nuanced relationship between faith and perfectionism.

Key points:

Introduction to Perfectionism: The article begins by addressing the common perception that Latter-day Saints struggle with perfectionism due to their religious beliefs.

Research Findings: Contrary to popular belief, recent research shows that Latter-day Saints are less likely to experience unhealthy levels of perfectionism compared to other groups.

Toxic Perfectionism: The article distinguishes between healthy and toxic perfectionism, emphasizing that toxic perfectionism is more about how individuals feel about themselves when they don't meet their standards.

Impact on Mental Health: The research highlights the negative psychological and emotional consequences of toxic perfectionism, especially among youth.

Religious Influence: The study explores how religion and religious salience (the importance of religion to a person's sense of self) relate to levels of toxic perfectionism.

Healing and Self-Compassion: The article discusses approaches to healing from toxic perfectionism and emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and understanding one's worth.

Kate Holbrook (born January 13, 1972) died on August 20, 2022. She was academic collaborations director at the Church History Department, noted author, and cohost, with her husband, Sam Brown, of the Committed Conversations podcast series. This is Sam’s eulogy delivered at Kate’s funeral on August 27, 2022.

This is a short description of the Cover art for BYU Studies, volume 61 issue 3, written by its artist, Jacqueline Price.

This book notice by Matthew B. Christensen summarizes and praises Book of Mormon Studies: An Introduction and Guide, by Daniel Becerra, Amy Easton-Flake, Nicholas J. Frederick, and Joseph M. Spencer, published in 2022. It is, Christensen says, exactly what it purports to be: a good introduction and guide, suited to both beginners and experts of Book of Mormon studies.

This article by Walker A. Wright and Don Bradley discusses the first vision and its relation to Joseph Smith's translation of the bible, specifically Psalm 14. Sections of the Psalm from the KJV and JST are placed together with relevant sections of Smith's recollections of the first visions and others records of what he told them regarding it, and through these comparisons, Wright and Bradley show Joseph Smith's attention to certain elements of the First Vision throughout his prophetic career

This book review by Tona Hangen discusses Terrible Revolution: Latter-day Saints and the American Apocalypse by Christopher James Blythe. Hangen finds it to be an intriguing book that invites further scholarship.

A poem by Dave Nielsen

This article by Jonathan A. Stapley and David W. Grua discusses the practice in the first several decades of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of rebaptizing believers. As this is something that is not widely known in the church today, they explain both the circumstances of rebaptism and how it was eventually discontinued. Understanding rebaptism, Stapely and Grua argue, can help us understand the relationships early church members had with their covenants and the renewing of them.

This poem by Merrijane Rice was a finalist in the 2022 Clinton F. Larson Poetry Contest, sponsored by BYU Studies.

This is a review by Jordan Watkins of Spencer McBride's 2021 book Joseph Smith for President: The Prophet, The Assassins, and the Fight for American Religious Freedom by Spencer McBride. Watkins finds this book to a very accessible, reader-friendly book that illuminates for the reader the presidential campaign of Joseph Smith. He accepts that McBride's book is not without its flaws but still very well done and well worth reading.

This article by John Hilton III, Jesse Vincent, and Rachel Harper examines how women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have historically viewed the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The authors consider this by looking at the Woman’s Exponent, the Relief Society Magazine, and the Young Woman’s Journal, three publications written by and for the women of the church. Corpus studies help illuminate how the women who wrote and read these publications understood the Crucifixion, whether positive or negative.

This is a poem by Ben de Hoyos. It was a finalist in the 2022 BYU Studies Poetry Contest. It beautifully explores the natural imagery of a falling leaf.

This poem by Darlene Young was a finalist in the 2024 BYU Studies Poetry Contest.

This poem by Ali Benson Moulton was a finalist in the 2022 BYU Studies Poetry Contest. It examines the complexities of watching a child grow up.

This poem by Christopher Bissett won 3rd place in the 2023 BYU Studies Poetry Contest. It examines the difficult role of motherhood for Mary in the context of the resurrection.

Author Warner Woodworth describes what he calls "practical Christianity," that is, actively perusing service by caring for the poor. Woodworth offers many examples of Church members who have started non-profit humanitarian organizations that serve the global community, taking initiative to follow Christ's invitation to live charitably. The systems Woodworth advocates to address inequality are sustainable and empowering, meant to elevate the poor to better support themselves using the privileges and capital granted to us. These bottom-up, grassroot non-profits are crucial to this mission.

This article by Clark G. Gilbert was originally given as a keynote address at the BYU Religious Freedom Annual Review. It focuses on the value of religious freedom and our responsibility to defend it. While formalized legal protection of this right is crucial, social and interpersonal advocacy is required to maintain true religious freedom. Religious restriction and repression has negative impacts on society. As we defend religious pluralism, we create a better world for all.