Perhaps you’re seeking a place that provides religious education for young adults. La Jolla California Institute of Religion is just such a place. It welcomes members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those of other religions.
Institutes of Religion like this one function in various settings. They might be in church meetinghouses or stand-alone buildings. Some are near colleges or universities, especially in the Mormon Corridor areas. These areas are in the Western United States and Canada. The LDS Church describes the Institute program simply. It is weekday religious instruction for single and married postsecondary students.
These Institutes of Religion are professionally directed. They are part of the Church Educational System. This system also oversees the seminary program. It is responsible for the church’s higher education institutions. Brigham Young University or BYU is one of these.
Besides classes, La Jolla California Institute of Religion sponsors activities. These include dances. They are aimed at postsecondary students between 18 and 30 years old. Young adult church members are encouraged to enroll in an Institute class when possible. It is not strictly required. There are often special-needs Institutes in areas with a large LDS population. They serve adults who have mental or physical handicaps. These Institutes adapt their curricula to meet individual student needs.
Standard Institute course offerings include classes on several religious texts. These texts are the Book of Mormon, Old Testament, and New Testament. Also included are the Doctrine and Covenants, and other modern revelation. Institute classes are offered on campus at LDS higher education institutions such as BYU. BYU students must take religion classes offered by the university itself. Students can transfer Institute course credit to BYU for a nominal charge. They can graduate from the Institute program after completing 14 course credit hours.
The first Institute of Religion was established in 1926. It was in Moscow Idaho near the University of Idaho. J Wyley Sessions was its first director. The Logan Institute of Religion was the first institute opened in Utah. Currently, there are 350000 students in over 2700 locations.
Each institute has an institute director. Seminaries and Institutes of Religion or S&I hire the director. An Institute Council consists of students. The local bishop or branch president appoints them. The Institute Council is a non-paid voluntary position. Ultimate responsibility for the Institute program falls on the Church Board of Education. This board includes the church’s First Presidency. It also has three members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Other leaders of the LDS Church are on the board too.
Institute directors often cover large areas. At times they may be based at a large university. Here there are many LDS students and multiple classes. Other teachers assist them. They may also teach an institute class once a week. This could be at one or more other universities in the same general area with fewer LDS students.
By the early 1990s, leaders realized young adults could benefit from Institute. This included young single adults who did not attend college. Many schools had few LDS students. Community colleges did not have an easy concentration of LDS Students. In 1992 the church launched the expanded institute program. The goal was to have virtually every stake offer at least one institute class. Volunteer instructors generally taught these new institute classes. They were under the same supervision as seminary teachers. The rule for attending institute was being a young single adult or a student. All single members of the LDS Church under 31 were encouraged to attend institute where possible.
In the early 21st century, the church developed a program called the Institute Outreach Center. L Tom Perry led this while serving as president of the Europe Central Area. Later it was renamed the Center for Young Adults. This center focused on four aspects including institute courses. Others included an activity council to plan outreach activities. There were also full-time missionaries. They focused on reaching out to men and women of their own age group. A senior missionary couple provided practical and spiritual guidance.
La Jolla California Institute of Religion continues this tradition today. It provides a welcoming space for religious education and personal growth. It enriches the lives of young adults in the community.