Faculty Development Plan: Ancient Scripture

Department of Ancient Scripture

Statement of Professional Goals

3^rd Year Review

Professional Goals

“There is never achievement in any field of endeavor unless it is preceded by a strong sense of purpose. There must be reasons for action and guides for action in the form of real goals and objectives.” (Howard W. Hunter, In Conference Report, Apr. 1967, p. 115.) The need to establish personal goals is essential if I am to successfully carryout Brigham Young University’s mission to “assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life” (The Mission of Brigham Young University, p. 1). As with all matters pertaining to real happiness, the pursuit of excellence must be grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed through the latter-day Restoration. It is my intent that my personal and professional goals reflect my commitment to both the University and to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Below I have outlined my personal views and goals in each of three areas—teaching, scholarship, and citizenship.

I. Teaching

A. Personal Philosophy: The dictionary defines Professor as “one who professes, avows, or declares” (Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, unabridged). As a “professor” at Brigham Young University, what will I profess? My prayer is to profess none other than that which reflects a personal testimony that Jesus is the Christ and the Gospel has been restored. How will I do this? The Lord clearly states, “seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118; emphasis added). Therefore, knowledge infused by faith informs real learning. Joseph Smith said, “Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God.” (As quoted in The Mission and Aims of BYU Education, p. 4). As a “professor” of religion Joseph Smith’s counsel must be taken to heart. Then, and only then, can I challenge my students to do the same. Communion with God changes lives.

I believe that my love of the scriptures must permeate all areas of my life if I am to truly be effective in the classroom. In fact, real education demands change—change at the fundamental level, the very core of who and what we are. It is at this point that “BYU [students can] draw on an educated intellect to enhance not only what they know but also what they do and, ultimately, what they are” (As stated in the Mission and Aims of BYU Education, p. 9).

The ultimate aim of religious education should be to assist the student to become a new creature in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Coming to know the Savior can be achieved, in part, through intense and directed study of the word of God. One way to facilitate such change is to help students understand the cultural, geographical, and historical material associated with the scriptures. Important spiritual insights often reveal themselves to those who work diligently to understand the scriptures. I will make every effort to help the student to drink from the well that brings life—the words of Jesus Christ and his anointed prophets and apostles. Because the spiritual growth of a student’s life cannot and should not be examined and graded by a religion teacher it becomes imperative that every effort should be made to encourage students to bring about a synthesis between the intellectual knowledge learned and the spiritual insights that the scriptures can provide.

B. Goals:

1. Continue to develop my personal understanding and testimony of Jesus Christ, the truthfulness of the restored Gospel, and the power of the scriptures.

· Beyond my normal studies in my discipline, I have stayed current on research by reading periodicals. I have joined the Society of XXX and review the most recent articles that they publish. For the last two years, I have also participated in the XXX national conferences in XXX City (1999) and XXX City (2000).

· From November 1998 through April 1999, I met week with three other faculty members to prepare for a three-week work/study travel experience to XXX and XXX. The purpose of our travels was to better understand the New Testament and travels of Paul. During winter semester 1999 and 2000, I have taught or anticipate teaching the second half of the New Testament (Religion 212) and find the insights gained while traveling to many of the cities and regions of this part of the Bible has been invaluable to my teaching. I continue to prepare lessons and integrate material acquired from this opportunity.

· Since March 1999, a few faculty members have met weekly with RRR and MMM to discuss the writings of many of the early Church leaders. To date, we have studied “Lectures on Faith” (Joseph Smith, Jr.); “Key to the Science of Theology” (Parley P. Pratt); “A Voice of Warning” (Parley P. Pratt); “Orson Pratt’s Works: On the Doctrines of the Gospel” (compiled by Parker Pratt Robinson); “A Series of Pamphlets” (Orson Pratt); and are currently on “Gospel Truths” (George Q. Cannon, two volumes). It is intended that this discussion/study group will continue through the end of this semester and it has been proposed to start it up again in fall semester 2000. This has been an extremely rewarding and edifying experience both spiritually and intellectually.

2. Develop lesson plans that realistically reflect the amount of material that can be covered during a class period.

· Throughout the teaching year (Fall/Winter 1999/2000), I have worked to carefully prepare lessons that can realistically be presented during a fifty minute block. Although there have been days where my expectations exceed the allotted time, by in large, I feel that I am succeeding in this area.

3. Type the lesson plans in the computer to better facilitate future classes and adjustments to forthcoming lessons.

· As time permits, I continually update all teaching materials. I have the computer an asset in developing and organizing my teaching materials. As the Joseph Smith Building continues to upgrade their teaching rooms to accommodate computer aided instruction I have found even more value in the work that I have done in this area. I am currently preparing many of my lessons to use Powerpoint presentations. Students have commented on how the lessons help them organize their notes and to better visualize the areas under study (especially when pictures have been integrated into the Powerpoint presentation).

