Most people are shocked when they find out LDS High Schoolers attend seminary every day. In most places outside of UT, ID, AZ its early morning seminary which is more shocking. The coursework is the same regardless of the when though. There are no tests, no real grades, pass or fail basically and only important if the student wants to attend one of the BYUs. The only homework I ever remember was you were supposed to have read the relevant chapters in the scriptures beforehand (I rarely had). Success in the class wasn't measured by a grade or even by the teacher per se, instead it was personal. Some kids go because their parents force them to, others go for the social pressure, other for the social aspect of being around other LDS kids (this is a very big reason where LDS kids are a very tiny minority at schools), and other kids go because they actually like the course. Shocking I know. I varied between the last and 2nd to last reasons, though the whole experience had a profound influence on my life and spirituality regardless of the reasons.

Every year the course of study is uniform across regardless of age or location. The subject for the year works on a 4-year rotation: Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctine & Covenants. Since High Scool is 4 years, it doesn't matter when you enter the rotation, since in the 4 years they will all be covered. Every student gets a manual full of commentary and lesson summaries. I don't disagree with ER in that it is indoctrination. That is the point after-all. However the focus isn't on rote memorization of the correct answers and scriptures, rather that the student develop their spirituality further and learn how to study the scriptures for knowledge and answers.

Mormons are people too, which means they come in all varieties. Even liberal, however they are in the minority in the LDS church. Some mormon may participate in shout-downs at school, but those people probably would regardless of their religion or lack of it. I do a lot of cringing every time I go to church because of what some people say, or the attitudes they have. I learn to live with it and try to correct things where I can or when I feel justified in making a deal about it. Another thing to consider is the teenage mind. Its a time of tumult for every teenager as they try to find their own place in the world. I became pretty liberal as a teenager, and got some curious looks when I mentioned some of my own liberal ideas to my seminary class. Since then I actually moved very conservative and have been edging over to the liberal side again. While is is inconsistant when viewed from the conservative or liberal side of the road, its probably about right when viewed from the center.

In my view there is nothing nefarious or sinister about the LDS seminary program. I'm a product of it and will go on defending the LDS Church's right to continue it. I'd support any other groups right to have similar programs so long as they met the same criteria as outlined by the US Supreme Court in the cases I cited earlier. If in the future the Supreme Court decides that its unconstitutional, then I'm sure the church will adjust their program to abide by the laws even if it deemed them unfair. If nothing else, the church does a remarkable job of producing informed law-abiding citizens. Its an article of faith for us, literally.

Steve G.