I'm so grateful for the honor to be studying the Doctrine and Covenants with you this year!
I love the seminary program.
I have a testimony of it.
I know that it is a sacrifice, but it is a sacrifice that has great eternal value.
By the end of this year I can promise you that you will come to know how much it has strengthened you. I have seen this miracle over and over again. Those who commit their mind and heart to coming to the savior through his words have greater light in an increasingly darkened world.
I want to remind you of our purpose in seminary.
"Our purpose is to help youth and young adults understand and rely on the teachings and atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven."
Consider how this coincides with the mission of the Savior.
Moses 1:39 "For behold, this is my work and my glory- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
One of my personal scripture hero's is Nephi. His personal mission statement is found in 1 Nephi 6:4-5,
"For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. (Have eternal life with the Father). Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world."
Nephi's brother Jacob was similarly minded. His personal mission statement is found in Jacob 1:7,
"We labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest. (Have eternal life with the Father)."
AWESOME!!
Can you see how important the purpose of seminary is? I hope so. Each of these mission statements are intended to bring us to the Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the only hope that any of us have to receive eternal life, which is the greatest gift of all the gifts of God.
Doctrine and Covenants 14:7 "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God."
Among other things, God is ALL WISE, ALL KNOWING, OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT, and so merciful. He is the definition of love.
Because of the fall we were necessarily separated from God's presence. We are away from him to experience mortality. (Kind of like going away to school). Our objective is to return to his presence and enter into his rest once again. This is eternal life. This is the ONLY place that we can experience the fullness of joy. This should be our goal and focus every day. Seminary increases our faith and confidence that WE CAN have this gift of Eternal Life! It is completely possible for us. We will make mistakes, which is why the Savior is absolutely necessary for every single one of us.
It is only because of Him that we can have hope.
I promise you that if you will commit your mind and your heart to coming to seminary that you will find protection from the adversary, who roams the earth and seeks to destroy our confidence in Jesus Christ. Satan is our enemy. Every day he will strive to thwart the mission of the Savior by trying to convince God's children that Christ's mission is impossible.
It is not.
Satan is a liar. He is the Father of all lies.
We can have confidence in God's promises.
He cannot lie.
He loves us.
He wants to help us every day.
The seminary program is evidence of this.
PLEASE don't give up on seminary!
It will be worth it!
It is time for you and I to develop a close relationship with God through his words found in the Doctrine and Covenants.
I have a testimony of it.
I am so happy that you are here!
