Congratulations to our graduating seniors!  All of you sounded amazing singing, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" for the program.  Thank you!  See you when school starts again!

A Wedding: A Bride & a Cheater

How to make Hosea real for teenagers? Talk about a couple in love. Faithful. Making promises to each other, taking it to the next level of serious committment, legally wedded as husband and wife. Then cheating. Then who broke up with whom? Will he take her back? Is she worth the pain she caused him? How can he say he will never divorce her? How can he love that much? I didn't go into details, but told my students about sitting with Maxwell in the hospital last night and him wondering what the purpose of life is? And me testifying he is a son of God...and telling the students to never forget no matter how much they mess up, no matter how much trouble they are in, or how badly they've hurt & disappointed their families, or how much they break the law, they can come back, they can repent. Christ redeems us as we return to Him. He won't hold a grudge as a jilted lover. He will forgive & forget and welcome our return.

Scrabble + Rummicube

I have enough scrabble games for the whole class to team up by twos. Goal: create Scripture Mastery references!

Isaiah was a Poet-Prophet

Brock eloquently read Isaiah 25.

Suzanna played Hymn #3 for us and I told the class this was like a Mad-Lib with no words, just 12/11/12... syllables to fill in.

As Sung to Hymn #3

Though the goal may be Zion, and glory and heaven.
Through life we'll have trials, suffering and pain.
The Lord will never give a trial we can't bear
So long as we follow His message with care.

Though the path may have danger, and will test us all
Through life we'll have scriptures, and prophets to lead.
Though the path may have danger, and will test us all
Through life we'll have scriptures, and prophets to lead.


We talked about using our talents to serve the Lord.

Credit to Orson Scott Card's hymn writing workshop notes.

Stand & Smile!

You did it!

Three out of 6 students came with me to present a Scripture Mastery marked Holy Bible & The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ to the principal at their high school.

"This is really sweet, I really appreciate this," he repeated several times.

I didn't make them sing, they didn't have to testify, but they have signed their names inside those books. They have stood up to be counted. They are not ashamed of Christ.

Maybe a little nervous. It is scary to be bold, take advantage of missionary opportunities.

Over the next two days I will meet with the students of two more high schools and do the same thing. Thanks, Sister Gordon for a great idea and our local ward missionaries for providing the books! Best gift, ever.

Tabernacle Tour

The Mennonite Information Center
2209 Millstream Road • Lancaster, PA 17602-1494
Phone: (717) 299-0954 • Toll Free: (800) 858-8320 • Fax: (717) 290-1585
Email: info@mennoniteinfoctr.com

Best. OBJECT. Lesson. Ever!

This is a HIGH recommendation this year, as we study the Old Testament (the sweet tour guide kept calling it the "First Testament." She bore testimony of how everything pointed towards Christ, His coming, and His return.)

Built to scale tabernacle. Amazing. Reverent. Informative. No pictures allowed. Worth the trip. Incense, veil, arc of covenant and all.

We went together as all 3 seminaries in our ward, and met on happy accident another seminary class from the Columbia stake (we recognized the teacher, but the BYU-Idaho sweatshirt would have tipped us off!).

I felt bad for the students who missed this trip. Go with your families!

Fred said, "It was a beautiful trip, spectacular." This is a student of few words. When he first saw the picture depicting the tabernacle and the cloud by day/fire by night image, he came and found me, "WHAT is that?" Aferwards he said it all made a lot of sense.

So this was like seeing the movie before reading the book...we start Exodus on Monday.

The Mennonite 17 minute film in the basement is also recommended. Good explanation of their beliefs.

Sister Harvey said it didn't feel like a money-making scheme, it felt good spending the entrance fee to further their mission. They believe in it, and this trip made it so I didn't have to make a replica in the Church gym...to make it real for the students!

I was amazed at how reverent, quiet, good the students were.

Hot Chocolate Miracles

He arrived 20 minutes early to daily EARLY morning class. He was first to get his mug, pour in the hot water, rip open the envelope and stir in the chocolate yumminess. Marshmallows? Optional.

Sister Gordon has used this technique to encourage on time promptness. With a smaller class this year, I thought it was worth a try to discourage tardies.

Our rule: no food in basement, and no hot chocolate AFTER seminary. Only before.

I have enjoyed hearing the friendly chatter, the candid discussions before class begins. More than 1/2 the class has come early every day for hot chocolate. That is worth it!

What would you do for a mug of sweetness to start your day? Come early?!