Institute of Religion
An Institute of Religion is a local organization that provides
In addition to offering classes, Institutes often sponsor activities, such as dances, aimed at the needs of
Among the standard Institute course offerings are classes on the Book of Mormon, Old Testament, New Testament, the Doctrine and Covenants, and other modern revelation. Institute classes are offered on campus at LDS higher education institutions, such as BYU. However, BYU students are required to take religion classes offered by the university. Students can transfer Institute course credit to BYU for a nominal charge and can graduate from the Institute program after completing 14 course credit hours.
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. The Logan Institute of Religion was the first institute opened in Utah. There are currently 350,000 students in over 2,700 locations.[2]
Administration
Each institute has an institute director who is hired by
Institute directors often cover large areas. At times Institute directors may be based at a large university with many LDS students and multiple classes where other teachers 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 weekly class at Wayne State University. These were each held on campus under the sponsorship of the LDS Student Association. The director also taught multiple classes at the institute building adjacent to the University of Michigan, while other classes were taught by an S&I missionary couple and part-time, volunteer instructors.[3]
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. This included the fact that many schools had few LDS students attending them, and the nature of
Institute Outreach Center/Center for Young Adults
Starting in the first years of the 21st century, and accelerating under the leadership of L. Tom Perry while he served as president of the Europe Central Area, the church developed a program called the "Institute Outreach Center", later renamed the "Center for Young Adults". This center focused on four aspects, including institute courses. The others included 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 endeavor.[4]
See also
Notes
- ^ "Institutes of Religion." institute.lds.org[specify]
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions—Institute". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ 2009 Ann Arbor Institute Class Schedule[full citation needed]
- ^ "A key to Europe: Young single adults are vital to the strength of the Church", Church News, September 2, 2006
Further reading
- Florence, Giles H. Jr. (August 1993), "By Study and by Faith", Ensign: 36