FAREWELL SPEECH,
SACRAMENT MEETING
Elder T. Stokoe, February 2012
Brothers & Sisters:
I am grateful for the Utah Polynesian Choir. We have enjoyed the fellowship, friendship and the spirit of aloha. There are those in the choir we attended the same high school in Samoa,
President Hanks was our band teacher, for some home room teacher and others, Mission President.
We testify as a choir, if it were not for missionaries coming to Samoa, the Church & the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Church Education System — many of us would not have had the chance to come to the United States, attend college, and obtain good jobs. For this we are truly thankful.
(D&C 31:3): "Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come."
I am going to talk about:
1. THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND
3. And TESTIMONIES
COUNSEL FOR MISSIONARIES:
(1) "Pray always that ye may not faint." (D&C 188:126) = Good advice for senior couples.
(2) "The Lord is able to do all things for men if they exercise faith." (1 Nephi 7)
(3) The Lord says "For I will go before thee, on the left side, and on the right."
This knowledge is comforting to missionaries.
(4) Counsel with the Lord is all thy doings (Alma 37:37)
(5) Whatsoever ye ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive it, it shall be done, (Moroni 7:26)
(6) Teach by the Spirit.
(7) In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6)
COUNSEL TO MY STUDENTS
(1) If at first you don’t succeed try, try and try again. But if at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.
(2) Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easy to live with. So get a good education and a good job.
AS FOR YOU SENIOR FOLKS OUT THERE WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH. Psychiatrists say that 1 of 4 are mentally ill. So check with 3 of your friends.
If they are ok, you’re it.
By the year 2001, there was a problem confronting many returned missionaries around the world
QUOTE: AN ELDER from SOUTH AMERICA: "When I came home from my mission, I really wanted to get an education. I tried and tried year after year but I just couldn’t get into school. I kept thinking the courses would get cheaper but they were never cheaper. It was always more expensive always harder."
RETURNED SISTER MISSIONARY FROM THE CARIBBEAN: " Without an education it is absolutely impossible in Haiti. You can’t live without an education."
RETURNED MISSIONARY, AN ELDER FROM CENTRAL AMERICA: "I have the same dream as any young person in the church. To start a family and serve in the church and in order to do things well I need a good job."
PRESIDENT HINCKLEY, MARCH 31, 2001: "In an effort to remedy this situation, we propose a plan — a plan which we believe is inspired of the Lord. The church is establishing a fund largely from the contributions of faithful Latter-Day Saints who have and will contribute for this purpose. We are deeply grateful to them. Based on similar principles to those underlying the Perpetual Emigration Fund, we shall call it the Perpetual Education Fund."
JORGE ROMEU, STAKE PRESIDENT, ARGENTINA: "I am sure the Lord saw the needs of our people. I am sure he heard our prayers and revealed to our prophet how we could receive those blessings."
QUOTE FROM THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND :
"The Perpetual Education Fund has been established to provide worthy young adults with the support and resources necessary to improve their lives through education and better employment"
End of quote.
THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND OFFERS HOPE, OPPORTUNITY AND EMPLOYMENT
President Hinckley:, "Education is the key to opportunity. Loans will be made to ambitious young men and women. Initially, most of these students will attend technical schools where they will learn such things as computer science, refrigeration engineering, and other skills that are in demand and in which they can become qualified. Then when they qualify for employment they will repay their loans to make it possible that other students can be blessed as they have been blessed. With greatly improved opportunities they will step out of the cycle of poverty which those before them have known for so long. We pray humbly and gratefully that God will prosper this effort."
Matthew 6:33 – Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all else shall be added unto you.
Alma 7:23 – Always return thanks to God for whatsoever things ye receive.
ELIZABETH OF CHILE: "When I received the approval for my Perpetual Education loan I was so happy. I wanted to jump and shout, "I can go to school this very year!" I knelt down and told Heavenly Father "Thank you very much. Thank you for inspiring the prophet and creating this wonderful plan."
D&C 109:7 – Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith.
