The First Presidency has announced a significant modification to the curriculum and gospel study program for the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Relief Society, effective Jan. 1, 1998.
This new program "will allow the opportunity for improved gospel learning in Sunday services and family settings as all adult members study and discuss the same instructional materials," according to a letter from the First Presidency. "This new curriculum will provide a similar meeting and instruction schedule for both organizations," states the June 1, 1997, letter.To discuss the gospel study program, the Church News met separately with Elder Jack H Goaslind of the Presidency of the Seventy and executive director of the Church's Curriculum Department, and Ronald L. Knighton, managing director of Curriculum.
These changes come three years after the Church implemented a simplified, modified general curriculum in 1995, which reduced the amount of core curriculum materials by 50 percent in order to better facilitate taking the Church curriculum to members worldwide. At the time, it did not affect the Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society curriculum.
Church curriculum is provided in three phases. "Phase 1" is for areas where the Church has just been introduced and where there are limited members and resource materials are very limited. "Phase 2" is for areas where the Church is growing and where units have enough members to divide by ages into classes for gospel instruction. "Phase 3" is for areas where the Church is well-established and where stakes are organized. In addition, an important feature of the 1995 curriculum modifications was to align the scripture study for older Primary children, older youth in Sunday School and the adults in Sunday School.
The new curriculum for Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society that takes effect in January 1998 affects only "Phase 3" and "Phase 2" curriculum areas of the Church.
With the overall changes, there is a greater possibility of a "gospel sharing time" for families around the dinner table or during family home evenings, Elder Goaslind said. This, he added, will engender greater unity in the home and blessings in the lives of individuals.
In speaking of the benefits of the changes to the Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society curriculum program, Elder Goaslind and Brother Knighton quoted from Instructions for Implementing Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society Curriculum, which is part of the training materials being sent to local priesthood leaders. According to these materials, the gospel study program will do the following:
"Put more substance into instruction, emphasizing the scriptures and doctrinal teachings of latter-day prophets.
"Strengthen the work of the quorums and the Relief Society.
"Retain and strengthen converts.
"Have the flexibility to teach doctrines on timely subjects.
"Provide parallel gospel study materials for adult bretheren and sisters."
Under the new gospel study program, the current "Phase 3" Relief Society and Melchizedek Priesthood personal study guides will no longer be used. Instead, the priesthood and Relief Society will follow a common parallel study pattern and curriculum.
On the first Sunday of each month the purposes of the Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society are discussed.
On the second and third Sundays the teachings of presidents of the Church are taught.
The fourth Sunday lessons or discussions focus on teachings relating to current issues.
On fifth Sundays, which occur four or five times a year, special discussions on topics of local need are led by the local bishopric or branch presidency. or, fifth Sundays may be used to pick up lessons missed due to stake, regional or general conferences.
As in the past, Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society members will continue to meet separately, except for the special discussions by unit leaders on the fifth Sunday.
In addition to training materials being sent to local priesthood leaders, the new curriculum materials for Melchizedek Priesthood quorum and group meetings and Relief Society classes for the coming year are Melchizedek Priesthood Quorum Instructions; Relief Society Leader's Instructions; Teachings of Presidents of the Church - Brigham Young; and Teachings for Our Time, 1998. These materials are designed specifically to inform and guide Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society leaders in implementing and using the new curriculum. However, Teachings of Presidents of the Church Brigham Young is the personal study guide for all adults 18 years of age and older in "Phase 3" units through the church.
The following describes the new gospel study program: (Please see chart on this page relating to Sunday meeting schedules and materials for Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society.)
First Sunday of the month
Each ward or branch in "Phase 3" and "Phase 2" curriculum areas of the Church is to use the first Sunday of each month as somewhat of a "training session," explained Elder Goaslind, as the duties of the priesthood and the purposes of Relief Society are discussed in separate meetings. Priesthood leaders conduct and lead quorum and group discussions, while in Relief Society, the president and her counselors take turns conducting and leading the discussions.
During this first Sunday quorum or group meeting, as explained in Melchizedek Priesthood Quorum Instructions, "leaders can plan, make assignments, follow up, and receive reports on missionary work, temporal and spiritual welfare work, and family history and temple work."
Elder Goaslind said that first Sunday Relief Society meetings are for spiritual development and the bearing of testimonies. Charitable work can be planned and discussed, gospel doctrines and principles can be taught and the purposes of Relief Society may be studied. Suggestions for these discussions are found in Relief Society Leader's Instructions. In addition, according to instructions in this publication, "The Relief Society presidency may use the first Sunday meeting . . . to share instructions from priesthood leaders discussed in welfare and ward council meetings."
