Item Detail
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13254
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1
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0
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English
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A Study Concerning the Mission of the Week-Day Religious Educational Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1890-1990 : A Response to Secular Education
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Columbia, Missouri
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University of Missouri-Columbia
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Ph.D. diss.
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"Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify, describe, and analyze the mission of the week-day religious educational program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1890-1990. This study brings together for the first time all of the prominent themes of Church leaders' directives regarding the purpose and design of the program over its hundred year existence. Procedures. An analysis was made of LDS leaders' speeches, classes taught, and directives they delivered regarding the mission of religious instruction through various conferences, meetings, and other gatherings of LDS religion instructors. It was argued that LDS teachers regard Church leaders' counsel as inspired of God. Therefore, Church leader statements regarding the purpose of religious education were the most important factors in determining what the mission of Latter-day Saint religious instruction was over the years. Other semi-formal pronouncements and curricula directives were also discussed. In addition, "oral interviews" were were conducted with past and present Church Educational administrators and teachers who were eyewitnesses of many of the events described. Findings. The study revealed that the overall mission of the program was to "counteract a godless education" which LDS students received in primary, secondary, and higher education. Church authorities also warned religion teachers about teaching unorthodox secular views which conflict with traditional Mormon values. This study also unveiled that policy formation for curriculum and instruction within the program was generated from LDS teachers and administrators, rather than Church authorities. Church officials approved curriculum policy which was presented to them by the C.E.S. administration." [Author's abstract]