MARIELA of PERU: "I was an excellent student in high school with no way to further my education. Then with a PEF loan, I entered an engineering program and quickly rose to the top of my class. I am now a successful engineer in a major mining company. I am helping my siblings through school, and serving in the Church."
THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND FOSTERS INTEGRITY AND SELF RELIANCE
President Hinckley: "The beneficiaries will repay the money. And when they do so, they will experience a wonderful sense of freedom because they have improved their lives not through a grant or gift but through borrowing and repaying. They can hold their heads high in the spirit of independence."
D&C 90:24– Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for thy good.
MBALI ZITSHU, of PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA
"I served a successful LDS mission in Jamaica but had few career skills and no work on my return. With a PEF loan I completed a 3 month firefighting class and upon graduation, received a job that paid ten times more than the job I had before I left on my mission. I married in the temple and am repaying my loan. My family is financially self reliant."
Elder T. Stokoe, February 2012
Brothers & Sisters:
I am grateful for the Utah Polynesian Choir. We have enjoyed the fellowship, friendship and the spirit of aloha. There are those in the choir we attended the same high school in Samoa,
President Hanks was our band teacher, for some home room teacher and others, Mission President.
We testify as a choir, if it were not for missionaries coming to Samoa, the Church & the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Church Education System — many of us would not have had the chance to come to the United States, attend college, and obtain good jobs. For this we are truly thankful.
(D&C 31:3): "Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come."
I am going to talk about:
1. THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND
3. And TESTIMONIES
COUNSEL FOR MISSIONARIES:
(1) "Pray always that ye may not faint." (D&C 188:126) = Good advice for senior couples.
(2) "The Lord is able to do all things for men if they exercise faith." (1 Nephi 7)
(3) The Lord says "For I will go before thee, on the left side, and on the right."
This knowledge is comforting to missionaries.
(4) Counsel with the Lord is all thy doings (Alma 37:37)
(5) Whatsoever ye ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive it, it shall be done, (Moroni 7:26)
(6) Teach by the Spirit.
(7) In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6)
COUNSEL TO MY STUDENTS
(1) If at first you don’t succeed try, try and try again. But if at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.
(2) Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easy to live with. So get a good education and a good job.
AS FOR YOU SENIOR FOLKS OUT THERE WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH. Psychiatrists say that 1 of 4 are mentally ill. So check with 3 of your friends.
If they are ok, you’re it.
By the year 2001, there was a problem confronting many returned missionaries around the world
QUOTE: AN ELDER from SOUTH AMERICA: "When I came home from my mission, I really wanted to get an education. I tried and tried year after year but I just couldn’t get into school. I kept thinking the courses would get cheaper but they were never cheaper. It was always more expensive always harder."
RETURNED SISTER MISSIONARY FROM THE CARIBBEAN: " Without an education it is absolutely impossible in Haiti. You can’t live without an education."
RETURNED MISSIONARY, AN ELDER FROM CENTRAL AMERICA: "I have the same dream as any young person in the church. To start a family and serve in the church and in order to do things well I need a good job."
PRESIDENT HINCKLEY, MARCH 31, 2001: "In an effort to remedy this situation, we propose a plan — a plan which we believe is inspired of the Lord. The church is establishing a fund largely from the contributions of faithful Latter-Day Saints who have and will contribute for this purpose. We are deeply grateful to them. Based on similar principles to those underlying the Perpetual Emigration Fund, we shall call it the Perpetual Education Fund."
JORGE ROMEU, STAKE PRESIDENT, ARGENTINA: "I am sure the Lord saw the needs of our people. I am sure he heard our prayers and revealed to our prophet how we could receive those blessings."
QUOTE FROM THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND :
"The Perpetual Education Fund has been established to provide worthy young adults with the support and resources necessary to improve their lives through education and better employment"
End of quote.
THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND OFFERS HOPE, OPPORTUNITY AND EMPLOYMENT
President Hinckley:, "Education is the key to opportunity. Loans will be made to ambitious young men and women. Initially, most of these students will attend technical schools where they will learn such things as computer science, refrigeration engineering, and other skills that are in demand and in which they can become qualified. Then when they qualify for employment they will repay their loans to make it possible that other students can be blessed as they have been blessed. With greatly improved opportunities they will step out of the cycle of poverty which those before them have known for so long. We pray humbly and gratefully that God will prosper this effort."
Matthew 6:33 – Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all else shall be added unto you.
Alma 7:23 – Always return thanks to God for whatsoever things ye receive.
ELIZABETH OF CHILE: "When I received the approval for my Perpetual Education loan I was so happy. I wanted to jump and shout, "I can go to school this very year!" I knelt down and told Heavenly Father "Thank you very much. Thank you for inspiring the prophet and creating this wonderful plan."
D&C 109:7 – Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith.
MARIELA of PERU: "I was an excellent student in high school with no way to further my education. Then with a PEF loan, I entered an engineering program and quickly rose to the top of my class. I am now a successful engineer in a major mining company. I am helping my siblings through school, and serving in the Church."
THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND FOSTERS INTEGRITY AND SELF RELIANCE
President Hinckley: "The beneficiaries will repay the money. And when they do so, they will experience a wonderful sense of freedom because they have improved their lives not through a grant or gift but through borrowing and repaying. They can hold their heads high in the spirit of independence."
D&C 90:24– Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for thy good.
MBALI ZITSHU, of PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA
"I served a successful LDS mission in Jamaica but had few career skills and no work on my return. With a PEF loan I completed a 3 month firefighting class and upon graduation, received a job that paid ten times more than the job I had before I left on my mission. I married in the temple and am repaying my loan. My family is financially self reliant."
THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND CAN ENABLE STRONGER FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
President Hinckley: "They will marry and go forward with skills that will qualify them to earn well and take their places in society where they can make a substantial contribution."
D&C 10:11 – Without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith.
KIM of MEXICO: "We made our wedding plans but we could tell we would need to have a better income. We prayed to the Lord. I was a bit nervous about getting a loan from the Perpetual Education Fund but my wife encouraged me. Now I am a physical therapist and my life is different in every way. I feel fulfilled and I am helping my family as well as other people."
Jarom 1:11 – Labor diligently
VILIAME of FIJI: "I worked hard to qualify for the university but I needed a PEF loan to pay part of my school fees. With that help, I was able to graduate - the first one from my family - and became a teacher. I was able to marry my sweetheart in the temple."
THE PERPETUAL
EDUCATION FUND PROMOTES CHURCH AND LEADERSHIP GROWTH
PRESIDENT HINCKLEY: "They will become leaders in this great work in their native lands. They will pay their tithes and offerings, which will make it possible for the Church to expand its work across the world."
Alma 9:28 – All men shall reap the reward of their works.
DIEGO of BRAZIL: "I now have a job as a computer navigator administrator, and I earn four times as much as I did before. I am also serving as Elders’s Quorum President and my wife is serving as the Young Women’s President in my ward. We are working together to help the ward grow and are very grateful for the Perpetual Education Fund and all that it has done for us".
D&C 130: 20&21 – All blessings are predicated upon obedience to laws.
CARLOS OF PERU: "In my patriarchal blessing it mentioned I would have this opportunity for higher education and it was fulfilled thanks to the help of the Perpetual Education Fund."
To us the Perpetual Education Fund is not just something temporal. It is a prophecy. It is sacred.
PRESIDENT HINCKLEY: "They will become leaders in this great work in their native lands. They will pay their tithes and offerings, which will make it possible for the Church to expand its work across the world."
Alma 9:28 – All men shall reap the reward of their works.
DIEGO of BRAZIL: "I now have a job as a computer navigator administrator, and I earn four times as much as I did before. I am also serving as Elders’s Quorum President and my wife is serving as the Young Women’s President in my ward. We are working together to help the ward grow and are very grateful for the Perpetual Education Fund and all that it has done for us".
