Dear Seminary Students and Families:
We are getting down to the end. Monday morning we will cross the deep sea with the Jaredites by light of glowing rocks. I have been moved to tears reading this section of the Book of Mormon again and the serious, sober stories, the warnings, the testimonies, the sadness.
BE GOOD! Grow up strong, holding on to the Iron Rod with both hands! Prepare to go to the temple! Go on missions! Get married to an amazing, strong-testimony Saint, someone who will help you live the Gospel and raise your family righteously.
My parents are newly arrived on their mission in St. Croix (rhymes with "boy"). Their adventures include a tour of the Church building and finding 3 dead lizards in the baptismal font, (because the elders really like it when they have beach baptisms...as that is the ONLY way they can get in the water).
I have believed for a long time that the ideal missionary companionship is a husband and wife, the way they can compliment each other's talents, build on one another's strengths, do things unitedly but differently based on their talents and natural abilities. It felt right teaching the Gospel that way when I was 21 (doing zone leader splits, always 2 elders and one sister in my mission back then)--and I know that was preparation for future FHE lessons for my own children. Now, I look forward to serving a mission with Bro. Landbeck. Not just us writing back and forth for two years, but serving together. It is going to be amazing!
That companionship, that trust and working together-united-wonderful feeling can be yours now, as you live worthily to have the Holy Ghost be near you. Things of the world offend him-contention is a guaranteed way to make the Spirit leave you. Dirty words, ugly thoughts, foul language, selfish-lustful-not-waiting-for-temple marriage-to-be-intimate sexually and rude actions--they all drive the Holy Ghost away, and you are left feeling hollow, alone, sorrowful, depressed, guilty, shamed, and not wanting to pray (quick--think Scripture Mastery 2 Nephi 32:8-9!).
I want so much for you to have beautiful, joyful lives! I want you to feel the love that I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for you youth! I want to see you with your arms around your spouse when we bump into each other after a temple session, and we will smile at each other, knowing it is worth the awkwardness of being different, of being modest, of talking softly and being good.
Hang in there! Finals and HSAs and graduation and big projects are here. You can make it. I know you will be blessed as you sacrifice sleep for seminary. You can feel the spiritual renewal and flow of intelligence as you make it clear about your commitment to obeying the Lord. He will help you. You just need to ask. Sincerely ask. Ask with faith--which we learned last week means ACTIONS! We have to do something, believing we will get an answer. Seek help knowing He will help you.
Keep coming! There is still more good stuff ahead!
