Randy L. Bott

Last updated
Randy L. Bott
Born1945 (age 7879)
EducationB.S. Psychology
M.S. Education
Ed.D. Educational leadership
Alma mater Utah State University
Brigham Young University
OccupationReligion professor at BYU
Known for RateMyProfessors.com #1 National Professor (2008)
SpouseVickie (Pehrson) Bott
Children6

Randy L. Bott (born 1945) is a former American professor of religion at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, United States. He taught classes on missionary preparation and the Doctrine and Covenants, and wrote doctrinal and motivational literature about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Contents

Biography

Education and personal life

After earning a B.S. in psychology from Utah State University, Bott earned his M.S. degree in education from the same university and an Ed.D. from BYU in 1988. [1] Bott also speaks Samoan. [2]

Bott has served in various capacities of the LDS Church, including bishop, high councilor, stake presidency counselor, and as a mission president in Fresno, California. Bott married Vickie Pehrson in September 1969. [3] They had three boys and three girls, and became the grandparents of 14 children. [2]

Professional life

Bott said in 2008 that he spent four to six hours every day answering phone calls and e-mails from his students, which "enables him to have a more personal touch with the students he teaches". [4] At the beginning of his classes, he invites students to ask questions about missionary life, LDS Church doctrine, and personal comportment.[ citation needed ] Bott's tests, which he calls "celebrations", are open-note, open-book.[ citation needed ] In 2008, Bott taught 3,149 students at BYU, or over 10 percent of the university's student body. [5] In 2008 Bott was the highest-rated professor in the United States on the website Ratemyprofessors.com. [6] [7]

In February 2012, Bott drew criticism for a quote in a Washington Post article about the LDS Church's stand on race. [8] The LDS Church consequently issued a press release in response to the article later the same month and also posted a page titled "Race and the Priesthood" on its official website the following year. [9] [10] [11]

It was announced in March 2012 that Bott would be leaving his teaching post at BYU to serve as a senior missionary with his wife, [12] and he retired from BYU in June 2012. [12]

Works

Bott has authored and co-authored books on missionary preparation, LDS Church doctrine, application of doctrine to life, and the writings of Joseph Smith. [2]

Non-fiction – religious and general interest
Collaborations/inclusions
Academic
Fiction

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References

  1. BYU Alumni Directory (Restricted access), BYU, retrieved 1 June 2008
  2. 1 2 3 "Randy L. Bott", Religious Education: Faculty Directory, BYU, retrieved 22 August 2013
  3. Masters, Lauren (13 February 2003), "Happily ever after: Professor love stories", The Daily Universe , retrieved 22 August 2013
  4. "Beehives and Buffalo Chips", Daily Herald, 13 December 2008, retrieved 22 August 2013
  5. Walsh, Tad (11 December 2008), "BYU professor sits atop national rankings", Deseret News , archived from the original on December 3, 2009, retrieved 22 August 2013
  6. Peterson, Janice (9 December 2008), "BYU professor rated 2008's best on Web site", Daily Herald, retrieved 22 August 2013
  7. "Top 10". Ratemyprofessors.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
  8. Horowitz, Jason (28 February 2012), "The Genesis of a church's stand on race", The Washington Post, retrieved 22 August 2013
  9. "Official Statement – Race and the Church: All Are Alike Unto God", Newsroom (mormonnewsroom.org), LDS Church, retrieved 22 August 2013
  10. Bennion, Kate (February 29, 2012), "Washington Post article on black priesthood ban spurs concern, outrage: Professor didn't follow university media policy when speaking with newspaper", The Daily Universe, retrieved 22 August 2013
  11. Walker, Joseph (29 February 2012), "LDS Church condemns past racism 'inside and outside the church'", Deseret News, archived from the original on August 22, 2013, retrieved 22 August 2013
  12. 1 2 "BYU religion prof Bott retiring in June", Daily Herald (Utah) , 22 March 2012, retrieved 22 August 2013