D&C 130: 20&21 – All blessings are predicated upon obedience to laws.
CARLOS OF PERU: "In my patriarchal blessing it mentioned I would have this opportunity for higher education and it was fulfilled thanks to the help of the Perpetual Education Fund."
To us the Perpetual Education Fund is not just something temporal. It is a prophecy. It is sacred.
THE PERPETUAL
EDUCATION FUND IS ONE OF COMMITMENT AND COOPERATION
President Hinckley: "The program is priesthood-based, and that is why it will succeed. It begins with the bishops and the stake presidents. It involves the Church Education System, the Employment Services offices, and others who work together in a marvelous spirit of cooperation. We have the organization.... and dedicated servants of the Lord to make it succeed."
WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR STUDENTS WHO DESIRE A PEF LOAN?
1. They must be ambitious, worthy, in need, and endorsed by priesthood leaders.
2. Be of the appropriate age, generally 18-30.
3. Have served a full-time mission - for brethren, ages 19-25.
4. Have adequate preparation for their desired education.
5. Must commit to pay as much of their education costs as possible from personal resources;
6. Be fully committed to repaying the loan.
7. And enrolled in the local Institute of Religion (if single and under age 30)
A CLASS WE WILL BE TEACHING IS CALLED "PLANNING FOR SUCCESS."
Where the students:
1. Develop a dream of WHO they want to become and WHAT type of job they wish to obtain.
2. They have to develop an Education Plan, Financial Plan, and Employment Plan.
3. Qualify for a PEF loan.
4. Commit to make payments.
5. Enroll in a school program taking vocational, technical, or university classes.
6. Study hard - stay with it - graduate - obtain a diploma, certificate, license, or degree.
7. Get a good job and repay the loan.
STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM.
25.5 years = average Age
47% = Men.
53% = Women.
34% = Married
80% = Returned missionaries (men )
82% = Work while in school
2.6 years = Average length of education in the PEF program
Average loan per student = $1,800
President Hinckley: "The program is priesthood-based, and that is why it will succeed. It begins with the bishops and the stake presidents. It involves the Church Education System, the Employment Services offices, and others who work together in a marvelous spirit of cooperation. We have the organization.... and dedicated servants of the Lord to make it succeed."
WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR STUDENTS WHO DESIRE A PEF LOAN?
1. They must be ambitious, worthy, in need, and endorsed by priesthood leaders.
2. Be of the appropriate age, generally 18-30.
3. Have served a full-time mission - for brethren, ages 19-25.
4. Have adequate preparation for their desired education.
5. Must commit to pay as much of their education costs as possible from personal resources;
6. Be fully committed to repaying the loan.
7. And enrolled in the local Institute of Religion (if single and under age 30)
A CLASS WE WILL BE TEACHING IS CALLED "PLANNING FOR SUCCESS."
Where the students:
1. Develop a dream of WHO they want to become and WHAT type of job they wish to obtain.
2. They have to develop an Education Plan, Financial Plan, and Employment Plan.
3. Qualify for a PEF loan.
4. Commit to make payments.
5. Enroll in a school program taking vocational, technical, or university classes.
6. Study hard - stay with it - graduate - obtain a diploma, certificate, license, or degree.
7. Get a good job and repay the loan.
STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM.
25.5 years = average Age
47% = Men.
53% = Women.
34% = Married
80% = Returned missionaries (men )
82% = Work while in school
2.6 years = Average length of education in the PEF program
Average loan per student = $1,800
SINCE THE PERPETUAL
EDUCATION FUND WAS ANNOUNCED MARCH 31, 2001.
1. There have been over 49,000 participants in 51 countries.
2. Students make 3-4 times greater income after education.
5. Most participants graduate, gain better work, and repay loans.
6. Hundreds of thousands of members have donated millions to make it possible.
THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND
# Is led by a Board of Directors in Salt Lake City including the First Presidency of the Church, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and general auxiliary leaders.
# And 100's of local leaders and volunteers world wide, including about 70 missionary couples.
WHO MANAGES THE LOANS?
