Cyprus High LDS Seminary

Across the street from Cyprus High School stands the Cyprus High LDS Seminary. This seminary plays a vital role in the lives of many young Latter-day Saints. It provides religious education alongside their secular studies at Cyprus High. The Cyprus High LDS Seminary represents a rich history of faith and learning. It’s a direct descendant of the first seminary program established in 1912. That first seminary, Granite Seminary, was built near Granite High School in Salt Lake City. It was the brainchild of Joseph F. Merrill, who was inspired by his wife’s ability to teach their children stories from the scriptures. Thomas J. Yates, a stake high council member, was the first teacher at Granite Seminary. He taught classes on the Old and New Testaments, as well as the Book of Mormon and Church history. Cyprus High LDS Seminary continues this legacy of scripture-based education. The seminary program evolved over the years. It adapted to the changing educational landscape and the growth of the Church. In the 1920s, seminaries expanded rapidly as Church academies closed. The first institute of religion was established near the University of Idaho in Moscow in 1926, with J. Wyley Sessions as the first teacher. This marked the beginning of religious education for Latter-day Saint college students. The 1930s saw challenges to the seminary program’s relationship with public schools. President J. Reuben Clark Jr.’s 1938 address, “The Charted Course of the Church in Education,” emphasized the importance of spiritual learning and testimony for seminary teachers. The seminary program continued to grow and adapt throughout the 20th century, expanding internationally in the 1960s with the introduction of home-study programs. Early-morning seminaries, pioneered in the 1950s, offered a way to reach students where released-time programs weren’t feasible. Cyprus High LDS Seminary, with its connection to this history, serves as a beacon of faith and learning for the youth of the Church. It stands as a testament to the importance of religious education in the lives of Latter-day Saints.