PROVO, Utah — More than 30,000 Church members participated in the 1999 Campus Education Week, attending some of the more than 1,000 classes taught by more than 170 presenters.

The classes — centered on the theme "The quest for light and truth" (D&C 93:36) — focused on hundreds of topics including family and marriage, finance, family history, health, home management, human relations, leadership, religion and self improvement — as well as a smorgasbord of other topics. Education Week also featured several fine arts performances.

President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve, offered this year's general session devotional address. (Please see Aug. 21 Church News.)

Wylie Johnson of Taylor, Ariz., has attended Education Week for the past seven years. She noted that every year she discovers new topics that will help her face new challenges in her life.

"I love the variety of classes," she said. "Everyone takes what they need from each class."

Following is a sampling of a few of the hundreds of classes offered:

Douglas E. Brinley, a BYU professor of Church history and doctrine, told those attending Education Week that there is a power that can be gained by married couples as they view marriage and family as something that is not temporary or limited, but as something that has eternal consequences.

"When you have an eternal perspective it gives you the incentive, it gives you the desire, to want to be a better person, to treat your wife as you ought to, to treat your husband as he needs to be treated."

Brother Brinley recommended that married couples read each other's patriarchal blessings. They will indicate, he explained, "that as children of God in this last dispensation we came here for a purpose. We have a job to do. That job is centered in the quality of our marriage, the quality of our parenting. . . . If we can see the significance of that then we can get over the little bumps . . . that throw us occasionally, because we will understand that our job is to bless and strengthen and lift our companions."

Gracia N. Jones, a great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Smith, spoke of her conversion to the Church during a presentation on "The Prophet Joseph and Emma Smith: Their Divine Mission."

Sister Jones recalled the first time she met with the missionaries. They held out a Book of Mormon and said, "This is the Book of Mormon, it was translated by the power of God by your great-great-grandfather and it is true." Sister Jones said when she heard those words she felt "washed with the Spirit."

She called it wonderful to read the Book of Mormon and feel the Spirit.

Sister Jones noted that she is now working to share the gospel with her extended family. "It is a big job," she said. "I feel honored that I have been allowed and been able to assist in . . . the gathering back of the family."

Brent L. Top, a BYU professor of Church history and doctrine, noted, during an address on "raising righteous youth in a wicked world," that today is a difficult time to be a parent and a grandparent. He explained that parenthood can bring joy as well as heartache, fulfillment as well as frustration, and hope as well as fear.

After watching television or reading the newspaper, he added, it would be easy for parents to "despair and wonder and worry if there is any hope for our children and grandchildren. But as Latter-day Saints, we need not lose hope. We are indeed blessed to have the gospel to guide us and to counsel us. And especially we are blessed to have latter-day prophets to assist us and strengthen us and to support us in the enormous responsibility that is ours as parents in raising righteous children in a wicked world. And so we need not lose hope."

Susan I. Schatzman, a California educator, conducted a class, encouraging parents to "Establish A House of Learning," as they "counsel special-needs students toward higher education."

She told parents to never think the doors are closed on a special-needs student, which could include a student with problems at home, a student athlete, a student who has suffered from an extended illness, a recent immigrant, a student with a history of drug or alcohol problems, a gifted and talented student, or a student who tests below his or her potential.

"As students with learning disabilities begin to gain greater understating and acceptance of their specific weaknesses, they can begin to use their strengths more effectively in achieving their academic potential. . . ," she explained. "Each student with a learning disability will need to find techniques or strategies that are best suited to individual strengths and weaknesses."

Jack S. Marshall, an institute instructor, talked to the young adults in the Church about what they can learn from the Savior.

In his address, "Come Unto Christ: How Do I Do It?, " Brother Marshall said that when men and women turn themselves over to their Heavenly Father they will find happiness. "Who ever will lose their life to God will find that they have eternal life," he said, quoting President Ezra Taft Benson.

Asking the young people to follow Christ's admonition to "Come unto me," Brother Marshall concluded, "Jesus Christ will make more of you and I than we will ever make of ourselves."