 BYU has been considered by some Latter @-@ day Saints , as well as some university and church leaders , to be " The Lord 's university " . This phrase is used in reference to the school 's mission as an " ambassador " to the world for the LDS Church and thus , for Jesus Christ . In the past , some students and faculty have expressed dissatisfaction with this nickname , stating that it gives students the idea that university authorities are always divinely inspired and never to be contradicted . Leaders of the school , however , acknowledge that the nickname represents more a goal that the university strives for and not its current state of being . Leaders encourage students and faculty to help fulfill the goal by following the teachings of their religion , adhering to the school 's honor code , and serving others with the knowledge they gain while attending . 
