R. Lanier Britsch
Encyclopedia
Ralph Lanier Britsch was a history professor at Brigham Young University
who specialized in the history of missionary
work by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), particularly in the Pacific Islands and Asia.
. He served as a missionary
for the LDS Church in Hawaii
two times, first as a youth, and later as a senior missionary assigned to help document the history of the Polynesian Cultural Center
. Britsch received his bachelor's degree and Master's degree from BYU, and his Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University
in 1968.
Among the books Britsch has written or edited are Nothing More Heroic: The Compelling Story of the First Latter-day Saint missionaries in India; From the East: The History of the Latter-day Saints in Asia, 1851-1996; Moramona: The Mormons in Hawai'i and Unto the Islands of the Sea: A History of the Latter-day Saints in the Pacific. Britsch also wrote Counseling: A Guide to Helping Others.
For a time, Britsch was the director of BYU's David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies
.Britsch was also Vice President for Academics at Brigham Young University Hawaii
between 1986 and 1990.
He and his previous wife JoAnn Murphy Britsch are the parents of six children; JoAnn died in 2005. Britsch has since married Shirley McKay in 2007.
Britsch's older brother Todd Britsch was a humanities professor and later Academic Vice President at BYU.
Britsch has served in many positions in the LDS Church, including numerous assignments in bishoprics of BYU student wards and in the leadership of BYU student stakes. He also served in the presidency of the Orem Utah Sharon Stake. He is currently a patriarch in Orem, Utah.
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...
who specialized in the history of missionary
Mormon missionary
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...
work by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), particularly in the Pacific Islands and Asia.
Biography
Britsch is the son of Ralph A. Britsch, who was a BYU English professor and helped start the Humanities program at Brigham Young UniversityBrigham 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...
. He served as a missionary
Mormon missionary
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...
for the LDS Church in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
two times, first as a youth, and later as a senior missionary assigned to help document the history of the Polynesian Cultural Center
Polynesian Cultural Center
The Polynesian Cultural Center is a Polynesian-themed theme park or living museum located in Laie, on the northern shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Dedicated on October 12, 1963, the PCC occupies owned by nearby Brigham Young University–Hawaii....
. Britsch received his bachelor's degree and Master's degree from BYU, and his Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University is a private, all-graduate research university located in Claremont, California, a city east of downtown Los Angeles...
in 1968.
Among the books Britsch has written or edited are Nothing More Heroic: The Compelling Story of the First Latter-day Saint missionaries in India; From the East: The History of the Latter-day Saints in Asia, 1851-1996; Moramona: The Mormons in Hawai'i and Unto the Islands of the Sea: A History of the Latter-day Saints in the Pacific. Britsch also wrote Counseling: A Guide to Helping Others.
For a time, Britsch was the director of BYU's David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies
David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies
The David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies provides international study and service opportunities for students at Brigham Young University ....
.Britsch was also Vice President for Academics at Brigham Young University Hawaii
Brigham Young University Hawaii
Brigham Young University–Hawaii is a private university located in Laie, Hawaii. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
between 1986 and 1990.
He and his previous wife JoAnn Murphy Britsch are the parents of six children; JoAnn died in 2005. Britsch has since married Shirley McKay in 2007.
Britsch's older brother Todd Britsch was a humanities professor and later Academic Vice President at BYU.
Britsch has served in many positions in the LDS Church, including numerous assignments in bishoprics of BYU student wards and in the leadership of BYU student stakes. He also served in the presidency of the Orem Utah Sharon Stake. He is currently a patriarch in Orem, Utah.