Languages at BYU

 

Ben Criddle

@CriddleBenjamin

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17h

One of BYU’s most remarkable academic achievements doesn’t get talked about enough. BYU teaches 84 languages…..more than any other university in the United States. For comparison: • BYU: 84 languages • Harvard: 78 • UC Berkeley: 59 BYU also leads the nation in advanced language enrollments, with 4,578 students in upper-level language courses during the most recent Modern Language Association study, more than double the next closest universities (Minnesota: 2,034; Indiana: 2,004). Add to that: • 127 languages spoken on campus • 60%+ of students speak a second language • Students from 103 countries Most impressive

Most important chapters in the Book of Mormon

 

There is no official “top 10” list of the most important chapters in the Book of Mormon (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not rank them that way). However, LDS scholars, teachers, and frequent readers commonly identify certain chapters as especially doctrinally rich, foundational, or central to the book’s message.

Drawing from widely recognized sources (including FARMS/Scripture Central charts of key doctrinal chapters by John W. Welch and others), here is a consensus-based list of 10 of the most important chapters:

1. 2 Nephi 2 – Lehi’s teaching on opposition, agency, the Fall, and the purpose of life.
2. 2 Nephi 9 – Jacob’s discourse on the infinite Atonement, resurrection, judgment, and salvation.
3. 2 Nephi 31 – Nephi’s clear statement of the “doctrine of Christ” (faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, enduring to the end).
4. Mosiah 2–5 (often treated together; Mosiah 3–4 especially) – King Benjamin’s address on service, the Atonement, and covenant-making.
5. Alma 5 – Alma’s powerful call to spiritual rebirth and self-examination.
6. Alma 32 – Alma’s teaching on faith as a seed that grows through experiment and nourishment.
7. Alma 34 – Amulek on the infinite and eternal Atonement, prayer, and not procrastinating repentance.
8. Alma 42 – Alma’s explanation of justice, mercy, and the plan of redemption.
9. 3 Nephi 11 – The resurrected Jesus Christ appears to the Nephites and teaches the first principles of His gospel.
10. Moroni 10 – Moroni’s final invitation to come unto Christ, the promise of knowing the truth by the Holy Ghost, and the gifts of the Spirit.

Honorable Mentions (frequently ranked nearly as high)

• 1 Nephi 8 & 11 (Lehi’s and Nephi’s Tree of Life visions)
• Jacob 5 (Allegory of the Olive Tree)
• Ether 12 (Faith, hope, and charity; Moroni’s teaching on weakness made strong)
• Moroni 7 (Faith, hope, charity, and judging righteously)
• 3 Nephi 17–18 or 27 (Christ’s teachings on prayer, the sacrament, and His doctrine)

Why these stand out: They contain the clearest explanations of the Atonement, the plan of salvation, the doctrine of Christ, agency, faith, and the personal invitation to come unto Christ—the central purposes of the Book of Mormon (see the Title Page).

Different readers emphasize different chapters depending on personal need (e.g., conversion stories, war chapters, or missionary accounts). The list above focuses on pure doctrinal significance.

Wholehearted Devotion

 

Wholehearted Devotion

These fruits of the gospel—assurance that we shall obtain eternal life, peace in this world sustained by such an assurance, and finally eternal life in the world to come—are within the reach of us all. Sometimes, however, because of our lack of understanding and appreciation of them, I am persuaded that we take too much for granted. We assume that because we are members of the Church, we shall receive as a matter of course all the blessings of the gospel. I have heard people contend that they have a claim upon them because they have been through the temple, even though they are not careful to keep the covenants they there made. I do not think this will be the case.

We might take a lesson from an account given by the Prophet of a vision of the resurrection, in which he records that one of the saddest things he had ever witnessed was the sorrow of members of the Church who came forth to a resurrection below that which they had taken for granted they would receive.

I conceive the blessings of the gospel to be of such inestimable worth that the price for them must be very exacting, and if I correctly understand what the Lord has said on the subject, it is. The price, however, is within the reach of us all, because it is not to be paid in money nor in any of this world’s goods but in righteous living. What is required is wholehearted devotion to the gospel and unreserved allegiance to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Speaking to this point, the Prophet taught “… that those who keep the commandments of the Lord and walk in his statutes to the end, are the only individuals” who shall receive the blessings.

(1940s, 1949, October, 2nd Session, Elder Marion G. Romney, ¶49–52 • CR)

pursue providing useful products and services

 

Elon Musk: "If you want to create something valuable financially, you don't pursue that. It's best to pursue providing useful products and services. If you do that, then money will come as a natural consequence, as opposed to pursuing money directly."

tell people they were right all along

 

You cannot make people change their worldview easily. It is far easier to tell people they were right all along than to convince them they were wrong. Meet people where their beliefs already are.

Seth Godin

Everything he wants

 

Warren Buffett: “I have everything I want in life.” “I could have ten houses instead of one. Would I be happier? Never. I could have ten cars instead of two. I wouldn’t be happier. That would drive me crazy.” ↓ “I could have a 400-foot yacht. But then I’d have to manage a crew of dozens. Some would steal from me. Some would fight with each other. Who knows what else would happen? If I wanted to be a ship captain, I’d have gone into a different profession.” ↓ People think wealth is having more things. But true wealth is; Not having to buy things you don’t want, Not having to work with people you don’t want, And being able to use your time as you wish. That is the essence of financial freedom. (Charlie Rose, 2009)

You don’t have to engage

Brunson regarded his critics. “There’s a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say,” he said. “But when you prove them wrong, you really don’t have to say stuff to them.” 

Even on a planet consumed by friction, with a media/tech ecosystem designed to monetize public anger by rewarding rudeness and confrontation, you don’t have to return volley, you don’t have to engage. You can just…ignore it. 

“They don’t deserve it,” Brunson said. 

Wait, was that the high road? In the open air? In 2026? Jalen Brunson had offered a rare sighting of public civility. He was right. There’s power in refusing to enter the fray. 

https://www.wsj.com/sports/basketball/knicks-parade-nba-championship-brunson-2b74f48a?mod=hp_listc_pos1