Church Educational System

The Church Educational System, also known as CES, is proof of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ emphasis on the importance of education. President and Prophet of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley stated,

Education is the key which will unlock the door of opportunity for you. It is worth sacrificing for.... Take advantage of every educational opportunity that you can possibly afford.

The scriptures also show the importance of education:

Teach ye diligently (D&C 88:78).

O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth (Alma 37:35).

The Church Educational System has far reaching effects, in 2004 over 1.2 million people, both members and non-members were taught by CES.

The Church Educational System provides four programs; religious education, which includes seminary and institute classes; higher education, which includes Church colleges and universities; elementary and secondary schools; and continuing education.

Religious Education

The seminary program is offered to students in the high school grade levels. It is a four year program where students spend time reading and learning about the scriptures. Institutes are similar to seminaries but are for young adults in college or who want to continue learning about the scriptures. This part of CES is run by the Church Board of Education.

Higher Education

The Church currently has four higher education facilities: LDS Business College, which provides career focused education specifically in Business, Medical transcription and Interior Design; Brigham Young University, which provides numerous undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate programs; Brigham Young University-Hawaii, which provides undergraduate programs and a wonderful cultural environment (this university has the highest number of international students in the U.S.); and Brigham Young University-Idaho, where the main focus is on teaching. These institutions are run by Boards of trustees that include the First Presidency, three members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the President of the Seventy, the Relief Society President and Young Women President. More than 45,000 students are able to attend these campuses and another 472,000 are able to attend through continuing education courses.

About the Church’s higher education institutes, President Gordon B. Hinckley said,

We shall keep these as flagships testifying to the great and earnest commitment of this Church to education, both ecclesiastical and secular, and while doing so prove to the world that excellent secular learning can be gained in an environment of religious faith (“Why We Do Some of the Things We Do,” Liahona, Jan. 2000, 62).