posted
I don't know if this is the right place for this or not, but I thought I'd try.
I teach high school and another LDS teacher and I have started a lunch time group for LDS students. We asked them before hand if they'd like to have one, and got enthusiastic responses.
We just had our first meeting to guage interest and a good core of students showed up, mostly girls. We asked them what they would like the group to do, and they weren't too sure. We don't want it to be too 'churchy', but to have some mixture of 'spiritual and fun', as one of them put it. We'd also like to be a resource for them in terms of academics and so on, where necessary.
What I'm hoping to get here is any ideas any of you might have for things we could do, especially from any of you who are high school students yourselves, what you think might be worthwhile... Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance.
Posts: 867 | Registered: Dec 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
The idea that comes to mind is doing some kind of a discussion group. You could either have discussion leaders, or just have people write down questions and pull them from a hat as needed.
They could be gospel-related if they want, but they could also be about school or just things like, "This is going on in my life. How do I handle that?"
I guess this comes to mind because all of my best memories from high school are just conversations that I had with friends.
Posts: 368 | Registered: Dec 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I would stick to a social group, certainly open to religious discussion, but not a church group. Just a group they can be part of where they all have something like that in common. No agenda, no opening and closing prayers, just the occasional get-together.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I agree with AFR too. Last I heard, and it has been a while, the church looked down on study groups. Back in the day (when I was younger) there was a problem with study groups leading some people into polygamy or other fringe groups. The church came down pretty hard at that time in my area to discourage study groups.
Even now I heard that some book clubs are encouraged to pass off their list of books with their Bishop before they read them.
I would stick to LDS appropriate activities. Maybe start with showing/brain storming ideas for group dates. Students can try making different foods (not because they are girls!) and trying out different group games.
If your students have RMs in their families, they could bring authentic ethnic foods and talk about Mission experiences.
Since it is lunch time, I would incorporate food in all activities. It should be "lunch activities."
I would pepper the activities with LDS themes, but I would avoid study material--even the Ensign and Conference talks, unless you are getting specific activity ideas.
Posts: 2445 | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote:Even now I heard that some book clubs are encouraged to pass off their list of books with their Bishop before they read them.
I wouldn't believe such rumours unless I heard it from somebody I trusted who had first-hand knowledge.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Oh, yeah, whatever you do, don't study together. Actually the only problem with study on your own or with other like-minded people is when you let it replace study within the Church setting from Church-produced sources and the scriptures. In fact, aren't we encouraged to study on our own - that our personal and family study (of scriptures and doctrine) is supposed to be the basis of our learning, supplemented by the Church? And to "seek learning, even by study and also by faith"? And to seek after "anything virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy", regardless of where we find it? I do understand that a group can be led off the deep end - but that is a reason to make sure your study is following the prophet. Not a reason not to study.
Actually, I would discourage study groups, too, but for other reasons. They get enough "study groups" in Sunday School, YM/YW and Seminary. I would agree that they need a place of socialization with others who share their views. I wouldn't discourage study or learning or questions, but I wouldn't try to make it another "class" in the middle of their school day.
Posts: 1522 | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Before I could answer the question I would want to know a couple things. Why do you want such a group? How many LDS are in the school, a few or many? Are there any other religous groups or clubs and what are they doing?
If you can answer the above then you can probably answer your own question about what to do with the group. As it is explained so far I would be very nervous forming such a group in today's high school climate.
Posts: 2207 | Registered: Oct 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
mr_porteiro_head and JennaDean, altho it is common knowledge that I left the church and have a disfavorable opinion of it, that does not mean every time I participate in a Mormon thread I have a nefarious agenda.
My wife is LDS. My 2 year old goes to church. I think it is a good thing if High School kids have a positive environment. I hope Cashew the best of luck and hope the group is successful. It is in that spirit I wrote my post.
quote:I wouldn't believe such rumours unless I heard it from somebody I trusted who had first-hand knowledge.
I don't think or claim it is a church position. I can only speak on my mom's ward. She belongs to a book club. Most of her book club members also belong to a special book club of books selected by the bishop.
I don't know if this is a local phenomenon, something the church encourages, or a new policy in the making. Whatever prompted the formation of the new group, I don't know of anyone who has been discouraged to attend non-Mormon book clubs. I was only pointing out a new phenomenon I have seen.
quote: Oh, yeah, whatever you do, don't study together. [Roll Eyes] Actually the only problem with study on your own or with other like-minded people is when you let it replace study within the Church setting from Church-produced sources and the scriptures.
