Seminaries and Institutes of Religion

Teacher Resources

Studying the scriptures

Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Learning Models


With eased LGU restrictions in most parts of the country, Seminaries and Institutes of Religion classes continue to operate under the direction of local priesthood leaders, and while adhering to safety protocols.


Below are different learning models for the seminary and institute programs in the Philippines for the school year 2021-2022. As students, parents, teachers, and leaders counsel together, they will be guided to choose the appropriate learning model that will best suit their circumstances.

Seminary Program

1. Face-to-Face Daily or Once a Week Class

Expectations for students:

  • Daily face to face class: attend and participate in class 4 to 5 times a week led by called teacher. Read assigned readings.
  • Home Study face to face class: Answer 4 lessons from the student manual and attend once a week gathering led by called teacher. Read assigned readings.

Materials Needed:

  • Scriptures
  • Journal/Notebook
  • Teacher manual/student manual (for Home Study class)

Teacher’s Role:

  • Seek approval from parents and local priesthood leaders before creating the class
  • Observe safety protocols
  • Ensure physical distancing
  • Participants wear masks
  • Wash/sanitize hands frequently
  • Follow-up reading progress weekly

2. Online Seminary Class (with Canvas)

Expectations for students:

  • 4-days self-led completion of online modules from Canvas
  • Attend once a week virtual class
  • Read assigned readings

Materials Needed:

  • High speed internet (at least 7.1 mbps)
  • Zoom or other video conferencing tool and Canvas (The materials in Canvas are created to be asynchronous which means they are self-paced. Students complete the coursework on their time but still meet weekly deadlines)
  • Scriptures
  • Notebook/journal

Teacher’s Role:

  • Daily monitoring of student’s module accomplishment in Canvas
  • Once a week meeting via Zoom or another video conferencing tool
  • Follow-up reading progress weekly

3. Virtual Daily Seminary Class

Expectation for Students:

  • Participate in video conference-type class 4 to 5 times a week
  • Read the assigned readings

Materials Needed:

  • High-speed internet (at least 7.1 mbps)
  • Zoom or another video conferencing tool
  • Scriptures
  • Notebook/journal

Teacher’s Role:

  • Lead class 4 to 5 times a week via Zoom or other video conferencing tool
  • Follow-up reading progress weekly

4. Virtual Home Study Seminary Class

Expectations for Students:

  • Answer 4 lessons per week from the student manual
  • Join a weekly virtual class
  • Electronically submit assignments (4 lessons) to teacher weekly. Scanned or photo submissions accepted
  • Read assigned readings

Materials Needed:

  • Reliable internet
  • Hard copy or digital copy (Gospel Library) or the seminary student manual
  • Scriptures
  • Notebook/journal

Teacher’s Role:

  • Collect weekly assignments (4 lessons) from students
  • Teach a weekly virtual class
  • Follow-up reading progress weekly

5. Module Approach

Expectations for Students:

  • Answer 5 lessons per week from student manual
  • Communicate with the teacher through their parents via Messenger chat or text if there are questions
  • Read assigned readings

Materials Needed:

  • Hard copy or digital copy (Gospel Library) of the seminary student manual
  • Scriptures
  • Notebook/journal

Teacher’s Role:

  • Collect assignments weekly (hard or soft copy)
  • Communicate with students through parents/guardian via chat or text
  • Follow-up reading progress weekly

6. Least Approach

(Adaptation option for those with limited resources)

Expectation for Students:

  • Participate in the family “Come Follow Me” reading and discussion for the week
  • Record thoughts and feelings
  • Send a weekly text to the teacher through their parents, “This is what I learned this week…”
  • Read assigned readings

Materials Needed:

  • Text capable cellular phone
  • Scriptures
  • Notebook/journal

Teacher’s Role:

  • Give direction to the student through their parents via text
  • Follow-up reading progress weekly
  • Require submission of notebook

7. Daily Read the Assigned Scripture Block

(Adaptation option for those without cellular phone)

Expectation for Students:

  • Participate in the family “Come Follow Me” reading and discussion
  • Record thoughts and feelings
  • Read assigned readings

Materials Needed:

  • Scriptures
  • Notebook/journal

Teacher’s Role:

  • Weekly reading progress follow-up
  • Require submission of notebook

Institute Program

1. Face-to-Face Once a Week or Twice a Week

Expectations for Students:

  • Attend and participate in a class once or twice a week led by called teacher
  • Read all required reading

Materials Needed:

  • Scriptures
  • Journal/notebook
  • Student manual

Teacher’s Role:

  • Seek approval from local priesthood leaders before creating the class
  • Observe safety protocols
  • Weekly reading progress follow-up

2. Online Institute Class

Expectations for Students:

  • Canvas Mobile App (optional) or browser at silearn.churchofjesuschrist.org
  • Weekly completion of modules in Canvas
  • Participate in weekly meetings via Zoom or other video conferencing tool
  • Read required readings

Materials Needed:

  • High-speed internet (at least 7.1 mbps)
  • Zoom or other video conferencing tool
  • Scriptures
  • Notebook/journal

Teacher’s Role:

  • Weekly monitor student module assignments in Canvas
  • Lead once a week meeting via Zoom or other video conferencing tool
  • Weekly reading progress follow-up
  • Check Elevate Learning Experience (ELE) progress

3. Virtual Institute Class

Expectation for Students:

  • Participate in the weekly 90-minute class via video conferencing tool
  • Accomplish Elevate Learning Experience (ELE)
  • Read required readings

Materials Needed:

  • High-speed internet (at least 7.1 mbps)
  • Zoom or other video conferencing tool
  • Scriptures
  • Notebook/journal

Teacher’s Role:

  • Lead a once-a-week virtual class
  • Check on ELE progress
  • Weekly reading progress follow-up

4. Independent Study

Expectations for Student:

  • Accomplish all required assignments in the Independent Study material
  • Electronically submit the answer sheets to the teacher weekly
  • Submit an Elevate Learning Experience output
  • Read the required readings

Materials Needed:

  • Independent Study material. Download at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/si/institute/manuals?lang=eng
  • Scriptures
  • Notebook/journal

Teacher’s Role:

  • Weekly check and verify completion of answer sheets
  • Weekly mark attendance
  • Check on ELE progress