100 Years of Seminary

Last night there was a broadcast featuring President Boyd K. Packer celebrating the 100th year of seminary. How cool is that!? I didn't know it had been around that long...and I guess if I really think about it I can't imagine that it never existed.There was a video at the beginning where President Eyring talked about the very first seminary class. It was held in a tiny room with just a few students and a very faithful teacher. They went there every day to learn about the Gospel and make their lives better. We then found out that President Eyring's mother was in that very class in 1912. So cool! I'm very thankful that she participated in seminary and grew up to raise one of the leaders of our church.
Also in the video there were stories of youth who wake up very early and travel a long way to go to seminary. Their faith and dedication is incredible. I don't know if I could do that myself. I'm so blessed to have  chance to attend seminary DURING my school day. I love being able to spend just one period of my schedule in a seminary class. I wish I could take two classes and have it EVERY day. It's just that awesome.
President Packer talked about a lot of important things that I definitely needed to hear. He is so blunt. He doesn't try to hide behind the words and beat around the bush. I love how he is so confident in the things he says. He talked about the things us youth should and should not be doing. He said that we must be strong in fighting against Satan. Simply just stop doing things that let him control our lives. If you think you cannot repent and change, you are so far from right. You can ALWAYS change. It's never too late. Seminary is what can help us be stronger and fight this battle. Sure, he's an old man. He's been alive for a LONG time. People might think that his age causes him to forget what it's like to be a kid. And that he doesn't understand. But he DOES. His many years of experience in life have taught him what is most important for us to know. He speaks truth. I have so much confidence in his words. I think as I've gotten older I've stopped thinking of the commandments as "rules we have to follow" and started thinking of them as excellent words of advice from a loving Father in Heaven who KNOWS what is best. He doesn't tell us to dress a certain way because he's trying to control our lives. He tells us how to dress so that we can feel good about ourselves and be happy with who we are. That's just one of the many examples I could think of.
Seminary is one of the greatest blessings in my life. Especially serving on Seminary Council. When that calling was extended to me by Brother Parker, I felt so inadequate. "Surely, there has to be someone better. More popular. That knows the scriptures better. Who is more hard working and obedient than I am...." I felt like I wasn't good enough for it. But soon after my doubt I felt peace. Like this is what I was supposed to dedicate my senior year to. And it is. I've never been more thankful for a calling before. I am so humbled by it. Being around those 11 kids who I get to serve with is incredible. Megan is so nice to everyone ALL the time. Derek knows his scriptures like no one else. Kelsey is always on the lookout for people we can help. They're all just great. I sometimes feel like they help me more than I help them... but, I'm so thankful for it. I would be somewhere scary if it weren't for their great example and encouragement to be better. :)
I'm just really glad I have seminary in my life. Somewhere I can go and be myself. Say what I feel. I feel pretty lucky that I got to be a senior for the celebration. :)

Oh- and Copper Hills had the most decorated building in like...the world ;) hahaha


Loves <3