Make Institute a Priority

Make Institute a Priority

Jordan Falslev

Smithfield YSA 1st Ward

02.19.2017

“I ask you to make institute a priority. Think of it. Friends will be made, the Spirit will be felt, and faith will be strengthened. I promise you that as you participate in institute and study the scriptures diligently, your power to avoid temptations and to receive direction of the Holy Ghost in all you do will be increased. That is a promise I leave with you.”
-President Thomas S. Monson

A little over a year ago, President Russell M. Nelson, spoke about our generation becoming true millennials. He said,

“As a True Millennial whom the Lord can count on, you will make history! You will be asked to accept challenging assignments and become an instrument in the Lord’s hands. And He will enable you to accomplish the impossible.” 

He continues, 

“How will you accomplish the impossible? By doing whatever it takes to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ by increasing your understanding of the doctrine taught in His restored Church and by relentlessly seeking truth. As a True Millennial, anchored in pure doctrine, when you are asked to do impossible things, you will be able to step forward with faith and dogged persistence and cheerfully do all that lies in your power to fulfill the purposes of the Lord.”

Are you and I really doing whatever it takes to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ? 

Throughout my talk, I’d like you to ask yourself and thoughtfully ponder one or the other, following questions;

-Why am I attending Institute?

-Why am I not attending Institute?

Our beloved Prophet, Thomas S. Monson has shared the following, very important, prophetic counsel… (READ QUOTE)

Heavenly Father clearly wants us young adults to make Institute a priority.

Lets define the word priority:

the fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important

the right to take precedence or to proceed before all others

Is Institute a priority in your life or is it not?

President Monson promises us that when we attend Institute, friends will be made. That the Spirit will be present. Our faith will be strengthened.

He promises that if we participate in Institute and study our scripture diligently, it is guaranteed that the power to avoid temptation and receive direction will be increased!! Who doesn’t want that? Who doesn't need that? 

I have experienced the fulfillment of all these promises in my life. And I am positive that you will too if you follow the Prophet’s counsel with a willing heart. Choosing to attend institute weekly is one of best decisions I have made. My life is filled with joy. I understand more about the gospel and continue to learn more each week.

I believe that just like the principle of tithing, Institute can be applied in the same way. Until we actually act in accordance to God’s commandments we won’t reap the blessings. If we don’t act by giving 10% of our income to the Lord, we won’t receive the blessings of the law of tithing. If we don’t give 10% to the Lord in attending all Church meeting, (and I believe Institute counts as a meeting, because it’s a place to gather and converse about the gospel), we won’t receive all that the Father is willing to pour upon us. 

As an Institute Representative, one of my responsibilities is to encourage my peers to attend Institute and to make it a priority. This can be somewhat of a challenge. 

After all, if you don’t know how great Institute is, why would you want to add another meeting to your already busy week?

Thus, I struggled with what to share in order to motivate you, even more so, to make Institute a more regular part of your life.

With the help of the Spirit, I was inspired to ask a few of my friends, mission companions, and members and recent converts from Virginia how Institute has blessed their lives. I hope hearing a few of their testimonies will encourage you to take Institute as a weekly supplement to your life! 

One friend shared;

“I am frequently surprised at what I learn at Institute. I don’t remember ever attending class without coming away having learned something new or understanding some gospel principle better. As a result, my life has changed. Among the many blessings I have received by attending institute are improved family relationships and an increased interest in the scriptures. It has also increased my testimony. Before attending Institute, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to serve a mission. Without attending Institute, I may have never served.”

From one of my mission companions;

“Ever since I began to attend institute regularly, tremendous spiritual blessings have entered my life. I have developed Christlike love for God’s children, my faith in the Lord is growing stronger, and I have drawn closer to Jesus Christ through scripture study.

The lessons give me direction by helping me understand better how to use my agency. They help me face challenges with a positive viewpoint, and I have learned that God is always near to help me overcome my struggles. When I attend Institute, I find answers to my questions. Each time I put into practice the teachings from my classes, other things in my life seem to fall into their proper places a little more easily.”

From a recent convert of two years;

“I have often heard the Church described as a “refuge from the storm”. Institute became that refuge for me as I battled the new storm of the separation of my parents. I enrolled in Institute, and while I don’t recall the exact words spoken in the lessons, I will never forget the feelings of peace and comfort that came to me as I listened. I began to feel the love my Heavenly Father has for me, and I became much more closely acquainted with the best counselor I have ever found: Jesus Christ.

I have to pay for my college education, yet I learn the most valuable lessons from Institute classes, which are available to me for free. I see now that the definition of home isn’t necessarily the house in which you grow up but a place where life’s lessons are taught and love abounds. Because of what I learned and the Spirit I felt, Institute has become a new home for me. It is wonderful having a place where I feel loved and welcome.”

We are so blessed as Latter-day Saints in this Valley. We not only have Institute classes available up at Utah State, but our own Stake holds classes every Tuesday night at 7.

Are we taking it for granted? 

While serving my mission in Virginia, many young members had to travel over an hour just to attend Institute.

Boyd K. Packer shared the following;

“Students, if your values are in place, you will not hesitate to forego an elective class that may decorate your life in favor of instruction which can hold together the very foundation of it. Then, once enrolled, attend, study, and learn. Persuade your friends to do the same. You will never regret it; this I promise you.”

L. Tom Perry said;

“I know the power that comes from associations in the Institute program. It has enriched my life, and I know it will do the same for you. It will put a shield of protection around you to keep you free from the temptations and trials of the world. There is a great blessing in having a knowledge of the gospel. And I know of no better place for the young people of the Church to gain a special knowledge of sacred things than in the institute and seminary programs of the Church.”

If there is one thing I want to stand out to you about Institute is the importance of REGISTERING. 

Currently only 46 (26%) of you in this ward are enrolled in Institute. 132 (74%) are not.

Now I hope that many of you are attending Institute at least occasionally. I know what a busy schedule looks like, and sometimes Institute can be really challenging to get to, so you may not feel that you should enroll because you might miss a good chunk of the classes, and don’t want that to affect your quote on quote, grade. I guarantee the Brethren, would rather have you register, and miss some classes, then not register at all, and get zero credit for attending. You’ll still graduate from Institute in the end. GPA is not important in heaven. Attendance and a willingness is. 

If you cannot come every week, still register.

If you can’t commit right now, at the first of the semester, still register.

If you will be late or have to leave early, still register.

PLEASE don’t let this keep you from enrolling. Registering shows that you are committed even though life happens. 

We always are ‘registered’ for the Temple (or at least should be) but sometimes life happens and we can’t attend. Does that mean we never get a Temple Recommend? No.
Same thing with Institute. Just because you might not be able to go regularly, you should still register and be enrolled in a class, in the hopes that you will be able to attend often.

I’m going to interrupt this scripture with Institute in mind.

D&C 127:7

That in all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven; whatsoever you bind on earth, may be bound in heaven; whatsoever you loose on earth, may be loosed in heaven;

God is orderly and keeps records. It’s a fact. 

You may be going to Institute, but if you're not enrolled, what will you have to show on the records of Heaven in the hereafter? REGISTER. 

I have a friend attending UVU. This is what he had to share about Institute and I absolutely love it;

“This semester is whizzing by. Time has raced onward, professors keep giving large loads of homework and Institute keeps hosting fun socials and activities to attend. Initially when I moved up here I thought that 10 weeks would be an eternity, however I soon found that it to be the contrary. I wished time could slow just a little.

I found that I was so busy that I could easily stay up into the early hours of the morning studying, get three hours of sleep and repeat the cycle the next day. In fact this is what I did for the first couple of weeks. I'm learning a new spoken language and a new programming language and adapting to both has required significant investments of my time. Initially I thought, who has time for Institute? Who has enough time to maintain their grades, attend Institute and then attend all the activities that they host? Did I at least have time to attend the institute class each week, or was that too great a time commitment?

Mentally I told myself institute seemed like a huge commitment. My grades- I thought- would define my life and success in college, effect what jobs I could get later in my professional career and what schools I could apply to for grad school.

However, spiritually I knew this wasn't the least bit accurate. I knew that I would need the strength that Institute would provide from the spiritual calamities that I encounter every day- foul language, beliefs that are in direct contradiction to mine and people challenging me to do things that I knew to be wrong. Although it didn't really make sense to me mentally or mathematically, I told myself that Institute was worth the time commitment and I told myself that I would attend class every week without fail. I even told myself that I would attend the committee meeting held every Friday morning to serve the Lord and the Institute.

As I tried this out the first couple of weeks something astonishing happened. Although I was spending less time on my studies, and was giving up a morning once a week, I found that my grades actually improved and that I was succeeding in all of my classes. I was going to Institute, the meetings on Friday and all the socials and doing less work and study, but my performance had increased.

I know that this is because the Savior is seeking to bless me for giving Him my time. Matthew 11:28-30 states: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light."

Through application I have come to know that this scripture is true. Mentally we may feel like we don't have enough hours in the day to do all that needs to be done. We may feel like we have so much that we can't fit Institute in. But I know that if we put the Lord as our first priority everything else will fall into play. I know He loves us and seeks to bless us for following Him and that by attending Institute we can build our relationship with Him. If you want your burden to be light, come to Institute!”

Brothers and Sisters, Institute is the best!  It is a great spiritual and physical support for me. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to go every week! I look forward to my Tuesday nights! I hope all young single adults will participate in Institute classes, but especially all of you, and receive the blessings that come from studying the gospel of Jesus Christ and applying the principles of the gospel in our lives. The added advantage of studying the gospel with other young single adults is powerful and strengthening.

If you need someone to remind you to come, tell me, I’d be happy to remind you! 

If you need a ride, tell me, I’d be happy to take you along! 

I know these things to be true. 

I’m grateful that Jesus Christ inspired the Brethren to organize Institute! 

Use your glorious God given Agency and attend Institute.