Karl G. Maeser
Who is Karl G. Maeser?
Karl Gottfried Maeser (1828–1901) was a visionary educator, scholar, and moral leader whose influence transformed education in Utah and beyond. Born in Meissen, Saxony (Germany), Maeser was a teacher by training and a man of deep conviction. After converting to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he emigrated to the United States and dedicated his life to shaping young minds through character-centered education.
In 1876, he founded Brigham Young Academy in Provo, Utah—an institution that would later become Brigham Young University. As its first principal, he established principles that continue to define moral and academic excellence: integrity, discipline, humility, and faith in the power of truth.
Karl G. Maeser’s approach to education inspired generations of teachers and leaders to see learning not merely as the acquisition of facts, but as the cultivation of wisdom, virtue, and personal responsibility.
Educational Philosophy
Karl G. Maeser believed that true education must educate the heart as well as the mind. For him, knowledge without character was incomplete. He taught that every student has a divine potential and that education should awaken a sense of purpose, self-discipline, and moral strength.
Maeser viewed teachers as mentors—guides who help students discover truth through inquiry, integrity, and example. His classrooms emphasized order, respect, and moral accountability. He once said that if a student learned only facts but not honesty, the teacher had failed in the highest sense.
At Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, this philosophy lives on. Our curriculum and culture are designed to nurture thoughtful scholars who pursue truth, live with honor, and act with virtue—continuing Maeser’s legacy of shaping both intellect and character.
The Maeser Motto: Truth, Honor, Virtue
The heart of Karl G. Maeser’s philosophy is captured in three enduring words—Truth. Honor. Virtue.
They form the foundation of our school and the character of every Maeser graduate.
Truth — The pursuit of knowledge and understanding, grounded in integrity and humility.
Honor — The courage to act rightly, even when no one is watching.
Virtue — The habit of choosing what is good, beautiful, and noble in all things.
At Maeser, these principles are more than ideals—they are a way of life. Every class, every performance, every act of service reflects this living motto.