BYU NewsNet - Barta Heiner Counsels to Avoid Counterfeits

Barta Heiner, a noted BYU theatre professor, pleaded with students to not throw away their birthrights and encouraged those who have faltered to "come home" in a university forum entitled "Counterfeits: A Mess of Pottage."

Heiner began by saying "Life isn't easy. Although we have more abundance now, it is more difficult than before. Life: the good and evil used to be more clearly defined, black and white."

She then added a quote from W.H. Auden, "Only God can tell the saintly from the suburban. Counterfeit values always resemble the true."

While contemplating the decision of whether to teach acting at BYU or keep her prestigious position teaching at the National Theatre Conservatory, Heiner had to rely fully on the Lord to help her discern spiritual promptings. She prayed about the decision and "started to analyze [herself]" by asking "Was that a spiritual prompting or just indigestion?"

In the end, she counseled students to be patient and trusting with promptings.

While Heiner was receiving her acting training, her worst temptations came subtly from friends, those who were concerned about her and loved her. While many of her friends were exploring the things of the world and experimenting with drugs and alcohol, she found comfort in the words of her father, "If there's a rule, God put it there for a reason. And before impulsively throwing away a rule, one should search deep for the reason behind the rule."

Some of her acting instructors encouraged students to discover their strengths and hone their acting skills through "living on the edge."

Heiner told the story of a stagecoach company owner who was looking for a new driver. He asked how they would approach a dangerous curve. The first two applicants said they would get as close to the edge as possible without toppling over. The final driver said, "I'm going to stay as far from the edge as I can." This man was hired, because the owner trusted him to carry the precious cargo of his wife and children around the curve safely.

"The cargo you carry is precious," Heiner said. "It is your life, your soul, your birthright."

She quoted the late President James E. Faust, "Your identity ... cannot be found from thrill seeking, such as intentionally and unnecessarily exposing your life or your soul to any kind of danger, physical or moral."

Heiner said a friend of hers, who was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and who had received a blessing from a General Authority that told him "to further the arts in the church," ultimately died from AIDS because of his decision to "live on the edge."

"How could he leave the Church when he had been given such a blessing, when he knew of his potential?" Heiner said.

It is easy to rationalize that what we feel is something true, but "Counterfeit values always resemble the true," Heiner said. "Study and ponder and pray and trust in those who have blazed trails before you; get counseling from bishops, and from people who are in tune with the gospel and who have also been clinically trained to discern counterfeits."

If students have struggled with counterfeits, it is important to remember that "Christ gave up his life for you so you could come home," Heiner said.

Heiner received her BA in theatre from Brigham Young University and her master of fine arts in acting from the American Conservatory Theatre. She has held many other teaching roles and directed projects for the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver. She returned to BYU to strengthen the acting program in the Theatre and Media Arts Department, according to a biography given by John Tanner.

Heiner is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actor's Equity Association. She has performed in more than 100 roles and directed more than 40 productions. She has worked as an acting/dialogue coach in "The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd," and "Emma Smith: My Story." She has recently been working on a student-mentored film project called "Diantha's Crossing," a story inspired by her great, great aunt, Diantha Farr Clayton.