Priesthood Correlation Program
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2018) |
In
Background and history
In the LDS Church, all organizations and activities are intended to complement the mission of the church and are considered subject to the priesthood, helping to complete its responsibilities.
Before the correlation movement, the various organizations and
By the early 1960s, the rapid growth of the church had created administrative difficulties that needed to be addressed.
The changes made by Lee brought the auxiliary organizations more directly under the control of the
In 1970, the process of correlation resulted in the discontinuation of the Relief Society Magazine and the Improvement Era in favor of the correlated Ensign magazine for adults and the New Era for youth. The Millennial Star, a publication for British members, and The Instructor, a Sunday School publication, were also discontinued at this time.
The present Priesthood Correlation Department was created by the direction of the First Presidency in 1972 and originally named the Internal Communications Department.[8]
Doctrines and structure
Between the 1920s and early 1960s, there was an increase in printed material available to LDS Church members, much of which contained opinions or quotes of church leaders that contradicted the evolving official positions and doctrines of the church. In addition, historical documents surfaced, were made available or printed from early members diaries which did not support the official church history. To counter this, the Correlation Committee, under the direction of the First Presidency, began to print materials and other curriculum to clarify and standardize what the church hierarchy considered to be official doctrine and history.
Another result is the block program, which standardized Sunday as the official day to hold most public
In addition, due to a more centralized structure, local building funds and ward budgets were centralized by the church, easing the contributions of local members for such funds, and allowing for a more equitable distribution of funds. Prior to this, church areas with more wealthy members tended to have better-funded buildings and activities than poorer areas.
Results and curriculum
Because of the correlation program, the church generally operates the same in structure, practice and doctrine globally. For example, members in Germany, Kenya and Utah all generally study the same lessons and attend the same type of meetings in any given week. According to Carlos E. Asay, who served as an executive director of the Church Curriculum Department, employees use planning charts to make sure that important gospel topics are properly covered and are taught at regular intervals.[9]
Currently there are two curriculum tracks for members; one for areas where the church is fully established in wards and stakes, and another for areas where the church is growing and is smaller in number. The doctrines taught are the same; however, the emphasis on principles, church structure and church culture is more emphasized in fledgling areas, while emphasis in established areas focus more on application of the principles taught.
See also
- History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Strengthening Church Members Committee
- Women and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
References
- ^ Hatch, Tina. ""Changing Times Bring Changing Conditions": Relief Society, 1960 to the Present" (PDF): 85. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ Romney, Marion G. (April 1953). "Nurture a Testimony". Conference Report. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- ^ OCLC 365678057. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ^ "Ministry of Harold B. Lee: Priesthood Correlation is Created". Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ Church History In The Fulness Of Times Student Manual. 2003. pp. 562–578. Archived from the original on 2011-10-22. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ Smith, Daymon (2007). THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST AND THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST: DISCOURSE AND MORMON HISTORY (PDF). p. 435. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ Prince, Gregory; Wright, William (2005). David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism.
- ^ "Correlation of the Church Administration". Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ Asay, Carlos. ""For the Perfecting of the Saints": A Look at Church Curriculum". Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ISBN 0-87579-565-X.
- Cleverly, J. Michael (Summer 1996), "Mormonism on the Big Mac Standard", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 29 (2): 69–75.
- Duffy, John-Charles (September 2005), "The New Missionary Discussions and the Future of Correlation" (PDF), Sunstone(138): 28–46.
- Duke, James T., ed. (1998), Latter-day Saint Social Life: Social Research on the LDS Church and its Members, Provo, Utah: ISBN 1-57008-396-7.
- ISBN 1-57345-822-8.
- May, Frank O. Jr. (1992), "Correlation of the Church, Administration", in Macmillan, pp. 323–25.
- Mouritsen, Dale C. (August 1968), The Relationship of the Priesthood Correlation Program to the Latter-day Saint Concept of Zion, Master's thesis, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University.
- ISBN 0-87480-822-7.
- Rose, Jerry (May 1973), The Correlation Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints During the Twentieth Century, Master's thesis, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University.
- Smith, Daymon Mickel (2007), The Last Shall Be First and the First Shall Be Last: Discourse and Mormon History (PDF), Ph.D. dissertation, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania.
- Wiley, Peter (January 1985), "The Lee Revolution and the Rise of Correlation" (PDF), Sunstone, 10 (1): 18–22.