Towards the end of January, Seminary students throughout the world celebrated the centennial of seminary in the Church. It was highlighted by a Worldwide Broadcast streamed from Church headquarters, Elder Packer was the concluding speaker and his message was timely for each student. We have watched the broadcast in all of our seminary classes as a DVD presentation. We were unable to stream or align a dish to the Church’s satellite on January 22, 2012 when the rest of the world viewed the broadcast. The message was timely and direct so students could not misunderstand. I marveled as we assisted each seminary class in our district to view the DVD and then discuss those words from a prophet. They were understood and taken into the inward parts of their hearts.
Seminary here in the Abomosu District is held in each of the 5 branches. The times may be different yet the messages are all the same and enjoyed by each student. There are 2 seminaries that are held at 5AM-6AM each morning throughout the week. You may wonder why so early, the students have chores before they head off to school, so earlier is better for most in those branches. Two branches hold their seminary in the evening at 7PM-8PM each night. In these areas the best time for the students is after the day is over and work has been completed at farm and home. One seminary is held the mornings of Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays for two hours each due to school travel and home chores. But each branch holds successful seminary classes and activities. They all have dedicated teacher who prepare for each lesson and activity. I have been impressed with the numbers of students who are participating in this inspired program. We have an average of 30 students each branch with about half of the students having 100% attendance. You must remember that all youth walk to and from the church where the classes are held. I have spoken to several who will walk over 30 minutes to attend these early morning classes. They are dressed and bathed before they begin their journey each morning. The sun is never up during their walk to and from the meetinghouse. They come prepared with scriptures in hand and assignments completed each day. Those classes at the end of the day, are also attended by those who walk to and from in the dark. Many classes are held with candlelight for class lighting, due to the inadequate power source here in the region. Some buildings have generators that will be used if they are working, but most classes use candles because of the convenience and availability.
Soon some of them will be sent to a boarding school for Senior High school grades. They take their manuals and scriptures but some fall away from the patterns they have learned while at home. The temptations, peer pressure and lack of supervision all contribute to their youthful follies. They usually are government assigned to schools that are not in a community where the church is established or branches exist. There has been a movement to visit these students while they are away to school, but it is difficult to keep the fire fanned during their stay at these High Schools. But we see a greater thirsting, by some, when those who return have been faithful and active in their seminary manuals studies. They love the scriptures and have learned to lean on the Lord for all of their blessings. These are they who are doubly qualified to accept callings in the branches and the district and who fulfill their duties with honor and exactness. They love the Lord with all of their hearts and serve Him with all of their might’s. They are the future of the Church in Ghana and are so much loved by Sister Dalton and myself.
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