Doctrinal Mastery replaces Scripture Mastery as high school students study in early morning seminary.
6:30 am is early to start a school day for busy high school students, but there are students from each of our local high schools who are up and attending an early morning religion class at that time each day before their academic classes begin.
Last year The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a change in the curriculum for their high school seminary students. If students attend all four years during high school they will study from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History before graduation. In the past students have participated in scripture mastery, where students learn key words, references and even memorize 25 scriptures from their course of study each year.
Last school year things changed with an introduction to Doctrinal Mastery,
“Building on what already has been done in Scripture Mastery, this new initiative will focus on building and strengthening our students’ faith in Jesus Christ and fortifying them with increased ability to live and apply the gospel in their lives,” Elder Ballard told Church Educational System personnel during the “Evening with a General Authority” annual broadcast in February 2016.
Etiwanda High School’s sophomore seminary teacher, Nancy Murphy said,” Doctrinal Mastery is like scripture mastery, but it takes learning deeper. The students don’t just memorize scriptures and where they are located. They study the doctrine and how it applies to their life.”
The Doctrinal Mastery curriculum features ten doctrinal points which students learn as they study the scriptures, review case studies, and respond to difficult questions. The points correlate with the book of scriptures students are studying for that year. A key element to Doctrinal Mastery is helping students find answers themselves. They are taught to act in faith, examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective, and seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources.
A recent seminary graduate, David Kersey, said his favorite part of seminary was his teachers. Others have mentioned the added strength to face high school challenges that comes from studying the scriptures each morning. The new doctrinal mastery is a vehicle helping students come unto Christ.
Submitted by Brynna Cadman
Comments