By SHANNA GHAZNAVI
“Trusting in God When Things Go Wrong” will be the topic of Todd A. Britsch’s Devotional today.
Britsch said he hopes when students leave the devotional “they should know that — even in their most difficult times — God is there for them.”
Britsch said he is going to focus on how students deal with their trials and give suggestions concerning how to maintain faith despite adversity.
He said he plans to use examples from the lives of the Prophet Mormon, the Apostle Paul and the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Britsch, who was made BYU’s first full-time humanities professor in 1977, has written numerous books, articles, reviews and papers on topics ranging from Marxism in art to what makes families work.
His two books are “The Arts in Western Culture” and “Literature as Art: A reader.”
After earning an undergraduate degree in political science at BYU, Britsch went on to receive his master’s degree in comparative literature.
Britsch, a native of Provo, received a Fulbright scholarship to study in Hamburg, Germany. He then received a Ph.D. in humanities from Florida State University, according to the Alumni House records.
Since he has been a professor at BYU Britsch has won numerous awards, including the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award.
According to the Daily Herald, the Maeser Award was given to Britsch in 1983 as a result of “outstanding teaching, research and creative accomplishments.”
Britsch has worked in various positions at BYU. He has been an associate academic vice president, dean of the College of Humanities and he was recently on the University Reaccreditation Self-Study Committee.
Britsch is now doing research concerning religious writing and art in 18th century Europe, according to a news release.
Britsch is now a gospel doctrine teacher and a ward choir director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has previously served as a bishop and a high councilor, according to a news release. He served an LDS mission in Switzerland and Austria.
The last Devotional Britsch gave was “Jesus the Very Thought of Thee” Aug. 6, 1985.
Today’s Devotional will be rebroadcast Oct. 12 at 6 a.m. on KBYU television and at 8 p.m. the same day on KBYU radio.
