FACES OF INSTITUTE

When I graduated from high school I was super nervous about college. I was 18 years old in the first year of my bachelors program not really knowing what to expect. I signed up for an institute class thinking it would give me something to do between classes and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I could have made. 

I know the institute is a place where everyone is welcome no matter their race, religion, or background. It’s somewhere you can come to study, hang out, get inspiration and probably free food at least 9/10 times.

Come check out what classes are available in the institute building or online. I cannot wait to see you there! 😊

Hello, my name is Juan. I joined the LDS church thanks to the Institute.  I grew up in Michoacán, Mexico as Catholic, however, I was inactive since I was a child, but I knew that there is a God.

Six years ago, I knew that I needed to go to church, but I did not know where I needed to go. Someone once mentioned the Institute, so I was curious and I checked Google. A half-year later, I was curious about the Institute. I was planning to visit and learn more about the LDS church.

Finally, on February 2016 without knowing a single member of the LDS church I called the institute phone number that is on Google maps, and I asked them if I could visit, so I went to a class and I met a group of missionaries. We agreed on meeting the following Friday at 6 pm. I arrived that Friday at the front entrance of the Institute at 6 pm as we agreed, the whole campus was empty because it was Friday at 6 pm. I did not have their phone number and I remember that I was waiting for 20 minutes and it was very cold outside the Institute, I thought they forgot about meeting with me, so I thought maybe this is not for me.

I was almost leaving when I saw a guy walking from Weber State to the Institute, so he saw me in the front of the institute and said Hi, so we started to talk and I told him that I was supposed to meet the missionaries, but they did not arrive, so he told me that they might be in the back entrance. We walked to the back entrance and indeed the missionaries were there.

From that moment, I started to meet with them twice a week. I learned more about the church during the time I was meeting with them and also I used that time to ask as much as I could. Two months later, I was baptized.

Since that time I have been trying to be very active in the LDS church and I have been attending the institute most of the semesters. Thanks to the Institute, I have joined a church in which I am happy because I know I am in the right place and I have met good people.

Coming home from a mission was much harder than I thought it many ways. I had a couple set friends from before but in a way I was starting over. The institute created a place to meet people and gain new friends that I needed. It was also the best way for me to feel connected to the spirit again as I sat in class and participated. I love institute and I know as we make it a priority in our lives we are blessed.

I have found through my experiences that the Institute is the perfect combination of “spiritual” and “social”, which are two very important aspects of my life! This is actually my first year at Weber State but I’ve already found so many new friendships as well as some profound spiritual experiences as a result of the Institute, and those things have helped me to enjoy my time here at Weber State so much more than I feel like I would have otherwise. It’s nice because there are so many activities all the time to come and check out what the Institute is like! 

Hello, I’m David Rose!  Just over 8 years ago, I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Ever since then, the gospel has brought me so many blessings including a solid purpose in life!  I know that The Church is true and that there is a place for every single person that has lived, is living, and will live on this earth here in the gospel.  The Institute is the best place to be on campus.  Here I’ve found friends and wholesome fun, as well as peace and comfort.  It is a wonderful place to come closer to Jesus Christ.  I welcome everyone to come on in and join us!

I came home from my mission in March of 2019. I had always enjoyed Institute and so after enrolling for my classes on campus I made sure to sign up for a class. I didn’t really know anyone, but little by little I made some good friends and met some awesome people. 

Institute has helped me to form a better relationship with my Savior and has helped me to better understand the scriptures and how to apply them to my life. Because of the Lord Jesus Christ no mistake, weakness or struggle has to define us, but is there to refine us.

I first started going to institute right after my mission when I returned home for mental health treatment as a struggled with depression. There are good, better, and best things we can do for our well-being. Institute is one of the best. It’s a spiritual environment that entitles all to confidence, comfort, and peace. I gained a testimony of that when I needed it most. 

Since then I am a private Pilot now training at the Ogden Airport [KOGD] to this day I plan and find time in my schedule to attend class. I’ve continued to meet some of my closest friends, and discover all that The Lord sees in me, and discover the blessings he has in store for me. 

Faith is a 7 days a week thing. As the world continues to compete for our attention more than ever with media, doubt, and lust like pornography; I want to encourage all to go past limiting their worship to just Sundays and nurture their spiritual well-being throughout the week at institute.

I graduated high school in 2018.  I began Institute in the fall 2018 while a student at Weber State.  I took a break from school and stopped attending Institute. During this time I experienced anxiety with life. In the winter of 2020, the Institute reached out and I received a goodie bag (caprisun, stickers, cookies, etc.) that included a Spring 2021 class schedule.

I prayed about it for the next few weeks and received the answer that I needed to start taking Institute classes again. From there on, I have enjoyed meeting new people and all the classes. I am now a member of the Nourish and Strengthen committee.  Life is better. I feel like I belong here!

I am in the Respiratory Therapy program on campus. I’ve lived here in Ogden for the past few years and I have absolutely loved it! Some of my favorite things about Ogden is the trees 🌳 🌳 and the people. I live with a bunch of roommates and my family lives about an hour away, including my 3 little sisters (2nd picture). 

One of the things I was worried about as I started the RT program was that I wouldn’t be able to do as much at the institute. It has been so nice to get involved with more of the evening classes and activities that I had never really done before. 

I could honestly talk about institute all. day. long! This is my 5th semester at WSU and I have taken numerous classes here at the institute. They have been such a blessing and an amazing addition to my academic class load. The Institute has been absolutely crucial in how my testimony has grown in the past few years. 

One of the things I like most about Institute is just the atmosphere. I’ve recently started making and selling music artwork, most of which right now is church related. It has been such a sweet, new experience to be able to gain inspiration on a piece or think of something that just clicks as I’m in one of the classes. 

I’ve been coming to the Institute on and off for a couple of years now. Right now I am double majoring in Spanish and English with a creative writing emphasis and plan on graduating next fall.

With everything being said though, I decided to finally get involved at the Institute this semester and join a committee. Better late than never right? At the beginning of this semester, I didn’t know just about anyone at the Institute. I’ve seen first hand the healing power that getting involved, especially at the Institute, can bring into a life. I am so grateful that the Institute gives especially not myself but EVERYONE the opportunity to come, get involved, and to be healed. I am grateful for how the Institute helps a college experience be Christ centered. I am grateful for the wonderful people I’m getting to know at the Institute and look forward to continuing to know more of you.

Hey, Weber institute! This is my first year here at Weber I just graduated from Davis High this past summer. I love dance parties, hanging out with my family and friends, sports, nature, etc. I have loved the blessings that come from taking an institute class. When I was in 9th grade it was my seminary teacher that challenged me to read my Book of Mormon every day and it changed my life!! Because of the great experiences I have had with seminary, I decided to take an institute class and I have loved it!! I have come to gain a stronger testimony of my Savior and his gospel through taking an institute class and it brings me so much joy! I also decided to join a committee and it is the best because you meet so many new people and you get free breakfast on Fridays! Overall Weber Institute has treated me well.🤘

Justin and Lily are engaged to be married. Here is Justin’s story:  I graduated high school in 2017 and kind of slipped away from attending church and didn’t attend Institute. I had some challenges in life that led me to the institute in 2021. I decided to take a class. I enrolled in “Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel” taught by Brother Jacobs.  I loved the class. One day Brother Merrill subbed the class and invited me to take his “Deepening Conversion” class in the summer of 2021. That classed rocked me spiritually each day. In the fall I joined the Welcome Committee. It was in the committee meeting when I met Lily again (I met her once while swing dancing) and the rest is history—we are engaged to be married. She is my institute sweetheart. Institute has changed my life and eternal future.