On Testimony, Confirmation Bias, and Belief

[Res Ipsa]

I briefly considered showing up dressed as an angel with a seer stone.

Have you considered a flaming sword? That might raise a few eyebrows.

Did you mean “singe?”

[Limnor]

Have you considered a flaming sword? That might raise a few eyebrows.

Did you mean “singe?”

Badoom tss

Would an oddly specific handshake be more alarming than the flaming sword?

[Fence Sitter]

This is very helpful, thank you! I appreciate the practical detail and orientation. I have a question about the lessons you mentioned—are the lessons standardized across the church? I mean, is it a pre-approved lesson plan that is disseminated to each congregation?

Bible study in Protestant settings have always been the most rewarding part of church attendance over the years for me. On the carrier, every Sunday a group would get together and study.

So I’m curious about the structure—like is it open for members to give their insight during the lessons or is it one-way?

The classes are taught by volunteer members (my girlfriend teaches in her ward), so the quality of instruction can vary widely. Lesson plans are coordinated church-wide, meaning the theme in seminary and Sunday School is the same each week.

Here is a link to the lesson layouts for the year:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... 6?lang=eng

And here are the lesson plans for this week for the different age groups and locations. The Sunday school classes are only taught every other week so in the interim members are expected to conduct lessons at home with their families:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... 2?lang=eng

Participation is usually encouraged, and there is generally a fair amount of discussion among class members, though this depends heavily on the teacher. The lessons are often interesting, but the instruction is primarily focused on reinforcing Mormon beliefs and doctrine using examples from that week’s material, rather than on close textual study. You won’t hear much in the way of historical exegesis

[malkie]

This is very helpful, thank you! I appreciate the practical detail and orientation. I have a question about the lessons you mentioned—are the lessons standardized across the church? I mean, is it a pre-approved lesson plan that is disseminated to each congregation?

Bible study in Protestant settings have always been the most rewarding part of church attendance over the years for me. On the carrier, every Sunday a group would get together and study.

So I’m curious about the structure—like is it open for members to give their insight during the lessons or is it one-way?

The classes are taught by volunteer members (my girlfriend teaches in her ward), so the quality of instruction can vary widely. Lesson plans are coordinated church-wide, meaning the theme in seminary and Sunday School is the same each week.

Here is a link to the lesson layouts for the year:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... 6?lang=eng

And here are the lesson plans for this week for the different age groups and locations. The Sunday school classes are only taught every other week so in the interim members are expected to conduct lessons at home with their families:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... 2?lang=eng

Participation is usually encouraged, and there is generally a fair amount of discussion among class members, though this depends heavily on the teacher. The lessons are often interesting, but the instruction is primarily focused on reinforcing Mormon beliefs and doctrine using examples from that week’s material, rather than on close textual study. You won’t hear much in the way of historical exegesis

FS, do lessons still get out of sync due to Stake and Branch Conferences?

[Fence Sitter]

FS, do lessons still get out of sync due to Stake and Branch Conferences?

I do not attend enough to know.

[malkie]

This is very helpful, thank you! I appreciate the practical detail and orientation. I have a question about the lessons you mentioned—are the lessons standardized across the church? I mean, is it a pre-approved lesson plan that is disseminated to each congregation?

Bible study in Protestant settings have always been the most rewarding part of church attendance over the years for me. On the carrier, every Sunday a group would get together and study.

So I’m curious about the structure—like is it open for members to give their insight during the lessons or is it one-way?

The classes are taught by volunteer members (my girlfriend teaches in her ward), so the quality of instruction can vary widely. Lesson plans are coordinated church-wide, meaning the theme in seminary and Sunday School is the same each week.

Here is a link to the lesson layouts for the year:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... 6?lang=eng

And here are the lesson plans for this week for the different age groups and locations. The Sunday school classes are only taught every other week so in the interim members are expected to conduct lessons at home with their families:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... 2?lang=eng

Participation is usually encouraged, and there is generally a fair amount of discussion among class members, though this depends heavily on the teacher. The lessons are often interesting, but the instruction is primarily focused on reinforcing Mormon beliefs and doctrine using examples from that week’s material, rather than on close textual study. You won’t hear much in the way of historical exegesis

Due to timing of Stake and Branch Conferences, it's possible that a given congregation may be temporarily out of sync with the lesson schedule.

So, while the class consists perhaps of not quite proof texting - again, depending on the teacher - class members generally know what the LDS point of the lesson is, and are generally fairly conforming. Awkward comments or questions may not be entertained (to avoid upsetting or damaging people's testimonies), and persistence may be rewarded with a visit to the bishop's office, and a request to "behave" better.

