General Conference Challenge

Brother Hamzawi ends every Seminary class with a challenge. Today, in honor of this weekend's General Conference, he gave a few. Here's a reminder...

• Prior to General Conference, reread Doctrine & Covenants 19:1-20. 
• While you watch General Conference this weekend, pray, listen, and ponder, with these challenges in mind:

• Seek an firm testimony that Jesus Christ leads this church.
• Learn how to better apply the Atonement in your life through repentance, and make a plan to do it. 

This morning, while Sister Hamzawi was eating breakfast, she read a First Presidency Message from 2011. It contains fantastic counsel for making General Conference a more meaningful experience. Check it out!

General Conference—No Ordinary Blessing

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

A fine member of the Church was talking with a neighbor who was not of our faith. When the topic of discussion turned to general conference, the neighbor asked, “You say you have prophets and apostles? And twice a year in a worldwide conference they reveal the word of God?” 

“Absolutely,” the member replied with confidence.The neighbor thought about that for a moment. He seemed genuinely interested and then asked, “What did they say in the last general conference?” 

At this point the good member of the Church went from feeling excited about sharing the gospel to feeling embarrassed. Try as he might, he couldn’t think of the details of a single talk. 

His friend found this troubling and said, “You mean to tell me that God speaks to man in our day and you can’t remember what He said?” 

The brother felt humbled by this exchange. He vowed that he would do better to remember the words spoken by the Lord’s servants in general conference. 

We all know how hard it is to remember every message of general conference, and I’m confident that we need not be embarrassed if we don’t remember everything. Nevertheless, there are messages in each general conference given as a gift and a blessing from heaven specifically for our personal life situations. In preparation for general conference, let me suggest three basic concepts that may help us to better receive, remember, and apply the words spoken by the Lord’s servants.

1. Members of the Church are entitled to personal revelation as they listen to and study the inspired words spoken at general conference. 

As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered. For example, you might yearn for direction and guidance by the Lord regarding challenges you are facing. 

Answers to your specific prayers may come directly from a particular talk or from a specific phrase. At other times answers may come in a seemingly unrelated word, phrase, or song. A heart filled with gratitude for the blessings of life and an earnest desire to hear and follow the words of counsel will prepare the way for personal revelation. 

2. Don’t discount a message merely because it sounds familiar. 

Prophets have always taught by repetition; it is a law of learning. You will hear repetition in themes and doctrines in general conference. Let me reassure you: this is not due to a lack of creativity or imagination. We continue to hear messages on similar issues because the Lord is teaching and impressing upon our minds and hearts certain foundational principles of great eternal importance that must be understood and acted upon before we can move on to other things. A wise builder first lays the foundation before erecting the walls and the roof. 

3. The words spoken at general conference should be a compass that points the way for us during the coming months. 

If we listen to and follow the promptings of the Spirit, they will serve as a Liahona, guiding us through the unknown, challenging valleys and mountains that are ahead (see 1 Nephi 16). 

Since the world began, God has raised up prophets who speak the will of heaven to the people of their times. It is our responsibility to listen and then apply the messages the Lord provides for us. 

Our merciful and loving Heavenly Father has not forsaken and will not forsake His children. Today, as well as in times past, He has appointed apostles and prophets. He continues to reveal His word to them. 

What a marvelous privilege it is to hear God’s messages for each of us during general conference! Let us prepare well for this great blessing of divine guidance delivered by His chosen servants. For this is no ordinary blessing.

Scripture Mastery (D&C 18:10-11, 15-16)

Gospel FAQs: The Temple

What happens in temples?

Sister H: This little blurb on lds.org briefly explains the ordinances that are performed in the temple. Outside of the temple, we do not discuss these ordinances in more detail than that. They're not a secret, but they are very, very sacred. If you want to read about the different rooms inside of the temple, go here.

How can I prepare to receive temple ordinances?

Sister H: Don't miss an opportunity to attend the temple to perform proxy baptisms! The more time you spend in the temple, the more you will love and cherish the temple. I guarantee it. Also, live your life so that you're always worthy to enter the House of the Lord - obey the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity, pay your tithing, and gain a testimony of Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, and our current prophet and apostles. You may want to ask your family members or the Bishop for tips on being temple-ready.

When I get married, who will be able to attend my temple sealing?

Sister H: I recommend reading The Holy Temple by Boyd K. Packer. You'll find the answer to your question under the section "Worthy to Enter."

How can I explain the importance of temple sealing to family members who will not be able to enter the temple with me?

Sister H: Here's what lds.org says in the Temple FAQ section...

