Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2007-03-14 Joseph F.Merrill: Latter-day Saint Commissioner of Education, 1928-1933 Casey Paul Griffiths Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the History of Christianity Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Griffiths, Casey Paul, "Joseph F.Merrill: Latter-day Saint Commissioner of Education, 1928-1933" (2007). Theses and Dissertations. 1060. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/1060 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. JOSEPH F. MERRILL LATTER-DAY SAINT COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, 1928-1933 by Casey P. Griffiths A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Religious Education Religious Education Brigham Young University March 2007 Copyright © 2007 Casey P. Griffiths All Rights Reserved ii BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY GRADUATE COMMITTEE APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by Casey P. Griffiths This thesis has been read by each member of the following graduate committee and by the majority vote has been found to be satisfactory. Date Alan K. Parrish, Chair Date Scott C. Esplin Date Mary Jane Woodger iii BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY As chair of the candidate’s committee, I have read the thesis of Casey P. Griffiths in its final form and have found that (1) its format, citations, and bibliographical style are consistent and acceptable and fulfill university and department style requirements; (2) its illustrative materials including figures, tables, and charts are in place; and (3) the final manuscript is satisfactory to the graduate committee and is ready for submission to the university library. Date Alan K. Parrish Chair, Graduate Committee Accepted for the Department Clyde J. Williams Graduate Coordinator Accepted for the College Terry B. Ball Dean, Religious Education iv ABSTRACT JOSEPH F. MERRILL LATTER-DAY SAINT COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, 1928-1933 Casey P. Griffiths Religious Education Master of Arts in Religious Education Joseph F. Merrill served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1928 to 1933, an era critical in the development of Latter-day Saint Education. During his tenure as commissioner several key developments occurred in Church education, among them the closing of most of the remaining Church academies, transfer of nearly all of Church junior colleges to State control, rapid expansion of the Church seminary system, and establishment of the first LDS Institutes of Religion. Merrill also initiated new efforts to encourage LDS educators to seek graduate-level education outside of Utah, and to bring religious scholarship to the teachers of the Church. In addition, during this time attempts were made by forces outside the Church to seriously curtail the continuation of the seminary program, if not to eliminate it entirely. Merrill’s efforts were crucial in ensuring the survival and ultimate acceptance of this form of religious education. This study is intended to answer the following research questions: 1. What were the contributions of Joseph F. Merrill as Church Commissioner of Education? 2. How can the lessons from Merrill’s administration be applied to the challenges facing Church education today? v The first chapter of this thesis is intended to provide the necessary historical back to understand the events which took place during the Merrill tenure. Particular attention is paid to the work of Merrill’s predecessor, Adam S. Bennion. Chapter two provides the historical background to understand Merrill’s background before he was called as commissioner. The “Beginning of Institute” chapter explores the creation of the Latter- day Saint Institutes of religion. Next, the “Continuing the Transformation of Church Education” explores the decision to close or attempt to transfer to state control the junior colleges owned by the Church during this time. With the transfer of most of the Church colleges underway by the early 1930s, Church education found itself dependent on the work of seminaries and institutes. “The Released Time Seminary Crisis of 1930-31” chapter details the effects made by the report of the state high school inspector, I. L. Williamson, on seminary and Merrill’s work to defend the legality of the seminary system. Next, “Joseph F. Merrill and Religious Educators” will document Merrill’s dealings with the teachers who served under him as commissioner. Attention is devoted here to the effects of the Depression on Church education, as well as an account of the LDS educational venture with the University of Chicago Divinity school in the 1930s. Finally, the “Conclusions” chapter explains Merrill’s departure from the office to serve as president of the European Mission. This chapter will also offer summary answers to the major research questions, and suggestions for future study The overall intent of this study is to shed light on the contributions of Joseph F. Merrill to Latter-day Saint education. It is not intended as a full biographical work, but simply focuses on his service as commissioner, with occasional ventures into other periods as necessary. It is hoped the reader will emerge with a greater understanding of vi this important era in Church history, as well as an improved vision of the divine hand guiding the fate of the Church. vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Any work of scholarship is the product of many minds, and this work is no exception. Countless people have been instrumental in the development of this thesis, of which only a few may be mentioned here. I was fortunate to have Alan K. Parrish, whose work on John A. Widstoe partly inspired this project, serve as my thesis chair. He has shown himself to be patient, enthusiastic, and above all, encouraging through the ups and downs of this process. Scott C. Esplin, who originally pointed out to me that almost nothing has been written on Joseph F. Merrill, deserves credit for the birth of this study. I was fortunate to also have him serve as a member of my committee, where his insights into this era have always proven illuminating. Mary Jane Woodger, likewise an expert on this era, has provided numerous insights and suggestions which have benefited this work. In addition she served to helpfully remind me to include the details of Merrill’s spiritual side, which have made this work much more edifying. Gratitude must also be expressed to the numerous authors who labors this study is built on. As I wrote I came to understand how most academic works are the product of not one person, but the merely the latest extensions of the work of countless devoted writers and researchers. Chief among these was the work of Kenneth G. Bell, whose study of Adam S. Bennion was used as a pattern for this paper. This study could accurately be considered the sequel to Bell’s work. I also wish to express appreciation to the staffs of Church Archives, L. Tom Perry Special Collections in the Harold B. Lee library at Brigham Young University, and Special Collections in the Marriott Library at the University of Utah. viii Next, I must acknowledge the love and support of my devoted family. My wife, Elizabeth, has provided so many helpful insights she could be attributed co-authorship of this work. Her depth of understanding, fascination with the most obscure topics, and general empathy have been of immeasurable value to me. I also appreciate her patience for working around a husband whose mind for the past year has been more in the 1920s and 30s than the current decade. Along with her, I wish to acknowledge my children, Acacia and Joshua. Concern over their future gives me a reason to search for meaning in the past. Finally, my immediate family, specifically my father and mother, Keith T. Griffiths and Laurie Griffiths, who sacrificed to give me my education, deserve credit for anything worthwhile I have produced. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One: Introduction ............................................................................................................1 Justification of Thesis ........................................................................................................1 Selection of Sources...........................................................................................................2 A Brief History of Latter-day Saint Education Prior to 1928............................................3 Church Academies and Religion Classes ..........................................................................4 Public Schools vs. Church Schools....................................................................................7 The Rise of the Seminaries ................................................................................................8 The Administration of Adam S. Bennion ..........................................................................9 Transition to the Merrill Administration..........................................................................16 Conclusions and Summary ..............................................................................................18 Chapter Two: Educational Background of Joseph F. Merrill.....................................................21 Early Experiences............................................................................................................21