3.7
Quality3.6
Difficulty51%
Would Retake640
Reviews51%
Would Retake
640
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
640 total ratings5
265
4
141
3
101
2
80
1
53
What Students Say
“Even for a returned missionary, class was difficult”
REL275 - 2.0 rating“His tests are a, b, c, a & b, or none”
REL121 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
86%
Textbook Required
3%
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A-
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+0.07 avg changeRatings by Course
NT12
5.0
(1)BOOKOFMORMON
5.0
(1)NEWTEASTAMENT
5.0
(1)REL211NEWTEST
4.8
(4)RELA304
4.4
(8)Difficulty by Course
REG122
5.0
RELA212
5.0
RELA122
4.5
122
4.3
REL212
4.0
Reviews (299)
He was very knowledgeable about the Book of Mormon and its history, which was cool. However, he easily derailed from his lectures and wasted a lot of time answering questions that didn't need long explanations. He also stated a lot of his own personal opinions as fact, which I figure could be confusing for some people.
Brother Merril is super sweet! I liked him throughout the semester, but I think my expectations were really high for a BYU religion professor. But then we had one lecture that completely changed my life (slight exaggeration) but it really did change my perspective. I also liked that we didn't have to learn useless things.
He'll have you read the whole Book of Mormon in a month. It's worth it, but you deserve the warning. You have to write a few papers, but they're leniently graded, as are the essay questions on the tests. He's an incredible teacher, and definitely has the Spirit. I would take another class from him.
This is my third religion class from him. He gives great powerful insights. His course is well planned out and you have a good idea of what to expect from the beginning. You have to read in the beginning, but after that, staying up isn't essential. Tests are hard but not bad if you do the study guide. Great class, always.
Br. Merrill is a wonderful professor! He knows so much about the Book of Mormon, and he would make me become teary on a daily basis. The one things I would hope for is for there to be more structure to the class. Usually when it came time to study, I was a little confused as to what part of my notes were most important. But other than that, great!
I loved Brother Merrill! I didn't know much about the New Testament but he changed my life and perspective on the gospel. He know's what he is talking about. Soo so good. I would definitely take another class from him. Tests are a little hard but as long as you take good notes in class you'll be fine. Take 211 from Merrill!
So here's the deal. Its really hard to read the entire Book of Mormon in one month, especially when you're in college and taking 16 credits and would like to see your significant other every once in a while. The teachings were erratic and all over the Book of Mormon Couldn't seem to focus in on what he was trying to teach Just a lot of random facts
While some might love his teaching style, personally - I did not. His lectures jumped all over the place without covering basic principles or themes. He has great insight but it was hard to take what was supposed to be learned in class and apply that knowledge to the tests. W/o his study-guides poorly on tests. Papers were graded easy.
If you know the BoM well, the class is cake. If not, it would be tough. Lectures don't really help teach you the material needed on tests. He provides study guides,but they aren't specific and you have to know what the text says about the study guides very in-depth and lectures don't help with that. There's a lot of free points though which helps.
Warning: had to read the entire Book of Mormon in one month. I thought it was worth it- but it's tough. It took me a while to get used to his approach to lecturing, and I decided I like it. He has great insights and is very knowledgable. Tells wonderful stories. Tests are huge part of grade, not a lot of homework.
Lectures are just super engaging, but sometimes sporadic. Bro. Merrill is a wise man and he passes that wisdom on in lectures. I always come out of his class pumped about my life and Jesus and stuff. The essays are graded easy. His class changed my worldview more than any other.
Brother Merill was wonderful! There were only a few paper throughout and that should be something you do not worry about. The tests were difficult and required you to study hard!
Merril was a very deep teacher and I enjoyed the insights that he gave on the BoM. However, it was difficult following along for tests, because he would go off on tangents about something that was interesting but not on the tests. I did great in the class, but not that great on the tests. If you take him, you'll have to be diligent with studying.
not the best
Not an easy religion credit. He knows his stuff, but isn't the greatest at teaching. He had some awesome spiritual insights to share, but you usually have to be really focused/familiar with scripture to catch everything he talks about in the lecture. Tests were tough, but if you study the notes you take and the scriptures A LOT you'll do well.
Required to read the 4 Gospels in the first 2 weeks of class (not as hard as it sounds). Tests (3) and quizzes (3) weren't too difficult if you study enough (memorize details). Points for attendance, so be there and pay attention. HE TALKS REALLY REALLY FAST; if I'd tried to handwrite my notes I would have died (laptop saved my life!).
Makes you read the Book of Mormon in like two weeks, but after that the class is a breeze.
Brother Merrill is really nice but his class is really hard if you don't already have a deep understanding of the history of the New Testament. He didn't focus much on doctrinal topics and required you to know many tiny details for the tests. The tests for this class were harder than most other tests I've taken.
Ready to read the whole Book of Mormon within the first 30 days of the semester? After that assignment, the reading is pretty easy, and the tests aren't awful if you use the study guide and go get help from the TA. I learned things I never knew about the Book of Mormon in his class.
Brother Merrill is a great teacher. Reading is required in order to get a good grade. Attend lectures and take good notes and you will do very well. Review study guides.
There is a lot of reading in the first three weeks. The test are really hard. The lectures are hard to follow, he jumps around a lot.
First two weeks you will have some MAJOR reading to do that will be like 16% of your grade. Really cool fun class, lots of interesting information, but a TON to memorize. Difficult tests made this - legit - my hardest class.
Very engaging. Blunt and a little intimidating, but terribly lovable. Awesome stories, quotes, and clear explanations of tricky and sensitive doctrine.
Bro Merrill is the best! I loved how he taught us the doctrine of the Book of Mormon not random facts that have nothing to do with the purpose of the book. Being an RM of 3 months I loved having this spiritually uplifting class. Study the study guides and you'll ace the tests.
Prof. Merrill is a great teacher. He has great stories that leave you thinking and the Spirit is always so strong in his classroom. It is definitely important to go to class. His tests use both his lectures and the reading. I really loved the class. The tests are hard, but if you study hard, you'll be fine. He will make you work for your grade.
I absolutely love Bro Merrill. He is a wonderful man who gives fascinating & engaging lectures. The Spirit is so strong in his classroom, & I always leave feeling uplifted. The class isn't too hard. There are 3 one-page papers, and you have to read the 1st 1/2 of the BOM in the 1st few weeks. Tests aren't hard if you read & take good notes in class
Really knowledgeable and a good lecturer. Hardly any homework. 3 1-2 page BOM insight papers that you cant get a bad grade on. Have to read 75% of BOM in a month. Worst thing about this class is that no matter how many notes you take you have no idea what is going to be on tests. Study guides are ok, but def don't prepare you for the tests.
Brother Merrill is a spiritual monster! He has by far been my favorite religion professor! His classes are very lecture heavy and you have to determine what's important to write down from all that he is saying but he is very spiritual!
Even for a returned missionary, class was difficult. Wouldn't take this class again. Class was literally harder than my physics and math combined. Take Religion from a different professor and you'll be fine :)
A great teacher. Has solid lectures, his class is well organized, use the syllabus and learningsuite. A lot of work is participation, tests can be tricky sometimes with specifics, so know who said what and where, but he provides study guides and says everything in lecture. Very caring and approachable, great stories and insights.
You have to read the first half of the BoM during the first two weeks of school. You're grade is largely attendance, but you rate yourself on that so... His lectures are pretty amazing and I have cried more than once. Skipping class will NOT help you in the long run, as he covers a lot of necessary information.
I learned SO MUCH about Christ's life in this class. He brings so much background and history to the lectures and scriptures and it makes everything make a little more sense.
He DEFINITELY knows what he's talking about and he's super passionate about it. It was more difficult than other religion classes because the tests were mainly only what we talked about in class. If you don't pay very close attention, you'll miss a lot.
I loved his lectures, but it was a difficult class! There was no homework except at the beginning, when we had to read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in 2 weeks. That was 16% of the grade. Then the tests are extremely difficult - very detailed oriented and I got a D, C and another D on the tests. Would suggest auditing the class.
Brother Merrill is a very spiritual teacher and loving. You will read so much! That is the most effective thing to do, and then take notes. You have to work for your grade, and it definitely has more work involved than a normal 2 credit hour class. He gives great lectures and tells tons of stories; however, just take notes on the stuff on the SG.
Brother Merrill tends to be harder than average as far as religion courses go, but he has great knowledge and the spirit is strong in his classes. Very worthwhile and you learn a lot. Writings of Isaiah was especially a good class to take from Brother Merrill.
The grade is based off attendance, exams, and three 2-page papers. There are just 2 midterms and one final. Really easy class, but you need to go to class and take notes to pass as his lectures are very insightful. Very inspirational and spiritual, this is the religion class you want.
Lectures are hard to follow and I didn't find them very spiritual. Tests were extremely difficult and specific. Very unclear with what is expected for tests. He was a nice professor and graded essays fairly, I just had a hard time with testing. You will also read the whole BOM in the first 3 weeks of the semester.
