New Church History Seminary Manual

[David T]

It's available for those who want to read it.

Of note:

 

1. It acknowledges and covers the different accounts of the First Vision

2. There is a complete lesson devoted to Plural Marriage

3. There is a lesson on the Utah War and the Mountain Meadows Massacre

4. A Chapter on Pearl of Great Price, which briefly addresses the dating of the Book of Abraham papyri. It notes that the ultimate translation process for both Abraham and Moses is unknown.

5. In the lesson on OD1, the need for the Second Manifesto of 1904 is noted.

6. Lesson on OD2, begins with the introduction to the 2013 edition.Includes the line, "Point out the line that states, “Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice.” Ensure that students understand that while some people may suggest reasons why males of African descent were not ordained to the priesthood for a time, those reasons may not be accurate. The statement just read represents the official position of the Church." The lesson ends with , "Point out that students may be asked why the Church did not ordain men of African descent to the priesthood for a time. Invite them to consider how they might answer this question. Affirm that it is appropriate to explain to others that we do not know why the priesthood restriction began" - - also is a not to teachers to keep updated, don't rely on old explanations, and included Elder McConkioes, "forget everything I said" quote. - it also directs the reader to the "Race and the Priesthood" topic on lds.org.

7. Lesson on 'Hastening the work of salvation".

8. Lesson on The Family: A Proclamation to the World

9. On the JST, "Around the fall of 1830, Joseph Smith was commanded by the Lord to translate the Bible. He 

did not translate the Bible from one language to another; nor did he have an original biblical manuscript to work from. Instead, Joseph would read and study passages from the King James Version of the Bible and then make corrections and additions as inspired by the Holy Ghost. Thus, the translation was more of an inspired revision than a traditional translation."

10. In reference to D&C 77, "(It may be helpful to explain that the 7,000 years refers to the time since the Fall of Adam and Eve. It is not referring to the actual age of the earth including the periods of creation.)"

 

I did not see anything particularly on Book of Mormon translation methods as I had expected - although I may have simply missed it. I was skimming!

Edited January 29, 2014 by David T

[rockpond]

Looks like they made some good improvements.  I wish some of that stuff had been there when I taught that curriculum to my early morning seminary students.

[Scott Lloyd]

My initial reaction is that it seems very well prepared. I'm glad for the thoughtful treatment of issues that have been prominent in recent years.

 

I notice that it is a teacher's manual. Is there an accompanying student text or outline of any sort?

[David T]

My initial reaction is that it seems very well prepared. I'm glad for the thoughtful treatment of issues that have been prominent in recent years.

 

I notice that it is a teacher's manual. Is there an accompanying student text or outline of any sort?

 

Not that I've seen online yet. Although, speaking of new stuff,  I do see there is a new 2014 online Institute New Testament manual covering the Gospels, too!

[Ahab]

I'm not seeing it on the Gospel Library app yet.

Hopefully the update will be coming out soon.

[theplains]

6. Lesson on OD2, begins with the introduction to the 2013 edition.Includes the line, "Point out the line that states, “Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice.” 

 

 

 

This seems like a polite way to say that the LDS Church was not being led by revelation about

the matter when it instituted the ban.  Unless of course, this is a revelation hidden in a secret

vault and only alluded to in other church writings of apostles and elders.

 

Regards,

Jim

[Calm]

While revelations were generally written down and kept track of, I highly doubt that all inspirations were also.  It is possible that the ban was inspired though not revealed in the sense of a vision or something experienced in such a way that it was seen needed to be written down, etc.

 

I am not saying this happened with the ban, just saying it is a possibility.

[Freedom]

This seems like a polite way to say that the LDS Church was not being led by revelation about

the matter when it instituted the ban.  Unless of course, this is a revelation hidden in a secret

vault and only alluded to in other church writings of apostles and elders.

 

Regards,

Jim

No, it is a frank way of saying that no record was kept. 

[Scott Lloyd]

While revelations were generally written down and kept track of, I highly doubt that all inspirations were also.  It is possible that the ban was inspired though not revealed in the sense of a vision or something experienced in such a way that it was seen needed to be written down, etc.

 

I am not saying this happened with the ban, just saying it is a possibility.

In fact, the notion that every single instance of revelation to prophets and apostles is written down, recorded, codified, and presented to the Church at large for sustaining vote strikes me as extremely naive.

Edited January 29, 2014 by Scott Lloyd

[Danzo]

They are deliberately hiding this information in a seminary manual.

Now no one will ever know about it!

[Scott Lloyd]

They are deliberately hiding this information in a seminary manual.

Now no one will ever know about it!

Looks like the nefarious Church censors and correlators were asleep at their posts on this one!

