Each of the young adults has been given a journal to hold a weekly handout with quotes and journal entries of things we studied that week. They are each to take an assessment at the end of the semester to evaluate what they have learned and to clarify any questions they might have. I titled that week on my syllabus as 'Assessment and Testimony'.
This last Wednesday, December 16th, was our final class for this semester. We had our final lesson titled "A Personal Witness of Jesus Christ". We covered the material for the lesson and set the stage for thinking about and bearing our own personal testimony of the Savior.
The assessment for this course had three questions:
- What can I learn from the Savior about obeying the will of the Father?
- Why do I need the Savior?
- What have I learned in this course about Jesus Christ and the everlasting gospel that has blessed my life?
Then we went to the second question and again gave 10 minutes to quietly reflect on the question, look through their material and make notes on another sheet of paper with the second question on it. When the 10 minutes were up, we shared again something we wrote as part of our answer.
The next 10 minutes were used to answer the final question. This question was more introspective and very personal. When they finished making their notes and writing their thoughts, I asked each of them to share their answers. There were three students in attendance.
Justice was first. She was baptized 6 months ago. She shared the most tender personal story. The first Institute class she attended she had not been baptized into the Church. She was taking lessons from the missionaries but she had a hurdle to deal with. Justice had already been baptized into the Church she was attending. She really didn't understand the need to be baptized again in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first lesson she attended we happened to cover baptism. During that lesson I asked those in the class who were already members to share about their baptisms. I did not ask Justice to share. She was hurt because she had been baptized, just not into the LDS Church. In her heart she knew I didn't deliberately try to hurt her but this was her line in the sand at that point and she was offended. However, we also read a quote by Elder David Bednar explaining about being offended. He tells us that no one can offend us unless we choose to be offended. This quote caught hold with Justice and she took her offended heart and that quote home and talked with her Heavenly Father. She came to realize that no one was trying to offend her and that she was choosing to be offended. She turned it over to Heavenly Father to help her learn and understand about the need to be baptized into the LDS Church. Her heart was softened and she was baptized. She is such a sincere, delightful person. Her testimony about these principles and doctrines was straight from her heart and set the stage for the next two students to share their testimony.
Mckenzie has not been to many classes with lots of travel while she has been home over the summer. But she has been a member all her life and expressed her love of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how important that is to her, how she loves to read and understand it more. She was particularly touched by another Elder Bednar quote about the Atonement. He gave a banner talk (in my mind it was a banner talk) about the Atonement. In it he tells of the importance of the Atonement making the way for us to repent and be forgiven of the sins which we commit and the Savior acting as our Advocate with the Father at the time of Judgement. He also told of the importance of the Atonement in providing Resurrection for all of Heavenly Father's spirit children who have received a body here on earth. Then Elder Bednar explained the other important part of the Atonement, the 'enabling power' which helps us to be better and more than we ever could on our own. It is that strength that takes us through the lowest, hardest points in our lives and helps us learn and grow through them. This is such a precious part of the Atonement and that quote touched Mckenzie's already strong love of and thirst to understand more the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Powerful testimony.
Josiah was the last to share. He simply summed the whole course beautifully and explained how much he loved that every aspect of the Savior's life was an example and touches our lives. He feels that in all he does and in the choices he makes with his life. He thoughts were clear and summed up all our feelings about Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.
This was one of those lessons that touched my heart. I want to always remember the goodness and strength of the young adults. Mckenzie and Josiah will leave January 1st and head to Idaho to school. Aubrey and Breck shared their feelings about these three questions the week prior to leaving on their missions. I love the Seminary and Institute programs of the Church. I personally grow so much as I prepare the lessons. Then I am doubly blessed by having tender moments like this to strengthen me as I watch these young adults share their understanding. These moments truly sustain me when the trying moments of life come. I am grateful for them.
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