Youth

At first I thought seminary would be hard.

I had to change schools, and seminary was early in the morning. I didn’t think it would work because I had a lot of homework and other things going on.

But when I started going to seminary, time just opened up for me. Now, I always have enough time for my homework. And I’m always excited the next day to get up and go back to seminary again. My friends and I support each other and learn a lot while we’re there.

The happiness I feel in seminary is a lot like the happiness I feel when I’m in the temple. Before I turned 11, my siblings and friends had all been to the temple and I hadn’t. When they would go inside, I always waited outside. I kept hoping for the day I would be old enough to go inside myself.

When I was finally old enough to go inside and do baptisms for the dead, I felt a great peace. Even though my family and friends had described to me the feeling of being in the temple, I was so excited that I was able to feel that for myself.

Sophia D., 14, Colombia

Colombia

Birds

There are more species of birds than in all of Europe and North America combined.

Two Temples

Bogotá 1999 and Barranquilla 2018.

Only Country in South America

that has coasts touching both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

First Church Missionaries

arrived in 1966.

Emerald Trade

Largest producer of emeralds in the world.

Colombia National Anthem

is played on TV and the radio every day at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

I am the only member of the Church in my school. One thing I love to do is participate in seminary because it helps me remember who I am and what I believe. Because I live the gospel, I have a vision for my future. I know I am a child of God. I like to invite my friends to church and help them see that they are children of God too. I know that through the gospel of Jesus Christ, they can have a brighter future too.

Celeste H., 18, Chile

I love playing basketball. I also like setting goals for myself and having fun as I try to achieve them. Making goals helps me be a better person and become more like the Savior. One goal I have is to read the scriptures more, even when I come home late from basketball practice. With the new Children and Youth program, I feel more unified in my quorum as we help each other make goals and plan activities that can help us accomplish them.

Mason M., 13, Ohio, USA