February 19

Principle: Charity, inspire vs. expire, Genshai and Namaste

Spend time doing each of these five inspirements:
1 hour for Apprentice,
1 1/2 hour for Journeyman,
and 2 hours or more for Master level 

We had a great experience in class listening to Elder Bednar teach us about the Character of Christ. His prayer is, "May we reach outward when the natural tendency for us is to turn inward."

1. Do a word study on the word "character" and write it in your truth book. As you do this you will be amazed at the things you'll discover. You can see an example of how to do a word study here.

1. Select a key word to focus on.
2. Look it up in the Webster 1828 dictionary. Select the definition for your focus (sometimes there is more than one definition.)
3. Underline key words that stand out to you and define them.
4. Look at how it is used in Scripture/Conference addresses. (Not in general quotes or other articles, at least for this purpose...) Write any new insights or definitions.
5. Rewrite the definition in your own words and how you are going to apply it.

 

2. Read this excerpt from a talk given by Pres. Monson in the Oct. 2012 General Conference. See if you can identify how one of the soldiers in the story exhibited character in the way that Elder Bednar talked about in his talk.

3. In Elder Bednars' talk he said that the adversary repeatedly attempted "to attack Jesus' understanding of who He was and of His relationship with His Father." (referencing Matthew 4:1-9) Think about and write about the following questions in your Truth Book:

A. Do you think the adversary uses that same strategy to try to cause us to discount who we are? How so?

B. How would remembering who you are help you to combat this strategy?

C. How would remembering who others are help you to treat them with Genshai/Charity?

4. Read the following scriptures and choose one or more that mean a lot to you, write it in your Truth Book and memorize it.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love castesh out fear

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

5. Watch the following inspirational videos and write any thoughts/inspiration you have in your Truth Book:

The Character of Christ 

The Coat: A Story of Charity

Charity Never Faileth

The following two items for your enjoyment if you're interested:

Here is the link to listen to Elder Bednar's talk on "The Character of Christ" again if you'd like to. You can also print it out at this link. You'll need to scroll down a ways to find it. There is no video of this talk. It was given at BYU-Idaho back when he was the president there.

Watch this TED talk by Kevin Hall on Genshai. He is the one who wrote the book "Aspire" and that is the book I used to teach you about Genshai.  I think you'll like listening to him tell the story himself. 

February 12

 Principle: Charity, inspire vs. expire, Genshai and Namaste

Spend time doing each of these four inspirements:

1 hour for Apprentice,

1 1/2 hour for Journeyman,

and 2 hours or more for Master level 

1. GENSHAI-  In class you were given a piece of paper that said, "Genshai - Never treat another person in a manner that would make them feel small - including myself."  Tape it to the mirror in your bathroom or someplace where you will see it everyday.  Read it each day and look for times during the day where you can practice Genshai, either in regards to others or to yourself. Be prepared to share your experience in class next week.

2. You were also given a sheet of sticker paper that had a picture of the Savior on it. We discussed what pride is in class.  We learned that whenever we feel ourselves to be above others, or when we put ourselves below others, that we are really focusing on ourselves (therefore withholding our love and our service from others) and are therefore being prideful. (That's a very simplified explanation!)  We discussed how if we are to become more like the Savior, then we are to truly love ourselves and others, and to become the best we can be with the purpose of serving others.  This inspirement invites you to teach what you learned about this to someone else - perhaps to your parents or a sibling, or in Family Home Evening. This will help you to understand it better yourself. If you want to ask me questions to help you better understand it, please feel free to email me. You can use this image to help you teach it.

3. Think about and write about the following questions in your Truth Book:

1. Looking back over the past few years, has anyone treated you with Genshai? What was the situation and how did it make you feel?

2. And on the flip-side of that, has there been a time in the past few years where you treated someone with Genshai? What was the situation and how did it make you feel?

