Ensign College (formerly LDS Business College) is a

private college Private universities and private colleges are institutions of higher education, not operated, owned, or institutionally funded by governments. They may (and often do) receive from governments tax breaks, public student loans, and grants. D ...

Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...

. The college is owned by

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

(LDS Church) and operates under its

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 ...

. It also includes an

Institute of Religion An Institute of Religion is a local organization that provides religious education for young adults (ages 18–30) who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Local institutes may function in church meetinghous ...

and is accredited by the

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is an independent, non-profit membership organization recognized by the United States Department of Education since 1952 as an institutional accreditor for colleges and universities. ...

History

The ''Salt Lake Stake Academy'' was founded in 1886, with high school, normal, business and college courses of study. The school had 84 students upon its opening. By 1895 was offering a four-year course of study culminating in a

Ph.B. Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil, BPh, or PhB; la, Baccalaureus Philosophiae or ) is the title of an academic degree that usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects. Unlike many other bachelor's ...

degree. LDS University never became a fully functioning university and was displaced as the church's preeminent higher learning center by

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

in the early 20th century. The college was closely linked with

Latter-day Saints High School LDS High School (previously known as Salt Lake Stake Academy or Latter-day Saints' High School, and sometimes spelled Latter-day Saints High School) was a secondary school in Salt Lake City, Utah operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da ...

, which counted among the graduates

George W. Romney George Wilcken Romney (July 8, 1907 – July 26, 1995) was an American businessman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as chairman and president of American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1962, the 43rd gover ...

(1926) and

Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley (June 23, 1910 – January 27, 2008) was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from March 1995 until his death in January 200 ...

(1928). In 1927, the name of LDS University was changed to ''LDS College'' and then to LDS Business College (LDSBC), as the other higher-education functions were gone. Two of the school's presidents were

James E. Talmage James Edward Talmage (21 September 1862 – 27 July 1933) was an English chemist, geologist, and religious leader who served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) fro ...

and

Bryant S. Hinckley Bryant Stringham Hinckley (July 9, 1867 – June 5, 1961) was an American author, religious speaker, civic leader and educator. He served as a prominent mid-level leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 20th centur ...

. For many years, the college was located in a former mansion several blocks east of the

Salt Lake Temple The Salt Lake Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. At , it is the largest Latter-day Saint temple by floor area. Dedicated in 1893, it is the sixth temple ...

, at 411 East South Temple. As part of the LDS Church's efforts to revitalize downtown

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...

, it moved to the

Triad Center The Triad Center is a complex of office buildings in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Originally planned as a large development, containing several office and residential buildings (including the tallest buildings in Utah), the proje ...

in 2006.

Russell M. Nelson Russell Marion Nelson Sr. (born September 9, 1924) is an American religious leader and retired surgeon who is the 17th and current president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Nelson was a member of the LDS Church ...

, the LDS Church's current

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

, initially took classes at LDSBC but later transferred to the

University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...

to complete his studies. The college is named after

Ensign Peak Ensign Peak ( ) is a peak in the foothills near downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It is approximately north of the Utah State Capitol and sits almost directly behind it. On July 26, 1847, Brigham Young and other early members of the Church of Jesu ...

, where Latter-day Saint immigrants waved a flag two days after their first arrival in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847. The college's slogan is "Developing capable and trusted disciples of Jesus Christ." On September 1, 2020, LDSBC was renamed Ensign College. In the fall of 2021, Ensign College will begin offering four-year

Bachelor of Applied Science The Bachelor of Applied Science, often abbreviated as B.AS., BAS, BSAS, BASc, B.A.Sc., or BAppSc, is an undergraduate degree. There are also ''Bachelor of Arts and Science'' and ''Bachelor of Administration Science'' undergraduate degrees, also a ...

degrees in

business management Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...

information technology Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information technology system (I ...

, and

communications Communication (from la, communicare, meaning "to share" or "to be in relation with") is usually defined as the transmission of information. The term may also refer to the message communicated through such transmissions or the field of inquir ...

List of presidents

The following is a list of former presidents of the institution: *

Karl G. Maeser Karl Gottfried Maeser (January 16, 1828 – February 15, 1901) was a prominent Utah educator and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served 16 years as principal of Brigham Young Academy. Although h ...

(principal in charge): 1886–88; * Willard Done (acting principal): 1886–88; *

: 1888–92; * Willard Done: 1892–99; * Joshua H. Paul: 1899–1905; *

Willard Young Willard Young (April 30, 1852 – July 25, 1936) was a prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) who served for many years in the United States military, and later held high positions within the LDS Church's ...

: 1905–15; * Guy C. Wilson: 1915–26; *

Feramorz Y. Fox Feramorz Y. Fox (28 September 1881 – 29 November 1957) was a president of Latter-day Saints University, which later became LDS Business College. Fox was the son of Jesse W. Fox Jr., and Ruth May Fox. He was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Ut ...

: 1926–48; * Kenneth S. Bennion: 1948–61; * R. Ferris Kirkham: 1961–86; * Kenneth H. Beesley: 1986–91; * Stephen K. Woodhouse: 1992–2008; * J. Lawrence Richards: 2008–17; * Bruce C. Kusch: 2017–present

References

Bibliography

* Beesley, K. H. (1992). LDS Business College. In D. H. Ludlow (Ed.), ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism''. New York: Macmillan.

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ensign College 1886 establishments in Utah Territory Church Educational System Education in Salt Lake City Educational institutions established in 1886 Properties of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah Universities and colleges accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Universities and colleges affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Universities and colleges in Salt Lake County, Utah Private universities and colleges in Utah

History

List of presidents

See also

References

Bibliography

External links