Editing Priesthood Correlation Program

In [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), the '''Priesthood Correlation Program''' (also called the '''Correlation Program''' or simply '''Correlation''') began in 1908 as a program to reform the instruction manuals and curriculum of the different organizations of the church. Its scope quickly widened, and Correlation came to affect almost every aspect of the church, including doctrines, organizations, finances, and [[Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)|ordinances]]. A significant consequence was to centralize decision-making power in the [[Priesthood (Mormonism)|priesthood]], particularly the [[Quorum of the 12 Apostles]]. More recently, the function of the correlation department has shifted to planning and approving church publications and curriculum and keeping unorthodox information, doctrines, and other undesired concepts from being introduced or revived.

==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>

== Doctrines and structure ==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2018}}
Between the 1920s and early 1960s, there was an increase in printed material available to LDS Church members, much of which contained opinions or quotes of church leaders that contradicted the evolving official positions and doctrines of the church. Additionally, historical documents surfaced, were made available, or printed from early members' diaries, which did not support the official church history. To counter this, the Correlation Committee, under the direction of the First Presidency, began to print materials and other curriculum to clarify and standardize what the church hierarchy considered to be official doctrine and history.<ref name="Rose"/>

Another result is the block program, which standardized Sunday as the official day to hold most public [[Worship services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|church meetings]]. Prior to the 1980s, meetings were held throughout the week. For example, in a local ward, the Relief Society may have met on Monday mornings, Primary and choir practice on Tuesday, Young Women and Young Men on Thursday, ward activities and events on Friday, and service projects on Saturday. Because of the church's focus on families, the Correlation Committee recommended a three-hour block of meetings on Sunday that would include a sacrament meeting, Sunday School, priesthood and Relief Society meetings, and Primary, Young Men, and Young Women classes. This would allow families to spend more time together and for parents and children to be more involved with their communities.

Additionally, due to a more centralized structure, local building funds and ward budgets were centralized by the church, easing the contributions of local members for such funds and allowing for a more equitable distribution of funds. Before this, church areas with more wealthy members tended to have better-funded buildings and activities than poorer areas.

== Results and curriculum ==
Because of the correlation program, the church generally operates the same in structure, practice, and doctrine globally. For example, members in [[Germany]], [[Kenya]], and [[Utah]] all generally study the same lessons and attend the same type of meetings in any given week. According to [[Carlos E. Asay]], who served as an executive director of the Church Curriculum Department, employees use planning charts to ensure that important gospel topics are properly covered and taught at regular intervals.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Asay|first1=Carlos|title="For the Perfecting of the Saints": A Look at Church Curriculum|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1986/01/for-the-perfecting-of-the-saints-a-look-at-church-curriculum?lang=eng|access-date=21 November 2015}}</ref>

Currently, there are two curriculum tracks for members: one for areas where the church is fully established in wards and stakes, and another for areas where the church is growing and smaller in number. The doctrines taught are the same; however, the emphasis on principles, church structure, and church culture is more emphasized in fledgling areas, while emphasis in established areas focuses more on the application of the principles taught.

== See also ==
* [[History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
* [[Strengthening Church Members Committee]]
* [[Women and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]

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{{Refend}}

[[Category:History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]