BYU Requires Holland’s ‘Second Century’ Talk in Curriculum, LGBTQ Groups Protest

Beginning this winter 2024 semester, BYU officially implemented a new General Education requirement into the university curriculum—in their first BYU semester, students now take a comprehensive introductory course: UNIV 101. In this course, incoming freshmen are provided the opportunity to learn more about the unique mission of BYU, the specific aims of a BYU education, and the BYU community goal of covenant belonging. It is intended that incoming BYU students will receive adequate preparation to achieve success in their spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social pursuits over the course of their undergraduate education experience.

The class readings for the UNIV 101 curriculum are taken from a collection of beloved speeches and statements, including President Spencer W. Kimball’s landmark address—“The Second Century of Brigham Young University”—and many other inspired words. The Envisioning BYU collection can be found on the BYU Speeches website here.

This collection also contains President Jeffrey R. Holland’s inspired talk: “The Second Half of the Second Century of Brigham Young University.” The inclusion of this particular speech in the curriculum of the newly added UNIV 101 course has recently garnered a considerable amount of attention.

Local Reactions

There has been extensive backlash from local LGBTQ+ organizations and various news reports against the inclusion of President Holland’s talk.

In an Instagram post last week, members of the RaYnbow Collective posted the following statement: “A few weeks ago, members of the RaYnbow Collective were shocked to learn that President Holland’s speech ‘Second Half of the Second Century,’ commonly referred to as the ‘musket fire’ speech, would be included in the curriculum of the new University Foundations class, a requirement for all freshmen. This decision is deeply concerning. While we appreciate Dr. Rich Osguthorpe’s willingness to engage in discussion on this matter, we feel compelled to express our reservations.”

They continued: “The use of this speech, which was originally intended for staff and faculty, has significant implications for queer students, suggesting they do not belong and fostering an unsafe environment. By insinuating that queer students lie outside the boundaries of the university’s mission and vision, the speech perpetuates harm and undermines efforts to foster a sense of belonging. Moreover, the speech has caused considerable mental, physical, and emotional harm and has been used to justify acts of violence. This decision is insensitive, inconsiderate, and fails to recognize the diverse experiences and needs of our student body.

“We urge reconsideration and exploration of alternative messaging that promotes unity and respect for all members of the BYU community. We will always advocate for initiatives that foster a kinder campus community, where all students feel valued, supported, and included.”

As indicated on the website, members of the RaYnbow Collective “identify and create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students at Brigham Young University and connect them to affirming community resources.” The Cougar Chronicle reported last October on the RaYnbow Collective’s role in producing and attempting to distribute copies of their “Allyship and Activism Resource Guide” through the BYU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office. The guide contained information about various BYU-approved clubs, off-campus LGBTQ+ organizations, and oddly enough, Planned Parenthood as well.

President Holland’s Talk

President Holland delivered this speech—“The Second Half of the Second Century of Brigham Young University”—on August 23, 2021, at the University Conference for BYU’s faculty, staff, and administration. From beginning to end, The Lord’s Spirit was present as His apostle was speaking. President Holland’s eyes were moist, and his entire being exuded heartfelt love and gratitude for God’s children and the institution of BYU.

President Holland spoke of the beautiful uniqueness of BYU and of the many wonderful things happening on the BYU campus as well as pressing concerns in need of more focused attention. There is work to do if we are to keep BYU “standing for what she uniquely and prophetically was meant to be.”

I have highlighted specific parts of President Holland’s talk in the paragraphs below.

BYU Students Study Prophetic Teachings

In the talk, President Holland declared, “[I]f we are an extension of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taking a significant amount of sacred tithes and other precious human resources, all of which might well be expended in other worthy causes, surely our integrity demands that our lives ‘be absolutely consistent with and characteristic of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.’”

It is expected that students who choose to attend Brigham Young University voluntarily commit to abide by the Church Educational System Honor Code and live their lives in accordance with Honor Code and gospel standards. Every student’s BYU education is heavily subsidized by the sacred tithes given by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The students who come to BYU are immeasurably blessed to be here and enjoy a great many benefits; it saddens me that an increasing number of students are unwilling to be true to the standards and teachings of the Lord’s restored gospel and even choose to actively fight against the Lord’s Church and seek to tear down the teachings of the Lord’s prophets and apostles.

We must do better and be better. At BYU, we study the words of the Lord’s prophets and apostles and heed their teachings. It is an essential part of our curriculum in nearly every class and certainly in the BYU General Education requirements.

The Lord’s Prophets and Apostles Love ALL of Us

Speaking on the topic of same-sex marriage, President Holland said: “[L]et me go no farther before declaring unequivocally my love and that of my Brethren for those who live with this same-sex challenge and so much complexity that goes with it. Too often the world has been unkind—in many instances crushingly cruel—to these, our ­brothers and sisters. Like many of you, we have spent hours with them, and we have wept and prayed and wept again in an effort to offer love and hope while keeping the gospel strong and the ­obedience to commandments evident in every individual life.”

He continued: “[W]e have to be careful that love and empathy do not get interpreted as condoning and advocacy or that orthodoxy and loyalty to principle not be interpreted as unkindness or disloyalty to people. As near as I can tell, Christ never once withheld His love from anyone, but He also never once said to anyone, ‘Because I love you, you are exempt from keeping my commandments.’ We are tasked with trying to strike that same sensitive, demanding balance in our lives.”

President Holland invites us to “show empathy and understanding for everyone while maintaining loyalty to prophetic leadership and devotion to revealed doctrine.”

President Russell M. Nelson once said, “Sometimes we as leaders of the Church are criticized for holding firm to the laws of God, defending the Savior’s doctrine, and resisting the social pressures of our day. . . . In doing so, sometimes we are accused of being uncaring as we teach the Father’s requirements for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. But wouldn’t it be far more uncaring for us not to tell the truth—not to teach what God has revealed? . . . It is precisely because we do care deeply about all of God’s children that we proclaim His truth.”

President Nelson eloquently clarifies the difference between the love that Heavenly Father has for each of His children, the love that He commands each of us to have for one another, and the completely opposite and empty definition of love and toleration and acceptance that is promoted by those of the world. The actions of our Lord’s prophets and apostles are motivated by a greater kind of love: a love of God and a love of neighbor, a genuine concern for the eternal welfare of each individual son and daughter of God.

As is evident in his talk, President Holland is motivated to act by this kind of godly love. His deeply felt love for God’s children and the institution of BYU is displayed for all to see throughout his inspired devotional. His prophetic invitations are extended with deep love and genuine concern for the welfare of Brigham Young University and its students, faculty, staff, and administration. Elder Holland’s speech is a beautiful talk and should be required reading for BYU students. If you haven’t yet read or watched President Holland’s talk, I urge you to do so today.

As Elder Holland stated, “We must ally ourselves even more closely with the work of our Heavenly Father.” This new course added to BYU’s General Education with its inspired curriculum is a wonderful change; it’s a step in the right direction. I encourage you to send emails of gratitude and support to our leaders in BYU administration and faculty. Let us all make a greater commitment to do our part in helping to maintain the integrity of BYU as a divine institution of learning and an institutional tool in the hands of the Lord.

Written by: Eliza Andersen

Lead Editor and Senior Contributor at the Cougar Chronicle

The opinions in this article are those of the author.

The Cougar Chronicle is an independent student-run newspaper and is not affiliated with Brigham Young University or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints