January Apprentice Class

APPRENTICE: Having a compassionate heart

Study/Learn

1 - Read chapter 3 in "Just Like Jesus" by Max Lucado.  

2 - Read Psalm 145:8

3 - Copy this month's memorization (scripture and part of "The Family") onto note cards and study them every day.  You can find this month's memorization on the main page of the blog.

4 - Read the following article: "The Merciful Obtain Mercy" by Pres. Uchtdorf

Know/Understand

DO ALL:

Each of us have things of worth to share. Your perspective on life is unique – no one else has had exactly the same experiences or thought the same thing about every book, movie or situation you've encountered. Because of this you have valid insight that is both similar and different than others around you. When we find ways to positively communicate our thoughts and feelings to others we change the world and the people around us for the better.

- Think of a time when you found the courage to speak up even though it felt hard or was embarrassing. Be prepared to share it in class. If you can find a way to show that experience in a creative way, it will make it more memorable.

- Read D&C 88:122

- Read two of the following articles:
       - "Beyond Debate"
       - "Becoming an effective missionary: Open you mouth"
       - "Open your mouths: The Courage to share the gospel"
             (Read the article but don't do the questions afterwards.)

We are going to have a debate. You need to research and come prepared to defend both the affirmative and negative sides. Which side will you have to defend? You'll find out in class. :)

- To learn the way debates are typically run and to get good advice on how to prepare, please read the following:
       - "Debating: An introduction for Beginners"

The topic of our debate will be:  

All high school age children should have an after school job

You may agree or disagree with the debate topic, but be prepared to argue both sides.

This is more of a "spar" than a speech. Plan on preparing a 3-5 minute defense both for and against.

January Journeyman

This course is an attempt to strike at the root.

--- The ten Boom Institute

Study/Learn

1 - Read "Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce" by John Piper.  This is the 80 page version of the book.   

 

Because the book we are reading is condensed, we don't get a lot of Wilberforce's life story and it makes it a little confusing.  Do some research on him as a man and on slavery in Britain and the fight he undertook.

2 - Take notes and mark your book as you read.  There are a lot of quotes you will love!

Know/Understand

DO ALL:

1 -  Choose one of your favorite quotes from the book and design a poster with it to hang in your room.  For class, we will be sharing the quotes, telling why it was your favorite and then displaying them on "the wire".

2 - Elder Quentin L. Cook said the following in Oct. 2010:

"William Wilberforce, the great British statesman who was instrumental in outlawing the slave trade in Great Britain, is an excellent example. “Amazing Grace,” the touching hymn, and the inspiring movie of the same name capture the feeling of the early 1800s and describe the account of his heroic effort. Wilberforce’s untiring efforts were among the first steps in eliminating this terrible, oppressive, cruel, and venal practice. As part of that effort he, together with other leaders, set out to reform public morality. He believed that education and government had to be morally based. “His … vision of moral and spiritual enrichment was what he lived for, whether in defending the institution of marriage, attacking the practices of the slave trade or emphatically defending the Sabbath day.” With great energy he helped mobilize the country’s moral and social leaders in a nationwide struggle against vice."

What do you think had more of an impact on the society of Great Britain, the end of the slave trade or the moral reform taken up by Wilberforce and his contemporaries?  Write a 3 paragraph essay explaining your answer and defending your opinion.  Be prepared to share your opinions in class and turn in your written paper.

3 - William Wilberforce in one of my very favorite people to learn about.  He is one on my heroes.  Choose one of your heroes and plan a 5 minute presentation for the class on this person.  They can be living or dead and from any period in the history of the world.  To find out how prepare a presentation for class, click here.  This will be a presentation without electronics, ie... prezi, power point or projector.  And as always, do not bore us!

Become/Serve

The song, "Amazing Grace" was written by the friend of Wilberforce, John Newton.  Listen to the song several times while reading the words.  How does it make you feel?  Journal about your feelings about the song and your feelings towards the Savior for giving you His "amazing grace".

There are many versions of this song online you can listen to.  You can find one or listen to this one.  It's my favorite, done by Alan Jackson.

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,

  That saved a wretch; like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

  Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

  And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

  The hour I first believed!

The Lord hath promised good to me,

  His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be

  As long as life endures.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

  Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

  Than when we first begun.

January Master

Study/Learn

1 - Spend at least 30 minutes on the website exploring and reading about LDS Charities.  Since 1985, LDS Charities has provided assistance to millions of people in 185 countries.  (There are 196 countries total in the world.) You will be amazed at what the church is doing.  I was!

2 - Research one of the other top humanitarian groups in the world.  You can research any one you would like.  Here are some if you don't know of any:

• Action Against Hunger (AAH)
• CARE
• Caritas Internationalis
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS - USCC)
• Doctors Without Borders 
• Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN)
• Food For The Hungry International (FHI)
• Hunger Plus, Inc.
• Interaction
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)
  
• Lutheran World Federation
• Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
• Mercy Corps (MC)
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
• Oxfam
• Refugees International
• Relief International
• Save the Children
• The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
• US Committee for Refugees (USCR)
• World Vision International

Know/Understand

Write a one page paper on the charity that you researched.  Please remember to include the following:

• What do they do?
• Who do they serve?
• How they get their funding?
• Would you donate to this charity?  Why or why not?

Email it to Sis. Cloward and I will put it on the blog since we won't have time in class to share.  

Become/Serve

Ponder on the following scripture and journal what it  means to you.