3. What things do you think about, or believe, that make you feel small?

4. What things do you think about, or believe, that make you feel better than someone else?

5. What can you do to feel more love for yourself and others?

4. Go to the Topical Guide and look up "Charity." Choose verses to read and study, and write down some of your favorites in your Truth Book. Be prepared to share one of your favorites in class.

(PS Remember to bring your scriptures next week!)

February 5

Principle:  Work hard, have passion, be a finisher, and be involved.

Spend time doing each of these six inspirements:

1 hour for Apprentice,

1 1/2 hour for Journeyman,

and 2 hours or more for Master level 

1. Experience from President Monson:

Read or listen to the talk by President Monson entitled "Finishers Wanted."

OR you can read highlights from President Monson's talk here.

2. Think about and write about the following questions in your Truth Book: 

• What are some scriptural and historical accounts of those who faltered?

• What are some scriptural and historical accounts of those who finished?
• Why is it so hard to finish? What is the difference between those who falter and those who finish?
• What have I finished? Where have I faltered? Why have I finished and faltered in these areas and what can I learn about myself and improve going forward?
• What are my personal goals for finishing? What areas, things, goals, commitments do I want to FINISH in my life, in the next 5 years, in the next year, today?

 

3. Our guest speaker this week, Amber Watson, talked about her experiences of FINISHING. She used the example of racing in marathons, triatholons, and cycling as a metaphor for being a finisher in life. Write in your truth book some of the things you learned from her, things that you felt inspired about, or things you thought were important that she talked about. What did you come to understand about finishing and how did you want to incorporate them into your life?

 4. How is finishing a race like life?
What character traits did Amber Watson have to have to finish her races? What character traits do we need to be finishers and to be successful in our life? President Monson gave some great ideas in his talk above. Write about this in your Truth Book. 


5. Watch the following inspiring videos about finishing.  
Write principles, lessons, and inspirations you have while watching them in your Truth Book. How can you apply this to your life?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfeJAz3GI60

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xIzuyjCcZk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDqwYUe_U7I

 

6. Write one of these quotes/poems in your Truth Book and memorize it:

• “Vision without effort is daydreaming, effort without vision is drudgery; but vision, coupled with effort, will obtain the prize.” - President Thomas S. Monson
• “The ingredient that is essential in learning to [finish] is consistent effort. In our race for eternal life, pain and obstacles will confront all of us. We may experience heartaches, sorrow, death, sins, weakness, disasters, physical illness, pain, mental anguish, unjust criticism, loneliness, or rejection. How we handle these challenges determines whether they become stumbling stones or building blocks. To the valiant these challenges make progress and development possible.” - Elder Marvin J. Ashton

• “We are constantly making small decisions. The outcome determines the success or failure of our lives. That is why it is worthwhile to look ahead, set a course, and at least be partly ready when the moment of decision comes. True finishers have the capacity to visualize their objective.” - President Thomas S. Monson
• Stick to Your Task

"Stick to your task 'til it sticks to you;
Beginners are many, but enders are few.
Honor, power, place and praise
Will always come to the one who stays.
Stick to your task 'til it sticks to you;
Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it, too;
For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile,
Will come life's victories after a while."

-Author unknown, quoted by President Monson

• Don't Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out--

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

-Edgar A. Guest

January 30

Principle:  Work hard, have passion, be a finisher, and be involved.

 

Spend 1 hour to accomplish the work of an Apprentice.
Spend 1 1/2 hour to accomplish the work of a Journeyman.
Spend over 2 hours to accomplish the work of Master.

If you didn't do the challenge from last week - you still can!

Give yourself BRAIN PROOF!

New Challenge: 

(1) Get connected to your purpose in some way every day.  Start with scriptures and prayer if you're not already doing that.  If so, choose something else you can do that gives you motivation.

