More students than ever before are benefitting from the seminary program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elevated graduation requirements were implemented a year ago for the 100-year-old seminary program, which is a worldwide, four-year religious educational program for youth ages 14 through 18.
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The Church released data Thursday indicating 81 percent of the enrolled students passed the end of semester assessment. Attendance jumped to 77 percent, up from 71 percent, and the reading requirement was met by nearly 80 percent of the youth.
“After one year, what we are seeing is extremely positive. More students received academic credit this year than last year,” said Chad Webb, the Church’s Seminaries and Institutes administrator. “The ultimate beneficiaries are the students, who were given more opportunities to deepen their conversion through meaningful classroom experiences and personal scripture study.”
“I was glad they made changes because it helped get us involved and learn more and not just sit in the back of the class and do nothing,” said Carson Dover, who attends Viewmont High School in Bountiful, Utah. “It allowed us to feel the Spirit and learn more about the gospel.”
There were some initial concerns from parents and students about the new requirements, but in the end, students rose to this new opportunity. “We are mindful that we need to make sure every student is having a good experience, especially those who may be struggling,” Webb said. “We have asked teachers to try and anticipate those who may need additional help.”
“Overall it was positive, and the students responded to the invitation to do more and to learn more,” said Alec Barrow, who teaches at the Springville seminary in Utah. “Adding new graduation requirements allowed us as teachers to focus on and emphasize key doctrines while teaching lessons to students. It helped students to focus on those doctrines and gave them power to look at their life and that of their friends and their family and helped them to find answers to their questions.”
“My son did not take it seriously at first and needed to do the assessment more than once,” said Michelle Walker, a Salt Lake City mother of a high school junior attending seminary. “That ended up being the best thing for us. We sat down together and studied together and read together. This was a great family experience for us. We did it together so that he could accomplish it.”
Usually, seminaries meet early in the morning before regular school hours. In areas with significant Latter-day Saint teen populations, some high schools offer students released-time to take seminary. Students are allowed one period during the school day to go to seminary. They do not receive school credit for seminary attendance.
There are approximately 400,000 young men and women enrolled in seminary around the world.