The Gospel: The Foundation for a Professional Career—Complete Program

Moral Character in Professional Life — March 1 & 2, 2007

A symposium presented by Brigham Young University's College of Religious Education and Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering & Technology

Symposium Participants

Elder Richard G. Scott — Special Guest Lecturer, March 2, 10:00 a.m.

Elder H. Burke Peterson — Special Recognition, Conference Banquet

Terry Ball

Terry B. Ball is a Professor of Ancient Scripture and Dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. He received a B.S. Botany and Education. His M.A. is in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, and his PhD in Archaeobotany with the emphasis in the Ancient Near East. In addition to teaching and researching in ancient scripture, Professor Ball is an active researcher in the field of Archaeobotany and is currently involved with research in Israel, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, and Oman.

Topic: Integrity, Compassion, Science and Religion

Abstract: Though some find a tension between science and religion, there are also many examples of individuals who have made great contributions to both disciplines. Researchers who have excelled in their science while maintaining a deep commitment to their faith and integrity, as well as religious leaders whose faith has been informed by their scientific training are abundant. This presentation will present examples of and insights from such individuals.

Steven Benzley

Steven Benzley has been a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brigham Young University since 1980. He is also an adjunct professor for the BYU College of Religious Education, and currently serves as the chair of the BYU Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Other BYU assignments include terms as Associate Dean for BYU General Education and Honors and Associate Dean for the College of Engineering and Technology. Prior to coming to BYU, Professor Benzley was a member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories. He received a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. His research interests include computer modeling and engineering ethics. He and his wife Karen have five children and 13 grandchildren.

Topic: Embracing Gospel Principles to Confront Major Global Moral Issues

Abstract: Professional engineers encounter major moral challenges as they deal with issues such as the corruption that exists so rampantly in the global civil engineering and construction industry. In fact, the world’s economy currently looses over $340 billion per year from misconduct in this discipline due to the vices of fraud, bribery, and graft. Eternal gospel principles clearly teach that such vices are to be shunned and eliminated. This paper embraces the scriptural counsel that great things are brought to pass by small and simple means and that great ships are turned by a small helm. This counsel can be used to directly confront major moral challenges faced by today’s professional workforce and establish exemplary moral character as a distinguishing trait of professional practice.

Doug Brinley

Douglas E. Brinley is a Professor in the Department of Church History and Doctrine. His Doctorate is from BYU in Family Studies. He presently holds a Professorship in Moral Education. He has written ten books, nine of which pertain to marriage and family relations.

Topic: Latter-day Saints, Men and Women of Integrity

Abstract: As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, both by doctrine and by covenant, we must be men and women of character, honesty, and integrity in our personal lives as well as in our dealings with others in or out of the Church. This paper will discuss, illustrate, and argue for greater integrity in the lives of those who have taken upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ. Latter-day Saints have the responsibility to lead the world in areas of honesty, not only in the fields of engineering and technology, but in their personal and private lives. Utah has long been known as the ‘scam’ capital of the nation, a disgraceful designation that cannot continue. The meaning of integrity is to always do what is right and ‘let the consequences follow.’ Personal integrity has its origin in the very depth of our beings as we understand we are sons and daughters of the God of heaven who is the epitome of honesty and truth. Integrity cannot be limited to behavior alone, but must include thoughts and speech as well as actions. A personal commitment to integrity compels us to be trustworthy and immune from political, business, or personal corruption in a world where integrity is fast becoming a lost commodity. As Latter-day Saints, we cannot be false to the trust and covenants we have made in sacred precincts with the Almighty.

Kent Brooks

Brother Brooks served a mission to Argentina. His academic training has been in Psychology, Counseling and Family Studies. He has been a Religious educator for 27 years, having previously taught at Pennsylvania State University and BYU-Idaho. He has been a faculty member in the department of Church History and Doctrine since 2001. He is married to the former Camille Nelson and they are the parents of five children and the grandparents of five grandsons.