"This can be a tender subject. Since the temple is the house of the Lord, dedicated to Him, those who enter must hold a current temple recommend, which certifies that they are living by the standards He has set. However, those who do not have a current temple recommend are welcome on temple grounds, and most temples have a room where they can wait while family members are being sealed. A couple with family members who cannot enter the temple may invite their bishop or another Church member to stay with them in the waiting room. A couple may also arrange with their bishop to hold a special meeting afterward for relatives and friends who do not have a recommend. This meeting provides an opportunity for them to feel included and to learn about eternal marriage. Although no ceremony is performed and no vows are exchanged, rings may be exchanged at such a meeting."

The best thing that you can do is pray for the Spirit to help you say the right thing. Then, sit down with your family member and bear your testimony as you feel prompted. Follow up with tons of love, and reassure your family member that he/she will still be an integral part of your special day. Make sure to give that family member plenty of attention!

We have been taught that marriage is an essential part of the Creator's plan. What if I am not able to get married during my lifetime?

Sister H: I found a wonderful quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley to address your concern.

"Because you do not happen to be married does not make you essentially different from others. All of us are very much alike in appearance and emotional responses, in our capacity to think, to reason, to be miserable, to be happy, to love and be loved. You are just as important as any others in the scheme of our Father in Heaven, and under His mercy no blessing to which you otherwise might be entitled will forever be withheld from you."

Still have questions? 

Sister H: Check out lds.org, open your scriptures, pray, ask your family members, or ask your church leaders... You may even have your question answered during General Conference next week!

Birthday: Marlayna!

 We sure like Marlayna. Happy birthday!

Scripture Mastery (D&C 1:37-38)

Plato's 'Allegory of the Cave' and The Great Apostasy

A depiction of the 'Allegory of the Cave'

In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, several prisoners sit in a dark cave with their backs against a high wall. At the top of this wall, there is a bright fire that partially illuminates the wall opposite the prisoners. Numerous objects pass by this fire, and though the prisoners cannot see the objects themselves, they can see the shadows that those objects cast. The prisoners begin a game to see who can most cleverly describe the shadows. Those who create the best theories or explanations gain the respect of the others. 

One day, a prisoner is freed from the cave and goes outside. There, he discovers a world of light, and he is able to see what the shadows on the wall really are. However, when he returns to tell his fellow prisoners about the truth that he has discovered, he is ridiculed and eventually killed. 

Brother Hamzawi recreated this allegory for the Seminary students using a flashlight and random household objects, encouraging the students to study the shadows and guess what he was holding in front of the light. Then, he asked the class to analyze the Allegory of the Cave within a gospel context. The students shared fantastic insight, which we'd like to pass on.

If we establish the time period for our analysis as anywhere between the Great Apostasy after Christ's ministry to the restoration of the gospel 1830, then the prisoners in the cave represent individuals living without priesthood authority. The objects outside the view of the prisoners are the doctrines and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The shadows are distortions -- conjectures, theories, and imperfect beliefs -- founded upon what little information was available about Christ's church during the apostasy.

If we fast-forward to the moment in the allegory when one prisoner is released, we come to 1830, when the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth through Joseph Smith, one of God's chosen prophets. With the fullness of the gospel came a power that existed in the time of Christ... the ability to "establish the doctrine of Christ or correct doctrinal deviations, [which] is a matter of divine revelation to those the Lord endows with apostolic authority" (Elder Christofferson). 

The 9th Article of Faith states, "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven." The more I learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more I realize that I have a lot to learn. I am so grateful for prayer and scripture study, which enable me to seek knowledge and truth for myself as I humbly submit to the promptings of the Spirit. I am also grateful to live in a time when prophets of God with the necessary priesthood keys are able to receive divine guidance on my behalf. I testify that our General Authorities are inspired; although it's sometimes difficult to live by faith, trying to follow their counsel has brought immeasurable joy and light to my life. 

- Sister Hamzawi 

Seminary Meeting Agenda

'Elevate Learning' Goals

• Strengthen Unity: Harmonize our efforts with prophetic priorities and the direction of those appointed to lead us.
• Elevate Learning: Provide Opportunities and Establish Expectations that Inspire Meaningful Experiences with the Word of God.
• Seek Truth: Help students be faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ and discern truth from error.
• Reach One More: Counsel with priesthood leaders to increase enrollment, attendance, and completion; then act on the direction received.

Graduation & Lettering Requirements
The new requirements may be found under the Seminary Requirements tab at the top of the page.

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Seminary Schedule

First day of class is Tuesday, September 2. 
The new class time is 6:00 - 6:50.

Request for Substitute Teachers

Parents and leaders, if you would be interested in teaching Seminary for a day, please contact us. During the months of November and December, we will be looking for guest teachers.