Institutes of Religion

Education is strongly emphasized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Along with offering seminary classes for high school students, the Church also sponsors religious classes known as “institute” for young single adults ages 18 to 30 and married college students.  

• Full-time and volunteer teachers instruct students in Church-owned institute of religion buildings, in local Church meetinghouses or in private homes. Weekly classes are taught during weekdays and evenings.
• Classes include religious instruction on the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, Church history, courtship and marriage and how to research family history.
• Institute also provides students with opportunities to grow through humanitarian service, social interaction and leadership training. It is designed to foster spirituality as students face the pressures, trials and challenges of everyday life.
• Institute classes continue to grow inside and outside the United States. In 2005, over 200,000 students were enrolled in institutes of religion in foreign countries compared to 167,000 inside the United States.