The Influence of a Teacher Lives Long after the Career has ended
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| In 1978- The Les and Linda Campbell Family taught at Liahona H.S. in Tonga |
No one decides to become a teacher because of the paycheck. Teachers sometimes may wonder, is it really worth it? Particularly, when faced with stacks of ungraded papers and by ungrateful or disruptive students.
Henry Brooks Adams once said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”
We were recently able to witness the influence a teacher 35 years earlier is still having on the lives of his former students. Brother and Sister Les and Linda Campbell from Orem, Utah taught geography and seminary at Liahona High School in 1978.
Attending Liahona was a major culture shock for the students from the Gilbert Islands. Learning a new language, a new culture, and a new religion, having a more rigorous curriculum and seeing the clean campus with excellent facilities and school supplies was a major adjustment for the students. Brother and Sister Campbell and other teachers would often invite students to their homes after school and on weekends, where they were fellowshipped and taught basic gospel principles.
Attending Liahona was a major culture shock for the students from the Gilbert Islands. Learning a new language, a new culture, and a new religion, having a more rigorous curriculum and seeing the clean campus with excellent facilities and school supplies was a major adjustment for the students. Brother and Sister Campbell and other teachers would often invite students to their homes after school and on weekends, where they were fellowshipped and taught basic gospel principles.
Twelve students from the Gilbert Islands were the first to be admitted to Liahona High in 1973. All 12 students joined the Church. Six of these students returned in 1975 as the first missionaries in Kiribati. From this humble beginning 37 years ago, there are now approximately 14,000 members of the church in Kiribati (one in every eight I-Kiribati are now LDS). Teachers and staff at Liahona taught the gospel and demonstrated unselfish love to many foreign students at school and in their homes.
Brother and Sister Campbell became very close to many Gilbertese (I-Kiribati) students and have maintained contact with many of them through the years. In February 2012, thirty-five years after leaving Liahona, Brother and Sister Campbell returned to Kiribati and met with many of their former students. It was a marvelous reunion; the love shown between teacher and former students was truly an inspirational to witness.
Brother Campbell taught seminary in Utah County for nearly 40 years, so when they came to Kiribati for a one-week visit in February, they were immediately put to work. Bro Campbell helped train seminary and institute teachers at the pre-service workshop. Brother and Sister Campbell spoke at a youth fireside to an overflow audience. He spoke at a devotional for all teachers and service center employees and they also spoke to the Moroni High student body at the opening assembly. Plus there were many one-on-one teaching moments during their stay. Many of the Kiribati students they befriended are now teachers, church and community leaders in Kiribati such as Stake President Iotua Tune.
The last day they were here, former students hosted a celebration for Brother and Sister Campbell, where food and entertainment was in abundance. Many tears of gratitude were shed and the love between teachers and students was expressed in abundance. Though Brother and Sister Campbell were only in Liahona for one year due to the illness and passing of their beloved daughter Holly, their impact on the lives of many students is still very evident.
The last day they were here, former students hosted a celebration for Brother and Sister Campbell, where food and entertainment was in abundance. Many tears of gratitude were shed and the love between teachers and students was expressed in abundance. Though Brother and Sister Campbell were only in Liahona for one year due to the illness and passing of their beloved daughter Holly, their impact on the lives of many students is still very evident.
Great teachers live on long after their careers, or even their lives, are over. A teachers influence cannot be measured by years served or comments on graded papers. Rather, it is measured in the hearts of their students. May we all strive to teach with the Spirit, for that is how hearts are truly touched and lives influenced and changed for the better.
Many of the same I-Kiiribati students (in the photo above)
who went to LIahona High School are shown singing and expressing love
to their teachers - Brother and Sister Campbell - 35 years later in Kiribati
who went to LIahona High School are shown singing and expressing love
to their teachers - Brother and Sister Campbell - 35 years later in Kiribati
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