A Christmas Message

Seminary Amigos:

A few thoughts from my study of John over the past few days.

In John chapter 1 we read of the invitation given by Christ to Andrew and John. Elder Holland summarized this event as follows:

"When Andrew and John first heard Christ speak, they were so moved they followed Him as He walked away from the crowd. Sensing He was being pursued, Jesus turned and asked the two men, "What seek ye?" They answered, "Where dwellest thou?" And Christ said, "Come and see." The next day He found another disciple, Philip, and said to him, "Follow me."4 Just a short time later He formally called Peter and others of the new Apostles with the same spirit of invitation. Come, "follow me,"5 He said."

We begin to sense something of how powerfully the Savior taught as his words moved his disciples to have faith in Him, and act righteously. The invitation described by Elder Holland above and given twice in John chapter 1 is "come and see." This was the same invitation given to shepherds who "watched their flocks by night" - remember this event is described in Luke 2:

"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."

The shepherds were invited to "come and see." Consider also how this invitation was given to Nephi in 1 Nephi 11:

"And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me: Look! And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow."

The Spirit invited Nephi to draw nearer to God, or to "come". The invitation to "look" is an invitation to "see".

This is the same invitation He extends to us today.

Furthermore, this is the invitation we extend to the world. What do we believe? How do we live? What do we learn in seminary? To all (2 Nephi 26:24), our invitation is: come and see. My beloved brothers and sisters, this Christmas and every day, let us come unto the Savior, and He will help us see.

Hail, the newborn Prince of Peace

Christmas time is here.

A special thank you to all who participated in our Seminary Nativity. Outstanding performances were given all around. You all look lovely with bath towel accoutrements.
Please remember our schedule for the rest of the week:

Wednesday: Luke 24 w/Bro. Brooks
Thursday: Scripture Mastery w/Bro. Brooks
Friday: Seminary Christmas Party! (bring food and friends)

Have a wonderful Christmas break and remember our class reading assignment to read the Gospel of John during the break.

Be strong. The Church is true!

December 15 - December 19

Queridos:

Our schedule for this last week of class before the Christmas. Thank you for your participation and for the Spirit which you bring to class with you through your worthiness.

Monday, December 15: Mark 16
Tuesday, December 16: Matthew 28
Wednesday, December 17: Luke 24
Thursday, December 18: Mark 16, Matthew 28, Luke 24
Friday, December 19: Christmas Throw-Down

Have a lovely weekend.

December 8 - December 12

Our schedule this week:

Monday, December 8: Matthew 26
Tuesday, December 9: Matthew 27
Wednesday, December 10: Mark 14/15
Thursday, December 11: Luke 23
Friday, December 12: Scripture Mastery Festival

Special note: This will hopefully be one of the mostly important weeks of the year as we discuss the atonement of our Savior. Thanks for your spirituality, preparation, punctuality, and attentiveness.

December 1 - 5

Queridos:

I hope the Thanksgiving break was outstanding. Our schedule for this week:

Monday, December 1: Matthew 25
Tuesday, December 2: Matthew 26
Wednesday, December 3: Mark 14
Thursday, December 4: Luke 22
Friday, December 5: Scripture Mastery in the house.

See you tomorrow morning at 6:30!

November 17 - November 21

Our schedule this week and next week (shortened week for Thanksgiving)

Monday, November 17: Luke 18
Tuesday, November 18: Luke 19:1-27
Wednesday, November 19: Luke 19: 28-48, Matthew 21
Thursday, November 20: Mark 11
Friday, November 21: Scripture Mastery

Monday, November 24: Matthew 23
Tuesday, November 25: Matthew 24
THANKSGIVING BREAK READING ASSIGNMENT: Mark 12, Luke 20, Matthew 25, JST-Matthew

Thank you all for your participation and I look forward to another outstanding week. Thanks for being attentive and on time. See you in a few hours at 6:30am tomorrow morning!

