Wheatley Institute

We are pleased to hear from Jeff Rosen, who will speak on his recent book, "The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America." A New York Times bestseller and an enriching examination of what “the pursuit of happiness” meant to our nation’s Founders and how that famous phrase defined their lives and became the foundation of our democracy.

Join us for a lecture with Yale Professor Dr. Samuel Wilkinson as he explores the purpose of our existence. Generations have been taught that evolution implies there is no overarching purpose to our existence, that life has no fundamental meaning. We are merely the accumulation of tens of thousands of intricate molecular accidents. Some scientists take this logic one step further, suggesting that evolution is intrinsically atheistic and goes against the concept of God. But is this true? By integrating emerging principles from a variety of scientific disciplines—ranging from evolutionary biology to psychology—Professor Wilkinson provides a framework of evolution that implies not only that there is an overarching purpose to our existence, but what this purpose is.

Join us for the annual Truman G. Madsen Lecture on Eternal Man given by Reverend Andrew Teal, a chaplain specializing in Christian church history and a full member of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at Oxford University. In this address, Reverend Teal will propose that the question of who we are is answered only Christologically - searching to respond fully to the question of Jesus Christ: ‘Who do you say that I am?’ (Matthew 16:15). He will evaluate the thesis that humans discover the mystery of their being only in seeking and following him. We find ourselves when we glimpse that He has found us.

Join Wheatley Institute and the BYU Economics department as we hear from Dr. Devin Pope, an Associate Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Dr. Pope will use cellphone data to explore the frequency, regularity, and correlates with religious worship in America across geographies and religious traditions.

We are pleased to hear from Rabbi Meir Soloveichik as he discusses Jewish influences on the American founding. When United States was founded, there were very few Jews in America; nevertheless, George, Washington had a remarkable series of written interactions with them. A careful study of this story reveals the way in which Washington himself saw America, what Jewish hopes were for this new nation, and what this tale teaches us about the future of faith in America.

Join us for a lecture from Dr. Paul Carrese, Professor in the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University. The U.S. Constitution's governance structure and guaranteed protections presuppose a citizenry equipped with several civic virtues that, in fact, it does not specify nor specifically provide for through civic education. Three civic virtues are most indispensable to our constitutional order: civil disagreement, civic friendship, and a reflective patriotism. The last of these is arguably the root of civic virtue. It combines love and gratitude for our country with a disposition to argue about and question our distinctive American political order that rests on ideas, ideals, and principles about justice. The overall presupposition includes a faith that citizens will constantly disagree and argue, yet they will maintain a civil order—indeed, succeed in securing “the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”

Winners from the Constitution Day Essay contest will read their essays with commentary by Wheatley constitutional fellow Bradley Rebeiro. The essay contest and the event are also co-sponsored by the BYU Law School and College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences.

Join Wheatley Institute and the BYU School of Family Life for an upcoming lecture with Dr. Catherine Pakaluk where she will discuss her new book, "Hannah's Children: The Stories of Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth". Dr. Pakaluk’s book has been described as a beautiful celebration of motherhood that showcases the rich complexity of human love and makes the compelling case for the blessings of children and family in our modern society.

Last week, 24 students from law schools across the country attended the first annual Law Student Seminar. The innovative week-long conference included opportunities for students to hear from prominent speakers Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder James Rasband, Elder Alexander Dushku, and Elder Matthew Holland. BYU faculty Shima Baradaran Baughman, Paul Edwards, Judge Thomas Griffith, James Phillips, Jeremy Pope, Bradley Rebeiro, Kevin Worthen also led sessions that added to theme of the seminar, “Divinely Inspired Constitutional Principles.” “I came here because I wanted to learn about the constitution through a faith-based lens, and I definitely got that” - Denise Jimenez, Yale Law “I’ve had the chance to learn not only how the constitution is divinely inspired but why that matters.” - Brock Christensen University of Virginia Law

In recent days our national conversation has moved from lamenting the toxic divisiveness of our politics to serious and sober reflection about what it will actually take to reclaim national unity. The following material may help in that reflection. In May, Wheatley Institute and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) cohosted a conference exploring whether unity is possible in these challenging times. Experts explored the roots of our current crisis and emphasized the importance of renewing civic engagement and focusing on what unites Americans in common action. AEI’s Yuval Levin shared insight from his new book “American Covenant: How the Constitution United Our Nation — And Could Again.” Other panelists included Harvard Law School’s Martha Minow, National Constitution Center’s CEO Jeffrey Rosen, UNITE's founder Timothy Shriver Braver Angel’s Senior Fellow Monica Guzman, and former federal Judge Thomas Griffith. Follow this link to watch the full event. https://lnkd.in/g-zYKkY8