Lectures

One of the highlights of the BYU academic year is the annual Truman G. Madsen Lecture on Eternal Man which consistently brings to campus insight and inspiration from internationally renowned scholars.

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, joins the Wheatley Institute in a discussion about morality and answers timely questions.

James K.A. Smith speaks at the 2022 Truman G. Madsen Lecture. He talks about the importance of Christian resurrection and how art helps us remember the divine.

"This is the great challenge facing us all: Will we embrace or accept communion?"

Truman G. Madsen was a renowned philosopher, teacher, and biographer and regarded as one of the greatest LDS thinkers of our time. One of his goals as a founding senior fellow of the Wheatley Institute was to bring academic experts and civic leaders “to the fire” at BYU.

Azza Karam, of the UN Population Fund, comes to the Wheatley Institute's annual Student Conference of Religion in the Public Sphere. She describes the fine line between supporting and patronizing religious actors across the world.

Dr. Shaun Casey, director of the Berkley Center and former U.S. special representative for religion and global affairs/director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Religion and Global Affairs, details why religion should be a part of statecraft. He dives into his work establishing the Religion and Global Affairs office in the State Department and the work his office did in establishing religious harmony in the Israel-Palestine conflict, the refugee crisis, and the normalization of US-Cuba relations.

David Campbell from the University of Notre Dame presents the Keynote Address for the 2017 Wheatley Religion in the Public Square Conference. His talk discusses the surprising role that religion has played in partisan politics.

Roger Scruton, eminent scholar of aesthetics, raises important questions about the individual's relationship with morality and the arts.

Dr. David I. Smith, a Calvin College Professor and Director of the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, has spent his life developing ways to incorporate the Christian values he holds dear into the secular language subjects he loves to teach. In this speech given on March 1 at Brigham Young University, he gives his advice on how to bridge the gap between the two, thus creating an improved learning experience for both teachers and students. He challenges academic norms that have crept into every subject and that cause students to see subjects in a selfish and 2 dimensional way. His discussion is a battle cry to teachers of faith everywhere to teach better, more engaging, and unusual lessons; and not be afraid to use their values to enrich every facet of their teaching.

Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, discusses some keys to a happy and prosperous life with points from his new book "The Conservative Heart: How to Build a Fairer, Happier, and More Prosperous America."

John Nagl, headmaster of the Haverford School, argues that teaching the next generation of American thinkers and leaders is just as important as fighting enemies on the fields of battle.

Dr. Stacie Molnar-Main discusses the benefits of teaching children how to participate in democracy. She notes different ways to do so and the responsibility each of us have to civic education in the classroom.

William Damon, professor at Stanford University, explains why education ought to focus more on history and civic education to develop successful citizens.

David Matthews, CEO of the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, discusses the Kettering Foundation's research and origin, and examines how people become citizens and make difficult decisions.

Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, explains that happiness lies not in material gains, but in finding purpose in what you do.

Matthew Holland, President of Utah Valley University, presents an argument that Christian charity has played a vital role in shaping America's civil society.

Daniel Robinson, fellow at Oxford University, examines methods for successfully educating citizens, and how educational institutions can shape character in ways that render one of value to others. This lecture was read by Dr. Richard Williams during the Civic Virtue, Civic Life conference that was cosponsored by the McKay School of Education and The Wheatley Institute.

Terrance Olson, professor at Brigham Young University, discusses how education can foster correct moral principles, and asserts that moral sensibility is central to humanity.