I'm Following in His Ways

Seminary Graduation was tonight and I had the opportunity to speak to everyone in attendance. To be honest, this is the first talk I have ever written with my heart. Here it is:

          When I was a freshman going into seminary for the first time, I didn’t know quite what to expect. It was early, and I really didn’t know how to feel about going to church every single morning, but after the first lesson, I was hooked. My seminary teacher taught us a very important lesson about our time on earth, and how short it is compared to eternity. This small principle, though I’d heard it a dozen times, helped me understand how short our time is on earth and that’s exactly why it is so important we do all we can to make it back to our Father in Heaven.

            I have enjoyed studying the four different gospels each year: Beginning with the Book of Mormon my freshman year, and ending my senior year studying the New Testament. This year in Seminary, I made a personal goal to read the entire New Testament, master all 25 scriptures, and to be open and attentive during the lessons. With these goals in mind, I would like to share with you four things I have learned this year in seminary.

            First, I have learned that the early morning is the best time for personal revelation. It is amazing what you can learn and receive through the spirit when you are up early hours before the rest  the world. Reading the New Testament, at first, it was difficult to feel like I was learning anything new at all. Stories are told over and over again, but in different accounts. But in these accounts, I was able to better understand the harsh life that was put before out Savior: Beautiful miracles that he performed, inspiring words that he spoke, countless people whose hearts were changed. These things, I realized, would not be known unto us if the apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John had not written of the Savior. This realization greatly increased my testimony of journal writing. We never know how our writings will affect others in future generations, and so I made a personal goal to do much better in keeping record of my own life, in my journal.

            Second. I have increased my understanding of the scriptures by recognizing how interconnected the Book of Mormon is with the New Testament. Finishing up this year with the Book of Revelations, both in seminary and my personal reading, was not as difficult as I had imagined. Yes, much was confusing, but much more made sense. I have grown to understand that Nephi and the apostle John received the same visions, revelations, and commandments. Two different disciples of the Lord, in two very different time periods, to receive the same witness of Jesus Christ and His everlasting Gospel. This BLEW my mind. Never before had I thought that two men like John and Nephi could be so related, even though they lived hundreds of years apart. I had always believed, prior to studying the testaments, that the Book of Mormon was the essential book of scripture in the gospel, and though that much is true, I failed to understand a simple truth that we have been taught since we are little children: that the Bible is the word of God, and all that may be unclear within its pages are revealed and understood through the Joseph Smith translations, the Book of Mormon, and our latter-day leaders of the church. And if the Bible is the word of God, and the Book of Mormon I the word of god, how could they NOT be related, how could they not be the same book? I testify to you that they are indeed one scripture. 

            Third, I have a growing desire to live as the savior did. Reading of Him and His miracles have been astounding and beautiful, but they are nothing unless I take that into my own life. I know that I cannot have the power to do the things He did, but I can strive with everything within me to obtain His kindness, His mercy, His forgiveness, His understanding, His perfection. I have read and studied the suffering of our Savior in Gethsemane many times. But this year, I gained an understanding of just how much He suffered for us. To think that he suffered for my sins alone is both heartbreaking, and heartwarming. He suffered for us, so that we may have he opportunity to live with Him and His father, who is our Father. To do so, we must strive very day to be like Christ, and follow in His ways.

Lastly, I know I want to be able to recognize the Savior as if I’ve seen him every day of my life. I am moved by an account in the book of Luke that Elder Henry B. Eyring retold in this last general conference. Two of the disciples walked [one] afternoon from Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus. The resurrected Christ appeared on the road and walked with them. The Lord had come to them. “And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, ‘What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?’ And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, ‘Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?’ They told Him of their sadness that Jesus had died when they had trusted He would be of Israel. There must have been affection in the risen Lord’s voice as He spoke to these two sorrowful and mourning disciples: Then he said unto them, ‘O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?’ And beginning at and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” And on another account, there is a parallel in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. In the final book, Aslan is standing behind a circle of dwarves. He calls to them, but they do not hear. He roars, but they think it is the wind. He leaves them in dissapointment, because they no longer recognize their creator. I know that I do not ever want to be the one who does not recognize my Savior when He walks beside me, when He stands behind me, and when He carries me through the trials. So, too, should you strive with all your heart to recognize the Savior, for I know that He is there every day for you, and how can we not recognize our creator, when we are here; we live, because He lives.

Elder Neil L. Anderson said, “You have come to this earth at a glorious time. The opportunities before you are nearly limitless.” But he also warned, “We have been placed on earth in troubled times.” 3 “It is a time of permissiveness, with society in general routinely disregarding and breaking the laws of God. The adversary is using every means possible to ensnare us in his web of deceit.” I would like to take this time to tell all those who will attend or are currently attending seminary: One of these opportunities, is seminary. It will allow you to escape the web of the adversary, and continue on towards eternal life.