Syllabus
Welcome to the online version of FDREL 333: Teachings of the Living Prophets! This course is unique and will prove to be very exciting and rewarding if you are willing to put in the effort. The ninth Article of Faith states, "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." Additionally, we learn from the Old Testament that "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). Understanding how God speaks to man is the key to our happiness.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Course Description
This course centers its emphasis on the role, function, and teachings of living prophets, seers, and revelators as building blocks of faith in a world of challenge and confusion.
Objectives
Department of Religion Central Aim
The purpose of Religious Education is to build testimonies of the restored gospel by teaching the scriptures and writings of modern day apostles and prophets. Measurable outcomes should include a better understanding of the doctrine, history, places and peoples as given in the inspired revelations. It is also desired that commitment to God will flourish as individuals deepen their knowledge, prepare themselves for the sacred ordinances of the temple, and determine to serve the Church through missions and day-to-day activity in the Lord's Kingdom.
Department of Religion Measurable Outcomes
- Students will gain a better understanding of scriptural history and people surrounding the standard works of the LDS Church.
- Students will gain greater knowledge of the doctrines, principles, and ordinances of peoples found in the scriptures and of those practiced in the restored Church of Jesus Christ as they study and compare the writings of both past and present day prophets.
- Students should have the ability to discuss clearly the basics of the above, to teach them in their homes and in church responsibilities, and to others interested in their religious beliefs.
- As the gospel is taught and the spirit is invited into the classroom, faith will increase and commitment to God will flourish, better preparing students for the sacred ordinances of the temple, missionary work, community, and church service.
The Teachings of the Living Prophets Course Objectives
- Identify, describe, and apply the doctrines and principles taught by Latter-day prophets, emphasizing those found in the most recent General Conference.
- Discover and share key aspects of the workings of God in the lives and backgrounds of the current First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
- Describe the order of succession in the Presidency and Apostolic seniority, what it means to preside, and the principle of revelation as it relates to jurisdiction.
- Define priesthood, priesthood keys, and delegated authority.
- Exemplify faith in Jesus Christ by applying the teachings (both word and deed) of the living prophets and esteem them above personal, philosophical, and political ideologies.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
- The LDS Standard Works
- Teachings of the Living Prophets Student Manual (a free version of the student manual is available online and may be downloaded)
TIME COMMITMENT
The BYU-Idaho University standard is that you should expect to spend 3 to 4 hours of work per week for every credit hour. For this two-credit class, you should plan on spending from 6 to 8 hours per week.
COURSE GRADE
Grading Philosophy
There are two important, and very different, grading systems used in this class. The first, and most important, is how well you are doing in the process of learning by the power of the Holy Ghost, to become a better Latter-day Saint (Discipleship).The Lord-and only the Lord-can judge how well you do in this area. He will bless you for the sincere effort you make to increase your knowledge of the gospel. The other grading system is the one we will use to determine your grade for the course.
You are taking this religion class that will allow you to have experience with the scriptures, words of the living prophets, and the Spirit in a college setting, offered for credit. Your grade will be determined by the Course Activitiesbelow. Please keep in mind the real objective of this class has a much higher purposethan the grade you will receive at the end of the semester. Your grade is a reflection of the academic work you put into the class. It would be a real tragedy to get an A in the academic process and receive an average or less than average grade when it comes to changing your life for the better. Through your own efforts, you can be successful in both.
Course Activities and Point Distribution
| Activity | Points |
|---|---|
Introduction Assignments
|
25 point sub-total
|
Assessments and Exams
|
355 point sub-total
|
Teachings of Apostles
|
320 point sub-total
|
Capstone Practicum
|
300 point sub-total
|
| TOTAL POINTS FOR THE COURSE | 1000 POINTS |
Course Grade Breakdown
| Percent | Course Grade |
|---|---|
| 100 - 94 | A |
| 93 - 90 | A- |
| 89 - 87 | B+ |
| 86 - 84 | B |
| 83 - 80 | B- |
| 79 - 77 | C+ |
| 76 - 74 | C |
| 73 - 70 | C- |
| 69 - 67 | D+ |
| 66 - 64 | D |
| 63 - 50 | D- |
| 49 and below | F |
Assignment Descriptions
Introduction Assignments
Ice Breaker, What I Hope to Gain From This Class, and Favorite Conference Talk (Lesson 3 Activity 3).
