In a significant shift to the curriculum followed by seminaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, seminary study will now align with that of the “Come, Follow Me” curriculum and schedule, the First Presidency announced Friday.
“Making this change will enhance the home-centered, Church supported approach to gospel study through a unified study at home, Sunday School, and seminary,” wrote the First Presidency in a letter dated March 22. “We encourage all youth to fully participate in seminary as they seek to increase their love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and deepen their conversion to the restored gospel.”
In a video released Friday by Seminaries and Institutes of Religion of the Church, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elder Kim B. Clark, Commissioner of the Church Educational System; Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, General Young Women President; and Chad H. Webb, Seminary and Institutes of Religion administrator, discussed the changes and what they mean for seminary students and teachers.
“In January of 2020, we will shift from a school year calendar to an annual calendar. Thus, allowing us to align Seminary curriculum with ‘Come, Follow Me,'” Elder Holland said in the video. “We’re going to make a half-step toward that in the summer of 2019. In June of this year, we will shift and start to study the New Testament.”
While seminary studies will continue to be based in the scriptures, the Church leaders explained that the curriculum will be more doctrine-based and will help to strengthen, protect, and prepare youth for missions, marriage, and service in the Church.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new doctrinal mastery initiative.
“We think this is a tremendous development at this time when our young people need evermore strength,” Elder Holland said. “We think is a wonderful alignment … with what the rest of the Church is doing. And we believe that it’s going to be wonderfully symbiotic with the … Church-supported — and now we add Seminary supported — home-centered, gospel study.”
Read the full story on TheChurchNews.com.
Read the rest of the article on Faith News | Deseret News.