Brother Merrill taught me a lot about the Book of Mormon. I really enjoyed his lectures. However, he grades heavily on tests that are extremely specific. I never missed a class and took as many notes as I could, but it didn't help prepare me for the tests. The study guide was nearly useless. He grades everything else fairly.
Dodge if you can. He went off on tangents, talking about the Church Disciplinary system and sharing unrelated anecdotes. For a 2 credit class, there was definitely a lot of work required. Attendance is a must. Take this class from someone else.
Brother Merrill went so in-depth into the Book of Mormon and taught me more about the Book than I had ever known before. Tests are hard but if you read through the study guide, review main points from the lectures, you'll do just fine. Has you write a couple papers, but if you do them, you get full credit. Not easy, but so worth it.
Brother Merrill is the best. He knows so much about the gospel I swear he could have been a prophet if God wanted him to be. His class is super easy and his lectures are super enjoyable. The only thing that was slightly difficult were the tests, but if you know the gospel, you will be okay. I would take him for every religion class.
I took Brother Merrill for new testament. If you just go to class, study well, and keep on top of the insight papers you'll get an A without a problem.(at least in new testament) But the best reason to take his class is not the easy A, he is an incredible teacher, with immense knowledge, but teaches in a very humble, insightful way. Amazing guy!
Brother Merrill is such a spiritual guy. Gives amazing lectures that you can always feel the Spirit in. Tests can be kind of difficult, just because there's lots of material you need to know. Not too much homework at all. Papers in this class are really easy - basically if you do them, you get an A.
This was my first religion class at BYU and I was not disappointed! Brother Merrill really knows his stuff and I loved his lectures. You read the 4 gospels in the first 2 weeks of class (its not too bad) You are graded on daily attendance, 5 super easy insight papers, 3 online quizzes, and tests. People say his tests are really hard but I disagree.
Brother Merrill is great, he has incredibly clear outlines for his tests that say basically everything you need to know, you can count on a substantial part of your grade being just for attendance, easy insight papers, and just for reading the material once through. Lectures are great and inspiring too.
Worst professor I've taken at BYU. Expects that every student is a return missionary scriptural genius coming into class. You'd think after teaching for 40 years he would know how to address a more broad audience. Did much more damage to my testimony than good. Would not recommend if you are not extremely strong in the faith.
You need to attend classes. His lecture is awesome. But his test won't be easy. He provided some outlines for exams. I think it suggested to study a broad amount of materials. There was no extra credit. His testimony was great. My testimony was strengthened by him.
A lot of reading but it's doable. Not very engaging lessons but was able to learn a lot about the New Testament. He likes facts... Just pay attention to the lesson outcomes and lesson quizzes to do well on the final.
He knows soooo much about the BOM! I was scribbling notes from day 1. His online quizzes are tricksy so make sure you're paying attention class or you'll miss stuff. We had to read the first half of the BOM in 3 weeks (14 pg/day). His lectures, like I said, are inspiring and entertaining. He can be pretty funny, and he cares about hid students.
Brother Merrill is a very intelligent and knowledgeable guy but he gives extremely specific questions on tests and quizzes. If you take his class you will have to read the first half of the BOM in about 3 weeks.
His lectures are so long and you never know when he transitions from a topic or what you're suppose to write down, so you end of writing down EVERYTHING he says. You can get information from class for the study guides, you just have to pay attention. However, the study guides did not help me on the exams at all. None of it was on the actual test.
Brother Merrill is amazing. Are his lectures long? Yes. But you learn A LOT! Pro tip- type notes rather than hand write- you'll get more down. He provides study guides on learning suite - USE THEM! Download them and make a document and take notes throughout the semester to study! There are a few short papers, two exams, and a final. Great teacher!
His lectures are good but you have no idea what is important and what might be on the tests. The tests are not easy at all either and the review guide isn't very helpful.
He is very knowledgeable however, what he talks about in class does not prepare you for the tests. Also, there isn't a lot of structure to his class. There are no slides or readings besides the Book of Mormon to study off of; you pretty much have to take notes on everything he says which may or may not be necessary. Very minimal homework.
Lectures have good info but you never know what's important to know. Not structured very well. He gives a study guide for each test and you have to attend class to get the information for it, but when it comes to the actually exams the study guide doesn't help at all. Cool guy, but hate his teaching style.
Great professor! He gives incredible lectures and really lets you feel the spirit while speaking. He only gives a 3 papers and 3 tests, so you have to be really careful. However, attendance makes up for whatever you miss. Easy A!
Though I really enjoy Brother Merrill's lectures and Brother Merrill as a person, I wouldn't recommend this class to those whose GPAs are important. It is frustrating to have copious, detailed notes, all connected to the study guides, and take exams not relevant to that preparation. I'd take from him again, if the class were structured more fairly.
Nice guy but you would think after so many years of teaching he would learn the most effective way to help students learn. This was not a spiritual class for me at all. That may be my fault. I don't know. But regardless it was a tough class with very unspecific test preparation material. and extremely specific tests. TAKE FROM SOMEONE ELSE!
Dr. Merrill is very smart and gives very engaging stories in each lecture. If you know the Book of Mormon fairly well, you don't need to study too much. He'll have you read the first half of the Book of Mormon in the first few weeks which isn't hard if you focus on it the first weekend. The study guides are good to know which scriptures to memorize
I really loved Professor Merrill. His class was organized and easy to understand. The lectures are really important to attend, because almost every question on the test is something we discussed in class. His tests are not easy but he provides a lot of study materials and guides. He is an excellent person and very passionate about the subject.
My experience with Merrill good, but the tests are very hard. I loved the guy and his lectures were awesome, but it was very difficult for me to know what to study for the tests. I feel that I took good notes in class and carefully followed the study guides but struggled on test day.
Bro Merrill is awesome! I loved taking his class. His lectures are fascinating and made my testimony grow stronger. He is just super sweet and funny. The class isn't terribly hard, especially for a religion class.
I enjoyed taking a class from Brother Merrill. He is knowledgeable and inspiring. If you want to learn historical and doctrinal points of the Book of Mormon, take the class from him.
Brother Merrill is a great lecturer, very enlightening about events in the Book of Mormon. There are not too many assignments which was nice, but this is just to compensate for the hard tests. If you're down to study the ins and outs of the Book of Mormon then you will probably like this class, but I definitely was not prepared for that.
Brother Merrill was by far one of my favorite profs I've had at BYU. He knows so much about the BOM and I felt like I genuinely learned something new every class. There are 3 easy one page papers all semester but pay attention in reading and lectures because the tests are detail oriented. Overall, great teacher and great experience in his class.
I felt the spirit all the time and he is so knowledgeable about the BOM!! He truly loves it so much!! The bad part is he just talks without a powerpoint or anything, so you just scramble to write down everything single thing he says. You end up missing a lot but the study groups were really helpful. Overall, great guy, lots of quick-paced lectures.
Bro. Merrill was a fantastic professor to have for this class. He truly cares about his students and he clearly understands the BoM. His lectures can get sorta jumbled and you may get off track several times, but I'd encourage taking notes with the study guides he provides handy so you know what the important things to jot down are.
I am not very good with memorizing or studying for tests. Professor Merrill taught in a way though that class was enjoyable and one just remembers how he taught it. he teaches so clear and could answer everyone's questions. He really cares about the student. Participation helps a lot to for one to really enjoy class. I recommend him to everyone.
Prof. Merrill knows the BoM better than anyone I have ever met, and he provided some of the most interesting insights into scripture that you may think you know. His lectures are SO GOOD. Don't miss class, and take good notes; he really drops info that will be found on the test every class, and you will miss it if you don't attend.
I really liked Brother Merrill. At the beginning of the semester you are required to read the first half of the Book of Mormon in about 3 weeks. This counts for 15% of your grade, so do it! The tests were not too bad. Some of the test questions were very specific things mentioned in class so don't skip class, pay attention, and take good notes.
Brother Merrill is an amazing teacher! I took his Words of Isaiah class, and he really taught me to love the scriptures. Isaiah was hard for me at the beginning, but Brother Merrill teaches so well and knows so much. Make sure to mark attendance, and do the reading at the beginning of the year, but other than that his class was easy and fun!
Bro. Merrill was an amazing teacher. I learned so much about the doctrines of the Book of Mormon. He doesn't talk about most of the stories in depth, so review those if you get them mixed up. Be ready to read the first half of the Book of Mormon in the first two weeks of class.
His lectures can be unengaging (my class didn't participate much). He really knows and cares about the material and undoubtedly students will learn new things about the Book of Mormon (the only book used in the class). His tests would be nearly impossible without the study guide, so before taking a test memorize the study guide and you'll get an A.