Assessments and Exams
There will be seven quizzes that assess your understanding of the reading from Teachings of the Living Prophets Student Manual. These quizzes are open-manual, timed, and consist of multiple-choice, matching, and true/false questions. There will be a mid-semester exam covering the quiz materials and a final exam covering the identification of the 15 apostles.
Life and Testimony of Each Apostle
You will read biographical information on each apostle and watch a video of each apostle's testimony. You will then write two paragraphs; one which states how the biographical information impressed you; and the second paragraph will be regarding the impact of the apostle's testimony.
Readings and Write-Ups/Teach A Friend
In Lessons 4-13 (excluding Lesson 7), you have the wonderful opportunity to study recent General Conference talks given by members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. You will also search LDS.org for one additional address of your choice from each prophet and apostle. (As you study these talks, you are encouraged to add quotes to your Capstone Practicum.) You will then share the insights you gained from reading the talks with someone outside of the class. Please note that some weekly lessons require that you submit short write-ups sharing what you learned from the talks you read for that week. Other weeks you will participate in our class discussion board. There, you will be expected to share insights with your classmates about what you learned from the talks assigned. This will give our class some variety and allow us to share in different ways with each other.
Capstone Practicum
The capstone practicum consists of three phases. In phase 1 of your practicum you are given four required topics to study and you will select four additional topics of interest to you to study during the semester. (Total of 8 topics.) Phase 2 consists of finding quotes about the four assigned topics and the four topics of your choosing that relate to you during this time of your life! For each topic, you must collect a minimum of ten quotes, of "counsel" from the living prophets. These quotes will help you better understand what the Lord and His servants teach concerning these issues and how you can more fully submit to God’s mind and will on these issues. It is important to gather quotes throughout the semester as you complete the assigned readings. At the end of the semester you will be asked to write a position statement for each of the 8 topics. (The position statement should only be completed after you have finished gathering the ten quotes for each of your 8 topics!). Each position statement should be a personal statement of conviction and intended action regarding the topic. For phase 3 of your practicum you will choose one topic from the original 8 and beginning with lesson 8 to apply it in your life for the next six weeks of the semester. Phase 3 requires at least a 2-3 hour application effort (spread over 6 weeks). At the end of the semester you will be asked to complete a write-up about your application phase 3 experience.
POLICIES
Learning Model
BYU-Idaho Learning Model Vision Statement
At BYU-Idaho, we foster faith-building and life-changing learning. Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the gifts of the Holy Ghost, our commitment to the restored gospel, and our effort to build a Zion learning community motivates us to learn and teach by study and by faith.
Underlying Assumptions
- Everybody at BYU-Idaho is a learner and a teacher.
- Learners and teachers at BYU-Idaho are at different levels in their individual progress towards learning by study and also by faith.
- The principles of the Learning Model apply to all aspects of the BYU-Idaho experience.
Principles-Learners and teachers at BYU-Idaho
- Exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as a principle of power
- Understand that true teaching is done by and with the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.
- Lay hold upon the word of God as found in the Holy Scriptures and in the words of the prophets in all disciplines.
- Act for themselves and accept responsibility for learning and teaching.
- Love, serve, and teach one another.
Honor Code
The Code of Honor, Dress and Grooming Standards, and Academic Honesty will be enforced in the class. Although it is online, please remember that you still need to live by the Honor Code standards. This is especially true as it relates to Academic Honesty (because of the nature of the course design, you will be doing significant amounts of self-reporting). Each of us has made a commitment to follow these guidelines. Therefore, it is incumbent on each of us to live true to our commitment and covenants.
Late Work
All course activities have solid due dates or deadlines. Failure to meet the stated due dates will result in the reduction of your grade for that particular activity. There will be NO make-up work available for missed activities, so it would be beneficial to complete work early.
Disability Law
In compliance with applicable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to "reasonable accommodation." It is the student's responsibility to disclose to the teacher any special need she/he may have as soon as possible as accommodations are not retroactive.
RESOURCES
BYU-Idaho Support Center
The BYU-Idaho Support Center (BSC) is designed to help any students taking online courses at BYU-Idaho. If you have questions about any online course or any feedback concerning online courses, instructors, or your online learning experience please contact the BSC.
BSC Contact Information
Phone: 208-496-1800
Toll Free Phone: 866-672-2984
Text Messaging: 208-557-4142
Email: onlinelearning@byui.edu
Live Chat: Click Here
Website: https://www.byui.edu/online/online-support-center
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 AM - 7 PM, (Mountain Time)