History does not seem to support that sentiment. My post was referring to a time right before my mission in the early 90s. The church had Benson as a president and he was very...conservative.
At that time many Mormons...well...here are two articles that sum it up pretty nicely. Note: I knew youth leaders who were excommunicated at that time, and rightfully so.
quote: Don LeFevre, LDS spokesman,...(said) LDS Church leaders increasingly have been concerned about ultraconservative "super patriots" and survivalists, many of whom have quit their jobs and moved their families to mountain retreats.
quote: Targeted are those obsessed with the early speeches of LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson and who believe the ailing, 93-year-old leader has been silenced because his opinions no longer are politically popular.
"We support President Benson 100%," says Elaine Harmston, who was excommun- icated from her Manti ward last month with her husband, Jim. "He has warned us thoroughly. But there are some brethren who speak 180 degrees against him."
quote:LDS apostle Boyd K. Packer cautioned members about falling for the survivalist line. "Do not be deceived," he warned, by those "who have not been regularly ordained by the heads of the church, who tell of impending political and economic chaos, the end of the world - something of the 'sky is falling.' ...they are misleading members to gather to colonies or cults."
quote: There is a lot of concern about some things that are going on," says Harold Nicholl, one of six Sanpete County stake presidents using the list as a guide for excommunications.
Among activities sounding the alarm at stake houses across the West:
o The practice of home schooling. o Having leanings or membership in the John Birch Society. o Holding study groups. o An inordinate preoccupation with food storage. o Reading doomsday books and other material unapproved by the church. o People who sell their services of gospel understanding for money. o Quoting the exact day of the coming of Jesus Christ. o Performing temple ordinances outside the temple.
Granted, all of this is in reference to Ultra Conservative movements and the church seems to be past this threat, HOWEVER, there was a time when study groups were discouraged. Many of these groups used President Benson's teachings as a basis for their beliefs.
I was just reminding Cashew that getting into study groups can be risky and defeat the purpose of the lunch group.
An interesting Mormon perspective of study groups is found here.
quote: What the case report doesn't show is any official or unofficial LDS policy against informal LDS discussion groups.
quote: There were also apparently some priesthood directives discouraging participation in "study groups," but the primary target was, I believe, groups that promoted polygamy and used group discussions to recruit new adherents. The Krakauer book, you may recall, recounted how the Lafferty brothers were won over to polygamy by attending such a "study group" and pondering the material they encountered there. Polygamous or apostate groups also appear to be the current focus of the temple recommend question about supporting or affiliating with groups whose teachings or practices are opposed to the Church.
posted
I've heard similar counsel about attending independent study groups. I've been unable to find an official church reference for that counsel. Maybe it's in the Handbook of Instructions.
I would not attempt to discuss doctrine, specifically because of the concerns lem points out. Making it a social thing where they can play games, chat and have fun seems more appropriate.
Posts: 2926 | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks everybody, I appreciate your input. We weren't thinking of a study group; as a couple of you said, they already get enough of that. One of the things we don't want to do is tread on the toes of what's happening in their wards on a youth level. The thinking, and it was fairly nebulous, was for more of an informal social setting, not too 'churchy', but one through which we could support each other and be together as a like-minded group, where we could all become aware of who the Latter-day Saints here are. I think the food thing is important too, it's always a sweetener. AFR, I think your ideas have come closest to what we're thinking and probably what we'll end up doing. Thanks, everyone. Any other ideas, keep 'em coming.
Posts: 867 | Registered: Dec 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote:mr_porteiro_head and JennaDean, altho it is common knowledge that I left the church and have a disfavorable opinion of it, that does not mean every time I participate in a Mormon thread I have a nefarious agenda.
Although now that you mention it, I recall knowing that at some point, but I know that I did not respond to you that way because you have left the church, because at the time I did not realize that was the case.
I responded that way because what you said sounds fishy to me. Not impossible, but unlikely enough that I won't accept it as anything other than just another rumour unless I hear about it from somebody who has first hand knowledge of it.
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Actually the only problem with study on your own or with other like-minded people is when you let it replace study within the Church setting from Church-produced sources and the scriptures. In fact, aren't we encouraged to study on our own - that our personal and family study (of scriptures and doctrine) is supposed to be the basis of our learning, supplemented by the Church? And to "seek learning, even by study and also by faith"? And to seek after "anything virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy", regardless of where we find it? I do understand that a group can be led off the deep end - but that is a reason to make sure your study is following the prophet. Not a reason not to study.