November 10 - November 14

All:

Thanks for a great week of seminary. Have a good weekend, and be faithful to the gospel. Our schedule for next week:

Monday, November 10: Luke 17

Tuesday, November 11: NO SEMINARY - Veterans Day

Wednesday, November 12: Mark 10

Thursday, November 13: Matthew 19, 20

Friday, November 14: Scripture Mastery Pow-wow

November 3 - November 7

TWO MONTHS DOWN!

This has been a fascinating journey so far through the New Testament for me. Thanks to all of you for your participation and for your worthiness. The Spirit is in our classroom as we consider the life and teachings of the Master.

Please note that we're going to slow down our pace a bit. Our goal is still to read the entire New Testament in this year; however, I wish to place particular emphasis on the words and teachings of the Savior as found in the gospels. To do this, we will spend more time than we originally planned on the first half of the class - I will provide and updated reading schedule soon.

Please also note scripture mastery memorization is a high priority, as is daily scripture study, going forward. "For unto whom much is given, much is required" (not requested, asked, etc.).

Our reading/topic schedule this week:

Monday: Hand in grading sheets for the first term; Luke 9-10 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Tuesday: NO SEMINARY - Teacher inservice

Wednesday: Luke 11, 12

Thursday: Luke 13, 14

Friday: Scripture mastery extravaganza, SPOTLIGHT by Mark Johnson

Have a safe and great weekend. Be faithful.

See you Monday morning at 6:30 :)

October 27-October 31

Team:

Our schedule for this week:

Monday: Matthew 18
Tuesday: Luke 15
Wednesday: Luke 9, 10
Thursday: Luke 11, 12, 13
Friday: Halloween Seminary Breakfast Feast

NOTE: We will talk about assignments for Friday on Monday. Also, remember that the assigned readings are for the night prior to the day in which we will discuss them. For example, tonight I am reading Matthew 18 in preparation for tomorrow. Thanks for all of your participation. This is going to be an outstanding week!

Schedule Update!

All:

Thanks for another great week - I really felt like I learned a lot this past week with you all as a class.

A reminder:

HOLD TO THE ROD every day Remember: the most important daily habit you could develop as a seminary student that of daily, meaningful scripture study. Don't miss a day!

Our schedule this week:

Monday, October 20: Matthew 16:1-13, Mark 7-8
Tuesday, October 21: Luke 9
Wednesday, October 22: Matthew 18
Thursday, October 23: Matthew 17
Friday, October 24: Scripture Mastery Throw Down

A note about grading:

Because each of you has your own grading sheet, each of you knows how you are doing in class (the point values for grades are listed on the grading sheet). I will allow people to make up absences in the following ways (3 tardies is an absence also) - please disregard earlier notices about this subject:

1. Bring a non-member friend to class
2. Write a memo summarizing one of the talks linked on this page - or one of your own choosing (see me for an example)
3. Do the student manual section for the day you missed

To make up THREE absences, write well researched talk on a principle of the gospel discussed in class (for example, expand on our discussion of Matthew 13 and the Wheat vs. the Tares). Any well researched talk would use sources such as the Scriptures (including the Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, etc), General Conference addresses, and other Church materials as resources. I will grade the talk on content. As we finish up the first seminary quarter in a few weeks, now seems like a good time to get on top of this. Thanks to all of you for faithful attendance and participation.

No Seminary Wednesday, October 15

Due to many students taking the PSAT tomorrow, seminary has been canceled. Please come prepared to study, learn, and participate on Thursday! Get some rest and good luck!

Schedule - October 13 - October 17

Queridos: Please note that full credit is available for those who watch and take notes on a session of conference. Conference is available for viewing (and reading) on www.lds.org as well as on www.byu.tv

Next week's schedule includes the following:

Monday: Mark 4
Tuesday: Matthew 14, Mark 6
Wednesday: Matthew 15
Thursday: Matthew 16, Luke 7, 8

Let's make this an outstanding week.