 

(2)  Choose 5 goals from your 50 goal list to do this year. Make them specific enough and give yourself a deadline.  Don’t worry about HOW you’re going to do it right now.  In fact, pick some that you don’t know how to do.  Next, add a deadline to finish it by.  Then write WHY you’re doing it.  That's your motivation, and if you have motivation, you're more likely to do it.  If you want to be even more motivated, review these every day.  If things get hard and your brain says you can't, read it again. 

 

 You are all leaders and amazing people!

Now, choose to act like it even more often! 

January 22

Principle:  Work hard, have passion, be a finisher, and be involved.

 

Spend 1 hour to accomplish the work of an Apprentice.
Spend 1 1/2 hour to accomplish the work of a Journeyman.
Spend over 2 hours to accomplish the work of Master.
 

 

Here is the Challenge: 

(1) Write your "50 Goals in 5 years" list.  List 50 things you want to do in the next 5 years.  Write fast and do not make judgments about whether you can or will actually accomplish these things, just write down what you’d like to do. Bring this paper to class Jan 22, and then find a safe place to keep it.  

 

(2) Write your definition of success.  What does success mean to you?  How will you know when you're successful?  Ponder this question and brainstorm some ideas.  Then write a one-sentence definition of what success means to you.  Mine is "Success is listening to what God wants me to do, and then doing it."  

(3)  Email me. Send an email to Sister Christensen at dmchr5@gmail.com that includes your definition of success and that you completed writing your 50 goals list.  

What percentage of you will complete this challenge?  Will it be more than 2% (1!) of you?  I'm betting we'll have a MUCH higher percentage.  (Do you have any control over the percentage of people who completes this challenge?) 

Preparation for Dec. 18th

December's Principle:

Hope, being Positive, and having Vision

Spend 1 hour to accomplish the work of an Apprentice.

Spend 1 1/2 hour to accomplish the work of a Journeyman.

Spend over 2 hours to accomplish the work of Master.

INSPIREMENTS

If you finished the inspirements from last week, WAHOO! You are awesome and are that much ahead in understanding about HOPE, being POSITIVE, and having VISION. Here are 3 inspirements for you to work on this week:

(If you didn't do last week's inspirements, do those first - see below I have listed them again for you).

1. Choose and memorize scripture: Study these scripture verses on HOPE that we talked about in class. Choose the one that moves you or that you particularly like. Write it down in your truth book. Memorize it.

• If ye have faith...nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matthew 17:20

• "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purposes." Romans 8:28

• "If God be for us, who can prevail against us?" Romans 8:31

• "...faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if you have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." Alma 32:21

• "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world...which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." Ether 12:4

• "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13
• "Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward." Doctrine and Covenants 6:33

• "Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth adn hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail." Doctrine and Covenants 6:34
• "Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you." Doctrine and Covenants 6:5

2. Visualize living your Divine Purpose: Think about the long list of Spiritual Gifts and Missions (co-missions with Jesus Christ) that we talked about in class. Write in your Truth Book which ones seem to resonate with your heart. Which ones get you excited? Which of these can you see yourself doing? What does it look like for you personally to do these things? Dream a little and imagine doing some of these things in your life. Write about your hopes and aspirations in these areas. Here is the list again after the pictures:

• feed the hungry
  
• comfort those that stand in need of comfort
  
• clothe the naked
  
• free the captive
  
• share knowledge
  
• create beauty
  
• bring hope to the hopeless
  
• teach words of wisdom
  
• gift of tongues
  
• gift of translation of tongues
  
• heal the sick
  
• lift the down-trodden
  
• do acts of great faith
  
• work mighty miracles
  
• gift of administration
  
• prophesy
  
• testify of Christ
  
• believe those that testify
  
• behold angels and ministering of spirits
  
• build Zion
  
• spread Gospel of Jesus Christ

How these gifts and missions might look like in your life:

• humanitarian work near home or around the world
• befriending the lonely
• serving as a Bishop, Relief Society President, Young Women's President or Stake President
• raising righteous children
• leading a corporation
• starting a business
• writing a blog
• going on a mission
• becoming a mentor
• counseling others
• enforcing justice and the law
• gaining an education to become a: doctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, artist, architect, scientist, entrepreneur, movie producer, poet, songwriter, carpenter, writer, cook, musician etc.
• lead an organization
• invent new technologies
• create inspiring art
• write books
• travel to exotic lands
• solve world-wide problems
• design temples
• do geneology work

3. Read the words of the Prophet about being positive here.

Take note in your truth book of your thoughts and impressions while you read this.

