The program itself is also large-scale. According to the Church Educational System Web site, the Salt Lake University Institute has the largest institute enrollment in the church (7,090). Twenty-nine full-time and 30 volunteer instructors combine to teach 250 classes spread throughout 25 classrooms. Faculty meetings resemble an all-star gospel doctrine class, with instructors discussing the scriptures, applying principles to classroom situations and engaging in thoughtful discussion complete with some gentle disagreement.

The ultimate objective at the institute, however, is the same across the board.

"The mission of this institute of religion I don't think is any different than any other institute of religion, which is to provide a weekday religious class experience for students attending the University of Utah ... to give them a spiritual part to their day or week," institute director Allan Gunnerson said.

What constitutes that "spiritual part" is multi-faceted and often determined by what the individual student is looking to get out of institute, which isn't always entirely academic. Students and instructors agree that the social aspect is a significant draw, and Gunnerson acknowledged that the mission of an institute of religion is "a little different" than that of BYU, with more emphasis put on providing a "respite" for young adults.

But Gunnerson, who has worked for five years as institute director, also knows that it's the feelings generated in the classroom setting that keep students coming back.

"We socialize, but we also learn," said Gunnerson, who is in his 11th year on the faculty.

Longtime instructor Michael Wilcox, who has nearly 20 years of experience teaching at the university institute, said students have "an instinctive sense" that they need to turn to the scriptures during the formative years of college.

"These kids vote with their feet," Wilcox said. "And if they're not being fed in a class, you won't see them."

According to Wilcox, commitment characterizes the students attending the university institute.

"We'd like to have every LDS kid on campus if we could get them all here, and we work to it, but those who come by and large are very committed students," he said.

Rob Line, who specializes in teaching the parables of Jesus, agrees that students who come on their own volition want to be "fed spiritually."

"It's my feeling, as much as they want the social, I think a lot of the average students want the spiritual side of it even more," Line said.

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"Spirit" is a well-used word around the institute building, and it's applied on more than one level.

Like explaining why there are nachos or ice cream provided for students on a weekday afternoon.

"The atmosphere, whether there are activities going on or food in the atrium, everybody just seems a lot happier and lively up at the institute, and it's just a fun place to be and spend your free time," said Clayton Alvey, president of the Latter-day Saints Student Association.