4. Continue to develop exams that measure student understanding of the material at both the factual and conceptual level. This will be done by working with the students and the testing center to evaluate the exams and the individual questions used to make up each exam.

· I have worked extremely hard to write exams that are clearly worded and reflect the students efforts of the materials under study. Although the exams are challenging for the students, the rewards have come as students comment on their fairness. Students have even told me that they appreciated how much they learn while taking my tests.

5. Make every effort to establish a classroom environment where the Spirit will be present. This can best be accomplished through thoughtful and prayerful preparation.

· Throughout the semester, I have made every effort to get to know the students and help them feel comfortable as we discuss issues that are important to them. Prayer and seeking the Spirit are an integral part of lesson preparations and the classroom experience.

6. Teach the scriptures in a way that students will better understand the historical context (i.e., people, places, terms, and events), and in so doing, they will gain greater insights into themselves and their relationship with Jesus Christ and the latter-day Restoration.

· A portion of each class is dedicated to providing the historical background and context of the scriptures assigned for each reading assignment. I believe that this has made a tremendous impact on helping the students understand the scriptures.

7. Consistently demonstrate to the students that the scriptures are personally applicable to every day life through personal example and encouragement to do the same.

· Every student is assigned to write a short application paper for each reading assignment. I have found these to be extremely effectively in helping the students to take materials written hundreds of years ago and finding modern-day relevance.

8. Use formative and summative student and peer evaluations to enhance and improve teaching effectiveness in the classroom.

· I have succeeded on the summative student evaluations but I need to work more on formative evaluations. I ask the students to freely make comments on my teaching style and work throughout the semester with a few students providing insightful comments. However, these comments are limited.

9. One of my personal goals for teaching was to prepare an outline and course of study for Religion XXX and XXX.

· I have already accomplished this goal.

· I have also been involved with XXX on a Multimedia Project for Religion XXX and XXX. The completed project will consist of audio and multimedia aids. These aides will be developed for the various stories found in the New Testament. Slides and video materials (with audio) of modern sites will be used to show how places look today. Computer generated virtual reconstructions will show how the sites looked anciently. Three-dimensional maps will be used to show the location of cities and towns, routes of travel and general terrain. Video material accompanying the maps will show how specified areas along the route looked during various seasons. Charts and graphs will be produced to show such things as genealogies, priestly families, temple duties, and so on. The materials will be down loaded onto CD-ROM disks for easy teacher access and distribution.

We have been working with the University’s Committee on Instructional and Media Arts (CIMA) and Curriculum and Instructional Development (CID). To date, we have received funding in excess of 50,000 dollars to move forward on the project. This is an ongoing project that will produce material for Independent Studies, the Religious Education Faculty, and BYU’s Jerusalem Center.

II. Scholarship

A. Personal philosophy: Experience has taught me from more than twenty years of teaching that the more I am directly involved in learning, the greater my enthusiasm in the classroom. I uphold completely to the university’s philosophy that encourages (1) “faculty to remain current in their disciplines and ‘alive’ in their teaching; (2) scholarly work contributes directly to the education of the students, both graduate and undergraduate; (3) scholarly work establishes the credibility of BYU” (“A Model for Directing Scholarly Work at Brigham Young University,” Brigham Young University Office of Research and Creative Activities, 1994, p. 6.). One of the primary reasons for coming to Brigham Young University was to better combine my in-class teaching with research and writing opportunities. As with effective teaching, the written page also demands time and effort. Establishing life-long habits that carefully balance teaching responsibilities with scholarly research and writing is critical to my success. Below, I have identified several goals that I hope to accomplish during my BYU career.

B. Goals:

1. Take more time at the beginning of a project to organize my thoughts. The added structure should allow for papers that are more readable.

· I have taken great care to outline and organize my thoughts to fashion a better product. I have also taken greater care when writing shorter papers. The savings in time and frustrations more than warrant the effort.

· For over a year I have been involved in publishing a recently discovered collection of Joseph F. Smith letters. These letters are the personal correspondence between Joseph F. Smith to his sister Martha Ann Smith Harris. The letters range in date from 1854 when Joseph F. Smith is a fifteen year old missionary in Hawaii to 1916, just two years before his death. This is a joint project with Professor XXX.

To date, 159 Joseph F. Smith and 48 Martha Ann letters have been scanned into the computer and transcribed. I am currently working on footnotes, biographical sketches, and historical information for each letter. Written permission has been received to access information in the Church Archives regarding Joseph F. Smith that is pertinent to our research. Religious Studies has provided funding for two research assistants since the beginning of the project.