*********************************************************************************************

If you didn't finish the inspirements from last week, spend time this week working through them.

Here they are:

After spending time studying about these principles (see below), answer these questions in your Truth Book:

1. How are these 3 principles (Hope, being Positive, and having Vision) related?
   
2. What does having HOPE have to do with your divine purposes and life mission?
   
3. Why is staying POSITIVE important in relation to fulfilling your mission and reaching your greatest potential?
4. Why should you have a life VISION? How could that benefit you and propel you towards your dreams?
5. Why would it be important to write down that life vision, record yourself saying it, and listen to your vision everyday?

Learn all you can about HOPE, including the following resources:

• Watch this talk by Richard G. Scott on Finding Joy .
• Read What do you hope for? from mormon.org
• Watch this video, The Power of Hope by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Learn all you can about being POSITIVE, including the following resoures

• Watch this video about the power of words upon water.
• Watch this video by Hillary Weeks about the power of words.
• Watch this Mormon Message video, Come What May and Love It.
• Conduct the Rice Experiment yourself . Here are some instructions. Give it a try for a few weeks. Bring it to class and share your results!

Learn all you can about having VISION

• Read this article from Deseret News from a recent BYU Devotional or listen to the devotional itself here.
• Start thinking about your vision for your life. What do you want to become and accomplish for the year 2015? For the next 5 years? For your whole life? Remember to NOT dismiss impossibilities - things that seem way beyond the scope of your reach. Dream! Imagine! Think of the Possibilities! Nothing is impossible with God! What are some of your greatest desires for your life???
• The following resource is a great place to get started thinking about your life vision: How to Create your Life's Vision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Preparation for Dec. 11th

December's Principle:

Hope, Being Positive, and having Vision

Spend 1 hour to accomplish the work of an Apprentice.

Spend 1 1/2 hour to accomplish the work of a Journeyman.

Spend over 2 hours to accomplish the work of Master.

After spending time studying about these principles (see below), answer these questions in your Truth Book:

1. How are these 3 principles (Hope, being Positive, and having Vision) related?
   
2. What does having HOPE have to do with your divine purposes and life mission?
   
3. Why is staying POSITIVE important in relation to fulfilling your mission and reaching your greatest potential?
4. Why should you have a life VISION? How could that benefit you and propel you towards your dreams?
5. Why would it be important to write down that life vision, record yourself saying it, and listen to your vision everyday?

Learn all you can about HOPE, including the following resources:

• Watch this talk by Richard G. Scott on Finding Joy .
• Read What do you hope for? from mormon.org
• Watch this video, The Power of Hope by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
• 
  

Learn all you can about being POSITIVE, including the following resoures

• Watch this video about the power of words upon water.
  
• Watch this video by Hillary Weeks about the power of words.
  
• Watch this Mormon Message video, Come What May and Love It.
• Conduct the Rice Experiment yourself . Here are some instructions. Give it a try for a few weeks. Bring it to class and share your results!

Learn all you can about having VISION

• Read this article from Deseret News from a recent BYU Devotional or listen to the devotional itself here.
• Start thinking about your vision for your life. What do you want to become and accomplish for the year 2015? For the next 5 years? For your whole life? Remember to NOT dismiss impossibilities - things that seem way beyond the scope of your reach. Dream! Imagine! Think of the Possibilities! Nothing is impossible with God! What are some of your greatest desires for your life???
• The following resource is a great place to get started thinking about your life vision: How to Create your Life's Vision

 

 

 

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