Week Nine

Faith #3: Already done!

Living gospel principles requires faith. Read about faith in the Bible Dictionary or True to the Faith. Faith in the Savior Jesus Christ leads to action. Choose a principle such as prayer, tithing, fasting, repentance, or keeping the Sabbath day holy. In your own home or another setting, plan and present a family home evening lesson about how faith helps you live that gospel principle. If possible, ask a family member to share an experience that has strengthened his or her faith. Share your own experiences as well. In your journal write down one of those experiences and describe your feelings about faith.

My journal:
I learned that you gain a testimony of faith by trying something out, not by just hoping to have a testimony. A testimony of a principle requires action in that principle.  

 Knowledge #4:

Select a gospel principle you would like to understand better (for example, faith, repentance, charity, eternal families, or baptismal covenants). Read scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets that relate to the principle. Prepare a five-minute talk on the subject and give the talk in a sacrament meeting, in a Young Women meeting, to your family, or to your class. Record in your journal how you can apply this gospel principle in your life.

The principle that I have chosen is revelation.  I found this talk by Elder Bednar, which discusses how revelation happens.  He talks about how there are two different ways that we see light come into darkness.  One is by flipping a light switch, where it comes immediately.  The other is the way that we most often get revelation--like a rising sun.  It comes slowly and through much thought and prayer.  It is comforting to know that even Joseph Smith had to ponder his questions in his mind for a very long time before he brought them to the Lord.  I think this is how revelation usually happens in our lives.  We have to ponder for a long time, bring it to the Lord, and then get our answer.  Sometimes I think the hardest part is acting on it, but once we do it, we are greatly blessed.

Choice & Accountability #3:

Read about repentance in Isaiah 1:18; Alma 26:22; 34:30–35; Moroni 8:25–26; and Doctrine and Covenants 19:15–20; 58:42–43. Record in your journal what repentance means to you. Study the process of repentance, pray for guidance, and apply the principles of repentance in your life.

My journal:
I love repentance! It is so wonderful that we have a tool that will bring us back to be clean with the Savior! I love how I feel when I repent, and that I have the Spirit back in my life! 

Virtue # 4: Already done!

Because the Savior loves you and has given His life for you, you can repent. Repentance is an act of faith in Jesus Christ. Read Moroni 10:32–33, the book of Enos, and the section on repentance in For the Strength of Youth. The Savior’s atoning sacrifice has made it possible for you to be forgiven of your sins. Read the sacrament prayers in Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79. Determine to partake worthily of the sacrament each week and fill your life with virtuous activities that will bring spiritual power. As you do this, you will grow stronger in your ability to resist temptation, keep the commandments, and become more like Jesus Christ. Determine what you can do daily to remain pure and worthy, and write your plan in your journal.

My journal:
In order to remain pure, I need to make sure that I do the daily "primary answers," such as reading the scriptures, praying, and attending church regularly. I also need to make sure that I am staying away from temptation. This will help me to remain worthy to have the Spirit in my life and to become more like Jesus Christ. 

Book of Mormon:
Alma 61-End of Helaman 
Once again, I love the Book of Mormon.  I am super excited to be starting 3rd Nephi this week!  I know that 3rd Nephi is the best!

Week Eight

Big week!  Here we go!

Divine Nature #2: already done!

As a young woman you are blessed with divine feminine qualities. Increase your understanding of and appreciation for womanhood. Read Proverbs 31:10–31 and two talks on womanhood from a conference issue of the Church magazines. Review what “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” says about being a wife and a mother. Then ask your mother or another mother you admire what she thinks are important attributes for being a mother. List the attributes in your journal. Then choose one of those attributes and strive to develop it. After two weeks report your success to a parent or leader.

My journal:
Attributes of motherhood:
Patience
Trust
Do Good
Strength
Honor
Not idle
Godfearing

I will be not idle for two weeks!  

I found that being not idle was great!  I was able to finish sewing some projects for last Christmas!