The tests were the main stress, but looking back they weren't that bad. I guess I was just surprised that you actually had to study a good amount for his religion tests. The study guides are useful, but some of the things that we were being tested on were trivial. Reading went really fast for the first few weeks, but then it's pretty relaxed.
I loved this class. I learned a ton from Brother Merrill. His lectures are engaging and inspired, one of my favorite classes that I have taken here at BYU.
His lectures were really interesting, but the tests were hard. There's a lot of specific information you need to know and have memorized, so be prepared to take thorough notes and to come to class. Also keep track of when homework is due since we weren't reminded of online assignments in class.
Brother Merrill is a nice guy, he really is. I appreciate how interested he is in each and every student, trying to make them feel welcome. That said, his lectures are boring, his teaching is uninspired, and his tests are far from fair. I have taken four philosophy courses before now, but Merrill has thoroughly irritated so to make philosophy dead.
The class was really easy until the tests. Being a non return missionary and never having studies the scriptures, I found the test really hard. You had to memorize verses and quotes which I found ridiculous. But I liked Merrill a lot. Because of the four easy essays (I mean easy) and the reading report, I got a B+ despite my low exam grades
He's an amazing teacher and has very good, interesting, and engaging lectures but hard tests. If you don't study the scriptures really well, you won't get an A but because of attendance points and term papers you can still do well enough. He has two online quizzes each semester as well and they are crazy hard.
I loved being in Brother Merrill's class!
He does NOT use slides. Obscure definitions of names will be on the test. If you miss class, there's no way to find what info he wants you to know for the study guide. Jumps around different sections of the New Testament so you don't really know where you are. Very dry class. Few assignments. Went to every class, averaged at about a B+.
I really hated this class. It seemed that he was really opinionated and the tests were way harder than they needed to be for a 100 level religion class. I was so upset by this class I waited an entire semester before taking another religion class. He can be sometimes inspirational but this was offset by the fact that the tests were so specific .
Although the tests were difficult with a lot of material to memorize, Brother Merrill really knew how to bring the Spirit to class. I not only learned new facts about the gospel, but enjoyed the Spirit that was felt each lecture. If you are looking to learn and feel inspired, great class to take.
Great guy; funny, spiritual, intelligent and nice. Pay attention in the lectures to details, know the scriptures, participate in class, and you will do great. To be honest this class requires a lot of memorization, so if you have a great memory, you will do fine. I suggest you cram study right before tests, that is what I did and I aced the tests.
Brother Merrill is an amazing professor, Book of Mormon scholar, and disciple of Christ. He takes class and the classwork very seriously and goes very in depth into the scriptures covered, but makes it extremely easy to follow and understand. I learned so much from him and had real, powerful, spiritual experiences in his lectures. 100% recommend.
I thought Brother Merrill was awesome! His classes could sometimes get a little boring, but if you're paying attention and taking notes, it's not that bad. In my class we had to write 3 papers which were super easy. The hardest thing were definitely the quizzes and tests. But if you took notes and go to study groups, you'll do fine.
His tests are really hard...
I loved Brother Merrill! His class was hard don't get me wrong, but he invited the spirit into class and really knows his stuff. I was convinced after the first few weeks of class that he knew everything about the Book of Mormon. But then he expects you to know it too. He also assigns a very intense reading assignment in the first few weeks.
Brother Merrill gives great lectures. He knows a lot and can increase your scriptural understanding. I would caution those who are new members or nonmembers taking this class (or other BOM classes) to read the Book of Mormon and be familiar with the content. He is reading heavy and will require you to read half of the BOM in the first few weeks
Brother Merrill gives amazing lectures. However, his exams and quizzes are somewhat difficult. You really need to know the specifics of the verses. You will have 3 insight papers. You will also be required to read the first half of the Book of Mormon (to Alma 29) in 2-3 weeks. Really not a terrible class at all!
RUN. His lectures are disorganized, and dont cover test material. He asks obscure questIons no one whos read the Book of Mormon knows. His tests are a, b, c, a & b, or none. His TAs are not available. If you do take this, go over the study guide early. Please take it from someone else. His tests will kill your grade. This is my hardest class.
Brother Merrill is a good teacher, and knows what he is talking about. However, his study guides are extremely vague and his tests are very hard. The average grade is never above a B on tests which in my opinion is ridiculous for a religion class.
This was the worst experience I could have had with a religion class. The lectures are vague and scattered, the study guides for the tests are often inaccurate, and the tests are not well written. The test questions are always very specific, and many of them were never mentioned in class. Terrible class, please don't take a class from Bro. Merrill
Honestly, if you aren't an RM, this class is a bad idea. The lectures are inspiring and very informative, but don't relate to the tests in any useful way. The tests are brutal and don't match the study guides at all. However, if you are looking to really deepen your understanding of the Book of Mormon, Merrill is your guy
This is one of my favorite religion classes I have ever taken, I left every class feeling uplifted and inspired. I was not very familiar with the subject before this class, and I felt like the RMs had a big advantage over me, but the tests were fair if you do the reading and follow the study guides.
His lectures are ridiculously disorganized and he jumps around the text all the time. He has no slides so he's impossible to follow. He also skims through the info you need for the test and then talks about his personal life and politics. His tests do not reflect his lectures either and his study guides suck. Do not take from him.
Brother Merrill's BOM class is amazing! However, the tests are very specific. There are lots of direct quotes, without references, and you are expected to know them. However, this is the most spiritual class I have ever taken. I would take his class for the spirit, not the grade.
I enjoyed this class! However, I would say this class is not for everyone. If you want an easy religion class, don't take from Brother Merrill. His tests are quite specific and can be difficult if you don't study. However, I loved his lectures and feel like I know the Book of Mormon so much better now! More like an old friend than just a book.
Brother Merrill's class was a breeze. Students complain that his tests are too specific, but they aren't that difficult, especially if you study. If you have a decent knowledge of the Book of Mormon you should be able to do well on every test. His lectures are definitely more focused on the spiritual side of things, not so much scholarly.
Brother Merrill is a nice man, but his tests are kind of ridiculous. You more or less have to have memorized the specific wording of hundreds of verses. His study guides are vague and the TAs are never available. Sometimes he says insensitive things and teaches non-official doctrine. If you test well, you'll be fine. If not, look somewhere else.
Brother Merrill loves the Book of Mormon a lot and it shows in his lectures. His lectures are based on the text itself and you are expected to study it often.
Brother Merrill is amazing! He knows more about the Book of Mormon than anyone I've ever met. He does talk really fast though, and doesn't have slides, so you kind of have to take notes on everything. Not a lot of homework; the hardest thing was reading the whole first half of the Book of Mormon in three weeks.
I loved the Lectures. I thought they were well presented and gave great insight. My problem was that the tests were set up in a way to trip you up. Although a great lecturer, He makes it very difficult to get a good grade in his class. For the amount of credits this class is, I feel like I had to spend far too much time in this class.
A wonderful, spiritual lecturer, but doesn't have slides or anywhere to get notes besides coming to class every time. Very knowledgable and caring. There are only a couple of things that make or break your grade, so if you do the reading and study for the quizzes and tests, your grade will be alright. Papers are super easy points.
Brother Merrill told the class on multiple occasions that we would be sent to Hell if we did not do what he asked of us. Did not appreciate being told that by a professor. The tests were based on what he felt was most important which was hard to tell based on his lectures. There were no lecture tools, only speaking at you.
There's a lot of people that don't like Bro Merrill. I think it's because he chastises often. Personally, I really appreciate that about him though because he is very real with us; he isn't all rainbows and sunshine about the gospel. Tests were hard. Learned a lot from the class. Really enjoyed.
I love Bro Merrill! You really have to work for an A, but I learned so much from him. He is a caring teacher that really brings in the spirit during lecture. Pay attention, and you'll be fine!
Brother Merrill is an awesome guy. You have to read the first half of the Book of Mormon in the first two weeks but that's the only demanding part. If you pay attention in class and go over the study guides before tests they are pretty easy. I will be taking BOM122 with him because of how simple his course structure is.
Really knows what he's talking about, but not great at structuring in a helpful way for learning, so classes were interesting but not really important. Tests have NOTHING to do with classes, and study guide is mediocre at best. Lots of reading but not necessary. If you don't do well on the tests, there's nothing you can do to improve your grade.
This was my third class from Bro Merrill, and I loved it! He is a great guy who really cares about his students. You have daily attendance quizzes (did you show up and pay attention), a few easy 1-page papers (completion), a few midterms, and the final. Honestly I wouldn't take this class from anyone else!
His classes are very powerful and spiritual and he makes sure to answer his students questions in the class. His tests are fairly difficult and although he does talk about what's on the test in class it's very quick and could slip pass you easily. Tests are very historical based.
The guy acts like he knows what he's talking about, but the class was more difficult than a religion class needs to be. He also made strange comments about women and taught a few false doctrine-type things when I took New Testament, which rubbed me the wrong way and made me feel like I wasn't learning from someone with any authority to teach me.
