“President Packer and Elder Scott Speak at BYU,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 110
President Packer and Elder Scott Speak at BYU
“I know of no greater service that this, the Lord’s university, can give to His Church,” said President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, at an announcement banquet held 10 September for Brigham Young University’s new School of Family Life. Also in attendance were Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who serves as commissioner of education in the Church Educational System, and Elder Merrill J. Bateman of the Seventy, who serves as president of BYU.
Warning that “powerful and sinister forces are at work against the family,” President Packer charged the School of Family Life “to address the sacred family relationships in standards of scholarship worthy of a university. In doing so, you must honor those ever-enduring principles set forth in the great plan of happiness which was revealed to us.”
During his remarks, President Packer said that the proclamation on the family would become the new school’s charter. The School of Family Life replaces BYU’s Department of Family Science.
William H. Doherty, president of the National Council of Family Relations, said that “BYU is poised to offer, in a coordinated fashion, a breadth and depth of family-related courses that are unique in the nation” (quoted in Dan Egan, “BYU Creating School to Bolster Family,” Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Sept. 1998, B4).
Elder Scott Dedicates Health Center
On 15 September Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the new BYU Student Health Center. Earlier the same day he delivered a devotional address to BYU students.
Located across the street from the Provo Missionary Training Center, the new 36,380-square-foot health center serves BYU students, their spouses and children, and missionaries at the MTC. It replaces the McDonald Health Center, which “could not accommodate the electrical and mechanical demands of modern medical equipment,” said J. Michael Stratton, director of campus construction projects.
“When someone comes here,” said Elder Scott, “not only will they be in a wonderful, beautiful physical environment but they will be in a place where there is true caring and true feelings of wanting to help.” Also in attendance at the dedication were Elder Eyring and Elder Bateman.