1300 Miles in 49 days!

Join us for "Faith in Every Footstep" virtual Pioneer Trek. You have 7 weeks until General Conference. 49 days to reach 1300 miles, from Nauvoo to Salt Lake=1300 miles. Every good thing you do adds a mile. If you feel you worked extra hard at something, give yourself 2+ miles. IF YOU DO SOMETHING GOOD NOT ON THE LIST, ADD IT! This isn't an exhaustive list, just suggestions.

Every day counts, but some days are better than other days. The important thing is moving forward! Follow the prophet! Tallying miles will be done anonymously. The class miles will be added together each day and divided by 14 students (so you will go or be dragged to Zion! Positive peer pressure.). As a class we will move forward, keeping track on the Mormon Trail map.

Spiritual

Personal Prayer AM & PM
15 min Personal Scripture Study
Attend Seminary & stay awake
Be ON TIME 5:45 or 5:55 AM!
Give Seminary Devotional
Learn a Scripture Mastery
Attend all 3 Church meetings
Fast with a purpose
Write in Journal
Read New Era/Ensign
Listen to uplifting music
Duty to God section/Merit Badge
Personal Progress Experience/Project
Bear Testimony
Share Gospel/give a BM away
Do Family History
Photo or scrapbook
Give talk in Sacrament mtg
Home Teaching
Go whole day w/o pouting
Go to Mutual
Bring a friend to Mutual
FHE participation
Pay tithing


Mental

Do home work on time
Practice instrument or voice
Give Best effort in school
Teach someone something
30 minutes reading uplifting material
Attend cultural event
Be on time to every class
Learn a new skill
Share talent or perform
Discuss current events
Visit historical site or museum
Finish a book
Get an A on test or paper


Physical


6+ hours of sleep
Exercise
Competitive Sports
Eat Healthy
Cook Entire Meal
Help with Home Repair
Shovel/yard work service
Attend sporting event
Car maintenance or repair
Sewing mending
Ironing
Work at Job
Make bed
Clean room
Laundry
Do Chores
Serve Parents
Hygiene: shower, deodorant
Listen to Classical music
Drink 4+ glasses water
Take out garbage
Pick up litter
Brush teeth
Floss


Social


Do Service Project
Letters to missionary or family
Volunteer work
Avoid Gossip
Anonymous kind deed
Nice to family member
Visit sick
Quality time with siblings
Keep standards with friends
Tell parents "I love you"
Use clean language
Write thank you note
Respect teachers
Dress modestly

READ! Doctrine & Covenants+

If we read 7 pages each day we will get through all the standard works in a year. 7 pages. Since it is January 24th today, if you are on page 168 today, you are doing great!

There are some great resources for you here!

I like the reminder to do 3 things plus one every day:

Three Things Plus One—Every Day!
1. Pray every morning and every night.
2. Read in the Book of Mormon at least five minutes every day.
3. Smile!
4. In addition, we invite you to obey and live the standards in For the Strength of Youth. Become familiar with these standards. Share them with others. And be an example of the believers.

Marshmallow War

WE've been talking about section 76 all week. Yesterday the students filled in an open-book test while listening to hymns. Today we started with a video clip, wrote in our journals and included a diagram of the Plan of Happiness. Then went around the table listing specific ways to fight against Satan with the whole armour of God.

Then I gave them ammunition: big and mini marshmallows. Rule #1 was to stay in their chair.

Ready, set, go!

On the way out, one student said this was the best thing we have ever done in seminary!

My 12 year old wanted to know why I didn't invite him down to join in.

And my 6 year old niece, after seeing the after-math, wanted to know if she could come to "Cemetery" and play tomorrow.

Up to Section 64

Monday we will continue with section 64, with the 2nd Scripture Mastery in that section! Hopefully the purposes of Zion is making sense, the importance of missionary work, the struggles of the early saints, and the commandment we have been given to FORGIVE all men. Or the sin is on us. Sobering doctrine.

I have a growing appreciation for the home teaching program in the Church. I know it isn't an easy assignment, to correlate schedules, find everyone home. We have missed visits since we've been here in this home. Until recently, we got a new assignment. Once a month, an assigned man from the Church comes and checks on us, in our home. Gives us a lesson. Sometimes brings treats his wife made. Makes sure we are doing okay spiritually and physically. THIS MONTH HE FIXED OUR VAN HEATER! Every time I get in the van and feel the warmth, I am thankful. We would have gone much longer waiting to go get it fixed. My warm toes are thankful!

I know sometimes we do things for free-service/donations/gifts--but it makes it really easy to offer to barter/trade/reciprocate in these situations. This hometeacher is super talented and handy. Mechanically and tear-down-walls kind of guy. In return one of his sons is going to get a fantastic bedroom redo, mural of his choosing. That, to me, is what creating a Zion community is all about. No poor among you because you are sharing your talents and means with one another, united in faith and service, pure in heart=loving and free from the vices and selfishness that ruins neighborhoods.


Nine more mornings of class before the Christmas break. Landbecks have food next Friday. YES class on the 23rd of December(IT WILL BE A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JOSEPH SMITH! PLEASE COME!)

Consider catching up on your personal scripture reading during the long break. Continue to read scriptures first thing in the morning. Have your own mini-devotional and start your day our right!

What is Your Favorite Commandment?

Yesterday we listed the traditional 10 commandments prophet Moses gave us plus two (Mormons have lots of commandments they are responsible for, many, many more than just 10 and with additional instruction on those first ten). The student journal question for the morning was "What is your favorite commandment and why?"

1. no other gods before me + "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind and strength"
2. not make any graven image
3. not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
4. remember the sabbath day to keep it holy + "go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day" and "let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart..."
5. honour thy fahter and thy mother
6. not kill + "nor do anything like unto it"
7. no adultery + "love thy wife with all thy heart, and cleave unto her nad none else" and "he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit" and "nor do anythign like unto it"
8. not steal + "pay for that which thou receivest of thy brother" and nor do anything like unto it
9. not bear false witness + "not lie" "not speak evil of thy neighbor, nor do him any harm" and "live together in love" and "love thy neighbor as thyself
10. not covet
11. "Thou shalt not be proud in thy heart" Doctrine & Covenants 42:40; "Thous shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things" Doctrine & Covenants 59:7
12. "Thous shalt not be idle" Doctrine & Covenants 42:42

Eye Single to....

What do we value the most? What is our passion, our favorite thing in life? And how can we use that to consecrate our lives and build up the kingdom?

We made pirate eye patches, to see what it felt like to have a single eye.

Is this what the scripture means? An eye single to the glory of God!

Or is it something else?

Like service? Putting the Lord's kingdom first, and using our talents and interests to build up the Church?


Here is a good link to an article about seminary. Becky Thomas of the Deseret News says:

"Isn't that what seminary is all about? A time and place set aside to learn absolute truths, raise the bar and rub shoulders with others who are striving to do the same.

Oh, the joy of seminary.

Yes it is a joy, along with the discipline and sacrifice comes a great opportunity to grow, change and experience a spiritual makeover."

FEAST on Scriptures!

(the students got these before Halloween, in case they didn't have a costume for the ward trunk-or-treat!)

Take a big bite out of reading the whole Doctrine & Covenants by May!