The Deans' Office

Message from the Dean

Richard Bennett, Terry Ball, Dennis Wright

Years ago, President J. Reuben Clark, a member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, delivered an address entitled "The Charted Course of the Church in Education." Therein he spoke of the "two prime things which may not be overlooked, forgotten, shaded, or discarded" by any member of the Church. They are, "First: That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh, the Creator of the world, the Lamb of God, the Sacrifice for the sins of the world, the Atoner for Adam's transgression; that He was crucified; that His spirit left His body....that He was laid away in the tomb; that on the third day His spirit was reunited with His body, which again became a living being; that He was raised from the tomb a resurrected being...and that because of His death and by and through His resurrection every man born into the world since the beginning will be likewise literally resurrected."

The second of the two prime things is "that the Father and Son actually and in truth and very deed appeared to the Prophet Joseph [Smith] in a vision in the woods; that other heavenly visions followed to Joseph and to others; that the Gospel and the holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God were in truth and fact restored to the earth from which they were lost by the apostasy of the Primitive Church; that the Lord again set up His Church, through the agency of Joseph Smith; that the Book of Mormon is just what it professes to be."

These "two prime things" are the very foundation of all we do and teach in Religious Education at Brigham Young University. And because Religious Education is at the heart of what Brigham Young University is and does, the two prime things are foundational to the existence of BYU. As President Clark ultimately said, "There is neither reason nor is there excuse for our Church religious teaching and training facilities and institutions, unless the youth [and Church members] are to be taught and trained in the principles of the Gospel, embracing therein the two great elements that Jesus is the Christ and that Joseph was God's prophet."

It is our sincere hope that the experiences and association students have with Religious Education, however great or small, will ultimately strengthen their conviction of these two prime things.

Terry Ball

The Deans

Terry B. Ball

Title: Dean of Religious Education
Office: 370A JSB
Phone: 801-422-2736
Email: Send Message

Dr. Terry B. Ball is a Professor of Ancient Scripture and the Dean of Religious Education at BYU.  Prior to teaching at BYU he worked twelve years as a Seminary and Institute teacher.  He received his B.S. from BYU in Botany and Education. He received an M.A. from BYU in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, and a Ph.D. from BYU in Archaeobotany with an emphasis in the Ancient Near East. He has taught and traveled extensively in the Holy Land, including teaching at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies.

Brother Ball's recent Ancient Scripture research has focused primarily on the prophet Isaiah.  For the past ten years he has researched, lectured, and written extensively about this prophet.  In addition to teaching and researching in ancient scripture, Brother Ball is an active researcher in the field of Archaeobotany.  He is married to the former DeAnna Hill.  They have six children.

Richard E. Bennett

Title: Associate Dean of Religious Education
Office: 370D JSB
Phone: 801-422-3290
Email: Send Message

Native of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Served mission to Texas, 1967-1969. Head of Special Collections at the University of Manitoba, 1978-1987. Former Stake President, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ph.D in U.S. Intellectual History, Wayne State University. Married to Patricia Dyer. 5 children. Author of several books and articles, mainly on 19th century LDS History. Presently Church History editor, BYU Studies; Associate Editor, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies.

Dennis A. Wright

Title: Associate Dean of Religious Education
Office: 370C JSB
Phone: (801) 422-6981
Email: Send Message

Brother Wright has served as the Associate Dean of Religious Education since February 2006.  He received his B.S. From the University of Idaho and M.Ed. from Brigham Young University, both in special education.  He also earned a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in clinical education.  Prior to his employment at BYU, Brother Wright served as a teacher and administrator in the Church Educational System.  As a young man, Brother Wright served a Mission in Great Britain.  He has served as a bishop and stake president, and is currently serving in a branch presidency at the Provo Mission Training Center.  Brother Wright and his wife Kaye are the parents of five children and grandparents of nine.  As a professor of Church history and doctrine, Brother Wright's current academic interests relate to the Saints at War project, scripture literacy, LDS children's literature, and early educational practices of the LDS Church.

Portfolio: General Duties and Responsibilities: Professor Wright serves on the Religious Education Administrative Council and chairs the College Curriculum and Instruction Council.  He is also responsible for matters related to instructional technology and student relations.

Office Staff

Susan Bettis

Title:  Controller
Department: Religious Education
Office: 370D JSB
Phone: (801) 422-6149
Email:  Send Message

Susan oversees all Religious Education budgets and financial activities, ensuring compliance with University and Church financial policy. She is a member of the University Academic Controller's Council and serves on various subcommittees and focus groups to evaluate and improve financial processes. Susan assists the Deans and Department Chairs in managing Religious Education's resources and works to facilitate the needs of the faculty for funds to support their teaching and research. She works with Religious Education's donor liaison, Ken McCarty, in coordinating meetings and activities for the National Advancement Council (NAC) and the Friends of Religious Education (FORE) chapters.

Lori Soza

Title:  Secretary to the Dean
Office:  370 JSB
Phone:  (801) 422-2736
Email:  Send Message
 

Lori Soza is the secretary to the dean of Religious Education. In this capacity, she assists the dean in a variety of administrative tasks and duties, including maintaining the dean's schedule. In her role as office manager, she supervises the student receptionists and couriers and also works to ensure the efficient management of the office. In addition she plans annual socials for the college.

Cheryl Snelgrove

Title: Secretary to the Associate Deans, Richard E. Bennett and Dennis A. Wright
Office: 370 JSB
Phone: (801) 422-3290
Email: Send Message

Cheryl is the secretary to the Associate Deans, Richard E. Bennett, and Dennis A. Wright. She is the secretary to the Religious Education Graduate Program, coordinates the David O. McKay Essay contest, and coordinates the Religious Studies Center Research Grants. She also acts as a liaison with petitioning students. Handles all concerns dealing with the Joseph Smith Building. Serves on several committees, including the College Curriculum & Instruction Committee, and the Display Committee.

Patty A. Smith

Title: Supervisor, Faculty Support Center
Office: 271 JSB
Phone: (801) 422-3611
Email:  Send Message

Patty Smith supervises the Religious Education Faculty Support Center, which provides secretarial services, a reference library, and audio-visual support for the faculty, managing a part-time staff of 8-10 secretaries. She is the packet coordinator for all Religious Education packets. She is also the permanent staff member on several committees, including the Sidney B. Sperry Symposium Committee, the Religious Education Student Symposium Committee, and the Friday Faculty Forum Committee. Patty is married to Gary W. Smith (29 plus years) and they have five children and one grandchild.