He is a wonderful professor! If you want a spiritual giant with lots of knowledge take him. Funny and charming. His tests are really hard though. You basically become a scholar to pass his class. If you aren't listening to everything and always pay attention good luck. The test sometimes feel like you are writing the index of the Book of Mormon.
For his exams he tests you on who said what in the BoM, but he does give you a study guide with every quote, so he is practically giving you the answers. The final is the easiest of the exams. He's super spiritual. You can tell by his lectures. I really enjoyed the class. 10/10 recommend.
Absolutely do not take a class from him. It will hurt your GPA. Rarely did I actually feel the spirit in the class (which should be the purpose of a religion course yeah?) He rarely covered test content and spends too much time telling personal stories. He has a vast knowledge of the scriptures, but it's not worth taking a low grade in this class.
He knows a lot about the scriptures. That's for sure. However, he didn't provide any notes or slides in his lectures so it made it kinda hard for me to know what we had to take notes on. His exams were pretty hard imo and the study guides were too vague and didn't really help. This class definitely wasn't an easy religion class.
He was very spiritual and I truly did learn a lot. However, it is not structured at all and his tests cover details that aren't on the study guides. He cares about his students. He makes you read the whole Book of Mormon in the first 3 weeks of class which was really challenging especially balancing other hmwk. the papers aren't hard at all.
Study guides were vague and there were no slides so I had zero idea what to take notes on in class. Tests were mostly quotes and certain historical details which made studying near-impossible because you couldn't rely on your church knowledge. If you are very familiar with the NT you might be okay, but if you want doctrine-based look elsewhere
Getting an A in this class is doable, but if you are looking for an easy A class, choose a different professor. This class focused on small details rather than doctrine, which I was not a fan of. It definitely takes a lot of studying to memorize all the names, quotes, etc. Study the Speedback assignments and the final exam will be easy.
Super interesting lectures, take thorough notes. Tests are difficult, more about specifics of the BOM than overall idea.
He doesn't use anything but his mouth to teach. It's really hard to know what to take notes on because he doesn't use a powerpoint and he gets distracted really easy. Very knowledgeable about scriptures but his final is impossible.
quite hard tests. if youre a visual learner, brother merrill is a no go for you. but hess sweet old man who gives great insight.
His lectures are interesting but you have no idea what is going to be on the tests. The tests are not easy at all either and the review guide isn't very helpful. There is only lectures and little tiny things he says maybe once will be 5 different multiple choice questions. Take this class from someone else!
Avoid Brother Merrill. he is a relatively nice guy, but his lectures make no sense and are all over the place. He interrupts students a lot. I studied for over 5 hours for the midterm and I barely got a C. Study guides are not really like the test so they dont prepare you. Requires that you read half the new testament in 3 weeks. do not take!!
I was hesitant to take a class from Prof. Merrill based off of the reviews, but his class is honestly my FAVORITE! His lectures are so interesting and I have learned so much! He is very funny and very in tune with the spirit! He doesn't teach with pp but I found it is easier because you can be more present and take more efficient notes.
Im not one to complain about professors but I despised every minute of this class. He does not plan any of his lessons, goes off topic, and the lectures arent even correlated to the study guides. The tests were impossibly difficult. I was excited to take a religion class but he has made it miserable. Do yourself a favor and choose someone else.
Cool guy, but makes this class way harder than it should be for a 2 credit class. Exams are hard and if you miss taking notes (which is pretty easy because he doesn't use any materials), then there isn't a way to learn on some subjects. Overall, he's a great person but not as great as a professor.
Brother Merrill is a great person but the tests are ridiculous. He doesn't use any powerpoints and just relies solely on lecture. If you're fine with only being able to study with the notes you take, then go ahead. The tests always have questions that are so specific and difficult. Can't even begin to explain how much I hate his tests.
Bro. Merrill's lectures are always super interesting to listen to and I learn so much. Sometimes I think the tests are harder than they should be, though. There's a lot of specific information you'll need to remember. Other than that, it's fairly easy, just a few essays about your opinions on scriptures. Also, lots of reading the first few weeks!
His lectures are AMAZING. I learned SO much about the BOM from him! His tests are really difficult though so make sure you study the study guides and take notes! Its worth it tho. Also you are expected to read the BOM up to Alma29 within the first weeks which can be stressful. But he is super inspiring, knowledgeable, and kind. Taking BOM122 next!
I wish I could give this professor a zero but Rate My Professor wont let me. This class was the worst class I have ever taken. You would think at a religious school taking a religious class would be informative and uplifting? Not with Brother Merrill. Not only is the reading ridiculous, but his quizzes and tests are even worse! 0 notes, 0 help.
His lectures are amazing but you absolutely have to pay attention. The exams are difficult but if you use the study guides, you'll do fine.
I got more out of his class than I did in my four years of seminary and church attendance combined. He's so wise and respectful to his students. He made class actually really fun. You have to read a ton the first two weeks, and then after that it's smooth sailing with insight papers on your favorite verses from the section. Take his class!!!
I was so excited to take Writings of Isaiah at BYU but was SO disappointed with Merril's teaching style. Very lecture heavy & rigid ideas- he never asked for feedback from us. Rarely solicited participation and graded on his opinions/interpretations of scripture that were very obscure. Not the most up to date individual, very hard to relate to...
He gives a few essays, which are pretty easy A's. However, his exams (2 midterms and a final) or horrible. He asks about the most random details and the answers are made to trip you up. He is very insightful, but way too difficult.
This is a hard class, you'll get what you put in. A friend told me to use the Institute Manual for 121 as the lecture notes for this class - pro tip - he follows that manual almost to the T. Use it, it will save you and help you figure out what to study. I found that if I used the manual and the study guide I would do well. The test are HARD.
Professor Merrill is really a great guy, but he makes his tests ridiculously difficult. The answer choices are made to trick you and mess you up, and the final exam had 35 matching questions on random quotes in the BoM. He's a really interesting guy to listen to and everything is practically participation other than tests, but the tests are absurd.
Lectures were the best part- he can really teach, I learned a ton about the BoM. The exams were hard- a lot of memorization from BoM passages, quotes, and lectures. Take good notes (record lectures, even). I recommend you have a study group- 2nd term I studied with friends and it helped a ton. Use quizlet to memorize the quotes and who said them.
Merrill definitely knows his stuff and can be very insightful, just be prepared because his lectures can get boring and long. There were 3 easy, straightforward papers for this class, and you have to read Nephi 1 to Alma 29 in the first two weeks. Tests are hard so make sure to use the study guides. You self grade your attendance.
I loved Brother Merrill! If you want an easy religion class don't take this one, but if you want to improve your scripture study skills, be inspired daily, and learn a lot about what the scriptures actually say (rather than a teachers interpretation) then take his class. His tests are challenging but you'll do fine if you use the study guides.
Worst religion class at BYU. Ridiculously hard tests, basically expects you to memorize the BoM. I liked stats more than this class, and I hate stats. Never once felt the spirit because I was so stressed about taking notes. Had to study more than any other GE I've taken and I'm almost done. Truly hated this class.
Dr. Merrill is a really great professor. The hardest assignment is at the beginning class each semester. He requires that you read in the scriptures whatever section the class is about in three weeks (ie REL A 121- read the first half) He does take in account participation, but it's self graded. The class is exam-heavy but, he provides study guides
Brother Merrill took this class to amazing places throughout the Book of Mormon last semester. You come to class and hear incredible lectures from a man who knows and loves the Book of Mormon, write three short essays, and have a reading assignment the first month. I loved how bold and direct he was! Would take a class from him again in the future!
I hated BOM with Bro Merrill. I literally cried while studying for the tests every single time. The tests are ridiculously hard. I took notes in every lecture and was constantly stressed. Do not take this class unless you're a recently returned RM, gospel nerd, or have the BOM memorized. Least favorite class at BYU in my 2 years here.
This is my least favorite class I have taken at BYU. Ridiculously difficult tests, expects you to memorize the BoM, who said what and when and where, etc. You have to constantly take notes in class or you will be lost. Would not recommend unless you know everything about the BoM. Good class for the stereotypical recent RM. Take from someone else.
I really don't understand why people like Bro Merrill or this class. I work hard in my classes, pay attention, and am pretty good at studying. This was the worst class ever. I was constantly stressed about taking notes on every little thing. The tests are the hardest of any of my classes. Don't take unless your goal is to memorize the BOM.
Brother Merrill makes his classes very difficult. He is a very knowledgeable person about the gospel, and it shows when he goes very quickly over material and expects students to have an in-depth knowledge about topics that were quickly covered. Tip: If you take his class, use the institute manual! What he teaches often lines up with it.
A good professor, but I felt that he focused more on memorizing senseless information, instead of helping the class to understand key concepts. You will read half of the Book of Mormon in 3 weeks. Tests are ridiculously specific so know your scripture mastery!
