Sigma Gamma Chi, the Church fraternity for college men, honored its 10,000th member Aug. 26 during a brief ceremony in the Church Administration Building.
Elder Douglas H. Smith of the Seventy presented Seth Conrad Nelson, 18, with a framed membership certificate. Those attending the event included Seth's mother, JaAnna Nelson; officials of Sigma Gamma Chi; and Hoyt W. Brewster Jr., director of the Priesthood Department.Elder Smith, assistant executive director of the Priesthood Department, explained the positive benefits and purposes of Sigma Gamma Chi: "The good of the fraternity is it brings onto campus close associations with members of the Church with the same ideals. It unites them for good. . . . The fraternity is not just a social unit. It has good community projects. It helps members of the fraternity to recognize academic responsibilities at school and to achieve academic excellence.
"The opportunities of [the fraternityT clearly can't be overemphasized," he continued. "It's a place for all to go and be accepted, helped and strengthened. . . . We need one on every university and college campus, at least in the United States where we have LDS students."
After presenting the certificate, Elder Smith reminded Brother Nelson that being a member of Sigma Gamma Chi is a "great honor" and admonished him to "live honorably."
Brother Nelson began participating in fraternity gatherings last spring while attending Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, and officially became a member May 23. He will turn 19 on Sept. 8 and is preparing to enter the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, Sept. 25 for the Argentina Trelew Mission.
He told the Church News that his involvement with Sigma Gamma Chi has helped him prepare for his mission by teaching him responsibility.
Forty-one chapters of Sigma Gamma Chi are located on 32 college and university campuses in the United States.