Monday nights at Cumorah focus on community building and creating a sense of belonging, with students leading group family home evenings.
This week, Monday night was extra special because the students of Cumorah Academy were invited to come be a part of a special evening devotional with General Relief Society President Sister Camille N. Johnson; 2nd Counselor of the Primary General Presidency, Sister Tracy Y. Browning; and 2nd Counselor of Europe Central Area Presidency, Elder James W. McConkie III.
On this occasion, students traveled to the church meetinghouse in Prague where they participated in a Q&A event and listened to the Spirit-led messages given by the visiting general authorities.
Here are some highlights from this very special evening:
Sister Camille N. Johnson
Sister Johnson talked about the problem many young people are facing these days through seeking for answers in all the wrong places. A lot of this is seen in the way people use Google every day as a way to get quick and easy answers. This is good for quick and easy solutions to small problems, but not good, however, for solving all of life’s greatest challenges.
Sometimes we forget that the answers we deeply need are the ones that require us to learn patience. It takes time to ponder and to be on our knees in prayer, but the rewards have eternal blessings in store.
Sister Tracy Y. Browning
Sister Browning taught if you’re still single and looking for an eternal companion it’s important to not wait until you meet the right person to live God’s laws. We are all in a covenant relationship with God and can develop that relationship every day. Being single is an important season of life and for everyone it is different.
For some, it happens to be a more crucial period than others to come to know yourself inside and out. Without God being a part of that self – exploration there’s no way we can really progress toward the version of ourselves we want to become when the time comes for us to marry in the temple.
Elder James W. McConkie III
Finally, Elder McConkie taught us the importance of remembering our spiritual experiences. Everyone who attended this meeting at some point in time had an impactful spiritual experience that kept them coming back to the Savior throughout their lives by being a part of the church. It’s because they’ve either felt or tasted the goodness of the gospel in some way and now they want to continue to experience it.
Likewise, when we invite others to come unto Christ, it is to be done with the intention of guiding them toward having their own spiritual experience. It’s not about trying to convince them that what we know is true. What’s really important is that we guide others on the path towards experiencing Christ then that individual will decide if they want to stay.
Memories That Last a Lifetime
After the messages had been given, the students as well as local members in attendance were invited to shake hands with the visiting general authorities.
With eyes beaming with light and joy, each student came forth to shake hands and exchange smiles and hugs.
Some students, who may have been nervous coming forward at first, found themselves quickly embraced in the loving arms of Sister Johnson and Sister Browning, creating a connection that each would remember forever. It made me think of the Savior when He would minister to his people. His perfect love can cast out all fear and all were invited to come unto Him. He never denied that love to anyone.
Cumorah’s mission is to assist individuals in coming unto Christ through having spiritual experiences and helping them experience the love the Savior has for them.
At Cumorah, we build a foundation of experiences for our students. We are here to create opportunities for spiritual experiences such as the one we had in Prague with this special home evening. Such experiences build memories that last a lifetime and it’s these small moments our students will look back on in the future when they think of the 3 short months they spent here with us.
What they will remember most is the impact of the love they found and the family they formed here.
Written by Weylin Hollister
Photos by Natalia Lopez
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