Divine Nature #4 (I am doing this instead of number 5):

 Memorize the sacrament prayers in Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79. During the sacrament, listen carefully to the prayers and think about what it means to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ and how doing this should affect your actions and decisions. Practice keeping your baptismal covenants. Begin by doing something each day to recognize and further develop your divine qualities and to help you always remember the Lord Jesus Christ. After two weeks record your experience in your journal.

My journal:
All that we need to do is always remember the Savior. If we do that, we will have his spirit to be with us. I think that is an awesome promise!  

Divine Nature #6 (I already completed):

Develop your divine qualities. Read Matthew 5:9; John 15:12; Galatians 5:22–23; Colossians 3:12–17; 1 John 4:21; and Moroni 7:44–48. Memorize your favorite verse from one of these passages. Identify the divine qualities mentioned in all these scriptures and list them in your journal. Select one quality, and for two weeks strive to make it a part of your daily life. Record your progress and experiences in your journal.

My journal:
I have decided to be more charitable. I don't know exactly how I will be more charitable, but I know that charity is the pure love of Christ, so I will try to show it in my actions. I will try to have more charity towards my husband and my son.  

Divine Nature #7:

Learn the definition of the word peacemaker. Then find and read five scriptures that teach about peacemakers. Become an example of a peacemaker in your home and at school as you refrain from criticizing, complaining, or speaking unkindly to or about others. Pray each morning and evening to Heavenly Father for help to do this. After two weeks write in your journal what new habits you want to develop, how being a peacemaker is part of your divine nature, and how you will continue to be a peacemaker.

My journal:
Whenever I think of being a peacemaker, I think of my younger brother. He is such a peacemaker in everything he does. He does not want anyone to ever feel bad, ever. Trying to be a peacemaker was actually a lot of fun. I love how King Benjamin states that he has been trying to establish peace in the land! What a great thing for a leader to do! The Anti-Nephi-Lehis also buried their weapons of war for peace, which is awesome! I think that if you don't have peace, you don't have the spirit with you, and that is SOOO important!  

Knowledge #2:

In your journal list talents you have and others you would like to develop. Read Matthew 25:14–30. Learn a new skill or talent that will help you care for your own future family or home (for example, playing the piano, singing, budgeting, time management, cooking, sewing, or child care). Share with your family, class, or Young Women leader what you have learned.

My journal:
I would like to be able to learn how to crochet, and I am working on that as part of my project!  

Good Works #2:

Service is an essential principle of family living. Help plan your family’s menus, obtain the food, and prepare part of the meals for two weeks. During that time help your family gather to share mealtimes. Report to your class what you have learned.

My journal:

Because I am basically in charge of preparing food for my family, this is an easy one. I have taken it upon myself to make sure that my family meets for mealtime most nights, and it is wonderful. My husband used to get home late, at 7:30, and I told him that I wanted to have him come home early so we could enjoy a meal together. Because he is so wonderful, he said that he would. It is great to be able to spend that time together, even if he goes back to work for a little bit of time after he leaves. It has helped my son to see his daddy, and helped me as well. We love dinnertime!  

Good Works #3:

Read Mosiah 18:7–10, and in your journal list three ways you can comfort others or help them bear their burdens. Do the things on your list, and tell a family member or leader about the experience and how your attitude and understanding have changed.

My journal:
Ways to help those who are suffering:
Come to the rescue when needed
Offer a listening ear
Write a note of encouragement

My husband was able to go to the rescue, when my mom called and said that she and my sister-in-law and her two little boys were stranded off the side of the road. It was a scary situation for them, and I stayed home for Davis while he went to get them. Because of his act of service, everything was safe.  

Good Works #5:

 Read Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28. Think of ways a young woman, as well as a wife and mother, could apply this scripture in her family. Develop a pattern of service in your life by choosing a family member you can help. Serve that person for at least a month. Record in your journal your actions and feelings about how this improved your relationship with that person.

