Karl G. Maeser: Short Biography
Karl G. Maeser was born on January 16, 1828, in Germany. He was a pioneering educator, missionary, and a prominent figure in the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After immigrating to the United States, Maeser became the first principal of Brigham Young Academy in Provo, Utah, which later grew into Brigham Young University.
Widely regarded as the father of LDS education, Maeser emphasized the importance of character, moral values, and spiritual growth alongside academic learning. His influence shaped generations of students and set high standards for education within the LDS community. He passed away in 1901 but remains a respected figure in the history of American religious education.
10 Memorable Quotes by Karl G. Maeser
- “Be yourself, but always your better self.”
- “Every son and daughter of God should be educated to the highest capacity of their mind.”
- “Character is what you are in the dark.”
- “True education does not consist merely of training the mind, but of developing character.”
- “I have been asked what I mean by word of honor. I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls — walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground — there is a possibility that in some way or another I may be able to escape; but stand me on that moral ground and draw around me a line, telling me that I must not cross that line — I will never cross it. May God forget me when I forget my word of honor.”
- “A good name is better than great riches.”
- “Let us have teachers who live the principles they teach.”
- “To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”
- “Obedience is the first law of heaven.”
- “Seek truth wherever it may be found.”
