The historic hallmark of BYU during its 114 years of existence has been a remarkable combination of constancy and change, the university's new president declared at his inauguration Oct. 27.
"[That] is a combination which must continue as we prepare to enter the 21st century," declared Pres. Rex E. Lee, the university's 10th president.A century ago, the biggest issue facing BYU was survival, Pres. Lee observed. That would continue to be the school's challenge for the next 60 years.
"There is a temptation to say that most of our growth has occurred during the last four decades," Pres. Lee said. "But for two reasons, that would not be fair to those who came earlier. . . .
"The first reason is that what has happened in the 1950s through the 1980s simply is not comparable to the numerous survival-type struggles that occurred during the first two-thirds of our existence. Second, from 1875 through 1950, there were in the halls of this school some of the greatest who ever taught, or studied, here or anywhere else."
The progress made over the past century will continue, Pres. Lee declared. "It would be inconsistent not only with our history, but also with our basic religious belief to level out now. This is not the time to stop, nor even to pause and enjoy the scenery."
But while change has been a part of BYU's history, constancy has also played a major role, the university's new president observed. "The most prominent fixed star in our BYU constellation has been our constant adherence to religious principles and values as an integral part of our total education effort. . . .
"We fully concede that combining faith and reason as the twin pillars of a large and prominent university is not always easy," he continued. "We concede even more readily that we have not yet perfected the process. But our secular educational offering has benefited from the fact that we see the enlargement of one's mental and physical capacities alongside the enlargement of the spirit as being a greater service to the total person, consisting of mind, body, and spirit."
Developing a healthy skepticism in some realms while rejecting it in others, and the ability to recognize which subjects belong in which realms is difficult. But it is also "something that must be developed by everyone who believes in powers and realities beyond those that can be tested by the physical senses or by reason. The worst possible conclusion that could be drawn from this interaction between faith and analysis would be to pretend that the interaction does not exist."
The challenge of successfully teaching this interaction, as well as dealing with other challenges and changes, lie ahead for BYU, acknowledged Pres. Lee.
"But while change is inevitable, so also is constant adherence to the foundation on which we built in the beginning and on which our house still stands, and will stand as long as there is a Brigham Young University, for this is a house of study and also a house of faith, a house in which we teach by the best rational methods, but where we also teach by the Spirit, as President Monson has charged."