[Danzo]

Looks like the nefarious Church censors and correlators were asleep at their posts on this one!

 

They just know that most of the students are still sleeping during seminary and that the information will thus be entirely forgotten.

[halconero]

Looks like the nefarious Church censors and correlators were asleep at their posts on this one!

 

Whitewashing history, once again.

[Scott Lloyd]

They just know that most of the students are still sleeping during seminary and that the information will thus be entirely forgotten.

And 10 years hence, one or two of those somnolent pupils will be claiming that the Church betrayed them by hiding facts and whitewashing history.

 

And so it goes.

[theplains]

No, it is a frank way of saying that no record was kept. 

 

Do you believe the practice was directed by God to LDS leaders (by revelation) or by

LDS leaders to its members (without revelation)?  If by revelation, why would there be

no record kept by a church which busies itself with recording every baptism?

 

Thanks,

Jim

[rockpond]

While revelations were generally written down and kept track of, I highly doubt that all inspirations were also.  It is possible that the ban was inspired though not revealed in the sense of a vision or something experienced in such a way that it was seen needed to be written down, etc.

 

I am not saying this happened with the ban, just saying it is a possibility.

 

Possible.  But I find it difficult to believe that He was inspired as to implementing the ban but, apparently, left on his own to guess at the reasons for it (which reasons are now considered incorrect).

[JLHPROF]

Well, as someone who is always BEGGING for the Church to put more depth and openness into it's history manuals this is a pleasant surprise.  I have to say I am loving the new "we admit to it" Church.  Where have they been for last 100 years?

 

I will have to read the manual, but  here's hoping that the explanations of these now included items are in keeping with the historical explanations.  (ie, please don't tell me while finally admitting that Plural Marriage was lived again that the only reason Plural Marriage was lived was a shortage of men).

[David T]

Well, as someone who is always BEGGING for the Church to put more depth and openness into it's history manuals this is a pleasant surprise.  I have to say I am loving the new "we admit to it" Church.  Where have they been for last 100 years?

 

I will have to read the manual, but  here's hoping that the explanations of these now included items are in keeping with the historical explanations.  (ie, please don't tell me while finally admitting that Plural Marriage was lived again that the only reason Plural Marriage was lived was a shortage of men).

 

There's a lot more "We don't knows" used in these circumstances. Which, IMO, is a step up from leaving it out, or making up a bad untenable explanation. This manual is progress. It's not the final destination.

[Calm]

Possible.  But I find it difficult to believe that He was inspired as to implementing the ban but, apparently, left on his own to guess at the reasons for it (which reasons are now considered incorrect).

Happened to Adam, did it not?

[Scott Lloyd]

Possible.  But I find it difficult to believe that He was inspired as to implementing the ban but, apparently, left on his own to guess at the reasons for it (which reasons are now considered incorrect).

Isaiah 55:8

[rockpond]

Happened to Adam, did it not?

 

Care to elaborate your thoughts on that?

[rockpond]

Isaiah 55:8

 

So it's your belief that the Lord inspired the ban but intentionally did it in a way that would leave prophets, apostles, and church members confused about it for 160 years?

[Scott Lloyd]

The new seminary manual, according to front matter in the book, is part of a new unified approach to developing within the youth of the Church solid faith in and testimony of the gospel. The new Sunday youth curriculum introduced just over a year ago, is part of that endeavor.

 

From the new manual:

 

 

A United Effort

The First Presidency has called upon par

-

ents, teachers, and leaders to “help youth

learn the gospel by their own study and

faith, to discover the truthfulness of the

gospel for themselves, and to strengthen

their families and others by sharing their

experiences, insights, and testimony.”

Doing so will help them follow the path

that “will lead them to conversion”

(

Teaching the Gospel in the Savior’ s Way

[2012], 2).

Under

priesthood

direction,

the

Young

Men,

Young

Women,

Sunday

School,

and Seminary organizations, working

in a cooperative effort, have developed

curriculum to help youth accomplish

these aims. While each organization has

a unique role in strengthening the youth,

the central purpose of all youth curriculum

is to lead the youth to the Savior and bring

about their conversion to His gospel. The

curriculum for each youth organization is

designed to work in harmony with that of

other youth organizations.

 

[Scott Lloyd]

So it's your belief that the Lord inspired the ban but intentionally did it in a way that would leave prophets, apostles, and church members confused about it for 160 years?

My belief is just what is reflected in the passage I cited: that the Lord does not always behave in ways that mortal men expect Him to.

[Scott Lloyd]

Care to elaborate your thoughts on that?

What elaboration do you need? It's right there in the scriptural account. Adam was commanded to offer sacrifices but was not immediately given the reason why, other than that the Lord commanded it.