By V. CURTIS LARSE
Elder Henry B. Eyring, member of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be speaking at the Church Education System fireside September 8 at 7 p.m., as the Church celebrates 108 years of the education system.
“CES firesides present material that is tremendously applicable to college-age students,” said Mark Rowe, coordinator of multi-stake combined activities.
Not only BYU students are involved, but college students from around the nation, he said.
He said that the church decided a few years ago to broadcast all CES firesides to college institutes around the world. In the beginning, the firesides were only for the 19 BYU stakes; however, the First Presidency of the Church decided that all college students should be allowed to participate in them, Rowe said.
Each fireside is held in the Marriott Center at BYU the first Sunday of every month, he said. General Authorities base their messages on topics of concern and interest for college-age students.
According to the CES department in Salt Lake City, the firesides are designed to teach, train and give insight to college students.
According to the book, “A Miracle in Week Day Religious Education,” by William E. Berrett, the former president of CES, the CES program was organized in 1888 by the Church General Board of Education. Wilford Woodruff was the president with board members Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Herace S. Eldredge, George W. Thatcher, Anthon H. Lund and Amos Horne.
According to the book, letters were sent to every stake, calling for the establishment of stake boards of education and academies in every stake and religion classes in every ward and branch.
Karl G. Maeser, principal of Brigham Young Academy in Provo was appointed general superintendent of Church Schools, and many missionaries were called home to become teachers in their wards and stakes.
In 1890, John Taylor and George Q. Cannon, commenting on the purpose of the church school organization and religion classes, said, “Our children should be indoctrinated in the principles of the Gospel from their earliest childhood. They should be made familiar with the contents of the Bible, The Book of Mormon and The Doctrine and Covenants.”
“These should be their chief textbooks and everything should be done to establish and promote, in their hearts, genuine faith in God, his Gospel, its ordinances and in his works, but under our common school system this is not possible.”
According to Berrett’s book, the academy system worked for a while but soon evolved into the seminary program. Released time seminary began in Utah in 1911 and non-released time seminary began in 1953. The Institute program began in 1926 with the University of Idaho in Moscow.
In 1970 CES was reorganized, appointing Neil A. Maxwell as the commissioner of education and Joe J. Christensen as the associate commissioner. Today Elder Henry B. Eyring serves as the commissioner of education.
The CES program has grown tremendously since its beginnings over 100 years ago. Today institutes can be found in nearly all colleges and universities. Seminaries are also growing in number around the world. The CES program has been very successful in aiding college students to come closer to Christ, according to Berrett’s book.
