N. Eldon Tanner, the Edmonton Institute, and a Tradition of Sabbath Blessings

By John Fisher (assisted by AI)

In Sunday School class today we talked about D&C 130:21. "When we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." I was reminded of a promise N. Eldon Tanner, then president of the Edmonton Branch, made to students attending the University of Alberta. 

For generations of Latter-day Saint students attending the University of Alberta, the Latter-day Saint Institute of Religion has been more than a classroom or a study hall—it has been a spiritual anchor. Its origins trace back to the leadership, vision, and personal influence of N. Eldon Tanner, whose service in Edmonton left a lasting legacy that shaped thousands of young lives, including my own.

Who Was N. Eldon Tanner?

Nathan Eldon Tanner (1898–1982) was one of Alberta’s most respected Church and political leaders. Raised in southern Alberta near Cardston, he grew up with a strong work ethic, eventually working as a schoolteacher, storekeeper, businessman, and later a prominent government minister. He married Sarah Merrill, my father's first cousin.

Election to the Alberta Legislature

In 1935, Tanner was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cardston, joining the dramatic political shift that occurred that year in Alberta. He quickly earned a reputation for integrity and was appointed Minister of Lands and Mines, where he modernized the department and was admired for his honesty and administrative skill.

Branch President in Edmonton

In 1938, Tanner was called as branch president of the Edmonton Branch, located in a city growing rapidly with an influx of young Latter-day Saint university students—many from southern Alberta—seeking degrees at the University of Alberta.

This was a formative period for the Church in Edmonton. Tanner’s leadership was characterized by:

• Strong pastoral care for students far from home

• An emphasis on spiritual discipline and Sabbath observance

• Vision for a dedicated center of religious education near the university

His Influence on the First Institute Building

One of Tanner’s most-lasting legacies in Edmonton was laying the groundwork for what would become the first LDS Institute of Religion building in the city.

Historical Timeline of the First Institute Building

• Land acquired: 14 October 1949

• First classes held in the unfinished building: 9 October 1952

• Official dedication by Harold B. Lee: 14 October 1953

This building, located next to the University of Alberta campus, was the first institute building constructed outside of the United States—a fact that speaks to the strength and foresight of Edmonton’s early Church leaders.

Tanner’s influence was central in rallying the early Saints, organizing the branch, and initiating the effort that eventually led to the institute’s construction.

My Experience With the Edmonton Institute

When I arrived at the University of Alberta in 1967, the institute building Tanner helped make possible was the one where I attended classes. It stood just steps away from campus and served as a spiritual home for Latter-day Saint students navigating university life.

Students told stories of earlier generations—those who had come north from Cardston, Raymond, Magrath, and other southern Alberta towns—who had known N. Eldon Tanner personally during his years as branch president. Many remembered the same message he repeated to the young people:

If university students would refrain from doing homework on Sundays, attend their Church meetings, and honor the Sabbath, the Lord would bless them in their studies.

This wasn’t just a phrase—it became a tradition.

By the time I was at Institute in 1967, this counsel was still being quoted frequently.
Remarkably, I even heard it again during my doctoral studies from 1984–1988, decades after Tanner himself had left Edmonton.

The New Edmonton Institute: A Continuation of His Legacy

The growth of the Church and the University of Alberta student population eventually made a new building necessary.

Timeline of the Second Institute Building

• New two-storey institute building completed: 1987

• Dedicated: 29 November 1987

This new building stood as a continuation of N. Eldon Tanner’s original vision—a place for young adults to anchor themselves spiritually while pursuing academic excellence.

A Man of Integrity

Throughout his later Church service—including decades in the First Presidency—Tanner repeatedly taught the importance of:

• Keeping one’s word

• Living honestly

• Honoring commitments

• Placing spiritual priorities first

His messages on integrity became some of his most memorable contributions to Church teachings.

Conclusion

N. Eldon Tanner’s influence on Latter-day Saint students in Edmonton spans generations. Through his leadership as branch president, the groundwork for the first institute building was laid—a building that later shaped my own university years. His teachings about Sabbath observance, spiritual priorities, and integrity continued long after he left Alberta and found their way into the daily lives of the young adults who passed through the University of Alberta Institute.

From the first institute built in 1953, to the new building dedicated in 1987, Tanner’s legacy remains woven into Edmonton’s Latter-day Saint history—a reminder that when we honor the Lord, the Lord honors our efforts.