Topic: Desires, Character, and Principle-Based Decision Making

Abstract: The fullness of the gospel makes it possible for us to return to the presence of God, having become like Him. Mortality provides the time and place to have the earthly experiences that will help us progress toward perfection. In our personal, professional, and public lives, we must learn to put off the natural man, yield to the enticings of the Spirit, and become a saint through the Atonement of Christ. We must be reconciled to God. The purpose of this paper is to show how that process is facilitated by educating and training our desires, developing character, and making decisions based upon eternal principles.

Guy Dorius

Guy L. Dorius was born in Salt Lake City and raised there and in Chicago. He attended the University of Utah receiving his B.S. in Fuels Engineering. He later attended Brigham Young University where he received his Masters in Education Administration and a Ph.D. in Family Studies. He has been on faculty in Religious Education at Brigham Young University for the past 15 years where he teaches Doctrine and Covenants and LDS Marriage and Family. He has published in the area of adolescent sexual behavior and is particularly interested in parental influences on adolescent deviance and behavior. He also works in the areas of marital quality and adolescent religiosity. His publications also include chapters on LDS doctrine and history. Dr. Dorius and his wife, the former Vicki Johnson, are the parents of 7 children.

Topic: Integrity—From Sinai to Silicon Valley

Val Hawks

Val Hawks is currently the Interim Director of the School of Technology and an Associate Professor in Manufacturing Engineering Technology at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He has published one book as numerous papers in a variety of conferences. Val had been involved in researching and writing about the topic of integrity and character is professional life for several years. In addition, in the last several years, in an effort to help himself, other faculty, and students be more aware of opportunities and issues in globalization, Val has traveled, and conducted learning and research activities, in China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Jordan. Best of all he and his wife have four children, 3 grandchildren and 1 more grand-child on the way.

Topic: Pattern of Integrity: Agency, Order, and Obedience

Abstract: In the Doctrine and Covenants we are told that God will give us “a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived.” (D&C 54:14) A person of integrity will live consistent with correct principles and according to the order of God. Being constant in our actions and living according to a proper pattern serves as both a protection and guide in our personal and professional lives. What are the patterns that are most important? What is God’s order? How is such a life developed? Elder Ashton explained that “Instead of our being commanded in all things, we are given a pattern in all things” and that living according to God’s pattern is living a life of integrity. It is by patterns of virtuous living that we find peace, confidence, and joy in life, and establish reputations of integrity and dependability. This paper will draw from the scriptures, words from prophets and apostles, and sage advice and counsel from other sound sources to describe the importance of establishing honorable patterns and God-like order in our lives. It will also describe what such patterns should include in order to live a life of integrity, honor and character.

King Husein

King Husein is the owner and President of Span Construction & Engineering, Inc., Freedom Management, Inc., and Eagle Building Systems, Inc. and has been the top pre-engineered Steel Builder for 15 years. He graduated with his Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Bombay in India and received his Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University. King is a registered Professional Engineer in seventeen states. He has been awarded the 2005 Distinguished Service Award from BYU and the 1993 Honored Alumni of the year from the BYU College of Engineering & Technology. King joined the church while at BYU and has served in many different callings throughout his life. King and his wife, Diane, have four children.

Topic: Success without Compromise

Daniel K. Judd

Topic: Success and the Second Mile

Robert Millet

Robert L. Millet is Professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, with specific interests and responsibilities in Outreach and Interfaith Relations. Before joining the BYU faculty in 1983 he worked with LDS Social Services as a marriage and family counselor and with the LDS Church Educational System as a seminary teacher, institute director, and teaching support consultant. Brother Millet received his bachelors and masters degrees from BYU in Psychology and his Ph.D. from Florida State University in Religious Studies.

Since being at BYU he has served as chairman of the department of Ancient Scripture, dean of Religious Education, director of the Religious Studies Center, and Richard L. Evans Professor of Religious Understanding. He is the author of more than 50 books and 140 articles, dealing mostly with the doctrine and history of the LDS Church. Some of his recent books include Men of Valor; Are We There Yet?; A Different Jesus? The Christ of the Latter-day Saints; Grace Works; I Will Fear No Evil; and More Holiness Give Me. Forthcoming books include Visions of Mormonism (Paragon House, 2007) and Jesus: Who Got It Right? A Mormon and an Evangelical in Dialogue (Baker Books, 2007). In the Church Brother Millet has served as a high councilor, bishop of two wards, four stake presidencies, stake president, and a member of the Church Materials Evaluation Committee. He and his wife Shauna are the parents of six children and reside in Orem, Utah.

