Early next spring semester, Salt Lake Community College students will get free hot chocolate, donuts and pizza at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.
It’s one small part of Jeffrey Meservy’s mission: to let the community know about the opportunities for social and spiritual growth in the LDS Institute.
“It is important … that people have a place to worship, to ponder, to meditate, to do those things they feel they need to do to meet their beliefs,” says Meservy, the director of the Institute program at SLCC.
Hot chocolate and donuts will be served to all students and staff who pass by the Taylorsville Redwood Institute building Jan. 12 and 13, 2016 from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Anyone interested in learning more about Institute can stop by from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for more information and a slice of pizza. Students who register for classes get an Institute ID card.
Any student who attends at least 70 percent of the classes during the semester can get a free healthy lunch every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
However, the Institute is much more than just free food; it is also the biggest club on campus.
All registered students automatically become part of the LDS Student Association, aka LDSSA. According to Meservy, the LDSSA helps students feel more a part of the college community.
LDSSA members regularly don their matching T-shirts and attend various sporting events around campus. Attending these events as a large group not only supports the college atmosphere, but also makes LDSSA more visible around campus.
The LDSSA also understands the value of community engagement.
Members participate in a service project every spring. Although the exact date for the 2016 spring project has not been determined, Meservy says it will be held on a Friday with the goal of at least 100 volunteers.
While religion is the primary purpose of Institute classes, Meservy emphasizes that secular education is another important tenet of the LDS Church.
In addition to religious classes, the Institute regularly hosts guest lectures for students to attend.
Lectures are given by a diverse group of professionals to inform students about opportunities that otherwise might not be available to them. The Institute believes the lectures help students in their current studies and future careers.
For those not of the LDS faith, Meservy mentions that the Institute offers classes that focus on more than the LDS canon.
All classes offered at the Institute are open to both LDS and non-LDS students. The facilities are also open to members of all faiths.
The Institute also houses a choir program to increase community outreach.
The choir regularly joins the SLCC chamber and jazz choirs in concert, especially during the holidays. Their next performance will be the Fall Choral Showcase Nov. 13 at the Grand Theatre.
To learn more about the LDS Institute and LDSSA, visit the Institute building in Lot E at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.
