HISTORY of the LOGAN LDS INSTITUTE

1928 photo of the new “Seminary Building” north of Utah State University’s administration building.

Easter Sunday, March 31, 1929 Church President Heber J. Grant officially dedicated the institute building.  114 students enrolled during the first academic year from 1928 – 1929.  

FUN FACTS

• The Logan LDS Institute Building was finished in 1929 at a cost $58,000 (including furnishings)
• The dedication of the Logan institute was delayed for one week because of a blizzard March 31, 1929).
• The entire First Presidency spoke at the dedication: Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivans, and Charles W. Nibley.
• The Presidents of BYU and USU (UAC at the time) also spoke.
• USU tuition for for the 1928-29 school year was $59 for residents and $84 for out of state.
• Even though it was officially named “The LDS Institute of Religion”
  many people called it “The College “Seminary” into the early 1940s.
• Institute registration fee was $1 per quarter. This allowed any number of courses, plus use of the game room, and participation in social functions.
• Only 98 students enrolled at the Institute for the 1928-1929 school year, even though there were 1,125 LDS students enrolled at USU that year (8.7% of potential students).
• There was a stigma at the time that, “only the goody-goodies took Institute.” But 10 years later 40% of LDS students were enrolled.

INSTITUTE STUDENTS

EXPANSION

Since opening its doors in 1928, the original Institute building was added onto 5 times.

SAYING GOODBYE

In December 2022, the Logan Institute building began to be torn down to make way for a modernized meeting place for young adults. 

WHERE DO YOUNG ADULTS GATHER NOW?

In addition to attending in several rented classrooms on the USU campus, young adults also gather at church meetinghouses around campus. 

A NEW BUILDING

In 2021, a proposal was accepted to build a new Institute building on the original site for the Logan Institute. The projected completion is Fall 2025.