Volume 65:1 (2026) Print

What does it mean to take Christ’s yoke upon us—and is it really “easy”? In this compelling issue of BYU Studies, scholars revisit one of the Savior’s most familiar teachings and uncover fresh insights into discipleship, language, and lived faith. Through careful textual analysis and historical context, two lead studies reexamine Matthew 11:30, offering a richer understanding of Christ’s invitation and the transformative nature of submission in the ancient world.

This issue also explores the relationship between faith and modern life in meaningful ways. A thought-provoking study examines connections between religiosity and body esteem, while another article uncovers Joseph Smith’s visionary approach to education in Zion—an approach that continues to resonate today.

History comes alive in accounts of faith under pressure and prophetic development. Readers will encounter the experiences of Latter-day Saint missionaries in Hawaii during World War II, trace Wilford Woodruff’s path to apostleship, and gain intimate insight through a powerful personal letter offering counsel and reassurance in a time of trial.

The issue concludes with a rich selection of creative and reflective works—poetry and personal essays that grapple with themes of mortality, motherhood, illness, and hope—as well as a fascinating exploration of a little-known New Testament figure and a review of a new English translation of Genesis.

Bringing together rigorous scholarship, historical depth, and personal reflection, BYU Studies 65, no. 1 (2026) invites readers to deepen both their intellectual understanding and their spiritual perspective.