J. Wyley Sessions
Encyclopedia
James Wylie Sessions was the first Institute of Religion
director in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was sent in 1926 by church president Heber J. Grant
to head the Institute of Religion in Moscow
, Idaho
. Sessions later served as the head of the church's mission home in Salt Lake City, Utah
for many years.
In 1921, Sessions became the president
of the LDS Church's South Africa
n Mission
, succeeding Nicholas G. Smith
. Sessions continued in this position until 1926, when he returned to Utah and almost immediately was sent to direct the institute in Idaho. Over the next decade, Sessions set up Institutes of Religion at several universities
in the western United States. He believed that institutes should offer strong academic classes, social interaction, and be housed in permanent and respectable buildings. In 1935, Sessions was serving as the institute director in Pocatello, Idaho
.
From 1939 to 1947, Sessions was the head of the Division of Religion at Brigham Young University
in Provo, Utah
.
Institute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
director in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was sent in 1926 by church president Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant
Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...
to head the Institute of Religion in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Sessions later served as the head of the church's mission home in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
for many years.
In 1921, Sessions became the president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the LDS Church's South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
, succeeding Nicholas G. Smith
Nicholas G. Smith
Nicholas Groesbeck Smith was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, Smith was the son of LDS Church Apostle John Henry Smith and Josephine Groesbeck...
. Sessions continued in this position until 1926, when he returned to Utah and almost immediately was sent to direct the institute in Idaho. Over the next decade, Sessions set up Institutes of Religion at several universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in the western United States. He believed that institutes should offer strong academic classes, social interaction, and be housed in permanent and respectable buildings. In 1935, Sessions was serving as the institute director in Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
.
From 1939 to 1947, Sessions was the head of the Division of Religion at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
.