Duties of stake and ward Councils

The Yount Program for Educational Advancement

(Utilizes a special endowment administered by

the Perpetual Education Fund Department, LDS Church)

Training Outline for Area, Stake, and Ward Councils (Authorized areas)

• From its beginning this Church has expected higher levels of education from its members.
• The Church needs an educated membership to fulfill its destiny as well as theirs.
• The Yount Program for Educational Advancement assists members to get more education.
• The educational advancement program operates as a priesthood initiative.
• The Yount Program supports priesthood and Relief Society leaders educational responsibilities.

The Yount Program has four purposes:

1. Support educational advancement of all members
2. Help equalize educational opportunity through school loans
3. Promote learning by faith and by study
4. Build self-reliance

The Yount Program

The Yount Name comes from a prominent Southern California builder and his wife, Jack and Blonda Yount (pronounced like the word ‘want’). They generously left much of their estate to assist educational advancement of young adult Church members, hence the name and the beginning location. Jack was not a member, Bonda was. Full story Link

Operation

The ingredients and technicalities of college success are now such that educational advancement specialists are needed to assist members. These callings take place at the local level. Stake specialists are trained by Yount Headquarters. Ward specialists are trained by stake specialists.

The Yount Program offers three services

Firesides: Orientation to members with different needs and educational challenges

Yount Seminar: Educational advancement is a complex undertaking. A seminar has been designed to assist in preparing for, getting into, paying for and succeeding in further schooling. The seminar is open to members of all ages.

Yount School Loan: To help needy members ages 18-40 with tuition, books and supplies at college or technical school

The www.yountprogram.org website has been established to assist priesthood and Relief Society leaders as well as all Church members.

“Today the world is competitive, more than it`s ever been. I believe men and women need to get a type of education which will enable them to meet the exigencies of life … Men and women need to be prepared for a vastly broader scope than we have ever had before”.  “Thomas S. Monson, Press Conference upon becoming President