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Brigham Young University, part of the Church Education System, will now align in honor, dress and ecclesiastical standards with other church-owned institutions.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

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BYU-Idaho is part of the Church Education System.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

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BYU-Hawaii is part of the Church Education System.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

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Young men studying within the Church Education System hoping to one day be able to wear beards are going to have a longer wait.

On Thursday, the Board of Education of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints approved updates to Student Ecclesiastical Endorsements, the Honor Code, and Dress and Grooming Principles and Expectations for the CES, which is comprised of numerous institutions that provide religious and secular education under the direction of priesthood leadership.

According to a church statement, the updates are principle-based, provide consistency across CES institutions and better align student endorsement interviews with church leaders’ ecclesiastical responsibilities. They’re designed to help students grow closer to Jesus Christ and strengthen the overall student experience.

Updates have been made in the following areas:

1. The Student Ecclesiastical Endorsement is an interview process similar to how church members receive a church temple recommend. Among the changes, the word “striving” has been added to some of the ecclesiastical endorsement questions, which the statement said “recognizes that students are striving to deepen their faith and testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Recognizing that we sometimes fall short of perfectly realizing these aspirations, and in order to encourage continued growth, students are invited to strive toward certain ideals while upholding foundational standards of conduct.”

Potential students will be asked certain questions before being allowed to attend a CES institution. They include asking if potential students are “striving” to deepen their testimonies of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, as well as “striving” to deepen their testimonies in the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Students are also asked if they are “striving” for moral cleanliness in their thoughts and behavior. They are also asked if they are “striving” to live the teachings of the church and if there are serious sins in their life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities.

Other questions include if they obey the law of chastity; if they sustain the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelves Apostles as prophets, seers and revelators; if they support or promote any teachings, practices or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; if they attend church regularly and strive to keep the Sabbath day holy; and if they full tithe payers and obey the Word of Wisdom.

2. The CES Honor Code has been the same for all CES institutions for many years. The new updates highlight its role in accomplishing the CES’ religious mission. The Honor Code includes the following rules:

• Maintain an ecclesiastical endorsement, including striving to deepen faith and maintain gospel standards.
• Be honest.
• Live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from sexual relations outside marriage between a man and a woman. Living a chaste and virtuous life also includes abstaining from same-sex romantic behavior.
• Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, vaping, marijuana and other substance abuse.
• Participate regularly in church services.
• Respect others, including the avoidance of profane and vulgar language.
• Obey the law and follow campus policies, including the CES dress and grooming standards.
• Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code and dress and grooming standards.

3. Dress and Grooming Principles and Expectations, which until now had historically been varied among CES institutions, will now be simplified and unified across CES campuses. According to the church statement, these updates identify a set of foundational principles while retaining an important set of common expectations — but do not loosen the long-held ban on student facial hair.

“These changes will help everyone associated with CES further embrace the distinct purpose associated with CES institutions of higher education and to more fully accomplish our mission to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities,” said Elder Clark G. Gilbert, the CES commissioner of education, in the announcement. “Our goal is that all students and employees feel the love of the Savior, experience the growth from applying gospel principles, and more fully realize the joy associated with being part of a covenant-keeping community.”

Focus groups were conducted at CES institutions to gather input from students in the development of the changes. According to the church, students who were polled reported being “enthusiastic and expressed their feelings that a focus on the Savior, combined with an emphasis on principles and expectations, would elevate dress, grooming, and behavior as students become more intentional and take increased ownership for dress and grooming decisions.”

The church said CES presidents C. Shane Reese of Brigham Young University, Alvin F. Meredith III of BYU-Idaho, John S.K. Kauwe III of BYU-Hawaii and Bruce C. Kusch of Ensign College felt that the new updates would inspire students and employees and add to a feeling of unity across CES institutions.

The new changes will go into effect Wednesday.

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