Mormonism, science subject of annual Summerhays lecture Sept. 22 - BYU News Skip to main content
Intellect

Mormonism, science subject of annual Summerhays lecture Sept. 22

“Forging a Friendly Alliance between Mormonism and Science” will be the topic for the annual Hyrum B. Summerhays Lecture featuring John W. Welch Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. in 1080 Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University.

The event is free, and the public is welcome to attend.

“Forging a successful alliance often means putting two things together that really seem to have nothing to do with each other, but in the end are necessary in order for both to advance,” said Welch, who is the Robert K. Thomas University Professor of Law at the J. Reuben Clark Law School and editor of BYU Studies.

According to Welch, many religions have difficulties with science because they teach that God does not have a body and therefore does not exist in space or time. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that God does have a body of flesh and bone. Welch says this belief allows God to exist in time and space, and therefore is not irrelevant to scientific interests.

The goal of the Summerhays Lecture series is to give the university community and all others interested an opportunity to delve deeper into the relationship between science and religion. It is hosted by the BYU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

For more information, contact J. Ward Moody at (801) 422-4347.

Writer: Melissa Connor

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"

Geology meets history: BYU professor studies WWII shrapnel on Normandy beaches

June 05, 2025
Eighty years after D-Day, BYU geologists uncover lingering WWII shrapnel on Normandy beaches to study how history still shapes the coastline today.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Forum: Lessons from Noise: Crackle to Calm

June 03, 2025
This year’s Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, Kent Gee, delivered his forum address on the science of sound and how he and BYU students have contributed to significant research in the acoustics industry.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

BYU study finds the real reasons why some people choose not to use artificial intelligence

June 03, 2025
In a recent study, BYU professors Jacob Steffen and Taylor Wells explored why some people are still reluctant to use GenAI tools. While some people might worry about an AI apocalypse, Steffen and Wells found that most non-users are more concerned with issues like trusting the results, missing the human touch or feeling unsure if GenAI is ethical to use.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=