To the Rescue in Santa Ana

Just 10 miles from the California coast in downtown Orange County is the beautiful city of Santa Ana. Despite the city’s high temperatures and cheery sunshine, the high enrollment at the Santa Ana California Campus Institute isn’t due to the weather—it is thanks to the recent efforts of local members and students reaching out to and inviting others.

Area director Scott Knecht explained that, only a few months ago, attendance at the Santa Ana institute was at its lowest point ever, with only 10 students enrolled in the daytime program. Attendance was so low that administrators were seriously concerned about the program’s future. The Santa Ana faculty and students knew something had to change if the institute program was to continue.

They came up with a plan requiring the combined efforts of students, parents, teachers, and priesthood leaders. The first step was to accommodate more students by offering new class times. In addition, parents started to come during noon classes to cook lunch for students, and even the local fulltime missionaries eventually participated by inviting everyone they contacted to attend institute.

Although these methods proved effective, the most powerful and meaningful means of expanding institute attendance was the students themselves reaching out to their peers. As the students recognized just how much institute had blessed their lives, they realized how important it was for other students to participate in institute and receive the same blessings. Their own personal experiences made it easier to reach out to those around them.

These students’ efforts changed Ricardo Garduno’s life. Ricardo was a recent convert and was not participating in institute or even attending church. One day, however, he was invited to attend institute, and he decided to give it a try. “I met friends and began to read and study the word. Every time I came I got messages that helped me get through the week,” he explained. “Finally, I went back to church. I am getting ready to go on a mission now.” Ricardo’s life changed simply because he was invited to institute.

As Ricardo and others like him were invited to institute and began to attend, enrollment jumped to over 50 students in the daytime classes in just a few months. Attendance now consistently remains above 100 students. This is only one of the many miracles that can happen across the world as students work together to reach out and find those not receiving the blessings of attending institute.

Our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, promised that “as you participate in institute and study the scriptures diligently, your power to avoid temptation and to receive direction of the Holy Ghost in all you do will be increased” (Apr. 21, 2009).

Let us reach out to those around us, no matter where we are, and invite all to receive the great blessings that come when we participate in institute.