Youth and Young Adults Asked to Invite a Friend to Seminary and Institute

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A new initiative from Seminaries and Institutes of Religion (S&I) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints highlights a simple and effective way for youth and young adults to participate in the gathering of Israel by inviting their friends to seminary and institute.

Church President Russell M. Nelson has described the young people of the Church as “unusually gifted in sharing what they believe.”

This initiative comes at a time when enrollment in seminary and institute is at a record high, as noted by Elder Ronald A. Rasband during his recent general conference address. With more than 800,000 students registered, S&I programs enrich young people’s lives in 38 languages across more than 180 countries.

“The Lord is doing something powerful,” said Elder Clark G. Gilbert, Church Commissioner of Education, in an interview with the Church News. “He’s hastening the work, and one of the ways He’s doing it is through the future of this Church, which are youth and are young adults, and it’s inspiring to see what’s happening in their lives.”

Empowered to share the gospel in normal and natural ways, the efforts of these youth are reflected in the numbers, with approximately 60,000 friends enrolled in S&I classes worldwide.

These friends often describe feeling a sense of belonging, community and peace as they participate. Surrounded by fellow disciples of Jesus Christ, they begin to deepen their own faith. Recent data reflects the remarkable effect of friend enrollment, with nearly one in three choosing to join the Church after enrolling.

Church research has shown that youth who attend seminary are four times more likely to remain connected with the Church in the future. Likewise, institute attendance is a reliable indicator of lifelong discipleship and outcomes such as feelings of belonging, personal devotion and feeling the Spirit.

“Our youth gather in a variety of ways, from early morning, daytime and evening classes to online and in-home study,” Elder Rasband said. “They are a mighty and righteous battalion, gaining strength from each other as they learn of Jesus Christ, follow and testify of Him as the Son of God.”

At a time when religious activity is declining among young people, the trend is reversed among the youth of the Church, with more than 125,000 S&I students added over the last three years.

Said Elder Gilbert: “And this is not a naive hiding from the world. The world is all around us, but they want a place where their values and their belief can be reinforced and they can safely grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“It is exciting to see it,” added Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who joined Elder Gilbert for the interview. “I think I am younger now because of the association; I get energized with these contacts and association with the young people.”

See this related Newsroom article New Life Preparation Lessons Released for Seminary Students Worldwide

‘Better Together’

Over the coming months and years, seminary and institute students will be greeted by posters and banners with a common theme: Gospel learning is “better together.”

Madison Pratt from Idaho, USA, was first invited to seminary by her friend Aliza Powlus. Pratt found herself nervous, surprised by the hymns sung and offered prayers, but she was quickly touched by the experience.

“It was just something I hadn’t really felt before,” she said. “And so, after that first day, I told Aliza, ‘I want to go every day.’”

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Later, Pratt would be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Both Pratt and Powlus currently serve as missionaries for the Church.

“If I had known from the very beginning that [Madison] was going to get baptized,” Powlus said, “I definitely would have opened my mouth sooner and been more eager to share the gospel that I love so much with her.”

Westin Rawson, a student from California, invited his entire water polo team to seminary. One of his teammates, Hunter, accepted the invitation, and both Hunter and his brother, Eli, were later baptized.

“I think seminary really helps with the conversion process because it just gives you a place to grow closer to Christ every single day,” Rawson said. “The slightest invite or saying ‘Hi’ could just change someone’s entire life and their family’s lives.”

These stories of conversion are also found well beyond the borders of the United States.

“It was thanks to [my friend] that I was able to really know the love of my Heavenly Father,” said Gabriel Gomes from Parana, Brazil. “I was able to give myself to Him.”

“I was able to be a new person, to strengthen myself,” added Isel Talavera from Michoacan, Mexico. “I can be a person with more love and more joy in my life.”

“You can’t change the world entirely,” Elder Christofferson said, “but you can light and help and make a difference. And when you start focusing outwardly and seeing what you can do that would bless somebody else, your life changes, obviously, as well.”

With the number of students continuing to grow, there are more opportunities than ever to extend a simple and effective invitation to seminary and institute. Parents and leaders are invited to consider how this initiative might help youth and young adults participate in the gathering of Israel. Youth and young adults are invited to consider who they might invite, using these and other available resources, making their gospel learning experience even better with friends.