Department of
Linguistics and English Language

Marvin Gardner — Teaching Professor
Editing, English Language

Picture of Marvin Gardner

Contact Information

Office: 4045 JFSB

Phone: 422-1253

Email: marv_gardner@byu.edu

Commonly Taught Courses ELang 350, ELang 399R, ELang 410R, ELang 430R, Religion 121A

Vita: Link to Vita

Biography:


Marvin K. Gardner joined the BYU faculty in 2005, after working for nearly twenty-eight years as an editor and writer at LDS Church magazines. At the Ensign he served as assistant editor (1978–82), associate editor (1982–85), and assistant managing editor (1985–90). He later served at the Liahona as assistant managing editor (1990–93) and managing editor (1993–2005). During these years, he was also a contributing editor and writer for the New Era and Friend. In 1981 he was called as a member of the Church’s General Music Committee and later as a member of the 1985 Hymnbook Executive Committee. He served as text editor for Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some of his texts have been published in the LDS hymnbook (“Press Forward, Saints,” and “Thy Holy Word”), in the Children’s Songbook (“This Is My Beloved Son”), and in other settings. He has written numerous articles and has edited several books. Marv Gardner was raised in Duncan, Arizona, and later lived in Provo, Utah. After serving a mission in Colombia (1971–73), he graduated magna cum laude in English and Spanish from Brigham Young University and later received his master’s degree in American Literature and English Language from BYU. As an associate teaching professor in the Department of Linguistics and English Language, he has served as director of the Faculty Editing Service. He teaches copyediting, substantive editing, magazine writing and editing, magazine publishing, and the Book of Mormon. Marv and his wife, Mary, have lived in Provo, Salt Lake City, Bountiful, and Pleasant Grove, Utah. They have six children and five grandchildren.


Degrees: BA, Brigham Young U., 1976
MA, Brigham Young U., 1977

Interests:


Editing, writing, magazine publishing, the international Church, the Book of Mormon, music (piano and organ)