Sister Hays, Seminary 2013-2014

If you are not familiar with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, you may not be familiar with Seminary.  In our religion, seminary is not the institute of higher learning for the education students wishing to enter the clergy, like in other religions.  Seminary for Mormons is a four year course of study undertaken by high school students.  For each of the four years of high school, students gather before school to study the scriptures.  The courses are the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, and Church history.  This year the big ladies (Rachel is a sophomore and Samantha is a freshman) studied the Book of Mormon with nine other high school students and Sister Sharon Hays, their teacher.

Sister Hays is amazing.  She made the kids breakfast every Friday, and randomly just because she wanted to.  She assigned homework; she kept the kids engaged; she challenged them to grow.  Most importantly for me, as a parent, she showed my ladies that a knowledge and testimony of scripture is crucial to their development and their future.  Sister Hays showed them that the people of ancient scripture had problems and blessings just like kids today.  She showed them that scripture is a relatable and living work that applies to them individually.  Simply put, she loved them.

My daughters love seminary.  They sacrifice to get there at 6:30 every morning.  While they don't always make it, they are better off and glad to be there.  Thank you, Sister Hays.  Thank you.