Karl Gottfried Maeser (January 16, 1828 – February 15, 1901) was a prominent Utah educator and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He is most famous for having served 16 years as principal of Brigham Young Academy, now Brigham Young University (BYU), where he is seen as the true founder of the institution.
A Native of Saxony, Maeser served as a missionary for the church in four nations and held many leadershi...
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Karl Gottfried Maeser (January 16, 1828 – February 15, 1901) was a prominent Utah educator and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He is most famous for having served 16 years as principal of Brigham Young Academy, now Brigham Young University (BYU), where he is seen as the true founder of the institution.
A Native of Saxony, Maeser served as a missionary for the church in four nations and held many leadership positions in the church, including serving as the head of the Church Educational System and in the central leadership of the Sunday school.
Born in Meissen, Germany, Maeser attended parochial school as a boy. By 1855 Maeser was a teacher at the Budich Institute in Dresden. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Dresden. He was baptized by William Budge.
At the time the church was banned in Germany, so he had to be baptised at night. At this time all Latter-day Saints were urged to gather together in Utah. Maeser and his...
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