Terry Briggs Ball[1] (born 1955)[2] is an American scholar who served asdean of Religious Education atBrigham Young University (BYU)[3] from 2006[4] until 2013.[5]
As a young man, from 1974 to 1976 Ball served as amissionary forthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in theJapanKobeMission. After returning to Utah, he taughtJapanese in theMissionary Training Center in Provo until 1979. From 1979 to 1992 he was aSeminary andInstitute of Religion teacher and administrator for theChurch Educational System inFort Thomas, Arizona,Mountain Home, Idaho, and at BYU.[6]
In the LDS Church, Ball has served in numerouscallings, including as abishop twice.[6] In 2009 he becamepresident of the BYU 20thStake.[1] Ball is married to the former DeAnna Hill and they have six children.[3]
Ball holds a bachelor's degree in botany and education (1979), a master's degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies (1990) and a Ph.D. inarcheobotany (1992), all from BYU.[3][6]
After receiving his doctorate, Ball became a Professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU in 1992. In 2006 he became the Dean of Religious Education. Ball has focused his religious research and publication on the prophetIsaiah and has continued to conduct research in his doctoral field of archaeobotany.[6] He has also taught at BYU's Jerusalem Center.
Ball has written books includingUnderstanding the Words of Isaiah, andIsaiah and the Book of Mormon. He also has written an entry in theEncyclopedia of Mormonism.[7]
Ball has written several papers related to agriculture and archeobotany.[8] Ball wrote "Agriculture in Lehi's World: Some Textual, Historical, Archaeological, and Botanical Insights" with Wilford M. Hess which was included in the bookGlimpses of Lehi's Jerusalem.[9] Ball has applied botanical principles to the understanding of Isaiah.[10]
Ball has written articles forThe Journal of Archaeological Science.[11]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