Topic: The Restoration of Integrity

Abstract: This presentation will address the meaning of the word integrity and its vital importance in our world. It will describe movements within the socio-religious world that have hacked away and even eroded many time-honored values, including personal, social, and even national integrity. It will then suggest the kinds of efforts that can and should be made to restore integrity to our 21st century.

Alan Parkinson

Alan Parkinson is a professor of Mechanical Engineering and is currently serving as dean of the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology at Brigham Young University. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from Brigham Young University. He has taught at BYU for 24 years. His areas of interest include design methods, CAE software development, and optimization methods applied to engineering design. He is a co-author of a commercial optimization software package, called OptdesX, which has been used at companies and universities in the United States and Europe. He has been a consultant to numerous companies regarding applying optimization methods to their products. Dr. Parkinson was elected to Fellow status in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2004. In 2003, he received the Design Automation Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for his work in robust design and design optimization.

Topic: Ethics in Engineering and Technology: A Case Study

Abstract: Students may have the impression that ethics violations are typically not an issue in engineering and technology companies. This case study will discuss how a large engineering company which has hired many BYU graduates—the Boeing Company—has struggled recently with numerous ethics violations. Some of the causes and attempted cures will be presented. These ethical difficulties will be contrasted with the positive influence exerted by a Boeing employee which came to my attention many years ago and which I have not forgotten. The presentation will end with the question: How can members of the Church not only maintain high personal standards of ethics but also influence others, who may not share their values, to adopt high standards of ethics?

Mary Peery

Mary is the President of Mary Peery & Associates. She has 23 years of experience as a business manager with Hewlett Packard and has recently retired. Mary has extensive experience in global business management, executive leadership, strategy development, operations, transformation leadership and organizational change management. Mary was the Senior Vice President of the Strategic Change Management office of HP’s Imaging and Printing Group (IPG). Prior to that role, Mary was Senior Vice President of the Digital Imaging and Publishing organization. Mary became vice president and general manager of HP’s Digital Imaging organization in 2000. From the time Mary joined HP in 1984 until she become Vice President of Digital Imaging in 2000 she held positions in R&D and Manufacturing in developing and bring to market many leading edge technology products and solutions for consumer and commercial customers. In 1993, Mary assumed a rotational role as the northern Colorado regional diversity manager and worked with the business leaders in this region to help them understand the importance of diversity to their businesses and to implement diversity strategies within their organizations. Mary stayed actively involved in diversity leadership for HP throughout her career including HP policy changes, executive sponsorship of employee resource groups, mentoring and coaching, and being part of HP’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Council. Mary is married with a blended family of 6 children and 16 grandchildren. She lives with her husband, Dennis, in Colorado. She is a Board member of her local Hospice organization and is actively involved with the School of Engineering at Colorado State University and their diversity programs as well as a member of the ACET Committee for the School of Engineering and Technology at Brigham Young University. Mary holds a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Colorado State University.

Topic: Integrity in Leadership: The Fundamental Characteristic of Professional Success

Abstract: When faced with day to day decisions as a professional, you may believe it will always be easy to “do the right thing.” That may not be the case. There are many incentives (financial and others) that may cloud your decisions at times. The ability to clearly, and with conviction, act with the highest level of integrity is one of the key fundamental success factors of leadership today. Whether you’re in an entry level position or a CEO, the ability to be the kind of leader that others can always look to for both the what that needs to be done and the how it should be done is essential for both personal and professional success. In this session Mary will talk about specific examples that she has experienced in her career from Electrical Engineer to Senior Vice President at Hewlett Packard and the key lessons she’s learned.