2. Produce a minimum of one to two quality articles or the equivalent per year for publication in acceptable Religious Education venues.

· As mentioned above, this past year has been spent in working on the Joseph F. and Martha Ann Smith letters. I believe the final product will be an insightful and important addition into the life of one of our Church Presidents.

3. Set aside forty-five minutes per day for just writing. During this time I will minimize/eliminate interruptions (i.e., phone calls, student visits, etc.).

· I have sought to dedicate time each day to writing and working on my research projects. I have been successful for the most part but could be more careful to ensure “every day” writing/research time.

4. Set aside forty-five minutes per day for reading. During this time, I will minimize/eliminate interruptions as stated above.

· I have sought to dedicate time each day to just reading. Again, I have been successful for the most part but could be more careful to ensure “every day” reading time.

5. Set aside a minimum of four hours on Fridays for research and writing. No student appointments on Friday.

· I have had to adjust my goals for Friday research and writing time. I have succeeded in protecting this day from student and phone interruptions, but meetings with colleagues and demands of lesson preparations have taken their toll.

6. Arrange to have colleagues read all articles/papers/research projects before sending them in for publication. Also, use XXX and the Faculty Editing Service before submitting articles.

· I have used colleagues to read my papers successfully. I have also used XXX for editing.

III. Citizenship

A. Personal philosophy: The concept of community relates both to BYU and the idea of citizenship. The word community is derived from the Latin and signifies a state of fellowship. (The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, vol., I, Oxford University Press, New York, 1971.) It implies a unified body of individuals with common interests and/or history. (Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam: Springfield, Massachusetts, 1963.) The ideal community as described by our latter-day prophets and as found throughout the scriptures is called Zion. It is a place where the people are “of one heart and one mind, and [they dwell] in righteousness; and [where] there [are] no poor among them” (Moses 7:18). The ideal “community” has been the dream of every prophet in every dispensation from the beginning of our world’s history. From the hundreds of scriptures (over five hundred in the Standard Works) and latter-day prophetic quotes, we learn that this ideal community cannot exist unless it is founded upon Jesus Christ. Thus, when we speak of citizenship we must adhere to the principles of the ideal community—Zion! Teaching at BYU extends the individual beyond self. He or she must consider the aims, needs, and desires of the whole. Good citizenship requires every member of an institution to continually consider the needs of the whole and then act responsibly, and in accordance with the Spirit, to help meet those needs. As such, I am committed to do the following:

B. Goals:

1. Diligently participate in departmental, religious education, university meetings, and weekly devotional and forums.

· I have satisfactorily accomplished my goal in this area by attending all departmental, religious education, and university meetings.

· I have been assigned to work on the XXX Committee. I participated fully to meet the expectations demanded for this committee assignment.

· I have also been asked to participate on the RRR Committee. This entails interviewing upwards of twenty students who are in the process of applying to XXX, advising them on what they can do to strengthen their applications, and writing letters of recommendation that Dr. XXX (RRR Committee Chair) uses to prepare a final recommendations to the XXX being applied to.

2. Be sensitive to the needs and desires of colleagues, the department, and university. Act in accordance with their needs as directed by personal circumstances and the Spirit.

· I have succeeded in this area.

3. Actively seek to get better acquainted with the Religious Education faculty by meeting with them (as time permits) during informal lunches on Fridays.

· From those attended, I find them to be an ideal opportunity to get better acquainted as we discuss various research projects, current events, and personal challenges.

IV. Relationship between my goals and the university expectations

A. During the Savior’s great “intercessory prayer,” he pleaded with the Father for unity among he and his followers. (See John 17:11, 20-23; also see 3 Nephi 19:23, 29.) The Doctrine and Covenants is no less forceful when, during a conference of the early Church, the Lord stated, “I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine” (38:27). Certainly, our obligation at Brigham Young University seeks to bring about the Lord’s purposes in establishing such unity. The mission statement to “assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life” (The Mission of Brigham Young University, p. 1) demonstrates the need for every faculty member to incorporate the principles and practices of the Restored Gospel with all areas of his or her life. The personal philosophies and goals identified throughout this document is my attempts to bring our Savior’s plea for “oneness” in alignment with the aims and mission of Brigham Young University and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

B. The resources needed to accomplish my goals include time, effort, personal commitment and financial resources.

1. I have found the department extremely helpful in providing resources to accomplish my goals.

2. Additional monies have been provided for books, supplies, phone calls, etc.

3. Travel opportunities to the Middle East have increased my personal understanding and perspective on the scriptures and the Lord’s dealings with his servants throughout history.

4. As indicated throughout this document I have the desire and determination to expend whatever time and energy necessary to accomplish the goals that have been identified above. With continued blessings of the Lord, I will succeed.