The author attempts to analyze and evaluate the educational views, policies and contributions of Adam S. Bennion during his administration as Superintendent of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Educational Program.Part of the study is dedicated to an intensive search of historical data to determine Church educational policy and philosophy prior to his administration.His views on many religious and educational topics, taken from his personal, unpublished manuscripts, are quoted at length.An attempt is also made to examine his role as a policy maker and to evaluate his contribution in light of present policy and philosophy in the L.D.S. Department of Education. Bennion's broad experience in public as well as private education prompted his proposals that the church concentrate on religious education, leaving secular education to the public schools.Finally an attempted evaluation is made of his contribution to the field of education subsequent to his assignment as superintendent of Church schools.

The purpose of this study was to provide a biography of Adam Samuel Bennion. Special emphasis has been given to his contributions in the fields of education, business, civic affairs, and church responsibilities.Adam S. Bennion was born in 1886 in Taylorsville, Utah. He became active in educational and Church activities early in his life. He attended Taylorsville public schools, the University of Utah, Columbia University in New Yourk and graduated from the University of California with his Ph.D. degree. He served as Superintendent of the LDS Church Schools and was instrumental in the establishment of the LDS seminary program for high schools. At the age of seventeen, he was appointed to the Deseret Sunday School Union General Board.In 1938, he made a decision to leave the field of education to assume a position as a business executive with the Utah Power and Light Company. While an employee of the power company he served as director of personnel, assistant to the president, and in 1945, he became an executive Vice President of UP&L. His accomplishments at UP&L were largely in the fields of employee and public relations. He was involved in some public power company disputes which resulted both good and bad; although neither was directly his complete responsibility.