The Parable of the Gems

The following story is taken off the LDS Seminary and Institute website:

There was a young woman who dreamed she was walking along a quiet and secluded beach. She was searching for gems in the sand.

As the young women knelt down the tiny grains of sand glittered invitingly in the sunlight.

She began raking her finger slowly through the warm surface of the sand.

Before long she noticed a colorful Gem sparkling in the sand and picked it up.

Not wanting to lose it she carefully stuck it in her pocket for safekeeping.

Eagerly returning to her search she quickly discovered more gems resting just beneath the surface of the sand.

But the young woman wondered if they were gems hidden deeper in the sand.

Determined she began to dig.

With effort time and patience...

She was rewarded again and again with breathtaking jewels.

Each time she found a new gem, the young women held it under the sunlight and studied it carefully.

She turned each one over in her fingers exploring it's many shapes and facets

She thoughtfully and patiently examined the gems she had found

The young woman began to appreciate the unique qualities and characteristics of each one.

Feelings of attachment to her new found treasures began to grow within her.

 After searching for a while the young women gathered her gems together and held them up to the sunlight.

She was filled with awe as the light dance off the gems in a rainbow of colors.

As the young woman sat appreciating the beauty of the gems

She looked up and saw her father approaching

Smiling warmly he said, "I've been watching you dig in the sand. What did you find?"

The young woman eagerly displayed the handful of gems.

Her father then asked, "Now what will you do with your treasures?"

Seminary - An Opportunity to Discover Gospel Truths

Two months ago, almost to the day I was called to be an early-morning seminary teacher. I LOVE the scriptures and am excited for this opportunity to explore the scriptures with the youth every morning!!! Much of the content of this blog up to this point has been from my own personal study, however, I have decided to broaden it to include our seminary lessons and activities.

I have spent countless hours researching and looking for different  things I can use in my class. The following are some of the things I have used:

• A great outline for doing the morning insight or devotional. I found this among the classroom visuals on the NW Seminary Share blog. Click here to see the original post. There is a bookmark also included among the visuals offered which I printed onto card stock for each of my students and then on the back printed out the 10 Scripture Study Tools found in the September 2010 Ensign.

     

• To encourage class participation I plan on handing out Getting More out of the Scriptures cards. Each card is different and will encourage the students to ponder a scripture differently. I hope that this will be a tool that will help us REALLY learn together in a fun way. I found them here
  

• To help us with our scripture mastery verses I have made stickers similar to those that you can purchase online which identify a scripture mastery verse and keyword or phrase that goes along with this verse. I printed them on return address labels and we will put them in the margins of our scriptures.
  

• I have a class that is used to receiving chocolate bars for memorized scripture mastery verses. However, I have decided to do something a little different this year. This year, memorized verses will earn a pebble magnet which features an icon and the scripture reference. I have decided to do Old Testament in blue stones. Next year I will use a different color. The icons were taken off of scripture mastery bingo cards which I found here. I added the references, cut the icons with a 5/8" punch and then modge podged the papers onto the backs of the stones let them dry and then added a magnet. (Click here for instructions) Voila!! I have scripture mastery magnets!
  

Well, I have a few other things I plan to do to get my classroom set up, but so far this is what is ready to share. I am so excited about seminary. I had a great seminary teacher as a youth and learned to love the scriptures as I studied from them. What a great program!!!