This may be one of the worst classes I've taken at BYU. His lectures were very unorganized and really boring and his exams were unnecessarily hard. If you are looking to memorize the BOM and be testing on useless facts, then take this class. 2/10 would not recommend.
Whatever you do, don't take this class. Hardest tests out of any class I've taken at BYU. He expects you to remember every detail of lecture, going to class is stressful because you have to take tons of notes because that's really the only way to study. Absolutely ridiculous, especially for a religion class.
Best religion professor I've ever had! He knows everything there is to know about Isaiah! I also had him for RELA121 and RELA211 and loved them both. I'd take from him every semester if I could. Tests are harder than your average religion class in a good way. Need to actually read/know the scriptures. Fabulous lectures!
Bro. Merril knows the BoM very well. However, he is old-fashioned and does not use lecture slides. If you skip class there is no way you will pass. His tests are very hard and include essays. He doesn't post TA office hours, and when I went in to talk to him at the beginning of the semester, he told me I would get a C because I was not a RM.
Easy to pass, great teacher. Most of the grade is completely in our control. About 20% of the grade is completing the reasonable readings, 20% attendance, and 20% very small and easy pass-fail insight papers. The rest are easy quizzes. Definitely would recommend this class
Lectures were interesting with a lot of good quotes and spiritual thoughts. He grades pretty easy and his tests aren't bad if you pay attention and take notes in the lectures. Will definitely take more classes from him. Very down-to-earth and approachable.
ProfessorMerril is very knowledgeable and you can tell that he cares about his students. When it comes to teaching, I would say that he expects you to know a bunch of random facts that he has said in any of his lectures. His tests are unnecessarily hard and I had a hard time paying attention in his class because his lectures are all over the place
He's a fantastic teacher and really knows his stuff. I really enjoyed his lectures, but his tests were very difficult. You need to fill out the study guide very thoroughly, and even then you are guaranteed to miss a few questions.
Never take classes from this guy. His lectures: confusing, his tests: hard and memorisation based, and spiritual growth:minimal. He mocked a girl for falling asleep in class, claimed that Columbus was one of the best men in history, bashed the younger generation, taught false doctrine, and claimed that Portland "just likes to have riots".
His lectures are super spiritual and inspirational. The exams are tough but if you do your reading and review the study guide you'll be fine.
If you really want to learn the Book of Mormon better, he's the guy. Definitely not a gimme, you have to work for it, but if you put in the time it's a great pay off. Pay attention in his lectures and know the BoM like the back of your hand and you'll be good.
Brother Merill's class is tough but If you really put in the work, you will be good. Your grade isn't as dependent on test scores as a lot of other classes so that is nice. You have to really pay attention in his class. His classes are interesting and he makes it personal and more interesting than other religion professors I've seen here at BYU.
nice guy but worst professor i have ever had. expects you to memorize every word in the scriptures. acts like this is a doctorates program, acts like this is the only class. this class pushes the spirit away. he has no business being anywhere near teaching.
Brother Merrill is seriously my favorite teacher I've ever had. You have to read half of the BOM in three weeks which is a little rough and the tests are kind of hard but if you take good notes of the lecture you'll be golden. At the end of the day, you'll only get a good grade if you put in the work. Taking another class from him, awesome guy.
Brother Merril is a fantastic guy and super cool, but you have to pay attention in class or you will not pass. I paid a good amount not the best, but I attended the review sessions with his TAs and group study sessions as well and I still only got Cs on the exam. He really makes you know the principles and the text. The multiple-choice is hard.
He's a great person, and he knows his stuff, but I think this class sort of missed the point. He tests us on the tiny details rather than the concepts that are most important, and anything he says in class can be on the test. There's also rarely class participation - it's just him lecturing. I had trouble focusing and feeling the spirit.
Learned a lot, but lecture topics don't really correspond to test material. Luckily he published midterm study guides, otherwise I would've failed! He's a very knowledgeable teacher and scholar, but there's room for improvement.
Brother Merrill is a really all out nice man of God. His syllabus is clear and has everything you need to know for the semester. His lectures get kind of boring if you arent really paying attention or dont get enough sleep the night before lol. His TAs are helpful for answering questions and when it comes to reviews for tests & same with Merrill.
Don't take Bro Merrill's class if you aren't a member. Even as a recently returned RM I definitely struggled with some of his assignments. He expects you to know the itty bitty details of the BoM, and frankly it gets kind of ridiculous. Tests are full of things that he mentioned once, off-handedly in lectures. So go to class and pay attention.
Professor Merrill is an amazing teachers who really knows and loves the Book of Mormon. His class is a little reading- and lecture-heavy, but if you do your minimal homework and take good notes, this isn't a difficult class at all. He will teach you to come to love the Book of Mormon like he does, which makes studying actually very easy.
FYI you'll have to read the first half of the book of mormon in the first 2-3 weeks of class. It's hard but you really have to do it because it's worth a lot of points. Brother Merrill knows his stuff. He's also the hardest religion prof. He only lectures there are no powerpoints. All the little details he mentions in lecture WILL be in the tests.
Brother Merrill teaches false doctrine and is extremely politically incorrect. On the first day of class, he told us we would burn in hell if we lied about our reading. He also said Native Americans (Lamanites) were heathens. I thought I would never dislike a religion class, but this one sure proved me wrong.
I was actually really nervous when I got him as my Book of Mormon professor because I had heard only bad things. I can honestly say that I'm so glad I was in his class! He was so knowledgeable and had very cool insights. I felt the spirit lots in that class because I went with an open mind. Just take super good notes and rely on the text of the BOM
I did not enjoy this class because Professor Merrill spent more lecture time talking about his personal life than talking about the actual content of the Book of Mormon. I understand he likes talking about personal stories to help convey ideas from the text to us, but unfortunately that is not what we were tested on and not what I am paying for.
While Bro. Merrill is very knowledgeable about the Book of Mormon, the tests for this class where unnecessary hard and often contained material that was only mentioned once in class during a lecture (lectures that often get jumbled with tangents). He was ok overall, but I just think that the tests were too hard for a religion class.
Brother Merrill is incredibly knowledgeable about the scriptures, and he really loves his students. The negative reviews of his class are unwarranted; they're written by individuals who expected an easy A, or who feel offended in some way. Like Joseph Smith, it doesn't alarm me that his name is had for good and evil among all students.
Byron is a very nice man, but he is not a great professor. He knows a lot but he wants you to know it. He makes comments that are politiclaly incorect and he name drops a lot. His tests are extremely hard and the study guides are extensive. He goes off on tangets and he doesn't always cover the material you need to know for the tests.
Brother Merrill is by far the best professor I have had at BYU. His classes are filled with the spirit, his lectures are so thought provoking. But Beware, the tests are near impossible, have nothing to do with what he lectures about, you basically need to have memorized the Book of Mormon verbatim. Other than his tests, he is absolutely wonderful.
Brother Merrill is a great guy and his lectures are inspiring and engaging, but his tests are brutal and are hard to study for.
This guy takes no nonsense and can be snarky sometimes (which I personally enjoyed), but he really knows his stuff and I always loved his lectures! You learn so much about the Book of Mormon that you never would have though of otherwise. You do have to read the Book of Mormon in a short period of time and write a few papers, but totally doable. :)
One of the best teachers I have had at BYU. His lectures are some of the best but you must go to them if you hope to do good in the class
Not gonna lie, this class was HARD but only because of the tests. Some questions had multiple answers and if you didn't get ALL of them, you got zero points for the whole question. Other than that, Brother Merrill was a good professor. His lectures were interesting and I did learn a lot.
Brother Merril seemed like a good guy but his class was so specific that if you miss one lecture it feels like you are going to fail the class. I didn't feel the spirit but the work was not awful it was mostly the test that were hard.
I really struggled with this class as a freshman. It felt like he expected everyone who took it to have already done an in-depth study of the Book of Mormon and the tests would be off of very specific things he said in class. After studying for hours on end and attending every class I would consistently be getting C's and D's on tests.
Wow. This was the first religion class I ever took and it made me want to transfer schools. His tests are ridiculous and his views are heavily conservative and intolerant of marginalized groups and he said some very hurtful things during class multiple times. You literally have to memorize the entire BofM to pass his tests.
Brother Merrill had wonderful lectures that I really liked. I enjoyed going to class. However, he always joked that when people asked him what they needed to know in tests he said everything in the BOM. He isn't actually joking. Everything else is easy, but the exams contained a horrible combination of subjective and obscure objective questions.
Nice guy but terrible professor. he definetly knows his stuff but is terrible at teaching. he expects you to memorize everything for the test and will put random verses in the tests and will expect you to know the smallest details about it. All i had to say about this class was thanks for nothing.
People who leave bad reviews are people looking for an easy A and have probably not read the Book of Mormon a ton before taking the class. If you have not read the Book of Mormon before, I don't recommend this professor. If you read the Book of Mormon a lot, this is a way to learn a ton more about it. Take notes, pay attention, read your scriptures
Brother Merrill is by the book and very experienced. He expects you to pay attention, but he's funny and caring.
