Education
Thanks to a four-year Church program called “seminary,” many LDS teenagers are instructed in LDS doctrine, scripture, and history for an hour every school day while in high school. For college students ages 18 to 30, the Church has a similar program called “institute” that meets weekly or biweekly. Nearly three quarters of a million students are enrolled in these two programs, with over 35,000 volunteer or paid faculty.
The Church has an extensive secular-education program as well, including universities in the United States and elementary and secondary schools abroad. Over 50,000 full-time day students are enrolled in Church university, elementary, or secondary schools. BYU Provo, with 30,000 students, is the largest single-campus private university in the United States (and probably the world).
130,000 students in North America are enrolled in BYU Independent Study, which offers 340 web courses and 530 courses by mail.
As Mormons become more educated they are more likely to be active Church participants, a trend opposite that found in most denominations.
Utah was ranked first in the nation in both AP exams taken and exams passed per capita.
“Utah is 50th in spending per pupil, but first in adults that graduated from high school and attended college.”
Fifty languages are taught in the missionary training center in Provo, Utah.
In 2001, the Church established what it calls the “Perpetual Education Fund.” Low-rate college loans are made to impoverished students in the developing world, students that could not otherwise obtain a good education. Over 10,000 loans have been made to date, and the project is expanding.
For sources, see AllAboutMormons.com .
