School of Abraham Today

Early Dreams of Consilium Project:
"A Bit of Zion Online" 

All of the members of the Consilium Project were brought together by  common goals:  to learn how to be more effective, loving parents, to learn how to better teach the eternal principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the home, and to learn how to facilitate a home education program by finding and using the "best of the best" in curriculum materials.

You are invited to listen in as we travel back to those early days, and share with us again the dreams of the Consilium Project.

After you read these comments, you may be inspired with a few dreams of your own.  If so, we would encourage you to share your dreams with us.  What works for you?  What would you love to find in home education products?  How can we at School of Abraham meet your needs?  What are your dreams?

James: 

Marji:  There have been scholars raised up by the Lord since the restoration of the gospel who have been inspired by the Holy Spirit to write things which are seminal in nature, which define authoritatively the doctrine of the kingdom, our responsibilities to the Lord and our fellowman, our duties as Christians, how to live, and what our understanding should be, the "roadmaps" for developing a Christ-like character and understanding.  I feel that these works need to be recognized and incorporated into our homeschool curricula.  I'm thinking of McConkie's Messiah series, Nibley's writings, BYU produces studies all the time by scholars, the Teachings of... the prophets books, starting with Joseph Smith.  How about Principles of the Gospel?  How about the new Church history book?  The Church magazines and other materials available from church distribution also have much to offer.  Of course, it goes without saying that the scriptures top the list.  This is our foundation.  There is so much available.  To use Charlotte Mason's words, though, some LDS books are twaddle.  Which are the most important, most valid, most worth spending limited time and resources on?  I can see this including works of LDS fiction (which I haven't read much of) which would really tell a story to our youth, and not just works of doctrine. 

But I have a vision of being able to really teach my kids deeply the truths of the gospel, not just the superficial things.  These valiant kids are capable of understanding so much more than generally they are given credit for.  My own bias is that they need all the strength and instruction we can give them…I guess the major point here is:  we expect our kids to read and understand and appreciate some pretty hefty books.  That being the case, certainly we should identify for them (and for ourselves) which are the correspondingly "hefty" books that the light and knowledge of the restoration has produced.  We need to illuminate and emphasize (maybe re-emphasize) this great font of true, pure knowledge, which will have bearing into eternity and not just for this life.  We need to incorporate these books into our basic curriculum as a matter of course.

The Catholics have their catechism; the Protestants have their basic books of doctrine; the Jewish have their Torah and Talmud studies.  The Mormons have Seminary and Institute and Primary.  But, I maintain, that I want to teach my kids earlier, and more deeply than I have in the past.  The wickedness of the world demands it.  All the better to prepare them for the time when they will be teaching their own children, who will more than likely be raised in an even more depraved world.  Unless the Lord comes, and then we'll need the School of Abraham even more.

We will have other, more in-depth studies of LDS works that have been produced by our Restorationist Scholars for older children. These works have been produced under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, yet they sit on many shelves unused. I feel they can be incorporated into a logical, systematic, study of the gospel for kids. Most parents will not have read these works, either, so we have the mentor/lifelong learning model. The gospel principles study guide is designed to teach skills and ways of thinking about the gospel. Much of the information would or should or could be familiar to the students. So we are teaching them to look deeper, to dig, to explore, to feast upon the scriptures and the teachings of the prophets. We don't want them to have the idea that they already know everything there is to know about faith, for example. Even we as adults do not understand faith to that level. 

In general, what I see the School of Abraham can offer to people is a sort of smorgasbord, where the parent and child can pick and choose from various offerings what applies to them, and at what level they want to incorporate it into their homeschool studies. Some studies will be designed to be sequentially studied. But I have a strong opinion that we leave "formal" religious study until far too late in the child's life (seminary). There is nothing in a seminary lesson that a younger child could not do, given proper guidance and support. I feel strongly that our youth are not being encouraged to become the type of scriptural scholars they could become, were the bar raised, so to speak. I do not understand why "we" wait so late. In truth, I think the bar is raising, slowly. Note the more scriptural basis to the Primary lessons in recent years. This is the trend we are building on. 

There are many homeschool aids out there for every academic subject you can imagine, and a very healthy dose of study guides for Bible study by Protestants or Catholics. Where are the LDS study guides? Not the games, not the cartoons, but the real meat? Where are they?  Bring them hither to me!  I have found a few that approach this, and I am in the process of analyzing them for possible inclusion in SoA. I seek any input in this area that anyone can give. One goal of the SoA is to erase the artificial line which seems to exist between age and gospel understanding, scholarship, study. I'd like to see religion study as a formal study, not just something that every family tries to recreate on their own, hit or miss. Beyond the gospel principles study guide what do I see? First Book of Mormon studies. That should take oh, say, 97 years. Then we will move on to New Testament. Other churches have study programs for their younger kids--why can't we?? So there you have it.   

