BYU's legacy of success dates back to 1876, when Karl G. Maeser began his term as its first permanent principal.

A prominent educator from Germany, Maeser converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and immigrated to Zion (Utah) shortly after the United States Civil War.

Within years of his arrival, church President Brigham Young asked Maeser to launch Brigham Young Academy, a church-affiliated, academic institution. Young implied Christ would be the head, center, and life of the school, but Maeser would run it.

Maeser faced the challenge. He made sure the school always met the increasing and changing needs of its students. Soon, Brigham Young Academy became one of the leading schools in Utah territory.

"School is a drill in the battle of life; but if we fail in the drill, we will fail in the battle," Maeser said. He expended all of his energy into making sure none of his students failed the drill.

Through his discipline and refining rules, Maeser emphasized character development was more important than climbing the ladder of educational triumph. His pupils learned how to be better students and better people.

The new principal wore many hats to accomplish this task. He was the school's principal, teacher, recruiter, chorister, organist, janitor, fan club and fund-raiser.

For more than a decade, he endured the migraine of unrelenting, financial insecurity. At one peak of monetary instability, he almost accepted a teaching position at Deseret University, but did not because of divine manifestation.

"I have had a dream," Maeser said. "I have seen Temple Hill filled with buildings-- great temples of learning, and I have decided to remain and do my part in contributing to the fulfillment of that dream."

Maeser's contributions to BYU far outreach the original 29 students. After 16 years of struggling to get the school on its feet, Maeser lead 400 students to academic success and character achievement.

Today, BYU is home to more than 30,000 students from around the world. The university owes much of its current success to the firm educational and moral foundation Maeser laid.

Maeser said of his role as principal of the church-established school:

"I should be ungrateful if I did not place myself on record as being conscious that the Brigham Young Academy has not been a chosen instrument in the hands of the Lord God of Israel, to plant the seed for an educational system that will spread its ramifications throughout all the borders of Zion, penetrating with its benign influence every fireside of the saints, and open to our youth the avenues to all intelligence, knowledge and power."

Maeser's efforts and decision to stay and fortify the Academy continue to make his prophetic dream become a reality.



Copyright Brigham Young University 16 Apr 2003