Betcha didn't know

Brigham Young University traces its roots to Utah's rich pioneer heritage. The original school, Brigham Young Academy, was established on Oct. 16, 1875, on a little over one acre in what is now downtown Provo. At that time, Brigham Young, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, charged that all secular learning at the institution should be fused with teachings from the Scriptures. Speaking to Academy Principal Karl G. Maeser, President Young said: "Brother Maeser, I want you to remember that you ought not to teach even the alphabet or the multiplication tables without the Spirit of God."

Despite steady growth during its early years, the academy was threatened by a series of financial and physical setbacks. With the help and sacrifice of Abraham O. Smoot, the campus moved in 1891 to new facilities on University Avenue.

The academy's curriculum strengthened and enrollment grew. In 1903, the name was officially changed to Brigham Young University. Work began in 1909 on the Maeser Memorial Building, the first of many structures on the university's present site.

Brigham Young University is part of the LDS Church Educational System, which serves more than 1.2 million people worldwide in higher education, seminaries and institutes, elementary and secondary schools, and continuing education and literacy programs. The system includes the BYU campus in Provo; the BYU-Hawaii campus in Laie, Hawaii; BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho; the LDS Business College in Salt Lake City; and elementary or secondary schools in many countries, including Mexico, Fiji, New Zealand, Tonga and Western Samoa.

Source: BYU web page: www.byu.edu