We will offer amplification of the principles taught. We will take the subjects, and find resources that go along with them, whether they are online, in print, art, music, additional thought questions, references to other books for readings.  I think one way to approach the study guide is where we have the student record and develop and write his own thoughts and discoveries, not just being told where to go and what to do. We will guide him, lead him to water, so to speak, by helping to identify sources of information and enrichment to the basic concepts being taught in the gospel principles book.  Student guided and recorded learning is the most inspired method of education. We are trying to identify and provide a study course for religious education for a covenant generation. These are special latter-day warriors who have been reserved  to come now to earth. We need to help them forge their armor and weaponry in the forges of gospel truth. The earlier and the younger the better. Some public schools do not want a student to study Algebra in third grade, for example, because, they say, "the student would be too far ahead, and then what would they study when they got to 8th grade?" I caution us against adopting the same philosophy regarding religious education.

Natalie:  As I began looking at curriculum I was amazed that there wasn't an LDS offering. Over the last two years I have tried to tie our beliefs, the scriptures, and the prophet's teaching into everything that we are learning. But, I felt like I was reinventing the wheel. Why should every family invent their own curriculum every year over and over?  

Joanne:  What's important to me is somehow finding the best way to have Gospel studies and other studies intertwine.  I believe the Gospel should encompass  the rest, as opposed to being just an aside. 

Katrina:  The most important thing is the ability of the curriculum to help my children learn about the world as it fits into the plan of salvation.  To help them understand where they came from, why they are here, and develop a love of learning in this life to learn all they can, then they can be prepared for that which is to come in the Millennium and beyond.  

Ruth:  Our LDS worldview is essential to prepare our children to assume their positions during the "winding-up" scenes of the earth's history.  I wonder how those mothers in 3 Nephi 11-17, those whose children were encircled about with fire as  Christ stood among them, felt to teach their children as they, unknowingly, prepared for that day, and what they taught them that enabled them  to survive the tumultuous and tragic events preceding that day.  And how their parents taught them.  Did the words from a century before "they did not doubt their mothers knew it" echo in these mothers' minds and hearts? (see Alma 56:47-48) 

Peggy:  We are in the company of wonderful, strong spirits, ready to put forth an effort for the benefit of not only our home schooling years, but perhaps for generations to come.  We do have a stewardship to prepare our great children for these last days.  It will be tough, and they need the best training we can offer.  We are taking care of our Stripling Soldiers.  We will have a powerful army ready to serve the Lord.

Sue:  The most important thing in an LDS Curriculum to me is having the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as the hub of a huge wheel of knowledge.  It's like Steven Covey says in his description of paradigms in The Divine Center:  how can you find your way around London if you only have a map of New York?  If we have the right map (the restored Gospel) then we can read and understand the past, the present and the future in its clearest and most understandable format.  

Jennifer:   I want to understand Heavenly Father's hand in history as well as in the future, so we can teach our children not to fear the future but to embrace it whole-heartily, then they will be able to do what the Lord requires of them.  

Debbi:  I personally want something that helps me understand LDS beliefs, and the world around me.  I hear so many views--the philosophies of men, mingled with scripture, at church and outside of church-- that I get confused.  I am a convert, and would like something that I can depend on for an honest answer.  

Staci:  I keep thinking: why have we come to earth?   To prove ourselves worthy to once again dwell with our Father in Heaven, in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom.  So what then shall I teach my children, and learn myself, to prepare us for such blessings?  

Lea:  I would love for us to come up with a curriculum that could be used independently for children that can read well, as I'm sure there are others with toddlers. The most important thing would be the LDS perspective.   I would like to take advantage of the LDS writings I may or may not be aware of, and more importantly  the standard works, and when to incorporate them.  I think if we made a curriculum that is easy to use and more affordable than what is available, more LDS mothers would homeschool. We could bless a lot of people by doing this.  

Sue:  Perhaps we are laying the foundation for something that could escalate significantly as other LDS families see the necessity of educating their children at home.  After all during the Millennium isn't this the only way they'll be educated?  Not all those families are going to be located in the USA, in fact, if we look at Church demographics there are more members outside the US than inside. Perhaps there can be modules within the curriculum that are chosen, depending on country of origin.

