Is Religion a Burden?

In his BYU devotional, professor of Church history and doctrine Justin Dyer notes the universal presence of burdens in our lives—even in religion—and Christ’s mission to help us bear them up and make them light. “Aligning our choices with Christ—with His Church and His apostles—is the light burden,” says Dyer. Read more in this Y Magazine feature.

World = Campus

BYU students were everywhere in 2023, with 2,878 students participating in 204 programs across 61 countries. BYU has long been one of the top schools for study abroad, but this year is the first time it topped the report from the Institute of International Education. Learn more about how learning experiences abroad make a difference in students’ academic, professional, and personal lives.

Go Forth to Teach

Who comes to mind when you think of your favorite high school teacher? It’s probably someone who ignited a passion, instilled confidence, or cared deeply. In a new episode of the Y Magazine podcast, hear from two award-winning educators and BYU grads: physics teacher Wesley Morgan and ESL and ethnic-studies teacher Natalia Benjamin. Give it a listen and subscribe to be notified of future episodes.

A Christmas Canvas

To kick off the Christmas season, BYU students teamed up with renowned Argentine painter Jorge Cocco to cocreate a large Nativity painting. The custom paint-by-numbers project, organized by the Office of Belonging, gave students an opportunity to contemplate Jesus’s birth and paint their own piece of devotion. Hear from both BYU students and the artist in this new video.

Invitation to All

Going beyond the standard Christmas carol, BYU’s Young Ambassadors perform “O Come, All You Unfaithful,” a powerful reminder of Christ’s universal invitation to all to come unto Him. “O come, bitter and broken. Come with fears unspoken. Come, taste of His perfect love.”

A Comeback for the Ages

While BYU women’s soccer finished with a final-four loss to Stanford last week, the team was remarkable in many ways—the No. 1-seeded Cougars featured 10 returned Latter-day Saint missionaries. Their improbable Elite 8 victory over powerhouse North Carolina was one of the biggest comebacks in BYU athletic history. Relive it here in all its cinematic glory. In a year of inspiring storylines, All-American Olivia Wade-Katoa also shared her journey of “life pauses” and renewed faith on the Church’s Instagram account.

Unfolding Space Telescopes

Using principles from the ancient art of origami, creative BYU researchers are designing NASA’s largest lidar telescope to date. Check out this CNN international report to learn more.

A Season of Service

Unless you were hiding under a donation bin, you know that, for BYU’s inaugural Big 12 season, each away football game had a BYU Alumni service project. “There are awesome Cougar fans all over the country who are ready for a great football game, but they’re also at the tailgate doing something important for their community—they’re doing something to benefit the world,” wrote President Shane Reese on Instagram. “A BYU tailgate is a party with a purpose! I love our unique mission at BYU, and I love our alumni who are out sharing their light with the world.” Read more about this season’s tailgate service in this Church News recap.

A Celtic Collaboration

Enjoy the traditional Irish tune “Grace Divine” in this lively performance by the BYU Men’s Chorus, the BYU Celtic Ensemble, and BYU Irish Dance Club.

Browned Butter Is the Secret

“Cookies are my all-time favorite dessert,” says BYU grad and food blogger Maria Lichty. “They’re my favorite thing to make, bake, eat, and share.” And she finds inspiration everywhere, from ice cream flavors to Halloween candy. Check out this tasty twist on a classic recipe for chocolate chip cookies. 

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