I went to BYU in Provo on a partial scholarship for a semester before and after my mission over 30 years ago. After returning from my mission my brother convinced me to transfer to UVU (UVSC back in the day). He said I would enjoy smaller classes, get better grades (and thus earn a full-ride scholarship) and not have to take those stressful required religion classes. He was right on every count. I loved LDS Institute of Religion at UVSC. Wow! What a difference! Religion classes that were stress-free and enjoyable—the way all religion classes were meant to be. 

Over the past 30+ years I’ve spoken to many people who agree with me, including many current and former BYU students. The required religion classes at BYU continue to make the lives of many students way too stressful because they are filled with way too much busywork and ridiculous tests and quizzes and thus cause too much anxiety for most students who are already high achievers but have to try to get As in order to keep their scholarships have good grades on their transcripts for future aspirations.  

When one of my children attended a few years back he was having a most challenging semester at BYU and it was adversely affecting his health. Like most BYU students, he was a high achiever and got all As while on scholarship at BYU. His mother and I suggested that he drop one of his classes and just take a W. I then asked him “which of all of your classes is the most demanding and would give you the most time to focus on your health?” His answer shocked me. He said his Prep for Marriage class. It was filled with so much busywork and was taking up so much of his time. We convinced him to take the W in that class and that made all the difference. His answer still astounds me to this day

Another one of my children recently followed in my footsteps and transferred from BYU to UVU. She was a music major with some very demanding classes, but sadly some of the most stress-filled classes for her were the required religion classes. She now loves taking religion classes at the LDS Institute of Religion at UVU, just like so many other students at universities all around the world.  

Hopefully a remedy is already being discussed. The president of BYU is a good and kind man and the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a change agent like we've never seen before. If anyone can make this change happen, he can. Here are two possible solutions: 

1. Institute LDS Institute at BYU. Just require that everyone graduate from LDS Institute and remove the GPA pressure valve. This way all required religion classes at BYU would be enjoyable and inspiring and even edifying, the way religion classes are meant to be.

2. Switch all required BYU religion classes to a pass/fail grading system so that none of them adversely effect students’ GPA. This again removes all the stress and anxiety around these classes and instead makes them so much more enjoyable and helpful as well as uplifting and edifying.

All BYU students should look forward to attending required religion classes and soaking in the truths and inspiring messages provided therein. Go Cougars!