Marji:  One main idea I had was this:  we need to concentrate on the things that are truly unique to LDS perspective.  Perhaps we don't need an LDS math program, or maybe even science, there are other good programs out there for this.  But the curricula for history, religion, philosophy, and language arts have true potential for development. The two areas I feel most strongly about are setting up a reading and writing program based on the book lists, and establishing a study of scripture, the standard works and living prophets.  Also, it seems to me that some of the reading and scripture study could as easily apply to any family, and to any homeschooling family, not just classical educators.   

James:  It is all coming together at once.  There has come a time when the Saints are hungering and thirsting after the truth like never before.  This is a time of revelation, when light and truth will be poured out upon the Saints.  It is what the parents in Zion are seeing and feeling--the hunger for truth. I think "feasting upon the words of the prophets" is exactly correct, and what we should be about with our curriculum and efforts.  

Marijo:  I'm not quite sure how many of these books would fit into academic studies but I know that including them somehow is very important and something that has been very much on my mind in the past few months.  The secular and Christian worldview curriculum out there just has not felt right, yet nothing clear has come to my mind.  A couple of things that have come to mind is D&C 88:118-120 and also the last sentence of the 13th article of faith "If there be anything of virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."  I have watched our general authorities and thought about their education and what they have done with it and tried using them as the models for my ideals. Perhaps the actual day-to-day schooling they had was not the deciding education for their lives.  Perhaps it was the examples of others in their lives that played a more important role. 

Staci:  I just can't help but feel as if we were building a bit of Zion online.  "We are to be united in our thoughts, we are to seek a unity of things of the heart." I thought back to how so many of us were thinking along the same lines for LDS Great Books, seeking a solid foundation in the gospel in relation to education and other such things.  There are some lessons that can be learned from considering such things, and in an attempt to create a classical LDS curriculum, I think that cooperation in order to produce the finest product ought to be our goal. 

Katrina:   I would really like a curriculum that has been set up with reading lists for each year.  If we could do something like this for a classical LDS curriculum it would be great.  We could have a website with all the information and recommended books for each year.  This is something that in my opinion should be offered via the internet.  Of course all the materials would have to be purchased by those following the curriculum but the outline could be posted for all interested.  

Tanya:  As LDS people we have a unique view.   We have the advantage of the Spirit  "ye may know the truth of all things."  So, I say "Onward!"   I think that as LDS people, we see the world from a different perspective.  How many people out there teach about the pre-existence when teaching ancient history?  Let's take that unique perspective and run with it. But don't reinvent the wheel.  Math, grammar, foreign languages should have different recommendations. They probably wouldn't benefit from being redone.  As for via the internet, it would be nice as a help, but I want a book I can hold in my hands.  I want to underline, peruse, absorb, meditate.  I have found it difficult to do that in front of the computer screen.  

Wendy:   There are several excellent educational approaches out there, but none are truly from an LDS standpoint.  I have always used a combination of these approaches, but have incorporated the gospel into everything we teach, from history to science to spelling words.  There must be a better way than for each family to pull it all together on their own.  I know there are numerous sisters who have been teaching their own variations of an “LDS education” for years with great success.  If we were to pool our experience and ideas, we could produce some ideas that would be very beneficial to everyone, especially those who are overwhelmed or just starting out.  When I was first beginning, I had wonderful mentors willing to share their wisdom and experiences with me.  What a blessing to be able to give something back. 

Many subjects don’t need to be changed; they need to be enhanced.  A good classical education must include a thorough study of history and science, classical literature and people, and exposure to a variety viewpoints that are not entirely LDS, in order to prepare a person with a superb understanding and preparation for life.  However, these studies should be amply supplemented from an LDS viewpoint and doctrinal foundation.  Other classical curriculums have done this with their various religious materials, but I have never seen one outlined which supplements with LDS materials.  

There is a real need for this to be available. I feel the Lord's hand in this, and see many willing to contribute.  When I consider these ideas, the Spirit is very strong and I feel led in certain directions.  I am trying to find what the Lord wishes me do.  What an incredible opportunity. It will be interesting to see where it goes.  Spiritual knowledge is more vital than secular knowledge.  We must not let the acquisition of secular knowledge drown out those things of eternal importance.   

Now that  you have read these comments, you may be inspired with a few dreams of your own.  If so, we would encourage you to share your dreams with us.  What works for you?  What would you love to find in home education products?  How can we at School of Abraham better meet your needs?  What are your dreams? 

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