Byran B. Korth

Byran B. Korth is an associate professor in the Department of Church History and Doctrine at BYU. Following a mission to Torreón Mexico Mission in 1988-90, he received his bachelor and master degrees from BYU in Family Sciences (1993 and 1995, respectively). In 2000 he completed a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama), emphasizing the social development of young children and the parent-child relationship. His first faculty position was in 1999 at Auburn University as an assistant professor and director of children’s programs of an early learning center. He joined BYU in 2004 as an assistant professor in Early Childhood Education in the McKay School of Education, preparing university students to work with parents and to be teachers of young children in preschool through 3rd grade. As an associate professor he joined the Department of Church History and Doctrine in the spring of 2016 where he has merged his training and experience regarding early childhood development and family relations with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truths of the Family Proclamation. His research interests include the coming forth of the family proclamation and the spiritual development of young children. He and his wife, Sheia, live in Springville, Utah and are the parents of three young adult children.

Courses Taught: The Eternal Family (REL C 220); Doctrine and Covenants (REL C 324 & 325); Field Studies in Nauvoo, Ill (REL C 323)

Department Responsibilities: Department Associate Chair; Program Director for the Church History & Doctrine Travel Study Program

Areas of Expertise & Research: coming forth and teachings of the Family Proclamation; early childhood development and spiritual development of young children; the transmission of religiosity and spirituality; parenting & family relations

Recent Podcasts:

• The Divine Origin of the Family Proclamation, Y-Religion Podcast, Episode 110—August 2024
• Helping Families by Staying Joyfully at the Tree, The Scriptures are Real Podcast, Season 3 Episode 8—January 2024
• The Transmission of Faith from Parents to Children, Y-Religion Podcast, Episode 72—January 2023
• Teaching Children to Believe in Christ, Y-Religion Podcast, Episode 27—March 21

Recent Publications:

Korth, B. B. (2023). Seership and world conferences: The divine origin and inception of the family proclamation. Religious Educator, 24(2), 134-159. https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-24-no-2-2023/seership-world-conferences

Korth, B. B. (2023). Staying by the Tree of Life. In K. L. Alford, K. V. L. Peirce, and M. J. Woodger (Eds.) Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life. (pp. 14-26). Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center. https://rsc.byu.edu/book-mormon-insights/staying-tree-life

Korth, B. B. & Reed, A. C. (2022). Becoming as Little Children: Participating in the Household of God. In L. H. Blumell, J. R. Combs, M. D. Ellison, F. F. Judd Jr., and C. M. Peek (Eds.) The Household of God: Families and Belonging in the Social World of the New Testament. (pp. 73-94). Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center. https://rsc.byu.edu/household-god/become-little-children

Kelley, H. H., Galbraith, Q., & Korth, B. B. (2020). The how and what of modern religious transmission and its implications for families. Journal of Family Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000673

Korth, B. B. (2021). Images of Joseph Smith’s 1839-1840 Visit to the Washington, DC. In K. Alford, L. D. Newell, and A. L. Baugh (Eds.) Latter-day Saints in Washington DC. (pp. 1-27). Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center. https://rsc.byu.edu/latter-day-saints-washington-dc/joseph-smiths-1839-40-visit-washington 

Korth, B. B. (2019). Parents teaching children to believe in Christ: An Echo of a Celestial Pattern. In K. Hull, N. Frederick, and H. Smith (Eds.) Give Ear to My Words: Text and Context of Alma 36-42. (pp. 341-367). Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center. https://rsc.byu.edu/give-ear-my-words/parents-teaching-children-believe-christ