I know at BYU religion classes are supposed to be challenging, but this class was extremely challenging. You have to go to every class and listen carefully and take notes of EVERYTHING he says. This class stressed me out and probably caused me the most tears. Merrill is a super nice guy, but he really tests your knowledge of the Book of Mormon.
His intentions are good, but his class was not a positive experience for me. He always went off on personal tangents, and did a poor job preparing us for the exams, which were weirdly difficult for a religion class. A couple of days before we had to take the exam for the class, he showed us a 20 minute video on his daughter's wedding for no reason.
It's a tough class, but it is not overly hard
It's near impossible to set aside the stress and intensity of this class to feel the spirit. No need to study the BOM, he only tests you on the random facts he mentions during class in between personal stories and long tangents. As a 2 credit RELIGION course, Merrills class proved to be a waste of time, tears, and effort. Thanks for nothing.
Meh. For a religion class it was kinda rough. Brother Merrill is a super awesome guy, but it was so hard staying awake during lectures. Tests were super hard, but he gives you a study guide to help you prepare which helps. Wasn't the best, wasn't the worst.
absolutely DO NOT take book of mormon from Brother Merrill-the class is a joke. the countless hours and tears i poured into this class still left me with a barely passing grade-and got in the way of all my other classes, tanking my gpa. completely defeats the purpose of a religion class, so much POINTLESS memorization that true meaning is lost
Bro. Merrill is a really good teacher and you can tell he knows his stuff, but his tests are SO hard! Every MC question is 3 T/F questions put together so you have to know every detail to get the question right. I need another few years of intense study of the BOM to feel remotely confident on his tests, but I did learn a lot. Prepare to take notes
Bro Merrill has amazing insights but the only way to study for the three tests is to reread the material and retake your notes. The tests are very specific and you practically have to memorize the whole book to do well. You also have to read 1 Nephi-Alma 29 in the first three weeks so get ready.
I really enjoyed his insight on the Book of Mormon, I learned a lot. He's super knowledgeable about scripture, and a good guy. Tests ARE a crazy amount of memorization, but he posts study guides and the only other assignments are attendance, and three 1-page papers about your own feelings on a verse, so super easy.
Brother Merrill is amazing! You can tell he has a lot of life experience, as well as lots of great advice. He has a strong testimony of the Savior and really loves what he teaches. I enjoyed his insights as we studied the Book of Mormon as a class throughout the semester. As long as you really study, you will do good on his tests.
He is a good person but I did not love him as a teacher. He is a very heavy lecturer and moves fast between the 4 gospels. He is so nice and caring and cares about you but if you don't like the lecture aspect then its a hard class. Exams are just as hard.. at least for me they were.
I took REL A 121 & 122 as a freshman. Got an A and A-. I would advise that you read the BoM MULTIPLE times before taking his class. But man, he speaks with the power of the Holy Ghost. Tests are basically his lectures. Get the app Otter for his lectures, read the BoM, dont miss class, youll do just fine. Good luck!
He is a very sweet guy, but I thought his class was way harder than it should have been. You have to read the first half of the BOM in the first 3 weeks of class. The exams are only on things he talks about in class so you have to pay attention and take notes. The study guides don't really help. If you're looking for a challenge, you've found it.
I just watched a 20 minute slideshow of his family. The tests are over the most obscure questions that he may or may not have once said in his lectures where he doesn't use powerpoint. You won't want to be alive if you take his class.
A warning for those with ADHD like me, Prof. Byron does not use slides when he lectures! Otherwise, they are amazing and thoughtful. He teaches from both an academic standpoint and from personal experience. Tests are medium-length and cover everything gone over in the lecture, so take good notes! Get ready to read and remember to report attendance!
Brother Merrill really cares about his students. Even if you know a lot about the gospel this class will still be hard because what he lectures on is not on the tests. You are expected to read the whole book of mormon in the first month-ish of school. If you are really passionate about the gospel and want to be a seminary teacher then take it.
I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure how his rating is so high. His lectures were boring and he often liked to skirt the line of being offensive, especially about women. Likes to show he is smarter than his students. Even if you studied hard for tests, questions were convoluted and hard to answer. You're expected to know everything in the bom.
Read the syllabus and go to the first class with the intent to evaluate for yourself whether you'll enjoy it--people like me love it, others don't. If you approve and choose to stay, you will learn how to read Isaiah's writings with full comprehension of its historical background and intended messages, especially those about the coming of Christ.
Be prepared to read up to Alma 29 in the first three weeks of the semester! Bro. Merrill really cares about all of his students and is just a genuinely kind man. His testimony is so strong and his knowledge of the gospel, history, language, and life experiences make his lectures awesome! The exams are fine if you study hard and make sure you READ!!
Brother Merrill was a really great teacher. One downside of his class is that he makes you read the Book of Mormon cover to cover in three weeks. I never thought reading the scriptures would be that frustrating. I recommend this class if you want a challenge and to see the scriptures differently, not if you are wanting an easy A.
This class was way too hard for a religion class. I ended with a B+, which I am not happy about. My GPA should not suffer because of a religion class. If you do not do well on the exams, it is over for you because there are not many assignments. He also made a kid pass out in class by telling a very gruesome, bloody story about a car accident.
He's just...a lot. I think if I were a return missionary I would enjoy his class, but he expects you to know ALL the ..everything by heart. Also he teaches an Isaiah class and that affects his teaching for this class. His lectures are deep and have great insights, but his tests are pretty bad are specific. Also you can't have scriptures on tests.
You can tell that Brother Merrill really loves the Book of Mormon! Be prepared to do a lot of reading in this class, especially in the first few weeks. If you want to do well on the exams, you have to pay close attention to the lectures and take very detailed notes. This class is challenging, but I learned a lot of new things!
Professor Merrill is an awesome guy, and you will learn a ton about the Book of Mormon. He doesn't use slides, and he also has you read the first half of the Book of Mormon in the first three weeks of the semester, which is a LOT. exams are also hard!! but if you take good notes and study you'll be fine. He tells great personal stories.
Professor Merrill was very kind and knowledgeable but his teaching style did not work for me. He does not have a powerpoint or anything but loosely follows his study guides for notes. I think the tests were extremely difficult as well. Overall a kind man but not my favorite teacher.
The lectures were interesting enough but Merrill often went off on random tangents that had nothing to do with the tests. His exams didn't really reflect what he talked about in class which made them very difficult even after lots of studying.
Professor Merrill knows a LOT about the scriptures, but his tests reminded me of the lawyers described in the B of M who try to entrap the prophets in their words. He would ask about specific points we just barely glossed over in class; you never knew what obscure detail he was going to ask about. But he is very knowledgeable and I did learn lots.
Brother Merrill tells great stories. His class is listening to him talk and trying to write down as much information as possible. His exams are very difficult. They are lots of facts and quotes. This class was fine, but if your looking for something spiritually uplifting and not just facts and figures, then this is not the teacher you want.
It took me a couple days to get used to Bro. Merrill, but I really really liked him. The class is easy- you are graded on 3, one-page papers, reading, and attendance. He knew what to highlight in the Book of Mormon without turning it into a history class or Sunday School. I learned a lot from him- would highly recommend.
If you're a freshman who isn't an RM, I would HIGHLY recommend finding a different professor for BOM. Every other professor lets you use scriptures and notes on tests while Merrill doesn't. no homework after the first 3 weeks which is nice & he knows his stuff but that is not worth intentionally being tricked on his extremely difficult tests.
Professor Merrill is awesome! He has so many great insights into the lives and circumstances of those in the Book of Mormon that really helped me to connect more with them. No homework after the first three weeks of class except three short papers. Tests were kind of hard but with proper studying (especially quotes) should be straightforward.
Since I'm an RM and have been reading the Book of Mormon my whole life, this class was cake. However, if you're not as familiar with your scriptures, this class would be very difficult. The only thing to worry about are the tests since they ask about really random, obscure stuff and you're not allowed to use your scriptures for some reason.
Bro Merrill is wonderful! He is so spiritual and you will feel the spirit in every single class. Recommendation: if you are not an RM, this class will be more difficult. Lots of quotes from the BoM are on tests and if you don't have a super solid understanding of the timeline, chronology of events, and who is saying what, then it will be hard.
Only main outside of class work was reading the first 1/2 of the BOM in the first 3 weeks, and a few very short essays. Attendance not mandatory but you have to make sure you have notes from each lecture. I learned so much in this class but Merrill gives VERY difficult tests. He's a great teacher but you have to study a LOT if you want good scores.
You have to read the first half of the Book of Mormon in the first 3 weeks of class which is not too bad if you stay on top of it. A few very simple easy papers, but tests were insanely hard. I spent every class furiously typing every word that Brother Merrill said because anything could be on the test.
