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This is a challenge all too familiar to David Muanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and hundreds of others like him. But an experience in David’s final year of college changed his feelings towards the program. He explains what happened:
“Throughout college, I was always top of my class. So, as I entered my final year I thought I would abandon seminary, which I had attended in previous years, so that I could achieve my goal. One day, my way of thinking changed. I looked around my room and saw a pile of books next to my scriptures, seminary manual and notebook. In my heart, I asked: ‘What matters most?’
“I found the answer in Matthew 6:33: ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ It was not an easy decision, especially since I had to juggle my final year studies with helping my family, attending school, spending time with friends, and participating in seminary. Since my teacher had taken the time to call me every day to remind me of my duty to attend seminary, I decided to faithfully attend and find other ways to balance my time, in order to complete my studies.
“By the end of the year, I had not only been recognized as the top achiever in my college class and received my college diploma, but also obtained a certificate of course completion and my diploma in seminary.
“This year, I enrolled in the LDS Institute of Religion where I have learnt great truths. I have found that seminary has qualified me for many church callings and has trained and prepared me to serve a full-time mission in the near future. Aged 18 years old, I am now serving as Stake Young Men Secretary.
“It is at seminary where I have come to find my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. Just as many apostles and prophets have taught before: make seminary and institute a priority and you will never regret having attended.”