How did I overcome the struggles in supporting my youth to graduate in Seminary?

As we gather here today to honour what has so far been achieved by our students
in this Seminary and Institute Program, I am most certain that as parents or as
teachers you are not only happy but also relieved that this day has finally come.
Well, I tell you…my happiness is double than what you feel….I am not trying to say
that you don’t feel happy enough for your students’ achievements. I am twice as
happy as you are because I play a dual role. I am a parent and a teacher to
majority of my students. I have a daughter, 3 nieces for all of whom I stand as a
guardian and 2 anak-anakan in my seminary class. Hence, in my class I am called
as “Mommy Nikki” instead of Sister Nikki.

When I was called as a seminary teacher three years ago, even though I have a lot
of things to juggle in my hands….I accepted the call. I knew then that being a daily
seminary teacher will be onerous considering my other responsibilities but to my
mind, I accepted the call because I know these seminary students are Heavenly
Father’s children… and because they are His children….He will provide me with all
the aids that I need to help His children…..

Some students skip seminary classes for several disheartening reasons….some do

not attend at all…what is more is discouraging is even some parents would give
you dismaying excuses. I thought of different schemes to invite them to be active
in seminary program…….but at times I felt exasperated because it seemed to me
that none of those things I worked so hard to foster produced the immediate
spiritual edification that I expected from my students….

And then one of the talks of Elder Bednar come into my mind. In that talk he said
“CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY”. To elaborate the principle, he talked about a painting
in his office and this painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes. He
said that if you look at the brushstrokes isolatedly, none of them look interesting
or impressive. He said if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of
seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint.
But if you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes
combine together produce a captivating and a magnificent beautiful painting of a
wheat field landscape.

Elder Bednar’s messge me realize that every effort we exert for our students…. is
a brushstroke on the canvas not of only of our souls but the souls of students. As
parents or teachers of our seminary students, whenever we feel that the struggles
we face seem endless and the efforts we exert seem futile, let us all bear in mind
that just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each
other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing the
things we do for our students can lead to significant spiritual results.

As parents and teachers of our seminary students, let us all be fortified by the
scripture verse quoted by Elder Bednar in his talk which we can find in Doctrine
and Covenants 64:33……“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying
the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is
great” (D&C 64:33).

Struggles and opposition might always come as we keep our students active in
this inspired program and when they do, do not fear or falter but instead hark
back to what Elder Bednar said. Consistency is a key principle as we lay the
foundation of a great work in our individual lives and the lives of our students.