BYU’s Education Week flooded campus with thousands of eager learners, featuring more than just the usual classes.
Held from August 17-21, the weeklong event encompassed a world of topics.
The 2026 program pulled its theme from Moroni 7:47 in the Book of Mormon, proclaiming that “Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever.”
BYU’s Education Week Administrator Bruce Payne explained that the theme is carefully chosen by the staff. The choice is based on scripture and the words of modern prophets.
“There is much contention in the world and this year’s theme on charity will hopefully influence many people to live a more Christlike life of love and service,” Payne said.
Classes ran the gamut of themes, digging into topics from Zion to artificial intelligence.
Interested in portrayals of Latter-Day Saints in science fiction? There’s a class for that. How about advice for when a loved one leaves the church? There’s a class for that. Using AI to help power your law firm? Yeah, there’s a class for that, too.
Though some classes dealt with topics more relevant to older audiences, the vast majority were applicable to all ages. Certain classes, like John Bytheway and Brad Wilcox’s “Tactics of Spiritual Identity Thieves,” were even targeted specifically towards youth.
Though EFY integration started in 2019, youth classes at Education Week aren’t new. The event has had youth-centered classes since 1958.
Other youth-centered classes discussed a wide range of topics such as technology use, personal worth and Jesus Christ.
Two performances from the Millennial Choirs and Orchestras, an EFY dance and a Tuesday devotional from Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles broke up the busy class schedule.
It almost goes without saying that Education Week has a lot of classes, with this year’s program featuring nearly 1000 of them.
The sheer volume offered this year made organizers consider a schedule change. Instead of the usual Monday to Thursday format that Education Week usually adopts, this year’s event held classes from Monday to Friday.
This change allowed for participants to get to the classes they wanted more easily.
Administrator Bruce Payne explained that even though Education Week is popular, there are still common misconceptions.
“I’ve heard that some people don’t attend because they feel there are so many people on campus that they won’t be able to get in a class they want, but with the new electronic capabilities available we are able to accommodate overflow crowds for any class when it’s needed,” Payne said.
The electronic capabilities Payne mentioned refer to overflow classrooms with a live video feed of the class. These overflows allow significantly more people to participate.
Payne also spoke on sometimes-reluctant spouses tagging along to Education Week.
“We receive comments each year about someone bringing a reluctant spouse who thinks it’s not for them, but after attending, that spouse says it was great and they plan to come every year,” he said. “That tells me that people are sometimes unaware of the great learning experiences that Education Week can provide to them.”
During this year’s extra-long Education Week, attendees like Jen Kartchner filled classrooms from the Joseph Smith building to the Kimball tower, jotting down notes and raising hands.
Kartchner has been to Education Week for three years in a row, and enjoys the time it gives to learn more and spend time with family.
“It is so much fun, and I feel rejuvenated, spiritually, and rejuvenated in so many different ways, because of the ways my mind learns so quickly in a short amount of time. I don't get that opportunity very often,” she said.
She also noted that her classes meshed together well with each other, focusing on the intersections between the secular and spiritual.
“I love the intersection that all of my classes have had with each other, but also the intersection they have with things in our physical world, and secular learning, and how they intersect with God,” Kartchner said.
Secular learning and spiritual feeling don’t have to exist outside of each other, according to BYU professor Dr. Jamie Jensen.
Jensen presented at Education Week on reconciling faith and science, one of her areas of professional interest. She also specializes in science communication, working to improve how science is taught and how findings are expressed. Dr. Jensen has appeared in LDS Living, worked with the Smithsonian and given a BYU devotional.
Dr. Jensen’s class, “Reconciling Science and Religion: Saving Testimonies by Understanding the Nature of Science,” tackled the seeming tension between faith and science, arguing that they do not have to exist in opposition. She usually teaches college age students, but found an older audience to be receptive and ready to learn.
“The one fun thing about this is that a lot of them haven't been in science for a long time or ever, and so it's a newer experience for them to learn about these principles,” Jensen said.
Why come to Education Week? According to Dr. Jensen, it's to improve.
“To make yourself a better person, bathed in the light of the gospel,” Jensen said.
Improvement was at the heart of Angela Meyers’ message, too.
A fellow presenter at Education Week, Meyers is the founder and executive director of the non-profit Kudos for Families. She has spoken around the country, working with families and parents to improve relationships and dynamics. Meyers also has academic experience to back up her teaching, holding degrees in Psychology and Marriage, Family and Human Development.
Meyers spoke to both youth-centered and adult audiences during Education Week, focusing on agency, accountability and personal responsibility.
“It is such an honor to be teaching here at BYU... it makes me want to weep, because I come here and there are people who are so eager to learn, and to learn by the spirit and to improve themselves,” Meyers said. “There is just a spirit about it.”
Meyers also added that Education Week has something for everyone.
“Look at the schedule, look at the classes. There are classes on law, family, marriage, deep doctrine, anything you could want. When you're struggling with anything, there most likely will be a class here that will help you,” Meyers said.
BYU Education Week will be accepting applications September 15-30 of 2026 for those desiring to teach during the 2027 session.