LDS Seminary Early Morning Gospel Instruction

What kind of teenager would get up every morning at 5:00 am to attend a class on religious instruction these days? I'll tell you what kind, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Mormon, that's who.

Early morning LDS Seminary is a program offered through The Church Educational System, or CES, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which offers religious instruction to youth who are in grades 9-12, ages 14-18. It is a four year course of study that covers a different book of scripture each year including The Old Testament, The New Testament, The Book of Mormon, and The Doctrine & Covenants. These four books are the canonized scripture, or the four standard works of scripture, used by the Mormon Church.

LDS Seminary, which began in the church in 1912, is a place for extended spiritual education beyond the Sunday school instruction offered by most Christian churches. Teens study the doctrines of the church in the same way they would English or Algebra, in a daily classroom setting. This results in an educated, motivated core of young believers who have helped to make Mormonism one of the world's fastest-growing faiths today.

The LDS seminary classes themselves are about 50 minutes long, and are usually taught by an instructor who is typically a volunteer for the job. Although in some areas LDS Seminary buildings are provided, it is more common to find most of the instruction located in the church building closest to the local High School. The latest statistics in the church reported a total LDS seminary enrollment of 362,756 youth throughout the world.

This same type of further religious instruction is also offered in the college and university level, and is called Institute.

• Sleep is nice, but seminary will change your life. We have been asked by the prophet to attend seminary. It is an inspired program where we can learn about the gospel through seminary teachers and other students. I know that you will be blessed for your efforts and that your testimony will grow just as mine has.

  Brooke Richards, 17

  Sandy, Utah

• I'm still struggling with being on time for seminary, but I know that's where I should be in the early morning. I find that having a desire to learn and participate makes it a little easier. Plus, when you go to seminary with a class, you make new friendships and become better friends with those you already know.

  Cassie Zaugg, 17

  Tallahassee, Florida

• I always have a great day when I go to seminary before school, because I have the Spirit with me for the whole day.

  Richy Littledyke, 16

  Wells, Nevada

• There is a unique feeling of fellowship and love at seminary. When you attend with those who share your values, hopes, and feelings, you become strengthened and unified by each other. Getting up early is definitely worth the memorable experiences of seminary.

  Kamron Eck, 16

  Meridian, Idaho

The reasons that these youth choose to attend LDS Seminary are varied depending on the youth themselves, but some common benefits can be felt by all who attend.

Attending LDS seminary can help them increase their testimony of Jesus Christ, and helps them gain a further understanding of His teachings.

It helps the youth to build friendships with other Church members, or youth who have common interests.

It starts the day off in a positive manner, inviting the spirit to be in their lives daily.

For the past eight years I have had the privilege of instructing the youth in my area through the LDS Seminary and Institute program. Seven of those eight years were spent teaching early morning seminary. I loved being an LDS Seminary teacher.

I have seen the impact that this program has had on the lives of the teens that have taken advantage of this great opportunity. I have seen them on good days and I have seen them on bad days. Because of this daily prolonged contact that I have had with them I have had many opportunities to observe them in all areas and share wonderful experiences with them, possible only second to their own parents. I have laughed with them and cried with them. I have shared my testimony of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with them. I have seen them become productive, happy, successful young adults who are now my friends and associates.

I would agree whole heartedly with the following statement made by the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley when he said:

"As we look to the future, I see our young people in the Church. I see a lot of them. I see them all over. And I am absolutely enthusiastic about the quality of their lives, their strength, their goodness, their faithfulness. I haven't the slightest concern about the future of this Church as I see our young people. They study the scriptures. They go to seminary and institute. They pray about their decisions. They socialize among themselves in a wonderful atmosphere of faithfulness. They are on their way to becoming strong, and faithful, and able Latter-day Saints, who will deliver when they are called upon to do so"

"It is a paradox that men will gladly devote time every day for many years to learn a science or an art; yet will expect to win a knowledge of the gospel, which comprehends all sciences and arts, through perfunctory glances at books or occasional listening to sermons. The gospel should be studied more intensively than any school or college subject. They who pass opinion on the gospel without having given it intimate and careful study are not lovers of truth, and their opinions are worthless."