Across the street from Granite High School stands Kearns High LDS Seminary. Its story begins not in a grand hall but in a quiet family home. Joseph F Merrill a Granite Stake president listened to his wife Annie share Bible and Book of Mormon stories with their children. Inspired by Annie’s skill Brother Merrill envisioned a similar religious education for all children attending public schools.
This simple family evening sparked a revolution. It led to the creation of the very first released-time seminary program. This was in 1912 at Granite High School in Salt Lake City. It started as a modest experiment. It quickly blossomed into a global religious education system. Millions of young Latter-day Saints around the world now benefit from its teachings.
The first seminary building near Granite High was small. It had only three rooms an office a cloakroom and a classroom. The classroom had a blackboard armrest seats and a furnace. There were no lights. The entire library consisted of a Bible dictionary. Students created their own maps of biblical lands.
Despite the humble beginnings the program thrived. Thomas J Yates the first seminary teacher juggled engineering work with teaching. He taught 70 students. He focused on scripture study and personal discipleship. The initial success was partly due to Mildred Bennion a student in that first class. Her life was profoundly impacted by the teacher’s care and gospel instruction.
The seminary program continued to grow. It adapted to changing circumstances. It faced legal challenges. It expanded across Utah Idaho and Arizona. It gained official high school credit. It even evolved into a model for institutes of religion on college campuses. J Wyley Sessions pioneered this effort at the University of Idaho. He created a space that was more than just a classroom a welcoming home away from home for LDS students.
Kearns High LDS Seminary continues this legacy. It stands as a testament to faith innovation and the enduring power of religious education. It’s a place where generations of young people have found spiritual strength and guidance. It is a place where the simple stories from a family home have shaped a world-wide impact. The legacy of faith and learning continues to grow.