Institute of Religion
Encyclopedia
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult
and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Local institutes may be run out of ordinary church meetinghouses, but often have their own buildings situated adjacent to college
s or universities
(especially those found in the Mormon Corridor
areas in the Western United States
and Canada
). The Church describes the purpose of the Institute program as "weekday religious instruction for single and married postsecondary students." Institutes of Religion are professionally directed by the Church Educational System
, the same department responsible for the seminary program and Brigham Young University
.
In areas with a large LDS population, there are often special-needs
Institutes that serve adults who have mental
or physical handicaps. These Institutes adapt their curricula to meet the students' needs. In addition to offering classes, Institutes often sponsor activities, such as dances, aimed at the needs of postsecondary
students between 18–30 years old. Young Adult church members are encouraged, although not required, to be enrolled in an Institute class whenever possible.
Among the standard Institute course offerings are classes on the Book of Mormon
, Old Testament
, New Testament
, and other modern revelation. Institute classes are offered on campus at LDS universities, such as Brigham Young University
. However, BYU students are required to take religion classes offered by the university itself. Students can transfer Institute course credit to BYU for a nominal charge and can graduate from the Institute program after completing 14 credit hours
of courses.
The first Institute of Religion was established in 1926 in Moscow, Idaho
adjacent to the University of Idaho
. Its first director was J. Wyley Sessions
. Currently the largest Institute of Religion enrollment is found at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah
. The largest Institute enrollment outside of the State of Utah is found at Idaho State University
in Pocatello, Idaho
. There are currently 350,000 students in over 2,500 locations.
Each institute has an Institute Director who is hired by the Church Educational System
. An Institute Council consists of students who are appointed by the bishop or branch president
(the equivalent of a pastor
) of the local congregation (called a ward or branch) in which the Institute is situated. An Institute Councilship is a non-paid, voluntary position. Ultimate responsibility for the Institute program falls on the Church Board of Education, which, in 2008, was composed of the First Presidency
, four members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other leaders of the LDS Church.
Institute Directors often cover large areas. At times Institute Diretors may be based at a large university with many LDS students and multiple classes where they have other teachers to assist them, but they may also teach an institute class once a week at one or more other universities in the same general area with fewer LDS students. For example as of fall 2009 the director of the LDS Institute of Religion in Ann Arbor, Michigan
taught one class a week at Eastern Michigan University
and another class a week at Wayne State University
, both held on campus under the sponsorship of the LDS Student Association
. He also taught multiple classes at the institute building adjacent to the University of Michigan
, while other classes were taught by a CES Missionary Couple and part-time, volunteer instructors.
from August 2004-September 2005 while he served as president of the Europe Central Area, the Church developed a program called the "Institute Outreach Center" and later renamed the "Center for Young Adults". This center focused on four aspects. One of these was institute courses. The others were an activity council that would plan activities geared towards outreach, full-time missionaries who focused on reaching out to men and women of their own age group, and a senior missionary couple that would provide practical and spiritual guidance for the whole endeavor.
Single Adult
Single adult is the term used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to describe any unmarried person over the age of 18. It is also applied to single adults over the age of 30, since they are not included in the more specific term, "Young Single Adult"...
and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Local institutes may be run out of ordinary church meetinghouses, but often have their own buildings situated adjacent to college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s or universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
(especially those found in the Mormon Corridor
Mormon Corridor
The Mormon Corridor is a term for the areas of Western North America that were settled between 1850 and approximately 1890 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , who are commonly known as Mormons....
areas in the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
). The Church describes the purpose of the Institute program as "weekday religious instruction for single and married postsecondary students." Institutes of Religion are professionally directed by the Church Educational System
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
, the same department responsible for the seminary program and Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
In areas with a large LDS population, there are often special-needs
Special needs
In the USA, special needs is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. For instance, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International...
Institutes that serve adults who have mental
Mental retardation
Mental retardation is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors...
or physical handicaps. These Institutes adapt their curricula to meet the students' needs. In addition to offering classes, Institutes often sponsor activities, such as dances, aimed at the needs of postsecondary
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
students between 18–30 years old. Young Adult church members are encouraged, although not required, to be enrolled in an Institute class whenever possible.
Among the standard Institute course offerings are classes on the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, and other modern revelation. Institute classes are offered on campus at LDS universities, such as Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. However, BYU students are required to take religion classes offered by the university itself. Students can transfer Institute course credit to BYU for a nominal charge and can graduate from the Institute program after completing 14 credit hours
Carnegie Unit and Student Hour
The Carnegie Unit and the Student Hour are strictly time-based references for measuring educational attainment used by American universities and colleges; the Carnegie Unit assesses secondary school attainment, and the Student Hour, derived from the Carnegie Unit, assesses collegiate...
of courses.
The first Institute of Religion was established in 1926 in Moscow, Idaho
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
adjacent to the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
. Its first director was J. Wyley Sessions
J. Wyley Sessions
James Wylie Sessions was the first Institute of Religion director in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was sent in 1926 by church president Heber J. Grant to head the Institute of Religion in Moscow, Idaho...
. Currently the largest Institute of Religion enrollment is found at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. The largest Institute enrollment outside of the State of Utah is found at Idaho State University
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
in Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
. There are currently 350,000 students in over 2,500 locations.
Administration
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
. An Institute Council consists of students who are appointed by the bishop or branch president
Branch President
A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch...
(the equivalent of a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
) of the local congregation (called a ward or branch) in which the Institute is situated. An Institute Councilship is a non-paid, voluntary position. Ultimate responsibility for the Institute program falls on the Church Board of Education, which, in 2008, was composed of the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
, four members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other leaders of the LDS Church.
Institute Directors often cover large areas. At times Institute Diretors may be based at a large university with many LDS students and multiple classes where they have other teachers to assist them, but they may also teach an institute class once a week at one or more other universities in the same general area with fewer LDS students. For example as of fall 2009 the director of the LDS Institute of Religion in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
taught one class a week at Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
and another class a week at Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
, both held on campus under the sponsorship of the LDS Student Association
LDS Student Association
LDS Student Association is an organization affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which offers Latter-day Saint university and college students and others social, religious, and recreational activities.The LDSSA was established in 1960, and today a chapter of the LDSSA...
. He also taught multiple classes at the institute building adjacent to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, while other classes were taught by a CES Missionary Couple and part-time, volunteer instructors.
Expanded Institute
By the early 1990s it was realized that Young Adults, especially Young Single Adults, who did not attend college or were not currently in college could benefit from Institute. Coupled with this was the fact that many schools had very few Latter-day Saints attending them, and the very nature of Community Colleges meant that there was no easy concentration of LDS Students. In 1992 the Church launched the expanded institute program, with the goal of having virtually every stake offer at least one institute class. These new institute classes were in general taught by volunteer instructors who were under the same Church Educational System lines of supervision as were seminary teachers. The rule for attending institute was now either being a Young Single Adult or being a student. Thus, all single members of the LDS Church under the age of 31 were encouraged to attend institute where possible.Institute Outreach Center/Center for Young Adults
Starting in the first years of the 21st century and accelerating under the leadership of L. Tom PerryL. Tom Perry
Lowell Tom Perry is a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , having become a member of that body in 1974...
from August 2004-September 2005 while he served as president of the Europe Central Area, the Church developed a program called the "Institute Outreach Center" and later renamed the "Center for Young Adults". This center focused on four aspects. One of these was institute courses. The others were an activity council that would plan activities geared towards outreach, full-time missionaries who focused on reaching out to men and women of their own age group, and a senior missionary couple that would provide practical and spiritual guidance for the whole endeavor.