BYU-Idaho religion instructor to give Spring 2007 Mind & Spirit Lecture

   Scott Ferguson, an instructor in

   the Brigham Young University-

   Idaho Department of Religious

   Education, will deliver the  

   Spring 2007 Mind & Spirit

   Lecture in Room 120 of the

   Taylor Building on Thursday,

   May 31 at 2 p.m.

The lecture is titled "I Believe" and deals with the gap between what we declare to be true and what we believe about the truth. He asks: "Can I say I believe the principles of the gospel and not live them?"

"I have come to recognize that every action is a statement of belief," Ferguson said. "We can act inconsistent with what we know to be true-we do it all the time. But it is impossible to act inconsistent with what we believe about the truth. Every action or behavior is ultimately a statement of belief."

In order to help the audience understand their beliefs, Ferguson will then give 14 attributes of charity by which he tests his own beliefs.

"I hope that each person who comes to learn will leave with a greater desire to live more congruently to the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The model presented in this lecture has opened my eyes to a whole new way seeing and believing," he said.

Ferguson has taught at BYU-Idaho for 25 years. He spent the first half of his career in the administration, teaching part-time. The last half has been spent as a full-time religion instructor. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics and a master's degree in Educational Psychology.

The Mind & Spirit Lecture is a semi-annual series sponsored by the BYU-Idaho faculty journal, Perspective: Expressing Mind & Spirit.

The theme of the Mind & Spirit lectures is the question "How does my scholarship inform my theology?" The intent is to ask how we may use scholarship to prepare our minds to receive theology revealed by the prophets.

"Expressing mind and spirit is what the gospel is all about," Ferguson said. "Faith comes by hearing the good word of God. When one has wrestled with an issue and gained greater understanding there is a natural inclination to share it with others."