BYU Jerusalem Center

BYU Jerusalem Center
TypePrivate
Satellite campus of BYU
EstablishedMay 16, 1989; 35 years ago (1989-05-16)[1]
Religious affiliation
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Location
Mount of Olives, East Jerusalem
CampusSuburban, 5 acres (0.020 km2)
DirectorJames R. Kearl
WebsiteBYU Jerusalem Center

31°47′12″N 35°14′40″E / 31.78667°N 35.24444°E / 31.78667; 35.24444

The Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies (often simply referred to as the BYU Jerusalem Center or BYU–Jerusalem, and locally known as the Mormon University[2][3][4]), situated on Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, is a satellite campus of Brigham Young University (BYU), the largest religious university in the United States.[5] Owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the center provides a curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the Holy Land, and the program is open to qualifying full-time undergraduate students at either BYU, BYU-Idaho, or BYU-Hawaii.[6]

Plans to build a center for students were announced by LDS Church president Spencer W. Kimball in 1979. By 1984, the church had obtained a 49-year lease on the land and had begun construction. The center's prominent position on the Jerusalem skyline quickly brought it notice by the Ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim, of Israel. Protests and opposition to the building of the center springing from the Haredim made the issue of building the center a national and even international issue. After several investigative committees of Israel's Knesset reviewed and debated the issue, Israeli officials decided to allow the center's construction to continue in 1986. The center opened to students in May 1988 and was dedicated by Howard W. Hunter on May 16, 1989.[7] It did not admit students from 2001 to 2006 due to security issues during the Second Intifada but continued to provide tours for visitors and weekly concerts.[8]

  1. ^ "How the BYU Jerusalem Center Nearly Caused the Collapse of the Israeli Government". ldsliving.com. 8 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Mormon University". Ministry of Tourism, Government of Israel. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  3. ^ "Brigham Young University (Mormon University)". Website of Jerusalem Municipality. Archived from the original on 2016-02-09. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  4. ^ G. Van Dyke, Blair (21 Nov 2013). "The Mormon University on the Mount of Olives: A Case Study in LDS Public Relations" (PDF). Journal of Media and Religion. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2015-08-03. Their sole intention was to block the construction of the Mormon University" (as the Jerusalem Center came to be known by locals).
  5. ^ Naparsteck, Martin. "The Lord's University". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  6. ^ "Jerusalem Center - General Information". Brigham Young University. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  7. ^ Mccann, Jessica (2005-11-30). "BYU Jerusalem Center dedicated-LDS Church delays news to keep peace". The Daily Universe. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  8. ^ Shaha, Abigail (2008-04-08). "Students Experience Religion and Culture at the Jerusalem Center". The Daily Universe. Retrieved 2013-07-25.