Every morning the teenage members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints wake up much earlier than your average high schooler, close to 5 a.m. Why do they wake up so early? Well, they wake this early in order to make it to an early morning church class they call Seminary.

Before we jump into Seminary, we should talk a little about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, better known as “Mormons” or “LDS.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is international, and that internationality includes Seminary.

Seminary is an early morning religious class that students attend from freshman to senior year. Seminary shifts its focus from different books of religion each year. They study the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants. 

Now you may think that this sounds boring or pointless, but Seminary is a wonderful experience, where you meet lots of people from other schools and even some other districts. It brings youth, who share the same religious beliefs, together. 

Seminary is a truly interesting experience, and in this piece we’re going to go a bit more in depth. I’m going to show you, with the help of some of my fellow Seminary students, what a Seminary class looks like.

WAKING UP

Freshman Lorelei Wise wakes up around 5 a.m. She then literally throws herself off her bed and onto her floor, in order to wake up. She’ll go downstairs, in a tired haze, make her lunch, when she remembers, and eat her breakfast. This is followed by her father driving her and her twin to the designated carpool driver, typically her friend Ella. From there she is taken to Seminary and then to school. 

Zoe Carpenter, a senior, wakes up at 4:30 a.m. in order to get ready for her day. After she’s up and ready she goes out to her car, heats it up and knocks the ice off of it. Following this she’ll go and say a prayer with both her parents. Then she’s off to seminary arriving around 5:45, 10 minutes before class officially starts.

Gallery | 9 Photos

Ella Quinney

Two volunteers from a class, Noelle Wise and Allie Judson, join their teacher, Sister Erin Rodabough, for an interactive activity about tithing.

THE CARPOOL

Do you ever see that one minivan in the drop off line, the one that will hold up the line sometimes because there are so many students coming out of it? That car would be the freshmen carpool. Five students, all freshmen, riding to school in the same car. Two students in the back row, two students in the middle row, one student and their chauffeur sitting in the very front. So please, if you are in the car behind that one car that seems to be pouring out children like a water pitcher, don’t honk. It’s rude and always makes me jump.

Freshman Noelle Wise is part of the aforementioned carpool. She says that the carpool is extremely helpful, especially since she has two rambunctious younger brothers, who can’t be left home alone in the mornings. Having a carpool allows for her parents to be able to be at home supervising the littles, while her and her twin sister are off and attending Seminary.

CLASS TIME

Class starts off with a Hymn, a religious song, and is then followed by an opening prayer, given by one of the students. After the opening exercises, a student gives a devotional. A devotional is a short worship service that the students write themselves then give in front of the class and teachers.

“Nobody skips out. Everyone shares this personal story that connects to a gospel principle, and I think that’s really awesome.”  Noelle Wise remarks about devotionals.

Following the devotional, the teachers begin their lesson. The lesson is usually focused on one prophets’ stories, like Isaiah or Jona. The teachers teach them about the book of scripture, and inspire them to follow the gospel principles learned from these ancient prophets.

THE REST OF THE DAY

After class the students head off to school, ready to learn subjects like geometry and American History. Seminary is the way these students begin five out of seven of their days a week, and Seminary is the highlight of those five days for several students. 

“It’s a great kickstart to my day, and my day definitely would be different without it,” freshman Milo Weston said.

Seminary may seem boring or pointless to those who don’t really know what it is, but Seminary is a lot more than that. Seminary is a refuge from a world full of problems for the students who attend with open minds and hearts. Seminary is truly one of the best things in the world for the high school members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

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<p>“Seminary just makes you feel happy.” -Milo Weston</p>
<p>“It makes me really, really tired, but it’s also something for me to look forward to everyday.” -Noelle Wise</p>
<p>“Seminary has allowed me to have a more optimistic look on some things – not just religious things, but everyday things too.” -Lorelei Wise</p>
<p>“I have to say seminary helps me feel happier and more productive every day. Getting to see friends who share my same religious values every morning and learning in depth the context of religious texts helps me start my day right.” -Zoe Carpenter</p>
<p>“I can’t imagine starting my day without seminary, it’s one of the best things in my life.” -Ella Quinney</p>
<p>”]WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT SEMINARY?

“Seminary just makes you feel happy.” -Milo Weston

“It makes me really, really tired, but it’s also something for me to look forward to everyday.” -Noelle Wise

“Seminary has allowed me to have a more optimistic look on some things – not just religious things, but everyday things too.” -Lorelei Wise

“I have to say seminary helps me feel happier and more productive every day. Getting to see friends who share my same religious values every morning and learning in depth the context of religious texts helps me start my day right.” -Zoe Carpenter

“I can’t imagine starting my day without seminary, it’s one of the best things in my life.” -Ella Quinney

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