Branson youth star in morning seminary

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/56315/Branson-youth-star-in-morning-seminary.html Spotlight is on gospel study in city known for showtime By Greg Hill Church News staff writer Published: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 Print | Email | Share BRANSON, MO. When students of the Branson, Mo., seminary were recently asked by the Church News if any of them perform on stage, Emilee Anne Warnock tentatively raised her hand. Greg Hill High school junior and senior-aged Church members are taught by Teri Green. Though many are transplants, the seminary students living in the southwest Missouri Ozarks tourism hot spot are cheerful and faithful. What show? "The Andy Williams Christmas Show," she softly replied. That night, sure enough, there she was on stage in the Moon River Theater with three sisters and her parents — the Warnock Family — "teaching" Andy Williams to sing with an energetic and delightful rendition of the popular "Sound of Music" song "Do-Re-Mi." While the entertainment industry touches almost everyone in this southwestern Missouri community, what binds the seminary students together is a willingness to meet at 6 a.m. each school day at the Church meetinghouse to study the gospel. Greg Hill Younger seminary students from the Branson 1st and 2nd wards are taught by David Faria at the meetinghouse early in the morning on school days. Though there are only approximately 7,500 permanent residents in Branson, it is home to two wards of the Springfield Missouri Stake. Those wards supply teenagers to fill two seminary classes, the older students taught by Teri Green and the younger class taught by Dave Faria. The teachers said that of the students enrolled — a total of about 40 — nearly 100 percent attend regularly. The young Church members fit well in Branson, which unabashedly promotes God, family and patriotism. At Christmas time, the true meaning of the holiday is trumpeted rather than veiled. Greg Hill David and Maria Hughes, adopted from Russia, are part of a bell choir performing during the Hughes Brothers Christmas Show at the Hughes American Family Theater in Branson, Mo. "This area has more churches, and church-goers, than almost anywhere else I have been," Branson 1st Ward Bishop Jeff Green, a transplant from California, told the Church News. "These people believe in Christ and He factors heavily in all that they do." Once a relatively unknown town in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, Branson is now famous for its dozens of theaters staging wholesome family-friendly shows featuring professional music, dance, comedy and variety acts. Some of the theaters are home to LDS performers, often complete families. Four seminary students attending on an early December morning spoke to the Church News of their experience. Sisters Maria and Sarah, and brother and sister David and Sofia, were born in Russia and lived for a time in an orphanage there. Then they were adopted by Lena and Gary Hughes, parents of the Hughes Brothers who put on a lively and popular variety show in their own Hughes American Family Theater. The adopted children were taught the gospel in the home and by missionaries and were baptized, Sister Hughes said. Later, they were sealed to their family in the St. Louis Missouri Temple. Already an extended-family act, the Hughes Brothers show absorbed Maria, Sarah and David, who were eager to get on stage. Sofia, preferring to avoid the stage, finds joy as manager of the theater's "Celebrity Bistro" restaurant. Greg Hill The Warnock Family, singing Do-Re-Mi with Andy Williams during Andy Williams' Christmas show at the Moon River Theater in Branson, Mo., are among the many LDS performers in this Ozarks community. With its popular shows drawing millions of tourists a year, Branson has grown over the past several years. That growth is reflected in the seminary classes; most of the students have roots elsewhere. Many are from Utah, but they come from several other states as well. Their spirit is reflected in their comments about seminary given to the Church News on Thursday morning, Dec. 4, before they went off to Branson or Hollister high schools, or to home schooling. Shannon Haynie, 17, a Branson native, said: "Three things I love about seminary are getting to spend time with my friends, being given the opportunity to study the words of prophets every morning and, most of all, I love feeling the Spirit to start off each of my days." Sierra Madeline Spencer, 15, who led her written comments with "I (picture of a heart) seminary," said, "It helps me with not being shy." Keaton Knudsen, 14, from California, noted that seminary "helps me answer the questions my non-member friends have about the Church." Greg Hill From left, Maria, Sophia, David, Aaron and Sarah Hughes after seminary class in Branson, Mo. All but Aaron were adopted from Russia by Gary and Lena Hughes. They now are part of the Hughes Brothers performing family. Alex Yeverino, 15, a Branson native, called seminary a "complete spiritual breakfast." Genevieve Lynn Green, 16, from California, said she is grateful her mom is her teacher because "this experience allows us to spend time together and learn and grow together in the gospel. When I go to seminary, my day is happier, more successful and I feel the Holy Ghost more abundantly." Karalee Foster, 17, from Texas, said that four of the seven students in her family have already completed four years of seminary. Attending, she said, allows her to "learn from everyone in the class," augmenting her personal scripture study. Kyle Knudsen, 16, from California, said seminary is his favorite part of the day and "it keeps me from doing stupid things at school." Michael Hamman, 18, from Wisconsin, said seminary is "a great way to prepare for your mission, especially with memorizing the scripture masteries." Emmily Pippin, 14, from Utah, said she escaped serious injury in a car accident two days earlier and noted, "I'm grateful for my blessings seminary taught me to recognize." Finally, Ethan Spencer, 14, from Idaho, expressed sincere feelings: "Brother Faria is a good teacher and I'm tired." ghill@desnews.com -- http://MissouriNetizen.com http://www.bransonedge.com http://www.bransonmissouri.missourinetizen.com