# The Presiding Bishop’s Office of the Church.
WHO MAKES LOAN DECISIONS?
1. PEF Headquarters, Salt Lake City.
They determine how much the loan will be per student based on need.
2. And the loans takes 2 weeks to process.
WHAT MAY THE LOANS BE USED FOR?
1. Tuition, books, and fees.
3. And the Church cuts a check that is sent directly to the institution - not the student.
HOW IS THE PEF FINANCED?
# Contributions – and the contributions to the fund are maintained as a perpetual endowment. Interest and earnings from the fund are used to provide loans.
# Administrative costs are borne by the church, not the fund.
WHEN AND HOW IS A LOAN REPAID?
1. Small monthly payments are made while the student is in school
2. And upon graduation the payments are increased.
COUNTRIES HAVE HAD THE MOST PEF PARTICIPANTS AS OF FEBRUARY, 2011
Brazil = 13,000 students
Mexico = 5,800 1. There have been over 49,000 participants in 51 countries.
2. Students make 3-4 times greater income after education.
5. Most participants graduate, gain better work, and repay loans.
6. Hundreds of thousands of members have donated millions to make it possible.
THE PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND
# Is led by a Board of Directors in Salt Lake City including the First Presidency of the Church, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and general auxiliary leaders.
# And 100's of local leaders and volunteers world wide, including about 70 missionary couples.
WHO MANAGES THE LOANS?
# The Presiding Bishop’s Office of the Church.
WHO MAKES LOAN DECISIONS?
1. PEF Headquarters, Salt Lake City.
They determine how much the loan will be per student based on need.
2. And the loans takes 2 weeks to process.
WHAT MAY THE LOANS BE USED FOR?
1. Tuition, books, and fees.
3. And the Church cuts a check that is sent directly to the institution - not the student.
HOW IS THE PEF FINANCED?
# Contributions – and the contributions to the fund are maintained as a perpetual endowment. Interest and earnings from the fund are used to provide loans.
# Administrative costs are borne by the church, not the fund.
WHEN AND HOW IS A LOAN REPAID?
1. Small monthly payments are made while the student is in school
2. And upon graduation the payments are increased.
COUNTRIES HAVE HAD THE MOST PEF PARTICIPANTS AS OF FEBRUARY, 2011
The rest of South America - 13,600 Samoa, Tonga, Fiji = 300
Central America = 5,100 Asia (Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia) = 300
Sub Sahara Africa = 2,400
WHEN PRESIDENT HINCKLEY ANNOUNCED THIS PROGRAM IN 2001 he said:
"The Perpetual Education Fund is to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. The Perpetual Education Fund is inspired of the Lord. It is to succor his people according to their infirmities."
ANDREA of SOUTH AMERICA
Has an infirmity. Andrea is a returned missionary who is deaf. I watched her ON VIDEO as she struggled to verbally bare her testimony of the Perpetual Education Fund. It was very touching.
ANDREA: " I was born premature. I went to elementary schooling and continued through high school and I was able to graduate. My parents thought it would be very difficult for me because of my inability to hear but I finished. I got an instructional internship using the Perpetual Education Fund and graduated in computer science with a business emphasis. The Perpetual Education Fund even helps people who are deaf like me. My testimony is that the Perpetual Education Fund is – the Love of God shown unto the world."
ANDREA’S MOTHER: testifies: "This program is truly – the Pure Love of Christ for humanity."
CONCLUSION
I testify:
# The Church Education System and the Perpetual Education Fund are truly inspired of the Lord.
# It benefits thousands of LDS young men & women across the world.
# And is a stepping stone in their Spiritual, Educational & Financial growth.
# That God the Father and Jesus Christ truly love us.
# That Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of the Lord.
# And the hymn "Praise To The Man" is a testament of his being chosen by the Lord as an instrument in the Restoration of the Gospel in the Fulness of Times.
# Diane and I express our love to all of you and may the Spirit of the Lord be with us all as we labor diligently in the Lord’s vineyard throughout the world.
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