Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Idaho, 2006. / Abstract. "March 2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 255-260). Also available online in PDF format.

Parenting practices greatly influence child behavior. It is important to study the relationship between parenting practices and child behavior in specific religious contexts. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) have not been extensively studied in the psychological literature despite there being a relatively large number of LDS individuals in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of religiosity on parenting practices and child behavior outcomes in an LDS sample. The influence of perfectionism on religiosity and parenting practices was also studied. The relationship between parents’ interpretation of the bible and their view on God’s involvement in their parenting was also examined. The Qualtrics Online Sample Tool was used to recruit participants for this study. The 210 participants completed an online survey. The results indicated that a more literal interpretation of the bible was associated with a perception of increased involvement from God in one’s role as a parent and increased religiosity. The perception of increased involvement from God in one’s role as a parent was also associated with increased religiosity. Higher levels of parental religious beliefs and spiritual experiences had a positive impact on parenting practices and child behavior. However, religious behavior had a negative impact on parenting practices and child behavior. High levels of perfectionism were associated with more effective parenting practices in individuals high in religious belief and spiritual experiences while high levels of perfectionism led to less effective parenting practices in individuals high in religious behavior. Given the overall high levels of ineffective parenting practices and child disruptive behavior that were reported in the sample, encouraging LDS parents to attend parenting classes may be an appropriate recommendation.

Many students appear to be disinterested and unengaged in traditional classroom settings. Numerous educational theorists suggest that students need current technology and communication in order to get students more involved in classroom discussion. This study examined a group of Latter-day Saint (LDS) students who were not involved vocally in the classroom (communication apprehensive), yet were highly involved in peer-to-peer communication via technology outside of the classroom. Issues of power are critically examined utilizing LDS and Freirean lenses of student voice, democracy, and empowerment. These issues are consistent with the LDS Church Educational System’s efforts to help students to explain, share, and testify of gospel truths. Student surveys concerning the use of technology and communication were instrumental in selecting a purposeful sample of five students for further study. These students, ranging from grades ninth to twelfth, were interviewed regarding their perceptions of the potential of educational technology implementation in LDS seminary classrooms in an effort to engage the communication apprehensive students. The data derived from this multiple case study design were analyzed using constructed grounded theory. Several key findings emerged through the analysis. The participants felt that some form of communicative technology could be empowering and advantageous to apprehensive students. However, the technological tool selected should be innovative and independent of currently existent resources. The participants also noted that some degree of communication apprehension still exists when using communicative technology. Ultimately, it is people who empower and give voice to the apprehensive student, not technological mediums alone.

Mosiah 18:2 lists the ascension of Jesus Christ as one of the atoning acts that brings about redemption. Although many faith traditions have developed a theology about the significance of the ascension, the topic has not been covered at length within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This thesis explores the ascension of Jesus Christ and its implications for humanity from the perspective of Latter-day Saint beliefs.The ascension of Jesus Christ can be considered the culmination, even the capstone of His atonement. There are sufficient sources within Latter-day Saint canon and the teachings of general authorities to support a theology of redemption through ascension and to expound on the implications of this final salvific act for humanity. This thesis serves as a prolegomenon for further insightful study and discussion.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are a minoritized and marginalized population in the United States and on most college and university campuses (Rockenbach, Bowman, et al., 2017). Recent studies highlight the negative characteristics of campus environments that affect Latter-day Saint undergraduate students' experiences. Furthermore, non-Latter-day Saint college students know little about Latter-day Saint beliefs and do not dedicate time to learn about them during college (Rockenbach et al., 2020). This qualitative study aimed to explore the question: How might interfaith engagement take shape for Latter-day Saint undergraduate students in the context of the interfaith learning environment? I used a post-intentional phenomenological research approach (Vagle, 2018) to investigate the research question and guide my study. The findings revealed that students' Latter-day Saint identity and the context of their experiences shaped their interfaith engagement. Additionally, both intrafaith and interfaith engagement influenced students' interfaith learning and development while in college. This study has implications for university administrators, faculty, and staff, Latter-day Saint Institute Directors, and Latter-day Saint students. The findings also have implications for future research on interfaith engagement, interfaith learning and development, and experiences of Latter-day Saint undergraduate students. / Doctor of Philosophy / Students who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not as accepted in the United States or on college campuses. However, they also hold privileges other religious groups do not, including Christian privilege and the ability to choose when and with whom they tell about their religion. This study aimed to explore Latter-day Saint undergraduate students' interfaith engagement. Interfaith engagement means having intentional experiences where people from different religions interact. As a result, educators can create places for students with different religious beliefs to engage in meaningful ways. In this study, I examined how Latter-day Saint students' faith identity shaped their interactions with others and how interfaith engagement influenced their faith identities. This research shows that faith identity and environment affect Latter-day Saint students' interaction with other faith traditions. Moreover, the extent of their engagement within and outside of their religion helps shape their interfaith learning and development in college. This study is important because it helps us learn more about what Latter-day Saint students experience within an interfaith learning environment. In addition, this study is the first of its kind, filling an essential gap in the literature about the interfaith learning and development of Latter-day Saint college students.

Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of History. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-202).

Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of History. / Electronic thesis. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-202). Also available in print ed.

Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Religious Education, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 144-154).

This doctoral dissertation presents new data and analyses concerning the expansion of Mormonism in postcolonial southeastern Nigeria after 1960. It considers why Efik- and Igbo-speaking Nigerians joined both the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church) despite the profusion of alternative Christian denominations already established in the southeastern part of Nigeria in the late twentieth century. This study also examines how the expansion of Mormonism in southeastern Nigeria affected the policies, practices, and theology of both the LDS and RLDS Church. This dissertation makes two overarching arguments. First, it contends that the Efik- and Igbo-speaking Nigerians who embraced Mormonism wanted to have the social respectability and imagined economic benefits of joining an international mission church, while making the smallest possible departure from their indigenous culture. Second, this project argues that the expansion of Mormonism in southeastern Nigeria raised existential questions for American church leaders about what it meant to be Mormon in the second half of the twentieth century. While the LDS Church resisted adapting many of its religious practices to indigenous customs and cultures, the expansion of Mormonism in Nigeria nevertheless pushed LDS and RLDS theology and values towards both the Protestant and American mainstream. This dissertation bases its conclusions on preliminary research conducted in Nigeria and on a close reading of archival records and manuscripts housed at the Church History Library of the LDS Church, L. Tom Perry Special Collections at Brigham Young University, and the Community of Christ Library Archives. / 2027-10-31T00:00:00Z

Heart of the Fathers is a programmatic, seven movement work for wind symphony depicting my ancestors and their role as part of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The movements represent their spiritual experiences, labors, times of joy, persecution, migration, and finally their arrival and success in their new homeland. The piece is organized in seven movements. Each movement represents a different portion of history leading to the western migration of my ancestors. The programmatic music contains a variety of symbols depicting the experiences of the pioneers. In the paper, each chapter addresses an individual movement. For each movement, the following information is provided: the historical events that inspired the piece, the musical symbols that characterize the program, and an analysis of the function of the music.