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Show ' Church Deportment THE DESERET NEWS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 194L By Dr. M. Lynn Bennion Of The Church Department Of '' Education AE are definitely aiming to pro-- mote moral and spiritual growth end development in the lives of youth. Our job is to help youth to know the truth by helping them live by truth. We try to simulate and give direction to experience and it conunWe feel that sciously religious. less we do this our efforts are in a large measure futile even though they may "learn a considerable amount of ' . scripture by heart. In order to promote spiritual growth we have set up someguiding statements or concepts to give us spe-- ' cific direction. Every lesson we teach h? calculated to promote some change 'in thought1 or attitude in the direction of these goals or ideals. These are ' goals or ohjecnves of TheTniurch De- partment of Education. thtis-ma- ke - GOALS FORMULATED To help students develop a consciousness of the reality of God and a realization of mans personal relation ' to Him. 2.- To develop in the life and exof 'students an appreciation perience, and understanding of Jesus as the Savior of mankind and to lead students to uphold the teachings and the cause for which lie stood. 3. To assist students in the development of a testimony of the divinity of the work of Joseph Smith and a conviction that the restored gospel is 1. the being disseminated throughout world through the power and authority of the Priesthood of God. 4. To help students develop the ability and disposition to participate actively in the organizations of the Church. . 5. To help students arrive at a sound interpretation of life and the universe, to. develop the ability and disposition to see Gods purpose and plan in the universe, to understand man s relation to it, and to assist' in the formulation of a philosophy of life built upon this interpretation. 6. To foster in students a progressive and continuous development of personality and character which is harmonious within itself and adjusted to society, to the physical environment, and to God. PURPOSES OP LIFE .Much of the purposes of life are search for more light on these prob' lems. , . - - We offer in the seminaries three courses of study: The Old Testament and the Problems of Life, the New Testament and the Problems of Life; The Work - Of Seminaries In, The Youth Helps Fo rmu ate Aims: Of. Teaching'By Listing Needs' I their lives s fuH Of good things .. that he cheap and the trivial are bereft of their appeal. It is marvelous to me to see' the power and influence seminary teachers have in the lives of youth. In the second place we are trying to achieve our purpose by providing rich opportunities for beautiful and inspiring experiences of worship, play and service. THOUGHTS NOT ON WORSHIP Our seminary classes are divided into two parts, the introductory worship period and the study discussion periods Students cortie to .the seminary from the gymrfasiiim, from the pep rally, and from a variety nf secular classes. Usually their thoughts arfe not of worship. We try in this opening worship period to carry their thoughts into the realm of the spiritual. We attempt to arouse a desire for quiet meditation and prayer, a feeling of nearness to God. In order for worship to be meaningful and effective, there must be present some real purpose, and sense of actual need in the minds of the members of the group. This purpose might,,., logically -- living and' clean speech in the home were listed as jnost important in in-- . Jiuencing young p&ople-iowardth- and Doctrine. . The first two courses aim to 'give the student an acquaintance with the Bible and the'reIattorrr)fthr-prI'nc- h pies and teachings of the Bible to their own lives. We select particularly those facts of the Bible which have the highest spiritual value and which offer constructive guidance to thought L -- and action. The third course deals with the important phases of L. D. S.Church Historyjmd with the doctrines of the Church-History Church. CREDIT COURSES OFFERED The Bible .courses offer credit -- e. good life. A general feeling of love, loyalty and cooperation in the home were stressed. In this classification such things as family courtesy, gifts, expressions of appreciation, home planned recreation, and home evenings were frequently listed. Respect in the home for Church Authorities and willingness to cooperate with them, evidences of spiritual gifts and healings in the home,, marriage In the Temple, family support and interest In a missionary in the, - field. STUDENTS MAKE SUGGESTIONS The absence of these spiritual forces in the home were said by youth to be highly destructive to spirituality. think-it-throu- gh SEEKS COOPERATION Finally, in order to achieve its objectives the seminary seeks the active cooperation of the home, school and community in order to meet the religious needs of the total child. The seminary cannot do it alone religion is inseparably related to all lifers needs. There must be no separation of the religious and the secular for all life 4s sacred. Ihe seminary system had its beginning in 1912 vv lien th flrsFlifilt was established in connection with the Granite High School just south of Sait Lake City. The systemIias grown teadily until at the present time there are one hundred seminaries in operation serving approximately students. About 65 per cent of the total number of seminaries are in Utah, about 25 per cent in Idaho, 5 per cent in Arizona, 4 per cent in Wyoming, 1 per cent 'in Colorado, 1 per cent in N.evada, and 1 per cent in Tex- grow mediate group problem or need, or it may be directly connected with the theme of the unit or lesson to be considered. The young people themselves should plan and carry it out, the teacher remaining in the background's long as the group will responsibility. I have shared some beautiful and inspiring worship services in the in which I felt very near io Heaven and a very close kinship with the students. to- - school graduation and doctrine course offers no credit because of its doctrinal' emphasis but is necessary for seminary graduation. In a limited number of seminaries a post graduate course is offered in Church