On Friday, Jan. 23, and Saturday, Jan. 24, BYU hosted its 54th annual Sperry Symposium on campus, featuring religious scholars from around the world.
The two-day conference offered visitors and religious scholars an opportunity to dive deep into stories of the Old Testament and its lessons about the love of God.
Honoring the life and mission of Sidney B. Sperry, an influential religious scholar and BYU alumnus, speakers and visitors traveled to attend lectures of this year's theme, “Tender Mercies and Loving-Kindness: The Goodness of God in the Old Testament.”
Chad H. Webb, first counselor of the Sunday School General Presidency, presided at the Friday night session. More than 25 speakers were chosen to share highlights from their studies of the Old Testament.
“Each year, religious scholars from around the United States and around the world are invited to write papers on the chosen ‘Come, Follow Me’ topics for each year,” said Lucie Schoonmaker, a student employee for BYU’s religious faculty support team.
This year, the new "Come, Follow Me" manual has encouraged the use of different translations of the Bible to enhance and simplify learning.
“This is about a three-year process that takes place where professors submit proposals and then papers, and a lot of hard work goes into it,” Schoonmaker said. “On Friday night and Saturday morning, they are given the opportunity to present these papers.”
The choir began the meeting by singing a melody by Rob Gardner, which was followed by the keynote speaker. Referencing verses from the book of Isaiah, Webb spoke on the cleansing power the Atonement of Jesus Christ has on people's lives.
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow,” Webb quoted.
Attendees Tanya and Spencer Killian, married for 22 years, shared their excitement to learn from biblical stories this year.
“I love the encouragement of finding the Savior in the Old Testament, and seeing His love and mercy for His children then, and how it relates to us now,” Tanya Killian said.
Spencer Killian praised how the "Come, Follow Me" manual has improved their studies of the scriptures.
“We've studied with ‘Come Follow Me,’ and it is amazing how much we can find the Savior in all of the Old Testament,” Spencer Killian said.
Attendees of all ages made their way into lecture halls across the Joseph Smith Building, Benson Building and McKay Building on campus to hear from various speakers.
Alan Moore, a Kaysville native, engaged in a lesson taught by Eric-Jon K. Marlowe, a religious educator at BYU-Hawaii.
“I'm here because I love the Old Testament and I'm here to learn more about it,” Moore said.
Marlowe, like many speakers at the symposium, referenced a talk given by Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve, in which he said, “God is in relentless pursuit of you.”
Many different lecturers throughout the event used Kearon's phrase to highlight eternal truths in the stories of the Old Testament, such as Marlowe speaking about the story of Jonah and BYU-Idaho professor Lori Denning teaching about the story of Hagar and her son Ishmael.
Speakers guided their discussions with scriptures, art, testimony, knowledge and humor, which in turn helped guests feel comfortable sharing questions.
“It helps us get a much clearer understanding about certain gospel topics and principles that we learned in Sunday school and our normal church activities, but I think we get a much more in-depth view of those things at the Sperry Symposium,” said Terry Briggs, an annual attendee.
Briggs exclaimed, “I would say, definitely go!”
