Talk:John Sears Tanner

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I keep finding Mormon-related entries in Wikipedia (see "Alan Cherry" and "Gordon A. Madsen") that profile figures or cover topics of questionable general encyclopedic interest. I suspect John Tanner would be among the first to question the utility of this entry on him. If this were a real encyclopedia, an article about him, if it existed at all, would deal about 80% with his work on Milton, and 20% with his role writing hymns and making BYU rules, instead of vice-versa. Here's a perfect example: As an undergrad focussed on learning, Tanner essentially never exercised beyond walking around campus. He studied all the time. Later on he "coincidentally" had a role in reducing the PE requirement for graduation. What encyclopedia reader even wants to know? Beware, Wikipedia, lest this fascination with all things Mormon cheapen the general quality of the product. Maybe you need a separate Mormon section with its own less stringent standards.

Afterthought. Tanner is an insightful thinker and an articulate speaker, fair-minded, kind. If you want to add value to this entry, collect some of his quotes or small pieces of his written work, rather than trying to list achievements that may not be of broad interest. Give us the vibrant living man rather than the dry newspaper article about him. --Alan Rasmussen, Tucson — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.228.38.178 (talk) 07:29, 29 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Your changes are even worse. You have filled this article with romantic fluff. --Blue Tie (talk) 19:41, 24 June 2012 (UTC)

The talk comment above has romantic fluff. I don't see any in the article. Romantic fluff should have no place in an encyclopedia. If you find it, remove it. Here in talk you might try giving some examples of the fluff so we can make up our own minds and try to avoid it. --Alan Rasmussen, Tucson — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2001:558:6008:B:5151:4F3F:E435:1006 (talk) 17:30, 25 May 2013 (UTC)

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Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 24 August 2019
John Sears Tanner (born July 27, 1950) is the 10th and current president of Brigham Young University-Hawaii (BYU-Hawaii). He previously served as first counselor in the General Sunday School Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) (2014 to 2015), as president of the church's Brazil São Paulo South Mission (2011 to 2014) and as Academic Vice President of Brigham Young University (BYU). Tanner is married to Susan W. Tanner, a former general president of the LDS Church's Young Women organization.

Tanner received a BA in English from Brigham Young University (1974) and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley (1980). He was an assistant professor at The Florida State University before returning to BYU, where he was a professor of English and an administrator. He has also been a Senior Fulbright Lecturer in Brazil. At BYU, Tanner taught undergraduate and graduate courses in literature, composition, religion, and the history of civilization. He is the recipient of several teaching awards. Prior to being named president of BYU–Hawaii, Tanner served at BYU as academic vice president (2004 to 2011), as chair of the English Department (1998-2003), and as associate academic vice president (1992-1998) over undergraduate and international education. While at BYU, Tanner drafted two foundational documents for the university: “The Aims of a BYU Education” and the “Statement on Academic Freedom at BYU.” Tanner was the editor of an academic journal in Medieval and Renaissance Studies (JRMMRA, since renamed Quidditas) and served for two terms as president of the Association of Mormon Letters.

Tanner specializes in Early Modern English literature with an emphasis on religious writers of the period, particularly John Milton. His book Anxiety in Eden (Oxford University Press) was named best work of the year by the Milton Society of America in 1992. Tanner’s scholarship on Milton is often comparative. He has written about Milton and Søren Kierkegaard, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Ricoeur, and C. S. Lewis. Tanner’s scholarship is also often LDS-themed. Tanner has published numerous essays on educational and devotional topics. A collection of his brief occasional essays to the faculty as BYU academic vice president was published as Notes from an Amateur (2011). A collection of his talks at BYU was published as Learning in the Light (2017). As president of BYUH, Tanner has continued to write personal essays called Pacific Ponderings to the campus. These, along with his devotional and commencement talks, are found on the BYUH website. Tanner has also written and published poetry, primarily lyrics for hymns. One of his hymns, “Bless Our Fast, We Pray,” appears in the current LDS hymnal. His song “I Love the Lord” was sung by the BYU Men’s Chorus in the priesthood meeting at General Conference.

John S. Tanner was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and raised in South Pasadena, California. He is the fifth of thirteen children. He served an LDS mission to the Brazil South Mission (1969-1971), and has since fulfilled many other Church callings—including bishop, stake president, and mission president of the Brazil São Paulo South mission (2011-2014). While still serving as mission president, Tanner was sustained in April 2014 as first counselor in general presidency of the Sunday School in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was serving in this calling when his appointment as the 10th president of BYU–Hawaii was announced. Tanner is married to Susan Winder Tanner, whom often says he loves “just this side of idolatry.” She is a former general president of the Young Women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Tanners are the parents of five children and grandparents of twenty-two.


 * List of general officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


 * List of John S. Tanner articles, quotes and other references at lds.org

Exe-stsec (talk) 02:16, 24 August 2019 (UTC)


 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Please do not paste the entire article contents. Frood 02:57, 24 August 2019 (UTC)