Relief Societies and Melchizedek Priesthood groups in "Phase 1" areas will continue with the present curriculum on the first Sunday.
Second and third Sunday
Under the gospel study program, new study materials are being provided for the second and third Sundays for those using "Phase 3" curriculum. Units using "Phase 1" and "Phase 2" curriculum will continue with the present curriculum materials on these Sundays.
In "Phase 3," both the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Relief Society study teachings of Church presidents, with 1998 and 1999 focusing on the teachings of President Brigham Young. Brother Knighton emphasized that this study of the teachings of presidents of the Church is to be done individually by all adult members at home and then is to be further discussed in the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums and groups and the Relief Society meetings on these two Sundays each month. Lessons with approved resources are found in Teachings of Presidents of the Church - Brigham Young. In subsequent years, the teachings of other latter-day prophets will be taught.
These classes are taught by either the Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society leaders or by called instructors and teachers.
In "Phase 2" areas, the curriculum material for these two Sundays continues to be Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood A and B and The Latter-day Saint Woman A and B.
Fourth Sunday
On the fourth Sunday in "Phase 3" and "Phase 2" curriculum areas, both the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Relief Society study topics from Teachings for Our Time, 1998. This publication contains nine subjects designated by the First Presidency, along with approved resources. For example, one lesson, "Fortifying Ourselves against Worldliness," includes as a resource President Gordon B. Hinckley's October 1995 general conference address, "Stand Strong against the Wiles of the World."
Brother Knighton pointed out that effective lessons or discussions can take place using any one or more of the designated resources. He said it is not necessary to try to locate all of the designated resources where they do not readily exist.
The other three fourth-Sunday topics in 1998 will be developed to be used by both organizations. One topic with suggested resources will come from the First Presidency, and two are to be determined by stake or mission leaders to meet local needs. One stake-determined topic is to be taught in the first half of the year and one in the second half.
The stake or mission presidency determines the order for the lessons in Teachings for Our Time, according to local needs, but all units in a stake or mission are to be on the same schedule.
"Phase 1" continues with present curriculum.
Brother Knighton emphasized the importance of not going beyond the scriptures and other "correlation-approved materials" when preparing and teaching these lessons.
Fifth Sunday
On the occasional fifth Sunday, Relief Society and Melchizedek Priesthood may combine for discussions determined by the local bishopric or branch presidency to meet local needs. The local unit priesthood leaders conduct and lead this meeting. When the decision of local priesthood leaders is to use a fifth Sunday to pick up a lesson missed for a conference Sunday, priesthood brethren and Relief Society sisters are to meet separately.
In speaking of the spiritual preparation needed to teach within the new gospel study program, Elder Goaslind said: "I hope that those called to teach will seek for the Spirit and that they will seek out the counsel of the Relief Society presidency, the high priests group leadership or the elders quorum presidency."
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sunday Melchizedek Priesthood Quorum / Relief Society Instruction Plan
Sundays each month Melchizedek Priesthood Relief Society
1st Sunday
Subject Quorum meeting and other Presidency instructions
priesthood matters speci- discussions of doctrines
fied by quorum of group and principles, and bear-
leaders, such as: ing testimony. Discussions
Priesthood subjects should help sisters do
Activation and reten- the following:
tion - Build testimonies
Home teaching - Strengthen marriages
Temple and family his- and families
tory work - Increase bonds of
Missionary work sisterhood
Welfare work - Learn skills for serving
Quorum or group each other
committees - Support the mission of
. . . the Church
Resource Melchizedek Priesthood Relief Society Leader's
material Quorum Instructions; Instructions; Relief
Melchizedek Priesthood Society Handbook; Pro-
Leadership Handbook; viding in the Lord's Way;
Duties and Blessings of Church periodicals and
the Priesthood, Parts A other Church publications.
and B; church periodicals
and other Church publica-
tions
Instructors Quorum presidency or Members of Relief
group leaders, or quorum Society presidency.
members under the direc-
tion of the presidency or
group leaders.
2nd & 3rd Sunday
Subject Teachings of Presidents of the Church
Resource material 1998 and 1999: Teachings of Presidents of the
Church - Brigham Young
Instructors Quorum presidency or group leaders or instructor;
Relief Society teacher
4th Sunday
Subject Teachings for Our Times (subjects and materials
suggested by the First Presidency).
Resource material General conference messages or other material
from Ensign, international magazines, or other
Church publications.
Instructors Quorum presidency or group leaders or instructor; Relief Society teacher
5th Sunday
Subject Determined by local Church leaders to meet local
needs
Resource material Selected by local leaders.
Instructors Bishopric or as assigned by the bishopric or stake
presidency.
