Comments about ‘An early morning start for seminary students in Chicago – LDS Church News’

Why don't they just petition for release time? Makes sense to me.

I too, when in High School, attended early morning
Seminary. We car-pooled (as a Ward) to get there, but I had to ride the city bus to get to my High School because I was the only one in that Seminary group that went to my particular high school. My city bus ride was traveling the streets of Los Angeles after class for about a half hour.

Seminary was a Great way to start the day. It was Definitely worth the inconvenience of getting up early and riding the bus alone.

One gets out of Seminary what they are Prepared to get. If approached as a learning experience, there's much to be gained in Knowledge and Spirituality. I realize that if it is a "Parental Expectation", Seminary might not be as much a positive experience, but still it is an "individual decision" on how to approach it (attitude wise).

I'm Grateful for the Seminary program and my chance to have been a participant and a graduate.

Lord Bless...

It's all in the numbers. The "release time" Seminary program happens where there's a high density of the Latter-day Saint population. But where the numbers aren't very big percentage wise, Seminary happens Before school.

Even in places like California, where there are a number of LDS high school students, it's still before regular school as Early Morning Seminary.

In the release time program, mostly in Utah and Southern Idaho, the place to meet is right adjacent to the high school. Not too many LDS meeting houses are right next to the local high school. Where would Seminary take place then? Can't have it on the school campus, >> you know "separation of church and state" issues. There are some who don't believe in Religious education, especially "denominally based" being near the public education campus.

Some in Utah have proposed having available Seminary classes before school as an option even where the "release time" program exists.

But outside where the LDS culture is very obvious in numbers, Early Morning Seminary is the only possible way to have the program.

Can't you do it online?

Don't whine about it. If you don't want to go or it is to hard then don't go. Don't expect a pat on the back if you decide to go. It is that easy!

I posted what I'm going to post again yesterday!!
I wonder if the "weekend" "comment" "monitors" even read the posting before trashing them? Nothing here offensive or off-topic.

Academically, Seminary could be taught "on Line" like a BYU Independent Study class, BUT the "social" Gathering of the Seminary experience would be missing: that "Fellowshipping" element to be with people who share similar belief. Like the scripture says "Where two or more are gathered in His name" IS IMPORTANT!!

Who knows what the future technology will bring?

If Seminary were "technically adapted" (like a number of universities who offer classes off campus) where the instructor IS in "real time" ("live") and the people in remote sites CAN Participate as the teacher proceeds to teach, that might replicate the "normal" Seminary experience. If that were achieved, then they all could sings the songs together and pray together in "real" time. It would be like watching Conference on an "INTERACTIVE" BASIS as it actually happens with remote sites actively asking questions and participating.

Unless "active participation" could be achieved, the Seminary program, as we know it, would be severely diminished if it were reduced to just an Independent Study experience.