Editing Priesthood Correlation Program (section)

==Background and history==
In the LDS Church, all organizations and activities are intended to complement the mission of the church and are considered subject to the priesthood, helping to complete its responsibilities.

Before the correlation movement, the various organizations and [[Auxiliary organization (LDS Church)|auxiliaries]] of the church, including the [[Relief Society]], [[Primary (LDS Church)|Primary]], [[Sunday School (Mormonism)|Sunday School]], welfare program, genealogy programs, and the [[Young Men Organization|Young Men]] and [[Young Women Organization|Young Women]] organizations, were largely under the direction of the [[Stake (Latter Day Saints)|stake]] or [[Ward (LDS Church)|ward]], and curriculum could vary from ward to ward.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Correlation Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints During the Twentieth Century|url=http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5085/|access-date=2024-05-14|last=Rose|first=Jerry|publisher=[[Brigham Young University]]|date=April 1973}}</ref> Formal organization of a Correlation Committee occurred in 1908. Starting in 1944,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hatch|first1=Tina|title="Changing Times Bring Changing Conditions": Relief Society, 1960 to the Present|page=85|url=https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V37N03_75.pdf|access-date=22 November 2015}}</ref> the Church Publications Committee approved the content and wording of the lesson materials from each of the auxiliaries, ensuring that everything published conformed to official church doctrine.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Romney|first1=Marion G.|title=Nurture a Testimony|journal=Conference Report|date=April 1953|url=http://scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=650|access-date=22 November 2015}}</ref>

By the early 1960s, the rapid growth of the church had created administrative difficulties that needed to be addressed. [[Marion G. Romney]] gave an example of a 14-year-old boy who was invited to four swimming parties in the same week, each organized by an independent church organization.<ref name="Rose">{{cite thesis |last=Rose |first=Jerry |date=April 1973 |page=71 |title=The Correlation Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints During the Twentieth Century |type=MA |publisher=[[Brigham Young University]] |oclc=365678057 |url=http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5085/ |access-date= 9 February 2016}}</ref> [[David O. McKay]] charged the General Priesthood Committee, led by [[Harold B. Lee]], to form committees "to correlate the instruction and curriculum of all priesthood and auxiliary organizations of the church."<ref>{{cite web|title=Ministry of Harold B. Lee: Priesthood Correlation is Created|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/video/2012-05-1104-ministry-of-harold-b-lee-priesthood-correlation-is-created?lang=eng|access-date=21 November 2015}}</ref> Under Lee, correlation quickly took on a much wider scope than just the church curriculum.<ref>{{cite book|title=Church History In The Fulness Of Times Student Manual|date=2003|pages=562–578|url=https://www.lds.org/manual/church-history-in-the-fulness-of-times-student-manual/chapter-forty-three-an-era-of-correlation-and-consolidation?lang=eng|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022133301/http://lds.org/manual/church-history-in-the-fulness-of-times-student-manual/chapter-forty-three-an-era-of-correlation-and-consolidation?lang=eng|archive-date=2011-10-22|access-date=21 November 2015}}</ref> For example, to bring priesthood correlation to the local level, [[Home Teaching|Priesthood Home Teaching]] was introduced, replacing the role formerly occupied by ward teachers. [[Family Home Evening]] was also introduced. Other innovations included the calling of [[Regional representative of the Twelve|regional representatives]], a uniform annual report from each [[Ward (LDS Church)|ward]] starting in 1967, and further centralization and standardization of tithing in 1970.<ref name="Rose"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Relationship of the Priesthood Correlation Program to the Latter-day Saint Concept of Zion|url=http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4967/|access-date=2024-05-14|last=Mouritsen|first=Dale C.|publisher=[[Brigham Young University]]|date=August 1968}}</ref> The Sunday School underwent a [[Sunday School (LDS Church)#Priesthood Correlation Program changes|reorganization]] as well.

The changes made by Lee brought the auxiliary organizations more directly under the control of the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]. Privately, McKay had concerns about the overreach of church correlation, referring to it as the "Super Priesthood Committee".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Daymon|title=THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST AND THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST: DISCOURSE AND MORMON HISTORY|date=2007|page=435|url=https://bycommonconsent.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/daymon-smith-dissertation.pdf|access-date=21 November 2015}}</ref> McKay's counselors, [[Hugh B. Brown]] and [[N. Eldon Tanner]], were worried about the correlation committee taking decision-making power away from the church's [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Prince|first1=Gregory|last2=Wright|first2=William|title=David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism|date=2005}}</ref> However, no action was taken by McKay to change the way that Lee was running correlation.

In 1970, the process of correlation resulted in the discontinuation of the [[Relief Society Magazine]] and the [[Improvement Era]] in favor of the correlated [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] magazine for adults and the [[New Era (magazine)|New Era]] for youth. The [[Millennial Star]], a publication for British members, and [[The Instructor (LDS Church)|The Instructor]], a Sunday School publication, were also discontinued at this time.

The present Priesthood Correlation Department was created by the direction of the First Presidency in 1972 and originally named the Internal Communications Department.<ref>{{cite web|title=Correlation of the Church Administration|url=http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Correlation_of_the_Church_Administration|access-date=21 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222044333/http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Correlation_of_the_Church_Administration|archive-date=22 February 2015}}</ref>