Professor Merrill was incredible. He is wildly smart, and you can tell from the second he opens his mouth on the first day of class. He can just quote obscure conference talks, the old testament, and the Book of mormon verbatim. He is great at explaining history, but even more important, he can invite the SPIRIT into class in an incredible way.
I did really like Prof. Merrill, but his exams were absurdly hard. You basically have to memorize the BOM and all of his lectures. He is a very spiritual guy, which I love about him. He was also very knowledgable and loved the church and the BOM. Not sure if he should be a Professor or if he needs to change his course.
I have no idea how he has a 5. He gave good lectures, but making the students read the Book of Mormon in 3 weeks was not fun, nor did it help grow my testimony. I feel as though that students are giving him a good rating for fun and not to help other students. Don't trust the other ratings.
Brother Merrill has some good insights on the Book of Mormon, but you have to read the first half of the Book of Mormon in three weeks, which is time-consuming. Other than that, the workload is pretty light: just typical readings and three easy essays. His tests can be difficult, but he posts a study guide. Most of his questions come from lectures.
Brother Merrill has capture what a religion class at BYU should be like. The lectures were the spiritual highlights of my week aside from temple trips and sacrament meeting. A few papers and exams throughout the semester, and require reading of 2/3 of the Book of Mormon in the first month, but overall a very light workload.
Brother Merrill has a way of speaking by the Holy Ghost in the lectures that is uncommon.I find that when I am having a hard time, often in his classes he says exactly the right thing or asks the right self-reflection question that I need. Lots of quotes from Early Apostles in this dispensation.The study guides have the answers to the test material
Great guy and one of my favorite professors. His lectures were phenomenal. Attendance is not required, but the tests are based on a lot of the insights he shares in class. No PowerPoint slides, and a few, short papers are required. Always looked forward to his class and would take again in a heartbeat.
I enjoyed the lectures for this class! You do have to read a ton at the beginning of the semester, but it's doable. The hardest part are the tests, so just know the study guide and really try to understand the details. But overall, it was a good class!
He is one of the most experienced faculty members at BYU. He gives amazing stories from his experience and knowledge in life. He has made me fall in love with the Book of Isaiah when I used to barely understand it.
I really enjoyed Brother Merrill's class! I looked forward to it and found it to be very insightful. My only hiccup is that it is difficult to know what to take notes on because there are no slides, and he often shares personal experiences; also, his tests are hyper-specific. Regardless, I still enjoyed his lectures! Great Professor!
Byron Merrill is one of the most caring individuals I've ever met. He really brings the scriptures to life in a way that really grabs your attention. He is usually really understanding once you get to know him. Absolutely adored his class
This class was hard! Brother Merrill is a great lecturer but his test are so HARD! There aren't very many assignments maybe a few mini essays and attendance quizzes. This means that the majority of your grade comes from test scores. If you don't want to spend tons of time memorizing random Book of Mormon facts I wouldn't take this class.
A class structured around brute force memorization of "Book of Mormon trivia" rather than any actual learning or development. He expects you to be deep scholars of the text and I immediately forgot everything after the final. Test preparation is practically a roll of the dice and hoping for the best.
I loved Brother Merrill! Lots of people think he is controversial but the man knows his stuff and I learned SO MUCH! You get out what you put in in his classes. Tests are hard!
Professor Merrill is great! His is funny and makes the class enjoyable. You are expected to read the Book of Mormon really fast, but other than that, you grade your own attendance, and there are a few insight papers that are really broad and easy. The exams are not too bad as long as you pay attention in class and take notes on the things he says.
I love Brother Merrill and he's VERY knowledgeable about Isaiah! The tests are SUPER hard though, a lot of memorization required. Definitely recommend filling out the study guides during lectures so you don't miss anything, test questions are really specific and it's easy to miss things if you're not paying attention.
Brother Merrill is a great guy. He is a powerful speaker and does a good job at making the Book of Mormon fun. With that said, his tests are extremely difficult and do not go off study guides. I took detailed notes of the lectures and even those didn't help on the exams. Sadly, would not recommend. Its not fair to test on things that aren't taught
Honestly have no idea why he has such a high rating. His tests are a joke. He prides himself on the difficulty and provides no help whatsoever for doing well on them. Lectures have nothing to do with the exam and options range from A-J multiple choice. I have talked to many other students who took his class and said it was a horrible experience.
Do not take this class. The tests are extremely difficult. The options often are a, b, c, d, e, e and a, b and c, none of the above, all of the above. ITS SO CONFUSING. His lectures are extremely fast paced and you barely have time to write what he says down. He doesn't use slides, and no room for discussion. Do not take this class.
Don't take this class, especially if you aren't an RM. Tests cover things never mentioned in class, intentionally trick questions, etc. Took notes on every word he said and was still completely blindsided by at least a quarter of test questions. Stops class to tell long stories about his life that do nothing to help with material.
Don't take the class. Targeted for RM's with deep background knowledge of both Bible and BoM. No way to prepare for tests even with dedicated notetaking and study guide. Not what a religion class should be.
He was a fine professor but I would never take him again. The class itself was fine. The tests can be stressful, but the written portions saved me. I just didn't like how in his lectures he would present his opinion as doctrine. Be aware he tells a lot of stories about things like car accidents and death with no warning before.
The class isn't organised, he often goes on tangents that are confusing and out of the blue. His tests are very, very difficult. I'm an RM and was struggling in the class. He seems like a nice man but he's not a teacher. He often presents opinions as doctrine, and can make you feel stupid if you disagree. He does have a very strong testimony.
Keeping up in lectures felt impossible, given that Brother Merrill uses zero slides and says things once, expecting you to know what's important. Does not prepare students for exams, and study guides only provide about half of what you're expected to know. Tests are extremely difficult and often feel trivial and unfair. Would not recommend at all.
His tests are very tricky and his lectures are sporadic. He doesn't use slides or anything so you never know what is important to write down. He presents his opinions as doctrine and it is mostly his opinions and insights on the test not the doctrine so if you miss class good luck. Read the exams closely. He is very passionate but a tough teacher.
He's such a sweetie and I always left class with a great impression on what I had just learned. Those saying his tests are too specific or hard simply didn't pay attention in class. You mark yourself down for reading and attendance.
Very sweet professor! Pay attention to lectures and take note of everything he says! I'd definitely only recommend him if you're already very familiar with the doctrine (and maybe even post mission). There's 5 short insight papers (1-2 pages) and you have to read the entire first half of the Book of Mormon in 3 weeks. Study hard for quizzes & exams
I would say Professor Merrill is a great professor if you already have a pretty good understanding of the Book of Mormon. However, if you're looking for a class that is participation heavy, this isn't the class for you. Sometimes I felt like Professor Merrill would make fun of students if they didn't get the question right.
Brother Merrill is my favorite religion teacher I've had at BYU so far! His lectures are amazing and he is super funny! I really enjoyed his class and I'm already signed up for Rel122 with him next semester. There are five short papers graded on completion and attendance is required, but the tests aren't too bad as long as you study and take notes!
I seriously dont understand how he has a rating 5, his tests are impossible to study for. I memorized entire chapters and still would get an 80, do not take his class
Merrill is very old and his teaching style is outdated. He basically talks at you, and focuses on random specifics rather than the BoM stories. He often goes on tangents that are hardly relevant. Study guides are extremely vague and unhelpful, and exams are made full of trick questions and all of the above/none of the above options.
I learned a lot of cool stuff about the Book of Mormon in the lectures, but the exams were unnecessarily difficult. If you want a laid-back religion class, I don't recommend this one. Brother Merrill is very knowledgeable, but I felt the class strayed from basic doctrine.
This class is so incredibly hard for no reason whatsoever. As someone who hasn't gone on a mission, this class was made so impossible. The tests are impossible to study for - they're all crazy trick questions with every question include the option "all of the above". You basically need to memorize the Book of Mormon.
This class was my favorite! I felt the spirit so strong! I love Bro Merrill! I felt the spirit so strong in his class! Classwork was easy, read the book of Mormon! Study for tests, his guides help! You write 5 papers (1 pg each) on your favorite verse! He takes a lot of time sharing stories or concepts not on exams though.
Lectures were extremely boring... don't get me wrong, the dude knows the BOM but man it was hard to listen to him for an hour. The class is super easy but the exams were the only thing on the grade and they were rather tricky. Would not recommend this course.
The tests were very hard, even with the study guides. If you didn't go on a mission or are a non-member at BYU, you will probably feel like you know nothing about the BOM like I did. His lectures could be dry sometimes as well. He was nice and you could tell he knew the BOM, but he didn't quite make the course accessible for all of his students.
I enjoyed learning from Brother Merrill. He has a deep knowledge of the Book of Mormon and the way he words his test and quizzes is very specific and exact, which I appreciated. Be prepared to read a lot in the beginning, but after that his class is very simple. The heavy reading he does give you is so so helpful to understanding the BOM.
