Most of you were taught the truth of the gospel from the time you were a toddler.
You were taught by
loving parents
and caring teachers.
Soon you entered that period some have labeled
the terrible teens.
I prefer the terrific teens.
What a time of opportunity,
a season of growth,
a semester of development
marked by the acquisition of knowledge
and the quest for truth.
No one has described
the teenage years as being easy.
They are often years of insecurity,
of feeling as though you just don't
measure up,
of trying to find your place with your peers,
of trying to
fit in.
Oh there'll be times when you'll face challenges
which might jeopardize your testimony.
You may neglect it
as you pursue other interests.
I plead with you
to keep it strong.
The world around you
is not equipped
to provide the help you need
to make it through this often treacherous journey.
Some years ago
I was on a board of directors with a fine man
who'd been extremely successful in life.
I was impressed with his integrity
and his loyalty to the Church.
I learned
that he'd gained a testimony
and had joined the Church
because of seminary.
When he married, his wife had been a life-long member the Church.
He belonged to no church.
Through the years and despite her efforts, he showed no interest
in attending church with his wife and children.
He began driving two of his daughters
to early morning seminary.
He would remain in the car while they had their class.
Then he'd drive them to school.
One day it was raining,
and one of his daughters said,
"Come in, Dad.
You can sit in the hall."
He accepted the invitation.
The door to the classroom was open,
and he began to listen.
His heart was touched.
For the rest of that school year
he attended seminary with his daughters,
which led eventually to his membership
and a lifetime of activity in the Church.
Let seminary help build
and strengthen your testimony.
It is up to you
to keep that testimony alive.
As with the flame of a brightly burning fire, your testimony, if not continually fed,
will fade to glowing embers
and then cool completely.
You must not let this happen.
When you have a chance to be involved in seminary,
take advantage of that opportunity.
How grateful I am for the opportunity
I had as a teenager
to attend early morning seminary,
for it played a vital role in my development
and the development of my testimony.
Seminary
can change
lives.
As with anything in life,
much of what you take from your seminary experience
depends on your attitude
and your willingness
to be taught.
May your attitude be one of humility
and a desire to learn.
Effort is required, but it is effort
you will never, ever regret.