LDS church cuts IMA and IWA
The LDS Institute Men’s Association and the LDS Institute Women’s Association are serving final semesters before ceding to termination, in December. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it has decided to end the programs in order to focus on participation in young single adult stakes.
Logan Institute of Religion Director Wayne Dymock said he received notice in June by the church’s Board of Education, and the 20 IWA chapters and three IMA chapters were to be discontinued.
A church notice reported that for several years thousands of young single adult students have been spiritually benefitted by the Lambda Delta Sigma sorority, Sigma Gamma Chi fraternity, IMA and IWA. The recent decision to dissolve the chapters was due to a proliferation of young single adult wards, the notice stated.
“That will be a big shift for us,” Dymock said. “We’re only now starting to realize all the changes that are going to take place.”
The LDS leaders originally intended for all organizations to end by the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, Dymock said. However, Utah State’s organizations were granted an extension to carry out activities through December, because all events and activities for the first semester had already been planned.
The primary reason for the decision was to put the focus back on the young single adult wards and stakes which were reorganized about a year ago, he added.
“Many of the needs filled by these organizations will be met by participation in the YSA stakes, wards, elders quorums and relief societies,” the church notice stated.
Discussion of creating multiple relief societies is underway in many wards to concerning the close sisterhood that IWA facilitated, Dymock said.
“We’re very confident that the wards and stakes will step up and help watch over these young adults while they’re here at college,” he said.
Institute activities and events will continue to take place under the direction of the LDS Student Association, instead of being sponsored and planned by IWA or IMA. This broadens the association to more students, Dymock said.
“Its going to take us a while to learn the ropes,” he said.
However, for some LDS students of IWA and IMA agreed, the change was a tough one.
“Kids want to belong when they’re in college, and this was a good alternative for that,” Dymock said.
It was hard at first, and some of the girls were really upset about it, said Inner Chapter President Mekenzi Cornwell. “But once we understood, we felt peace … and blessed to be a part of the Lord’s work,” Cornwell said.
“I think when the news was first presented there was some sadness because of all the friendships that were made in this organization, but I have also been amazed at how accepting all the members have been of the wishes of church headquarters and their desire to be obedient,” Dymock said.
“There’s always progress,” said President Adviser Connie Welsh. “When we say there is sadness, it’s just the dear friendships that have been established, but they can carry those friendships for decades to come, and we encourage the girls to keep in touch. We may not be meeting formally anymore but that doesn’t mean your friendships end.”
While both IWA and IMA were seen as filling a large niche for students, one in which they could join a chapter and bond instantly with other members and adult advisers, this needs to go back under priesthood direction, Dymock said.
“I’m going to take everything that I’ve gained from IWA and do my best to share it with everyone else,” Cornwell said. “I’m going to go into my wards and reach out to all the sisters around me, and share the love that I’ve felt here, and help them feel that, because its something that every girl deserves to feel.”
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