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Church Education
Church Places High Priority on Education
From the beginning, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints have encouraged education among members of the Church. Although
the Church has a few college and university campuses in the United States
and a few elementary and secondary schools in Mexico and the Pacific islands,
most Latter-day Saint students enroll in public schools along with others
in their community. Concurrent with this public education, the Church
operates a worldwide weekday religious education program for secondary
and postsecondary students. This program is designed to fortify students
in their religious faith and help them deal with the moral challenges
of life while allowing them to maintain their participation in educational
institutions not sponsored by the Church.
Weekday Religious Education
Under the direction of the Church Board of Education, full-time
employees of the Church Educational System oversee seminary classes for
secondary students and institute of religion programs for postsecondary
students.
- Seminary. Seminary students spend one year studying each of
the following courses: Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon,
and Doctrine and Covenants and Church History. Most seminary classes
meet each school day, either before school or for a "released-time"
class period during the school day. Students who have class before school
usually meet in a local Church meetinghouse or in a home and are taught
by volunteer teachers. Students who meet during the school day usually
meet in a Church-owned seminary building near the public school and
are taught by full-time teachers.
- Institutes of Religion.
Postsecondary students ages 18 through 30 may enroll in weekly or biweekly
religion classes. These classes are taught by full-time and volunteer
teachers and meet in Church-owned institute of religion buildings, in
local Church meetinghouses or in homes. Most institute of religion programs
also provide space where students may study and mingle socially.
Statistics about Church seminaries and institutes of religion (2004-2005
school year)
| Countries and territories with a seminary or institute program |
129 |
| Full- and part-time teachers, administrators and support staff |
3,443 |
| Volunteer teachers and support staff |
39,058 |
| Seminary enrollments (secondary students) |
363,370 |
| Institute of religion enrollments (postsecondary students) |
367,034 |
Church College and University Campuses (fall 2005 full-time
day enrollments)
Elementary and Secondary Schools (18 schools, 2004-2005 school
year)
| Countries |
Fiji, Kiribati, Mexico, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga |
| Full- and part-time teachers, administrators and support staff |
992 |
| Enrollments |
8,727 |
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