32nd Annual Martin B. Hickman Outstanding Scholar Lecture
"Strengthening Global Families in a Changing World: Challenges, Resilience, and Eternal Truths"
Although we possess extensive knowledge of families in more developed countries, we know far less about families in regions that will drive global demographic change and Church growth, including sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa.
Contemporary global family trends — declining fertility, evolving gender roles, changing marriage and household forms, and family fragmentation due to migration and urbanization — accentuate the resilience families demonstrate amid war, poverty, and limited institutional support. Even in challenging circumstances, families adapt to sustain children, care for aging parents, and preserve cultural values. Ultimately, deepening our understanding of global family diversity is critical for guiding policy, research, and practice. Context-specific interventions can strengthen families, enhance mental health, promote stable societies, and reduce poverty.
Because the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is poised to accelerate in coming years, insights into global family life become essential. In this regard, The Family: A Proclamation to the World provides prophetic principles that transcend cultural differences. By uniting these eternal truths with cutting-edge family research, we can better support children's development, maintain stable family structures, and foster thriving communities even amidst the uncertainties and transformations of our changing world.
Spencer L. James
Spencer James is a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University (BYU) and recipient of the Martin B. Hickman Outstanding Scholar award in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences. In addition to his primary appointment, he holds affiliations with several interdisciplinary programs, including Africana Studies, Global Women's Studies, Canadian Studies, and International Development. He also serves as a fellow at both the Wheatley Institute and the Ballard Center for Social Impact.
James earned a PhD in sociology and demography from the Pennsylvania State University in 2012, along with a doctoral certificate in quantitative methods. He and his family recently returned from living in Parakou, Benin in west Africa, where he was as a Fulbright Scholar. He spent the year studying global family patterns in Benin at Parakou University.
Since coming to BYU in 2012, James has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, books, and book chapters. His work often explores the intersections of family relationships, child well-being, and romantic relationship dynamics across different societies. His work has appeared in prominent academic outlets as well as public reports that translate academic findings into practical insights for policy makers, practitioners, and the general public.
Students in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences gain Experience Points for attending this lecture. Learn more about Experience Points.