Matthew Richardson

Matthew O. Richardson is an associate professor of Church History and has been a faculty member at Brigham Young University since 1996. He served as Associate Dean of Religious Education, was the recipient of the Robert J. Matthews Teaching award, selected by students to receive the Professor of Integrity award, and held the Religious Education fellowship to improve teaching for four years. Matthew Richardson is married to the former Lisa Jackson and they are the parents of four children.

Topic: Losing the Sacred Character: Social Ethics and Divine Morality

Abstract: Less than a year after Enron’s scandalous fall, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported that MBA students felt their schools were not adequately preparing them for the ethical dilemmas they would face in the “real world. In response to this criticism, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), an accrediting institution of business schools, endorsed new ethical standards to be implemented in program curriculum and encouraged schools “to develop codes of ethical conduct for MBA students, faculty members, and administrators.” Similar trends have spread throughout undergraduate and graduate programs regardless of discipline. Unfortunately, the well-intentioned efforts to teach ethics and values does not address the real problem at hand—the decline and demise of character. Character, the sum of qualities that make up how we feel, think, and act in relation to principles of right or wrong, continues to decline because standards of right and wrong are ever changing. It is difficult to demonstrate conviction when ethical and moral standards are dependant upon the situation at hand. The secularization of society (the loss of the sacred) has removed divine connections making it impossible to establish standards of truth and foster lasting conviction regardless of the temptation or situation.

Ron Terry

Ron Terry has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State University and a PhD from BYU. He worked for Phillips Petroleum Company after graduate school and began his academic career in 1977 at the University of Kansas. He has also taught at the University of Wyoming and has been at BYU in the Chemical Engineering Department since 1987. He currently has an administrative assignment as an Associate in the Office of Planning and Assessment. Early in his career, his scholarship efforts involved researching methods to enhance the production of oil and gas. Since joining BYU, his scholarship has centered on pedagogy, student learning, and engineering ethics. He is currently one of BYU’s co-investigators for the NSF funded National Center for Engineering and Technology Education. Ron is married to his high school sweetheart, Rebecca Hansen of Sweet Home, Oregon. They are the parents of 7 children and 17 grandchildren.

Topic: Becoming One with Christ—The Foundation of Ethical Behavior and Moral Reasoning

Abstract: Ethical dilemmas are among the toughest problems with which we deal. Since they often require heat of the moment decisions, the philosophy that forms the foundation of our decisions must reflect deeply held convictions. When our convictions are founded on a knowledge and faith in Christ and his character, our actions will be motivated by a desire to emulate him. Our faith in Christ and commitment to strive to live a Christ-like life will aid us in resolving dilemmas. The Lectures on Faith are particularly valuable in understanding and developing the philosophical base to be used in analyzing and resolving ethical dilemmas. In Lecture 3, it states,

Let us here observe, that three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. First, the idea that he actually exists. Secondly, a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes. Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to his will. For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive; but with this understanding it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness, unto the praise and glory of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Lecture 3:2-5) The pursuant of these three keys will assist us in developing the faith necessary that will provide the proper foundation in our quest to respond to Christ’s charge to become “even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27) and to develop the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16).

Dan Winder

Dan Winder taught high school seminary for the past 8 years before teaching as CES faculty in the Church History and Doctrine department at BYU. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from BYU, a master’s degree from USU, and is currently a PhD candidate at USU in the Instructional Technology Department. His research interests are in assessment of educational outcomes, instrument validation, and character education. He and his wife Charolette are the parents of three children.

Topic: An Instructional Model to Incorporate Character Education for an Engineering Department

Abstract: Character education is the deliberate attempt to cultivate virtue. There are various instructional models to incorporate character education but ultimately they all focus on three main aspects: cognitive aspects, affective aspects, and behavioral aspects. Instructional approaches are presented for each of these aspects along with classroom strategies. In addition, a review of how other engineering departments have sought to incorporate character education is presented with a proposed instructional model that accounts for the nature of instructional conditions and the intended learner outcomes for an engineering department. Although this model does not view character education as ancillary development, the focus of the model is on the ease of incorporation with minimal disruption of current program goals.