Brent LaMar Top (born 1953) is a professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University (BYU). Top served as dean of religious education at BYU and the director of BYU's Religious Studies Center from 2013 to 2018.

Biographical background

Top is a native of Idaho Falls. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Denmark. He holds a bachelor's degree in history, a master's degree in instructional media and a Ph.D. in instructional science and technology, all from BYU. Prior to joining the BYU faculty in 1987, Top was both a seminary and an institute instructor in the

Church Educational System The Church Educational System (CES) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non–Latter-day Saint elementary, sec ...

. He currently holds an endowed professorship in moral education at BYU. Among other callings in the LDS Church, Top has served as a bishop, member of a

stake presidency A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in certain denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. The name "stake" derives from the Book of Isaiah: "enlarge the place of thy tent; stretch forth the curtains of thine h ...

, and as president of the Pleasant Grove Utah East

Stake Stake may refer to: Entertainment * '' Stake: Fortune Fighters'', a 2003 video game * ''The Stake'', a 1915 silent short film * "The Stake", a 1977 song by The Steve Miller Band from '' Book of Dreams'' * ''Stakes'' (miniseries), a Cartoon Netw ...

. Top was president of the church's Illinois Peoria Mission from 2004 to 2007, and the president of the church’s Mormon Battalion Historic Sites in San Diego, California, from 2022 to 2024.

Publications

Top has written several books, including ''Ten Secrets Wise Parents Know: Tried and True Things You Can Do To Raise Faithful, Confident Responsible Children'' (written with

Bruce A. Chadwick Bruce A. Chadwick is an emeritus professor of sociology at Brigham Young University (BYU). Chadwick has a Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. Chadwick was for a time director of BYU's Center for Studies of the Family. From 1992 to 1996 ...

), ''When You Can't Do It Alone'' and ''Why Bad Things Happen to Good People''. He has also written articles for such publications as ''The Elementary School Journal''.listing of article by Top
/ref>

Notes

Sources

*
BYU bio"New mission presidents"
'' Church News'', January 24, 2004 {{DEFAULTSORT:Top, Brent L. 1953 births 20th-century Mormon missionaries 21st-century Mormon missionaries American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints American Mormon missionaries in the United States American Mormon missionaries in Denmark Brigham Young University alumni Brigham Young University faculty Church Educational System instructors Living people Mission presidents (LDS Church) People from Idaho Falls, Idaho Latter Day Saints from Idaho Latter Day Saints from Utah