The unifying power of Church Correlation with Clyde Williams
Jul 23, 2024
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Clyde Williams, an expert in Church Correlation and former educator at Brigham Young University, shares insights on the unifying power of Church teachings. He discusses his transformative faith journey and the vital role of the Correlation Committee in aligning doctrine and practice. Clyde also brings personal anecdotes from his experience filming Book of Mormon videos, highlighting how scripture can come alive. Additionally, he opens up about his battle with gallbladder cancer, showcasing resilience and the importance of community during challenges.
Church Correlation plays a crucial role in unifying doctrine, policy, and practice among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Clyde Williams emphasizes the importance of personal application of gospel teachings in education to foster a deeper understanding and love for the scriptures.
Deep dives
The Role of Church Correlation
Correlation within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plays a vital role in unifying doctrine, policy, and practice among its members. It is managed by a committee that consists of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, ensuring that all teachings align with Church doctrine. This process is crucial to maintaining doctrinal unity and helps in aligning resources such as magazines and social media with the Church's overarching messages. The committee also oversees things like approved imagery of the Savior, ensuring that representations adhere to guidelines that reflect reverence and accuracy.
Life Lessons from Mission Service
Experiences during missionary service can have a profound impact on one's life and testimony, as illustrated by Clyde Williams's reflections on his time in the Southwest British Mission. One memorable encounter involved receiving guidance directly from then-Apostle Spencer W. Kimball, who counseled missionaries on how to handle questions of faith and understanding. This advice, to put challenging questions on a 'shelf' for later reflection, has remained a guiding principle for Williams throughout his life. The focus on applying gospel principles to personal life and fostering a deeper understanding of scripture formed a solid foundation for his subsequent roles in Church education.
Influence of Church Education
Clyde Williams's journey in Church education highlights the importance of nurturing understanding and personal application of the gospel among youth and young adults. His teaching philosophy emphasizes that it's not just about memorizing facts but understanding how the doctrines apply to everyday life. By encouraging students to engage with the scriptures and see their relevance, he aimed to foster a deeper love for the gospel. His experience writing curriculum for the Church further allowed him to shape lessons that promote understanding and embodiment of gospel teachings.
Experiences with Church Leaders
Working closely with Church leaders has significantly influenced Clyde Williams's testimony and understanding of the gospel. Through his role in correlation and church education, he compiled teachings of various Church Presidents, which deepened his knowledge and appreciation for their guidance. His time spent gathering and interpreting these teachings helped forge strong connections between scriptural principles and messages from modern prophets. These experiences reinforced his belief in the divine calling of church leaders and inspired his commitment to support their mission and teachings.
Church Correlation is the process by which members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints become united through the covenants of the gospel to establish the kingdom of God in their hearts, in their homes, in their communities and throughout the world. Official Church publications, including the Church News, work with members of the Church Correlation Department to ensure that all published materials align with the doctrine of Jesus Christ and Church policies.
This episode of the Church News podcast features Clyde Williams, who worked in the Church Educational System and as a Brigham Young University religious educator before joining the Church’s Correlation Evaluation team. His decades of study have shaped his testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, built his faith in the Savior and showcased the reality of priesthood authority. He joins the Church News podcast to talk about this journey, the Church Educational System, and the unifying power of Church correlation.
The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and executive editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.
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