How BYU became the soberest of them all

PROVO — As it says in the 23rd Psalm, BYU’s cup runneth over.

There’s just no alcohol in it.

For the 23rd consecutive year, BYU is No. 1 on the Princeton Review’s list of the nation’s “Stone-Cold Sober Schools.”

The last time the university wasn’t the soberest of them all, another famous 23, Michael Jordan, had just retired after winning his sixth NBA championship.

So how did BYU get here, what is the formula behind the rankings and what does it mean?

And what does the best No. 23 in BYU football history have to say about it?

Read my full story.

While I was trying to find some fun facts about the number 23 for the story above, I stumbled over this story about a driver pulled over for operating a vehicle despite the registration having expired 23 years ago. I don’t think his excuse will fly with the judge.

President Dallin H. Oaks turned 88 last week. Here’s a brief life sketch about him in text and another that uses a group of 27 photos. It’s impossible not to love the one of him as BYU’s Cosmo the Cougar mascot.

I wrote a couple of stories over the past week about the church’s effort to build a residential community around the planned Tooele Valley Utah Temple. A Massachusetts newspaper reported about the church starting construction on a meetinghouse near where I grew up. In both cases, I was reminded how little most Americans understand about local government processes of approving growth and development. The time I spent as a reporter covering city governments was a real help.

Speaking of facilities and construction, the church announced it will consolidate two canneries in Utah, released renderings for upcoming temples in Tonga and American Samoa and groundbreaking plans and apostle assignments for the Taylorsville Utah and Red Cliffs Utah temples.

You likely saw that the church announced changes to its magazines, including the retirement of the name “Ensign.” The “Liahona” (for adults), “For the Strength of Youth” (for youth) and the “Friend” (for children) will be global magazines translated into more languages and bringing the youth and children publications to more of the world. Read more.