NICEVILLE — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Fort Walton Beach Stake is celebrating its Early Morning Seminary graduates.
Graduates from Crestview are Jeffrey Linares, Emily Parker, Kailyn Wirt, Michael Balatimore, Brittany Matthews and Keidra Perdue. Graduate Anne Jones is from DeFuniak Springs. Graduates from Fort Walton Beach are Emily Christopherson, Noah McSheehy, Skyler McSheehy, and Christian Woolsey. Graduates from Niceville are Molly Clifton, Madison Grigg, Andrew Moore and David Russell. Graduate Justice Morgan is from Olive Branch.
Students still finishing the program — and awarded Certificates of Achievement for completing certain portions — are Keidra Perdue, Tiffany Lawson, Dixie Mobley and Kortnie Perkins, Crestview; and Alexandra Bill, Joseph Brill, Samuel Brill and Ammilia Dubbs, Fort Walton Beach.
Students from eight congregations, their teachers, church leaders and hundreds of family members and friends gathered June 15 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Niceville chapel.
Keidre Perdue of Crestview sang, “I Am A Child of God,” accompanied by Ingrid Roberts; Emily Christopherson of Fort Walton Beach sang, “How Great Thou Art” a cappella. Chapman Tew accompanied on the piano while Emily Parker conducted the music.
Early Morning Seminary consists of a daily scripture study class held at 5:45 a.m. before high school begins. Students study each topic for a year, starting with the Old Testament, then the New Testament, the Book of Mormon and Church History.
Through games and various drills, students master 100 scriptures: 25 from each discipline. These classes provide a spiritual and social climate to prepare young people for effective service and missions.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LDS announces seminary graduates, award recipients