John S. Tanner (Mormon)
Encyclopedia
John Sears Tanner is the current President of the Brazil São Paulo South Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He previously served as Academic Vice President of Brigham Young University
(BYU). Tanner is the husband of Susan W. Tanner
, a former general president of the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
, one of 13 children. He served an LDS mission
in Brazil
. Tanner received his bachelor's degree
in 1974 from BYU. This same year he married Susan. He then began studies at the University of California at Berkley where he received his Ph.D.
in 1980.
Tanner began his academic career as an assistant professor at Florida State University
. He has also been a Fulbright Scholar in Brazil. Tanner became a member of the BYU faculty in 1982. Tanner has focused much of his studies on John Milton
. He wrote a book entitled Anxiety in Eden that received the Best Book Award from the Milton Society of America in 1992. Tanner was also a contributor to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.
From 1992 to 1998 Tanner was the Associate Academic Vice President for Undergraduate and International Education at BYU. In this capacity he developed the Freshman Academy program to better transition new freshmen into BYU. He was also involved with developing BYU's current policy on academic freedom. Tanner also oversaw changes in BYU's General Education requirements, including a reduction in the Physical Education requirement. In 2001 Paul Y. Hoskisson
edited a volumne entitled Historicity and the Latter-day Saint Scriptures which included a chapted by Tanner entitled "The World and the Word: History, Literature and Scipture".
From 1998 to 2003 Tanner served as the chair of the BYU English Department. In 2004 he was made the Academic Vice President of BYU. In this position Tanner normally announces changes in the administration under him.
At Brigham Young University, Tanner also composed the University's Educational AIMs (Spiritually Strengthening, Intellectually Enlarging, Character Building, Lifelong Learning and Service). Tanner was also involved in writing the letter LDS missionaries receive instructing them on their assignment.
Tanner served as a bishop of the BYU 111th Ward. He has also served as a stake president in the LDS Church. In 2011 Tanner was assigned to serve as president of the Brazil São Paulo South Mission.
# 138 in the 1985 English-language edition
of the LDS Church hymnal
. Tanner also wrote a "Sacrament Sonnet" that was published in The Ensign in 1981.
Tanner was also involved with putting to music "Nephi's Psalm," from a chapter in the Book of Mormon
. The first one, "I Love the Lord" was written to the tune of "Be Still My Soul" and was sung at the Priesthood Session of the April 2007 General Conference
. His other adaption, "Sometimes My Soul," is based on the American folk tune "Poor Wayfaring Stranger."
Tanner also wrote an article in the Ensign on the power of hymns.
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...
(BYU). Tanner is the husband of Susan W. Tanner
Susan W. Tanner
Susan Winder Tanner was the twelfth general president of the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2002 until April 2008.-Biography:...
, a former general president of the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Biography
John Tanner grew up in southern CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, one of 13 children. He served an LDS mission
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Tanner received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1974 from BYU. This same year he married Susan. He then began studies at the University of California at Berkley where he received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1980.
Tanner began his academic career as an assistant professor at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. He has also been a Fulbright Scholar in Brazil. Tanner became a member of the BYU faculty in 1982. Tanner has focused much of his studies on John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
. He wrote a book entitled Anxiety in Eden that received the Best Book Award from the Milton Society of America in 1992. Tanner was also a contributor to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.
From 1992 to 1998 Tanner was the Associate Academic Vice President for Undergraduate and International Education at BYU. In this capacity he developed the Freshman Academy program to better transition new freshmen into BYU. He was also involved with developing BYU's current policy on academic freedom. Tanner also oversaw changes in BYU's General Education requirements, including a reduction in the Physical Education requirement. In 2001 Paul Y. Hoskisson
Paul Y. Hoskisson
Paul Y. Hoskisson is an American professor of ancient scripture and former associate dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University . In 2008, he was appointed director of the Laura F...
edited a volumne entitled Historicity and the Latter-day Saint Scriptures which included a chapted by Tanner entitled "The World and the Word: History, Literature and Scipture".
From 1998 to 2003 Tanner served as the chair of the BYU English Department. In 2004 he was made the Academic Vice President of BYU. In this position Tanner normally announces changes in the administration under him.
At Brigham Young University, Tanner also composed the University's Educational AIMs (Spiritually Strengthening, Intellectually Enlarging, Character Building, Lifelong Learning and Service). Tanner was also involved in writing the letter LDS missionaries receive instructing them on their assignment.
Tanner served as a bishop of the BYU 111th Ward. He has also served as a stake president in the LDS Church. In 2011 Tanner was assigned to serve as president of the Brazil São Paulo South Mission.
Music
Tanner wrote the words to "Bless Our Fast We Pray", which is hymnHymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
# 138 in the 1985 English-language edition
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
of the LDS Church hymnal
Hymnal
Hymnal or hymnary or hymnbook is a collection of hymns, i.e. religious songs, usually in the form of a book. The earliest hand-written hymnals are known since Middle Ages in the context of European Christianity...
. Tanner also wrote a "Sacrament Sonnet" that was published in The Ensign in 1981.
Tanner was also involved with putting to music "Nephi's Psalm," from a chapter in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. The first one, "I Love the Lord" was written to the tune of "Be Still My Soul" and was sung at the Priesthood Session of the April 2007 General Conference
General Conference (LDS Church)
General Conference is a semiannual world conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in April and October, where members gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders...
. His other adaption, "Sometimes My Soul," is based on the American folk tune "Poor Wayfaring Stranger."
Tanner also wrote an article in the Ensign on the power of hymns.