Grant spoke at seminary graduation today, he is going to be an amazing missionary!

Here is a copy of his talk....

Good afternoon.
I wanted to share a story that President Gordon B. Hinckley shared years ago about “a one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough no teacher had been able to handle them.

“Then one day an inexperienced young teacher applied. He was told that every teacher had received an awful beating, but the teacher accepted the risk. The first day of school, the teacher asked the boys to establish their own rules and the penalty for breaking the rules. The class came up with ten rules, which were written on the blackboard. Then the teacher asked, ‘What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’

“‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response.

“A day or so later, the lunch of a big student, named Tom, was stolen. The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old.

“As little Jim came up to take his licking, he pleaded to keep his coat on. ‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’

“The boy took off the coat. He had no shirt and revealed a bony little crippled body. As the teacher hesitated with the rod, big Tom jumped to his feet and volunteered to take the boy’s licking.

“‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’ the teacher asked.
“After five strokes across Tom’s back, the rod broke. The class was sobbing. Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. ‘Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!’”

In Isaiah 53:verse 4-5 we are reminded...

“‘Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. …
“‘He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our [sins].’”
Because the Savior has suffered everything that we could ever experience, He understands our pain and will walk with us even in our darkest hours.

Waking up for seminary at 5am were some of my darkest hours. I can't pretend it was easy or enjoyable, but I will say I learned a lot.

Sister Pratt spent a lot of time preparing lessons to help us better understand the scriptures. This year in seminary I really did gain a greater testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice for each of us.

She taught us as we read in the scriptures, but she also taught us by her example. I was late most mornings, but each time I would roll into to Sister Pratts house, she would welcome me with a nice smile and a cheerful "Good Morning Grant"
I imagine the the Savior greeting each of us with the same kindness as we roll in late, imperfect and in need of His grace.
I'm grateful for the things I learned in seminary, my testimony was strengthen and my love for our Savior Jesus Christ has grown. I know he suffered for us so we can return to the presence of our Heavenly Father, where we will be warmly welcomed. Just like I was each morning in seminary.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen