Thankful for Seminary

For those of you who may not know, Kori has been student teaching seminary with the hope of getting hired full time. When were engaged he was offered the opportunity to teach early morning and I told him to go for it. He continued this for the first year of our marriage and was then offered a student teaching position and has been teaching ever since.

Monday evening we recieved an email from Salt Lake with the news that would change the rest our lives. One we have been anticipating for a very long time and it finally came. Before we opened it we prayed that whatever happened we would be able to feel at peace. The letter thanked Kori for all that he has done but unfortunately they already filled all the positions available. We both had our prayer answered and felt peace about the decision.

This was hard. Very hard. It is really hard to have to let go of something you have been hoping for and dreaming about for so long. I have cried a lot this week, every day several times a day. Enough for both Kori and I for at least a month. It has been an emotionally exhausting week. It honestly is heartbreaking. I will probably cry some more. Kori has a passion for this and it is hard for me to see him have to give it up. He is so strong, and I am amazed by him. I wonder sometimes if this is harder for me than it is for him. He is so amazing with the youth. He loves them and they love him in return.

I have wondered and asked why he didn't get hired. If there were simply just 20 people who were better than him, we may not ever know. I have wondered and had so many different thoughts as to why this is suppose to happen. The last time I cried this much and had this hard of a time with something was when I was engaged the first time. The thing is if I was never engaged the first time, I would have never met Kori. The only reason Kori and I started talking was because of our trials. It makes me wonder what is going to happen now that he isn't suppose to teach seminary. In many ways I don't see why he shouldn't teach but I don't know everything. Sometimes we have to be humbled even if it is in the way we don't want it to be. Usually it is in a way we don't want it to be.

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Obviously the Lord has a plan and even though we may not understand why some things do happen, he certainly does. Trials aren't easy, and they aren't meant to be. But we can be bitter or better. When we choose to be better that is when the Lord is able to help us grow and teach us what he wants to learn or needs us to learn. If we become bitter then we won't ever learn from our experience, it will only keep us from moving on with our lives. Elder Neil L. Anderson said, "These fiery trials are designed to make you stronger".

We aren't meant to live in the past, we are meant to move forward. If we are too focused on what happened or why something was so "unfair," how will we ever enjoy what we have now. Life is to be enjoyed, and the Lord wants us to be happy.

The past three and a half years we have had the blessing to associate and be a part of the seminary and institute program. They have lots of meetings with the students teachers and their spouses where we get to learn how to become better teachers, parents, and examples. During this process we are also interviewed in our home as well as over a video call with general authorities and others from Salt Lake City. It is tedious process but a very rewarding and wonderful process to be a part of. There are things I have learned that I can apply to my personal life and as a mother, friend and wife. I have grown closer to my savior and have learned so much.

Not only have we been blessed, we have also seen students lives changed and blessed. Since he started teaching there have been a few students from different classes that decided to get baptized. The most recent one we went to the whole family was baptized. I was so grateful to see how much the gospel could help a family so much and help them come so far from such a hard place.

I am so grateful for my husband and his hard work and dedication to the Lord and to seminary. He is truly amazing. I have never seen someone so passionate about the gospel and helping others gain a testimony. I love him and everything he has done for our family.

The seminary and institute program is inspired. It changes lives and has changed our lives. We are so grateful that we were able to be a part of it as long as we were and we will miss it so much. We are so grateful for all the friends we have met and made because of this program. We are grateful for those who have dedicated their lives to this program and teaching about the savior so that other can gain the truth of the gospel.

We are also grateful for all those who have prayed, loved, and supported us before and after the decision was made. We have never felt so loved and hope all of you are blessed for the many kind words and acts you have said and done. We love all of you and hope for the best.

I want to share my testimony that I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true and only church on this earth. I know the Joseph Smith saw our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon and Bible are true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet of God and I sustain him and all the General Authorities of the Church. I know that Heavenly Father does answers our prayers. I know that we can be with our families forever. I know that trials are there to make us stronger and can help us learn in a way that maybe we wouldn't be able to otherwise. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.