leadership. It" covers teacher training, missionary training and. general Church administration. We are graduating approximately 5,000 each year from the seminaries. In the fourth place we seek to achieve our purposes by giving youth an opportunity to tftink through the religion of childhood, developed by imitation and story. The primary responsibility for re- Iigious development rests upon parents and the home. In high school and college,' youths begin to be reflective about religion, to question, doubt, be skepticaL .. They Tor themwant to selves. In seminary these problems are frankly met and discussed from every angle. Much-o- f our work'is put up in problem form. ward -- ac-ce- pt , sqn-inari- incorporated into these great comprehensive purposes. If I attempted to PROMOTE DANCES epitomize- their intent in a word I We promote dances, hikes and would say that our purpose is to deSaints in the truest games, with the definite motive of velop Latter-daand fullest sense of the, word. spiritualizing the social . relationships How do we hope to accomplish our of youth. We definitely link theif activities up to such New Testament .great purposes? j)r Bennion love of neighbor, First, by working, for a high de- principles as blessed are the pure in heart, it is gree of confidence, resect, coopera,-tioand love between the seminary more blessed to give than to receive? Out of a study of these problems in the seminaries a partial list of needed The We create a laboratory for the Exteacher .and his students. as. improvements was' suggested by stu"achievement of this happy relationpression of these great principles. MOVEMENT SPREADS dents: i Ve are guided in the amount of ac ship is conditioned first upon our un- . The TnovemenTTo conduct weekand in more Need faith far practice M. of the schools I. and tivities and A.; by high appreciation derstanding ing of the basic religious practices in day classes of religion on released divine nature of every human soul quality is the important thing. timefrom the public schools has blessas the offspring of God. Teachers In the third place we achieve our the home, such as family prayer, spread rapidly in the nation. Gary, individual and the food, prayer. must be highly sensitive to the fact purposes by providing a course of ing Ind., attracted nationtll attention in Need in for better bepersonexample with are divine that they dealing study which relates scriptural teach1913 (1 year after the L. D. S. program of social and lives paral, religious ings, and that thgir dealings have eterings to the present interests and needs ents. started) by the introduction of week-,da- y nal significance. of students, UV finding the student clashes conducted durreligious Need for more religious teachings where he is spiritually and guiding '' school - hours. Today church Having recognized the divine caing pacities of their students, teachers him forward toward integration of his in the home through good literature groups throughout tire country have must have the.genius to liberate their life on the higher spiritual levels. and through positive teachings of the the cooperation ofschool boards of ed. capacities and to create opportunities Every teacher must start with his stu-- . parents. ucation making it possible to conduct Need for more family unity, love, classes in for their rich and spiritually fruitful dents where they are. That requires religious education during expression. Their greatest challenge thafhe know a great deal about them. and cooperation in the home. .school hours. .The . legality of . this and self" We have made extensive surveys is to, promote Need for more parental respect for program has been tested many times realization through stimulating and .through the teachers to ascertain and cooperative attitude toward the in the courts and sustained as being favorable and unfavorable Church and all agencies working for entirely legal. guiding students Into spiritual expe- . rience. "Tt is "only" through Experienc- which influence the spiritual welfare the personal and religious growth of is important to keep in mind that It of youth. This information hhs been young people. ing the spiritual that students discovthe seminary and the high school have er who they really are and become invaluable in pointing the direction Need for more adequate physical from the beginning been separate and our course of study should take. We facilities in ,the. home. and conscious of their relationship as Jiving quar- .distinct institutions, ..The cost of .op-- , God. Teachers must fan the have tried to use the very problems ters to finer cultural, recerating the seminaries is borne entireguarantee flameof this consciousness until God they are now facing the foundation reational, and religious development. , ly by the Church. becomes a living presence, until in the of our course of study. The financing of seminaries is a - STUDY SIGNIFICANT as VITAL. can PRAYER IS face of temptation they say of the Church joint Parents in the main will gladly Board responsibility They listed prayer in the home Joseph of old said, How can I dp this of Education and local stake great wickedness and sin against most frequently as a vital religious meet.the initiative of their children .boards. The Church Board through irt improving the home, environment.' the Commissioner hires the teacher their lives. God? Or when they succumb to force - . When you think of these reand can are faithfuL in "Jf the ypung people and supervises his work. The local repentance parents they temptation cry as did David of old, Against thee, thee ligious, it is natural f6r their children as potential parentsauch astudy.as I. board operates and maintains the sem- -' only, have I sinhed, and done this'evil , to fall into these attitudes, they said.- have outlined is most significant. inary building. - Oq an average, apWe rely upon the standard works Parents keeping the Word of WlsIn thy sight . proximately 12 per cent of the com- ;of the Church as ,the chief source of Our teachers are taking the con- - dom was deemed very important (Continued on Page Six) Sabbath observance, fasting; clean Reference as we guide students into re slructive approach by trying to make . -- 20,-0- 00 -- n -- - chil-dretf3- T - , -- |