 My journal:
I serve my entire family every day, by making meals for them, cleaning up after them, and helping them on any project they need. This has definitely helped my relationship with them. 
Book of Mormon:
Alma 43-60
I love the Book of Mormon!  This week, I was able to read about Helaman's stripling warriors, and it was awesome!

I have really found, as I have worked on Personal Progress so far, that most of it is fairly simple.  It is just a matter of sitting down and figuring out what you have already done.  If you are following the gospel, all you need to do is record it!

Week Seven

I finished this week on SATURDAY!  That is a big deal.  Ok, so it is because there are no things to check off this week!  I finished Individual Worth #6:

 When you participate in family history, you come to understand your identity and individual worth. Visit with your living relatives to learn as much information about your family history as possible. Then complete a pedigree chart of your family and list the temple ordinances that have been completed for each person.

Doing this was very fun, because the history geek in me loves filling in dates and stuff!

I will also be obedient and a peacemaker.  Of course, I am the chef at my house, so "Help Cook" is not a big deal. :)

Book of Mormon: 
Alma 25-42
Alma is hard, but once again, I found some great gems in these chapters that make me happy.  Man, I love the Book of Mormon

This week, I also finished my scrapbook, so one of my projects is DONE!  WAHOO!

Week Six

Oh my goodness, this is the halfway mark!  Wow!  I am feeling great about this!

So, this week, I need to do Divine Nature #3:

Make your home life better. For two weeks make a special effort to strengthen your relationship with a family member by showing love through your actions. Refrain from judging, criticizing, or speaking unkindly, and watch for positive qualities in that family member. Write notes of encouragement, pray for this family member, find ways to be helpful, and verbally express your love. Share your experiences and the divine qualities you’ve discovered with that family member or with a parent or leader.

I already did this.  It is a little difficult to do with the small family that I have, but I was extra nice to my husband for two weeks.

And Individual Worth #3:

Read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 and 121:45. Do all you can to build others and make them feel of worth. Every day for two weeks notice the worthwhile qualities and attributes of others. Acknowledge them verbally or in writing. In your journal write what you have learned about the worth of individuals and how your own confidence grows when you build others.

My journal:
It is definitely true that noticing the worth of others helps my own confidence grow. I have been noticing the worth of my husband especially. He is a very good husband, dad, and provider. He has been working on redoing our bonus room lately, and has dedicated a lot of himself to it. I am very impressed at how great of a man he is. This helps me to want to be a better wife and mother, and a better companion to him as well. 

And Individual Worth # 6:

When you participate in family history, you come to understand your identity and individual worth. Visit with your living relatives to learn as much information about your family history as possible. Then complete a pedigree chart of your family and list the temple ordinances that have been completed for each person.

I actually have a book that I have been needing to read about the ancestors on my mother's side, so I will do that.  I am going to finish this one next week, after we go to the Family History Center.

And Good Works #1:

Learn why service is a fundamental principle of the gospel. Read Matthew 5:13–16; 25:34–40; Galatians 6:9–10; James 1:22–27; Mosiah 2:17; 4:26; and 3 Nephi 13:1–4. Others often give service you may not notice, such as preparing meals, reading to or listening to younger children, repairing clothing, or helping a brother or sister. For two weeks record in your journal the quiet acts of service your family members and others perform. Acknowledge their service in some meaningful way.

My journal:
Acts of service:
My husband going to help my mom and sister-in-law in distress
My brothers and how helpful they are to each other.
My parents going to Virginia to help my brother and his family move.
My husband working on our bonus room
Sister Lundell helping to plan mutual
My mom and dad preparing the cabin for all of us to enjoy the weekend
My dad driving across the country with my brother  
My husband working on redoing our bonus room 
  
Book of Mormon:
Alma 7-24
I love the story of Ammon and Kind Lamoni!  This is one of my favorites from the Book of Mormon.  Even though the book of Alma is not my favorite, going through it faster makes it a lot easier to read!