I loved Brother Merrill's class! He knows so much and you can feel his reverence for the Book of Mormon. He brought the Spirit to every class. Definitely take notes on everything he says and take advantage of the study guides he posts to be prepared for the tests. He'll change how you see details in the verses and then quiz you on those details. :)
Take a religion class from Professor Merrill. You can feel the spirit so strongly when he teaches. He offers so much insight to the Book Of Mormon and shares a lot of his own experiences to help students understand certain doctrines. The only thing is you have to read the first half of the Book of Mormon in the first 3 weeks of class.
If you like monotone or monotonous lectures, then Byron is perfect. He brings a lot of knowledge but absolutely no energy. He would come in, sit on stand in the front, and just expound for the entire class, rarely asking questions, never having activities, and barely ever writing on the board or using a powerpoint. But he was really easy.
I love the BoM, but being tested on incredibly specific facts you can only learn in the slideless lectures seems a bit wild. (What order did Nephis family board the boat?) Lectures are all over the place. I am an RM (and I took advantage of personal study) and this is a very tough class. This class makes the BoM start to feel like a textbook.
You basically have to be a stenographer in the class because test material is taken word for word from lectures. Challenging material and tests. Not a professor for those who are looking for a simple religion credit. Good person though, and gives good advice to those seeking to serve missions. Reading is simple but abundant.
Show up to class, fill out the study guides, read Isaiah and you'll be successful. I recommend selecting your topic for your term paper early so any comments made in class can then be put directly into your outline.
The workload feels heavy at the beginning of the semester but then it ends up being very minimal work. There is no busy work. HIs lectures are interesting and you learn a lot. The only complaint I have is that the stuff he says in lecture often times doesn't relate to the exams. The exams aren't bad if you study them like you would another class.
I don't know if this is because I took this class first semester of my freshman year, but it is one of the hardest classes I've taken at BYU and I'm a senior. It is good material, but the tests are so specific and include choose all that apply. You have to be a perfect notetaker. He's a good teacher, but this IS NOT AN EASY RELIGION CREDIT!
He is an amazing person and knows his stuff backwards, but I felt it was way too hard for a 2 credit class. The tests were extremely difficult, especially if you haven't been on a mission. And if you don't complete his reading challenge, your grade will suffer. You do have a few essays but they aren't super harsh on grading them.
Brother Merrill gave incredible lectures and I could always feel the spirit while he taught. I learned a lot from his class. As long as you fill out the study guides and go over them, you'll do just fine on the tests. Class attendance is important if you want to do well. I would definitely take this professor again!
Brother Merrill was an amazing teacher and made me love the BOM even more than I did before! His lectures are filled with the spirit, and you can tell he really cares for others. I loved his class so much I'm registering for another one of his classes. Just make sure to study and know the BOM and you'll be fine.
good guy, just a little old fashioned
He seems like a good guy and he generally cares about his students. However, I didn't feel as though I learned anything new. His tests were so difficult for no reason and could be about literally anything. His study guides did not help at all. Oftentimes he would tell pretty triggering anecdotes without warning.
Would not recommend. Brother Merrill is very knowledgeable about the Book of Mormon and has a lot of experience; however, every class is a lecture, no slideshows or visuals are provided, so if you're a visual learner like me, it's super hard. Exams are super specific and completely from memory, no scriptures/notes are allowed. Wouldn't take again.
Took in Fall 2023 as a freshman. Nonmember so first time learning BOM, hence why I prob found his lectures to be very confusing. He picks up on bits and pieces of the readings. Gives study guides, but exams are super hard. Really nice teacher though and attending office hours really helped me- go to them! Grades curved, ended with 88% but given A-!
Make sure to mark your attendance, you can't pass unless you do that. There are 4 easy insight papers. Honestly, I really did enjoy his lectures, I wish I could just sit there and listen instead of stressing about what to write down. But those tests are horrendous and needlessly specific. Way too hard for a religion class, just take an easier one.
He has a ton of reading! Beware, I def think his class is one of the harder BOM classes because you have to read the first half of the BOM in like 3-4 weeks, he also has little sections that you should read before class. He is super knowledgeable and I have learned a lot already. He is great guy and but def has some tough love.
Brother Merrill's exams are the absolute worst! He does not prepare you for them at all. You can tell he cares about his students, but this class is very difficult and he shares some out of pocket things. I enjoyed listening to his lectures, but could never get good notes because he goes on random tangents a lot.
I adored this class! Brother Merrill is full of so much insight and wisdom. Be sure to take really good notes during the lectures and reference the study guides before class so you know exactly what you need to be looking for during the lectures. There weren't a ton of assignments in this class so be sure to do well on everything you are given.
If you decide to take this class be prepared for a lot of reading in the first half of the semester and some really difficult tests. Other than that there isn't much work, but I still don't think that it was worth it.
I loved Brother Merrill. He has so much love for his students and the gospel. He has cool insights about the BOM. You CANNOT miss class, you have to write down pretty much everything he says, and his tests/quizzes are super specific, but there are almost no assignments outside of tests. Awesome lectures though, good for prepping for missions.
This was my first semester at BYU and I really enjoyed this class. The teacher has a lot of cool stories and a strong testimony. The tests were really hard and included material that was not discussed in lecture. If you complete all the other assignments, you will get an A. 2 quizzes and 5 papers throughout the semester (1 pg) grades veryyy easy.
I loved the teaching style, he never bothered with busy work, the only hw were 5 of the easiest papers I've ever written. I really just got to listen and enjoy learning about the Book of Mormon. You definitely need to pay attention and take good notes because the tests are specific.
I took this class my first semester. It was a hard class (I'm not an RM), but I generally studied 2 hours max for any given test (there are lots of tricky questions, so watch out for that). Also, there are no slides, so I don't recommend skipping class. I'm signed up for 122 with Merrill next semester if that's any indication of class quality. :)
Professor Merrill is great at giving fascinating and engaging lectures that brought more excitement to my study of the Book of Mormon and the details it contains. In taking his class, I learned many things about the Book of Mormon and why it is the way it is. The class was quite easy, with minimal homework, easy grading, and easy exams.
very spiritual, all religion classes at byu are kind of hard but his was somewhat fair
I took this class because it was the only one that fit in my schedule, and it was definitely not an easy A. I failed all the first quizzes even though I studied, as the questions are insanely specific. Merrill is funny but intense. Exams are killer but there really isn't much homework. His lectures are interesting but not structured. Good luck lol
I loved his class! Make sure you attend lectures, I found them fascinating and he did a good job teaching Isaiah! Tests were straight forward and honestly pretty easy, he graded the 1 essay we had this semester really easily as well, then was surprised at how well the whole class was doing lol.
Brother Merril is a professor I would not recommend. His tests are challenging our class averages ranged between 70-80. His tests are extremely difficult and I would study for hours and still get in the 70's as someone who tends to test well this was extremely discouraging. I would go to his office hours seeking help and he was not helpful.
His tests contain barely (if at all) mentioned pieces of bible trivia making them nearly impossible to study for because one must memorize everything he says and thinks. With that said his essays are easy; those with attendance help pad the grade. His lectures were quite entertaining.
My dad had Brother Merrill when he went to BYU and suggested him for me. I absolutely loved this class, it was more difficult than I was expecting but I learned so much about a book I grew up reading. His lectures are amazing. The tests can be a little hard and it'd be hard to prepare for them if you missed a lot of lectures, but I loved the class.
This class has self-reported attendance, five "Insight Papers" based on Book of Mormon readings, and three tests (don't slack off on studying just because it's the Book of Mormon!) Bro. Merrill taught class well and shared great insights. There were good days and days that were just ok. He also shared stories, some of which were triggering for me.
The tests were a little heavy for a religion class, but I enjoyed it anyway. His lectures are insightful.
HARD. DO NOT TAKE
So sad Bro. Merrill is retiring! :( Lectures are amazing, and he really invites the Spirit. He brings personal and scriptural stories to life!! Tests are hard with trick questions, but he prepares the class for them. If any class can be life-changing, it would be this one.
He was very knowledgable and but he was so boring and the tests covered so much material. You have to copy down his lectures word for word if you want to have useful notes. Te exams are so bad and cover so much material. Great guy with good intentions but he just isn't engaging and has a very traditional take and his personal view is very obvious.
Bro. Merril is a sweet old guy, but class only consists of him lecturing the whole time--no powerpoint, little class engagement = hard to take notes because I didn't know what was important. Also difficult because he would tell personal stories with little to no relevance. Tests are hard and some of the material I never learned in class.
Very long, dry, rambling lecturers that occasionally are insightful, but usually are just endless.
I thought that Brother Merrill was a great guy and is very knowledgeable about the gospel, I just didn't like the amount of stress his class gave me considering it is a religion class. The tests were very specific and even if you use the study guides they are extremely difficult.
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