It is a pleasure to present our annual Religious Educator issue sponsored by Seminaries and Institutes worldwide. The goal of the Religious Educator journal is to “provide carefully prepared, inspirational, and informative articles that will benefit a broad range of Latter-day Saints who love the gospel and its teachings.”[1] Our collaboration with Seminaries and Institutes provides an opportunity to benefit from the depth and breadth of those who spend their lives teaching the restored gospel in order to inform and develop faith.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong’s Education Week keynote address seemed like the perfect way to begin this issue. He encourages us all to realize that wisdom and understanding are not simply qualities worthy of our attention but are literally attributes of God. He explains that God can help us obtain the same attributes and warns us to carefully distinguish human understanding from God’s eternal truths.

Chad H. Webb. Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

The next article comes from a keynote address given by Chad H Webb, First Counselor in the General Sunday School Presidency and administrator of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. He uses the writings of Isaiah to beautifully illustrate the Savior’s lovingkindness and the “incomparable gift of [his] atoning sacrifice.”

Ryan Jenkins examines how Joseph’s experience of seeing himself in Book of Mormon prophecies during the translation process strengthened him in his divine calling. The next two articles provide solid direction that can help those of us who teach become more effective at building faith in Christ. Scott Royal Bagley discusses how we can focus our teaching to help protect our students from the wiles of the adversary, and Shad Anderson highlights Scripture Helps, a wonderful new resource the Church has made available to improve our study and understanding of the scriptures.

The articles that follow explore the Church’s history over the past century. Kevin L. Tolley examines the continued relevance of J. Reuben Clark’s 1938 talk “The Charted Course of the Church in Education” in light of guidance by modern-day prophets. Sharryl Ludlow Hales looks at the history of women’s role as teachers in the Church Educational System and points to specific blessings that flow from their participation. Eric Rogers, Matthew Langton, and Michael Goldhardt look at the development of online learning in seminaries and institutes, an important and influential reality in our day. Lastly, Hank Smith’s article is a modified version of an Ensign College devotional that explores our students’ role in gathering Israel.

I hope you find much in this issue to bless you in your own study and teaching of the Savior’s restored gospel.

Michael A. Goodman
Editor in Chief

Notes

[1] “Religious Educator Journal,” Religious Studies Center, https://rsc.byu.edu/religious-educator.