Talk originally given at Seminary Graduation, Sunday 26 January 2025
Good evening Brothers and Sisters,
I remember the week before I started seminary, I wanted to practise getting up early to make sure I could do it, so I set a 6am alarm. And I just kept hitting snooze, I think it must’ve been least 5 times! So that didn’t work, and this made me dread starting seminary even more than I already was. But when it came to it, although some days it was hard, I could do it!
As I’ve been thinking about this, I realised that seminary provided me with a purpose, a motivation and a drive, not just for the seminary class but for the entirety of the day ahead of me. I’m the kind of person that, when I first wake up, I’m really negative, I get all in my head and sort of catastrophize the day ahead of me. However, seminary switched my perspective and enabled me to see everything in a new and positive light, reminding me that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.
In his recent conference address, Elder Kearon said
“Even as the storms of life in an often troubled world pound upon us, we can cultivate a growing and abiding sense of joy and inner peace because of our hope in Christ and our understanding of our own place in the beautiful plan of happiness.”
This was one of my favourite conference talks and I think this is because one of the things that stood out to me the most from the past year’s study of the Book of Mormon is joy which I noticed came up often.
In Alma 26:35-36 it says “Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were a people that had so great a reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for He has all power, all wisdom and all understanding; He comprehendeth all things, and He is a merciful Being, even unto salvation…. Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my [thanksgiving].”
I wanted to share 2 of my favourite chapters from the Book of Mormon that are full of joy; Helaman 6 and 3 Nephi 12. This year I started marking every time Joy or happiness is mentioned in yellow, and these 2 chapters are covered in yellow!!
Helaman 6 says: “the people of the church did have great joy” another verse says “And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice with one another, and did have great joy” and another verse describes “great joy and peace” (that comes with preaching and prophecies)
3 Nephi 12 says: “ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven.” verse 16 of this chapter is one of my favourite verses ever, and it has provided me with the courage to stand out from the world around me, which is something I often find hard – “let your light so shine before this people that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” And whilst it’s hard to be different from those around me, I wouldn’t change it for anything.
One thing I often think about is how others my age survive without the gospel and the guidance of the Holy Spirit because I truly have no idea how I could. I can’t remember where I heard it and I tried to find the quote but I couldn’t but someone once said “You may be the only Book of Mormon your friends ever read” which has always stuck with me, provided me with a motivation and courage and reminded me of my privilege that I’ve grown up with the Book of Mormon and the gospel in my life.
I looked up the definition of joy online and it came up with “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness”, which I then compared to the definition in the guide to the scriptures which says “A condition of great happiness coming from righteous living. The purpose of mortal life is for all people to have joy. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” A full joy will only come through Jesus Christ.” So whilst I know it’s possible to achieve happiness through the world, I know that true joy can only come from the gospel.
I can testify that the seminary programme has allowed me to become immersed in the scriptures, therefore developing a stronger testimony and increasing my capacity to experience joy, even through trials and challenges.
My first experience of personal revelation was during my 1st year of seminary when we were studying D&C, and at this time I was having to choose my GCSE options, which looking back now seems silly with all the decisions I currently have ahead of me. But at the time this decision seemed massive and I’m the most indecisive person ever so as I was struggling with this decision, I was praying for help and guidance. In the next week of study, D&C section 9:8 stood out to me which reads “Behold, I say unto you that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.” This verse taught me how to make decisions and how I could recognise revelation from the Lord through promptings of the Spirit, allowing me to develop habits and patterns to receive revelation and guidance so I’m in good practice for the big decisions at this stage of my life.
I couldn’t talk about my seminary experience without appreciating my amazing teachers; Anne, Vicky, Cindy and Margaret who all sacrificed so much, shared their light and inspired us all through their testimonies and counsel. Elder Carlos A. Godoy did a talk titled “I believe in angels” in which he says “Not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with – here, now, everyday. Heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.” All 4 of these women are angelic and have blessed my life more than I could ever thank them for. I am so grateful for my seminary experience that has transformed me from a 14 year old who grumbled when we had to read the scriptures as a family into an 18 year old who gets excited to read and learn everyday and finding true joy as I do so. It has enforced habits and patterns within me which means I can study independently, and I have found myself still starting my day with scripture study as I know it will prepare me for the day ahead in a way that nothing else can.
I always believed that the church was true and in its teachings before seminary but I think I based my testimony off of other people’s and what I’d been brought up with. But seminary provided me with the resources and routine to develop and grow my knowledge and I can now testify that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith restored the church on the earth and that we are all part of the only true and living church, where we can each receive revelation from a Heavenly Father who knows us all by name, and better than we even know ourselves. I have learnt my worth as a daughter of God, gained knowledge for myself and increased my testimony more than I ever expected I would, and I can say that I am proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who is willing to let my light shine my light before this people.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.