The following is excerpted from the Church News. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
In response to the evolving needs of today’s youth, Seminaries and Institutes of Religion of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced new life preparation lessons to help better prepare youth for the complexities of the modern world.
Chad H. Webb, the Church’s administrator of seminaries and institutes, outlined the new lessons to instructors, administrators and other Church Educational System employees during the 2024 Seminaries and Institutes Annual Training Broadcast on Friday, Jan. 26.
It is recommended, he said, that these new thematic lessons to seminary curriculum be implemented one to two times each week, developed from topics such as mission, temple and educational preparation; scripture study skills; emotional resilience; life skills; and teachings of latter-day prophets.
“These lessons will address specific needs of our seminary students in ways that will continue to be Christ-centered, scripture-based, and learner-focused,” Webb said. “We will always strive to invite the Holy Ghost and focus on our objective of deepening conversion to Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.”
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Clark G. Gilbert, General Authority Seventy and Church commissioner of education, also spoke during the training broadcast.
In his remarks, Elder Christofferson said he was excited — even intrigued — by the new thematic lessons for seminary. “To me, this seems like adding some extra fruit and a fresh ‘pinch’ of seasoning to the pie. It’s going to be delicious,” he said.
Elder Gilbert called the lesson updates a “historic development that will elevate the life preparation of youth across the Church.”
Seminary teachers “are part of the critical life preparation of our youth and what they will need to become disciples of Jesus Christ in this coming season of commotion,” Elder Gilbert said.
He expressed his hope that teachers will feel the inspiration behind the lessons and recognize their role in preparing youth for the future. “Pray for insight and inspiration to see their future path. Seek out the conviction to inspire them to prepare. What an amazing time to be teaching seminary, and what a marvelous responsibility we all share.”
This expansion to seminary curriculum will begin in January 2024 for released-time programs in some areas of the United States and Canada, followed by a global rollout in January 2025.
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