(Experience in teaching Seminary, January 31, 1995 TG Entry: Trustworthiness)

I             Sharing Sacred Things

One day last week seminary went really bad.  I was teaching Alma chapter 5.  I was using the following verse:

15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?  Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

I then talked about visualizing that I used to do with swimming. How I would view myself in the race.  I really had them following me, and listening to what I was saying.  I talked about my races at BYU and how I would practice before I went.

I then pulled out my 12 year-old high-point trophy, my state high school medals, and my BYU letterman’s jacket.  I let them look at them.  I could tell they enjoyed looking at them.  About this time a few students who wouldn’t come into class earlier and were being very noisy out in the hall started to come it.  I immediately gathered all the things up and put them away.  They saw the trophy and wanted me to tell them about it, but I wouldn’t.  I am sure the other student’s noticed the immediate change in my demeanor.  I closed up completely.

The rest of the lesson did not go very well at all, but I hope those that were there for the start of the lesson saw what happens when we treat the things of God lightly.  He closes them up.  He does not display them for all to see when all are not prepared for them.  That is why the temple is closed.  Because God will only share with those who are prepared to see.

II            Will You Go Also

I have had two students which were attending my class that have stopped.  One stopped a few weeks into the year.  She was from the other ward, didn’t really fit in very well with the rest of the students.  It made me feel bad.  I wish I could have helped her .  Maybe I didn’t quite do all that I was to do.  However, I felt somewhat OK about it because I knew she was attending the other seminary near her High School

The second attended through December, but has stopped coming this month.  I called her last week to see where she was, and she said she was busy with finals.  I said I hoped to see her this week.  She didn’t come yesterday, so I called her father last night to see if everything was OK.  He told me that she had to make up her own mind about going, and that he had left it up to her.  He said they studied the Book of Mormon daily as a family, so she wasn’t missing it.  I said that was good, but it was important to get all the time possible with the book.  He agreed, but said it was up to her.

I hung up and felt sad.  As I went to bed I thought about the rest of my students, especially those who persist in being good even when the others are disruptive.  I read the following from John 6:

59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go?  thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

I am not the Savior, but I am attempting to teach my students about Him.  If they would follow me in some measure, they would learn more about Him.  I hope they don’t leave also.