I would say that, for most members, there is little actual learning of anything new going on in the adult classes. Four years from now it's possible that the following are at least pretty much the same if not identical:

• the teacher - though many may be considered to be plug-compatible
• the class members, give or take
• the lesson manual, and hence the lesson
• the answers, comments, and explanations

Likely to change:

• the people who give the opening & closing prayers for the class
• the individuals the teacher asks to read the required scriptures
• the individuals the teacher asks to answer questions or make comments

[I Have Questions]

I would say that, for most members, there is little actual learning of anything new going on in the adult classes. Four years from now it's possible that the following are at least pretty much the same if not identical:

• the teacher - though many may be considered to be plug-compatible
• the class members, give or take
• the lesson manual, and hence the lesson
• the answers, comments, and explanations

Likely to change:

• the people who give the opening & closing prayers for the class
• the individuals the teacher asks to read the required scriptures
• the individuals the teacher asks to answer questions or make comments

Yes. If you’ve been an adult member for 20 years plus, you’ve been through the same curriculum at least 5 times. And the adult curriculum is a slightly more involved copy of the youth curriculum. Which in turn is a slightly more involved copy of the children’s curriculum. By the time you’re 40 you’ve had virtually the same lesson 10 times. More if you attended seminary and institute or studied at BYU. And no matter the topic or question, the lesson conclusion is ALWAYS a variation of - the Church is true so; “follow the prophet” “pray about it” “pay your tithing and do your callings” “put it on the shelf”.

When you examine “How To Brain Wash Someone” repetition is one of the key tactics.

[malkie]

I would say that, for most members, there is little actual learning of anything new going on in the adult classes. Four years from now it's possible that the following are at least pretty much the same if not identical:

• the teacher - though many may be considered to be plug-compatible
• the class members, give or take
• the lesson manual, and hence the lesson
• the answers, comments, and explanations

Likely to change:

• the people who give the opening & closing prayers for the class
• the individuals the teacher asks to read the required scriptures
• the individuals the teacher asks to answer questions or make comments

Yes. If you’ve been an adult member for 20 years plus, you’ve been through the same curriculum at least 5 times. And the adult curriculum is a slightly more involved copy of the youth curriculum. Which in turn is a slightly more involved copy of the children’s curriculum. By the time you’re 40 you’ve had virtually the same lesson 10 times. More if you attended seminary and institute or studied at BYU. And no matter the topic or question, the lesson conclusion is ALWAYS a variation of - the Church is true so; “follow the prophet” “pray about it” “pay your tithing and do your callings” “put it on the shelf”.

When you examine “How To Brain Wash Someone” repetition is one of the key tactics.

It's not brainwashing - though what anyone would have against a clean brain I don't know - it's your fault that we need to keep telling you the same thing over and over

You have to keep having the same lessons because either:

• you're like a child, and need milk before meat, and/or
• god knows that you didn't learn well enough the first dozen times

Further to IHQ's point, if what I remember of the teaching materials is still true, the teacher is explicitly counseled against introducing "outside" material, because everything needed to teach the lesson is contained in the lesson plan, and has been approved for use in teaching.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the Priesthood Correlation Program (also called the Correlation Program or simply Correlation) began in 1908 as a program to reform the instruction manuals and curriculum of the different organizations of the church. Its scope quickly widened, and Correlation came to affect almost every aspect of the church, including doctrines, organizations, finances, and ordinances. A significant consequence was to centralize decision-making power in the priesthood, particularly the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. More recently, the function of the correlation department has shifted to planning and approving church publications and curriculum, and keeping unorthodox information, doctrines, and other undesired concepts from being introduced or revived.

Priesthood Correlation Program

[Limnor]

Awkward comments or questions may not be entertained (to avoid upsetting or damaging people's testimonies), and persistence may be rewarded with a visit to the bishop's office, and a request to "behave" better.

You’re reading my mind lol

FS—thank you for the links, I’ll look through them.

[malkie]

Awkward comments or questions may not be entertained (to avoid upsetting or damaging people's testimonies), and persistence may be rewarded with a visit to the bishop's office, and a request to "behave" better.

You’re reading my mind lol

FS—thank you for the links, I’ll look through them.
[/quote
On the occasions when I have attended church since my disaffection I have been close to being a model visitor - at least while inside the building.

One time, in the parking lot, a member who had known me as a "strong" active member was unwise enough to ask me why I was no longer attending church. I told him that he would not like the answer, but when he said he still wanted to know, I bent his ear for several minutes.

Although I've attended various social activities and services (funerals, child blessings, etc.) over a period of 20+ years, I've been asked the reason for my inactivity only 2 or 3 times. On one occasion it was my high priest group leader who was upset that I was spoiling his group's otherwise perfect record of activity for group members.