Community of Christ offers a rigorous Master of Arts in Religion program through Graceland University. As I rapidly move towards the end of my first year of Seminary, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude. My cohort is made up of 20 brilliant, diverse minds from all over the world, including Germany, Belgium, England, India, Tahiti, Canada, and the United States. This community is a beautiful expression of theological exploration, and I couldn't make this journey without them!

Together, we discuss. Together, we research. Together, we push forward. 

We are currently enrolled in the History of Christian Thought I, where we are learning about theological history of key figures as well as the church itself from the time of the Greco-Roman Empire to the eve of the Protestant Reformation. It's incredible how much we (as contemporary Christians) have in common with the people of this time. Some of their struggles are still our struggles, but in learning more of their journeys I've grown in my own faith as well.

If you'd like to learn more about Community of Christ Seminary, visit www.graceland.edu/seminary or just ask me! I'd love to tell you all about this wonderful program.

Dear Amy (or Amy Lynne as some family will continue to call you for quite some time),

You made a big decision on the day that you chose to be baptized. You were excited and a little nervous. Your grandfather came and spoke of how his father journeyed from Denmark with your great-grandmother to join the saints out west. Your father performed the ordinance and the patriarchs of your family joined together to confirm you as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, all the while sharing stories of faith and sacrifice. On that day you joined your story with theirs.

I remember how you wanted to be so sure that you were wearing all white that you were anxious the gold metal on your hair ties was not acceptable before God. This seemingly insignificant yet scrupulous concern would become a theme throughout your youth and young adult life. You would often feel that there was some inescapable reason that you were not worthy, never good enough. At some points, that little nagging feeling, though you never could place it, would become overwhelming.

You will have the best of friends from church as you grow up. Together you’ll go to dances, make music together and look up at the stars and talk about the wonders of creation. Your baptism day paved the way for you to have this near-idyllic childhood filled with mentors and friends. It won’t always be sunshine and rainbows but you’ll never lack for trustworthy people to lean on in times of need.

You will graduate university, marry in the temple and have children. (This isn’t the point of my letter but they’re beautiful. They will be your whole world and you theirs). You will make mistakes but your relationship with God will drive your life choices. When you feel scared or overwhelmed, you’ll lean on that faith to get through.

This is the harder part of the story—there will come a day when you question if you made the right choice on that baptism day. Your faith will change. A lot. The world will be bigger and brighter and full of more wonder and exciting mysteries, but it will also be less sure, less secure and the answers you once saw laid out before you will now come only one step at a time. It will be painful. It will also be beautiful. You will spend a lot of nights crying into the dark wondering if that God you were so sure was there can actually hear you. Your prayers will change. You will change.

Which is how we get to today. You see, today I took a bigger-than-normal step. I was confirmed into a different church. I know that probably hurts and at your young age, it seems inconceivable that you would ever leave this fold of westward pioneers and I Love to See the Temple. Your faith is so strong and your spirit unbreakable. These are your people and you simply wouldn’t leave them.