NOTE: On MONDAY I will post absences and tardies that can be made up in a method we will determine in class on Monday. Have a great weekend.

ALERT!

TEAM:

1) The FIRST person to email/text me with the references to "one by one" in the scriptures will receive credit for ONE absence! (all others who do so tomorrow will receive credit for a tardy).

2) Conference is available for watching ON DEMAND by clicking here! Check it out! (note: you can still receive absence credit - although slightly reduced - for watching conference)

Schedule: October 6-10

Monday, October 6: General Conference Recap (bring your notes), Mark (not Johnson) 1:23 - 2:12; 5:21-6:6, Luke 7, 8
Tuesday, October 7: Matthew 11, 12
Wednesday, October 8: Mark 2:23 - 3:6
Thursday, October 9: Matthew 13
Friday, October 10: Scripture Mastery Hullabaloo


REMEMBER: General Conference is this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday sessions at 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Brethren, I'll see you all Saturday night at 8:00 pm for the Priesthood session at the McLean Stake Center. On Sunday, sessions begin at 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Viewing options include:

1. http://www.byu.tv/ (the BYU Channel online)
2. http://www.lds.org/ (audio only)
3. Arlington Public Access Channel

Each session you watch is worth ONE (1) absence - enjoy conference!

Questions From Today

Team:

We had some good questions today in class about church policy. I want to point you in the right direction regarding these matters. Thus, for questions about the church's policy regarding gays, etc, click here for an excellent interview with Elder Oaks and Elder Wickman For another excellent article by Elder Ballard regarding excommunication, click here.

I hope this helps - let's discuss further as needed.

Weekly Reading Schedule

Team:

Our schedule this week includes studying the Sermon on the Mount (see: Bible Dictionary, "Sermon on the Mount") and the miracles immediately following that Sermon. Please remember we start at 6:30

Monday, September 29: Matthew 5

Tuesday, September 30: Matthew 6

Wednesday, October 1: Matthew 7

Thursday, October 2: Matthew 8-9

Friday, October 3: General Conference preparation; Scripture Mastery

NOTICE ABOUT MAKEUP WORK
Near the end of this coming week we will have an accurate update as to who needs to make up work as the first full month of Seminary is now past. To make up a tardy simply read one of the talks listed on this blog (or another talk of your choice focusing on the Savior, subject to my approval) and prepare a one-page memo (summary) regarding the key points of the talk, and their application to you (a real application). See me for an example.

These memos will be graded by my grader and any that fall short of expectations will be returned with a request for the memo to be redone. No half-baked jobs - do your best!

Note that this post has been updated from the original post and further updating will become necessary as we decide as a class how to determine final grades. We'll be in touch -

Sept 25 HOMEWORK

Group:

You can access the "Special Witnesses" videos I mentioned in class today by clicking here. Remember to watch Elder Bednar's testimony and Elder Utchdorf's testimony for our class tomorrow.

Schedule: September 22 - September 26

TEAM: Thanks for a good week! You are all wonderful and I'm grateful to be with you. Please remember we start at 6:30 :) Okay - see you all on Monday!

Our reading schedule for this week -

September 22:
Matthew 3, Luke 3 (Christ's Baptism)

September 23:
Matthew 4, Mark 4 (The temptations of Christ)

September 24:
Mark 4, 5, 6 (The mission of John the Baptist)

September 25:
Matthew 10, Luke 9:1-6 (The calling of the Twelve)

September 26: Scripture Mastery! MEMORIZE!!

Thanks for a great week! See you Monday!

Schedule: Sept 15 - Sept 19

Our schedule for this week and what to study:

Monday, September 15: Prophecies about the Savior fulfilled in the New Testament
STUDY: Topical Guide - Jesus Christ, Prophecies About

Tuesday, September 16: The Savior's Genealogy
STUDY: Topical Guide - Matthew 1

Wednesday, September 17: The Birth of the Savior
STUDY: Topical Guide - Luke 1 - 2:20

Thursday, September 18: The Birth of the Savior, Continued
STUDY: Topical Guide - Matthew 2, Luke 2:20-52

Friday, September 19: The Magic Square with Sister Squires!
STUDY: Scripture Mastery Scriptures

Didn't catch the CES Fireside live?

No worries! We live in the latter and modern days, so it is easy to watch or listen to the fireside any time you want:) Go to:

http://www.lds.org/broadcast/ces/0,7341,395,00.html

Here you can download the MP3 to your ipod or you can watch it on your computer. It is so easy. Brother Jardine and I (this is Sister Cady Jardine, btw) watched it on Sunday night and it is certainly worth your time. I especially enjoyed Elder Holland's testimony at the end and the blessing he pronounced on us - we all can definitely use the strength and support of an apostle to help us with our daily duties.

Be good to Brother Jardine. Listen and help him as he invites the Spirit to your class. I look forward to getting to know you all too, I suppose one of these days I will get lucky and substitute:)

Schedule: September 8 - September 12

TEAM:

I hope you all enjoyed our wonderful stake conference. It seems that "Now is the Time" to step up our missionary efforts in this stake. I was remined of Elder Ballard's talk in General Conference in October 2000 seen by clicking here.

I hope you will all think of how we can step up our missionary efforts as a seminary class (feel free to comment below). I'm open to all ideas. Let's share the gospel!

PLEASE NOTE!!

SUNDAY, Sept. 7, 2008 is a CES Fireside Broadcast at 8:00 pm with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland as the featured speaker. Tune in at one of three options:
1) BYU TV at home,
2) The McLean Stake Center, or
3) http://www.byu.tv/ (this is the BYU channel online - it's free and great)

Looking ahead to this week:

Monday: CES Fireside Review, The differences between Old and New Testament Times, Time to prepare for Plan of Salvation Presentations on Tuesday and Wednesday.
(STUDY: Watch Elder Holland's Fireside Tonight)

Tuesday: Plan of Salvation Presentations (Groups 1 and 2)
(STUDY: Preach My Gospel pages 47-50 - read the scriptures outlined also)

Wednesday: Plan of Salvation Presentations (Groups 3 and 4)
(STUDY: Preach My Gospel pages 51 - 55 - read the scriptures outlined also)

Thursday: Special Guests and Missionary Work in our Seminary Class
(STUDY: Preach My Gospel Chapter 1)

Friday: Scripture Mastery, Scripture Study
(STUDY: Preach My Gospel Chapter 2)

Please note that a link to Preach My Gospel appears on the left-hand side of this page. It is expected that as you study these chapters you will be looking up the scriptures in the various headings and pondering the teachings contained in the chapters we study. Note also: when pages are assigned - like for Tuesday and for Wednesday - these represent the manual pages not the pdf pages - i.e., these are the pages as if you were holding the manual in your hands.

Let's have another great week - thank you all for making last week a good opener. See you at 6:30 on Monday morning!

Be Prepared!

Team:

On Day 1, if you were a student last year, please bring the container that housed all of your materials. If you are a new student, we'll take of this on Wednesday.

Materials wise, please bring your SCRIPTURES, by which I mean the Standard Works, by which I mean the Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. Please also bring a JOURNAL and a PEN. That's all you need.

Our first week's course of study will be as follows:

Wednesday, September 3: Preach My Gospel Lesson 1
(STUDY: Joseph Smith History Chapter 1)

Thursday September 4: Lehi's Dream and You
(STUDY: 1 Nephi 8)

Friday, September 5: Scripture Mastery Throw Down!

See you on Wednesday!

Start your engines...

Welcome to the Arlington Seminary Update website!! Class begins Wednesday morning, September 3 at 6:30. Our course of study this year is the New Testament.

NEWSFLASH: The Arlington Seminary Fireside Home Opener will be Sunday, August 31, in the Arlington Building at 7:00 pm. This is going to be an outstanding year!