February Apprentice
Vision
"For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap"
- Galatians 6:7
Study/Learn
1 - In the book, “21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader” by John Maxwell, read the chapter on vision.
2 - Work on memorizing the scripture and quote for this month. You can find them on the main Vanguard blog here.
Sign up for one of the following groups here and then do that group's homework. There can only be 7 people in each group, so pick another group if the group you first wanted is full.
GROUP 1: ------------------------------------------------------------------
2 - Read both of the following biographies of Confucius
4 - Read the following about the 3 major religions of Ancient China
5 - Add the following to your timeline:
2 - Read this short overview of Islam
Read the following introduction from Pres. Boyd K Packer's at the BYU devotional, "Building Bridges to Harmony Through Understanding" by Alwi Shihab in Oct 2006. You can find the whole article here.
As we begin a study of world religions, I hope that we will joy in the beliefs we have that are the same as those of other religions instead of focusing on the differences. Pray every night this week to have the Spirit of discernment with you as we study these religions, for an increase in love for all people of the world and a testimony that we are all children of the same God.
OPTIONAL: For more information on the three religions in Jerusalem, read this article: Jerusalem By D. Kelly Ogden
Notes
1. “Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind,” February 15, 1978.
2. Ibid.
3. See Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, [Bookcraft: 1980] 117.
Become/Serve
Read the following introduction from Pres. Boyd K Packer's at the BYU devotional, "Building Bridges to Harmony Through Understanding" by Alwi Shihab in Oct 2006. You can find the whole article here.
As we begin a study of world religions, I hope that we will joy in the beliefs we have that are the same as those of other religions instead of focusing on the differences. Pray every night this week to have the Spirit of discernment with you as we study these religions, for an increase in love for all people of the world and a testimony that we are all children of the same God.
Notes
1. “Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind,” February 15, 1978.
2. Ibid.
3. See Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, [Bookcraft: 1980] 117.
GROUP 1: ------------------------------------------------------------------
2 - Read both of the following biographies of Confucius
- Ducksters.com & Biography.com
- OR Watch this video Confucius
4 - Read the following about the 3 major religions of Ancient China
5 - Add the following to your timeline:
- Confucius (500 BC)
- Mencius (300 BC)
- Mohammad (610 AD)
- The first Buddha (500 BC)
- Hinduism (2000 BC)
Know/Understand
DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
Become/Serve
Choose one of the saying of Confucius that you like. Why do you like to so much? Is it true? Why or why not? Journal for 10 minutes about it and set a goal to incorporate the teaching into your life.
DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
- Research why and when Chinese New Year is held. Is it the same day that we, in America, celebrate New Years? Why or why not?
- The Chinese Zodiac is represented by 12 animal signs. One is represented each year rotating through them all. 2021 is the Year of the Ox. Find out what animal sign was represented in the year you were born. Read about the traits of a person born under that sign. Does it sound like you, why or why not?
- Both China and Japan use characters to write. Find out how to write your name in Chinese (Mandarin) and in Japanese. Bring them to class to show.
- Origami is Japanese paper folding. Make something out of origami and bring it to class to show.
Become/Serve
Choose one of the saying of Confucius that you like. Why do you like to so much? Is it true? Why or why not? Journal for 10 minutes about it and set a goal to incorporate the teaching into your life.
GROUP 2: -----------------------------------------------------------------
2 - Read this short overview of Islam
OR Watch this video Islam
3 - Read the chapter, The Knot in the Cord: Khidija and Aisha, Wives of the Prophet Mohammad from the book, 10 Great Souls I Want to Meet in Heaven by S. Michael Wilcox
3 - Read the chapter, The Knot in the Cord: Khidija and Aisha, Wives of the Prophet Mohammad from the book, 10 Great Souls I Want to Meet in Heaven by S. Michael Wilcox
4 - Add the following to your timeline:
- Confucius (500 BC)
- Mencius (300 BC)
- Mohammad (610 AD)
- The first Buddha (500 BC)
- Hinduism (2000 BC)
5 - Read at least one of the following articles: (for a more complete understanding of Islam, you can read all of these articles)
OPTIONAL - Read this excerpt from the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam
- Reincarnation at churchofjesuschrist.org
- Islam and Mormonism—A Comparison by Hugh Nibley at churchofjesuschrist.org
- A Latter-day Saint Perspective on Muhammad By James A. Toronto at churchofjesuschrist.org
- Ishmael, Our Brother By James B. Mayfield at churchofjesuschrist.org
Know/Understand
Do all of the following:
Do all of the following:
- Hopefully by now you have realized that we have much more in common with the religion of Islam than we have differences. Make a list of at least 5 of the teaching from Islam and find scriptures from our LDS scriptures that teach the same thing. Bring your list to class and be prepared to discuss.
- Muslims pray 5 times a day. Once day this week, try and remember to pray to Heavenly Father 5 times a day. How did it make your day different? Did it? Was it easy or hard? See how many days this week you can pray 5 times.
- Choose one thing you learned from the article you read (#6 above) and come to class with a creative way to teach it to the class.
Read the following introduction from Pres. Boyd K Packer's at the BYU devotional, "Building Bridges to Harmony Through Understanding" by Alwi Shihab in Oct 2006. You can find the whole article here.
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expresses “special love and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race, or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we are sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.”1
We believe that “the great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.”2
It is not a coincidence that the world’s great religions come together at Temple Hill in modern-day Jerusalem. Known now as the Place of the Rock, it is a religious shrine for Islam, for Christianity, and for Judaism. All three great religions hold ties to this place. All three, likewise, have a common thread in a tradition that Elijah the prophet would return.3
Knit together by world history and by Old Testament history and doctrine, the Church and the Islamic world can see each other as People of the Book, indeed Family of the Book.
Church members and Muslims share similar high standards of decency, temperance, and morality. We have so much in common. As societal morality and behavior decline in an increasingly permissive world, the Church and many within Islam increasingly share natural affinities."
As we begin a study of world religions, I hope that we will joy in the beliefs we have that are the same as those of other religions instead of focusing on the differences. Pray every night this week to have the Spirit of discernment with you as we study these religions, for an increase in love for all people of the world and a testimony that we are all children of the same God.
OPTIONAL: For more information on the three religions in Jerusalem, read this article: Jerusalem By D. Kelly Ogden
Notes
1. “Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind,” February 15, 1978.
2. Ibid.
3. See Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, [Bookcraft: 1980] 117.
GROUP 3: ------------------------------------------------------------------
2 - Read this short overview of Buddhism
OR watch this video Buddhism
3 - Read the chapter, The Wheel-Turner: Siddharta, the Buddha from the book, 10 Great Souls I Want to Meet in Heaven by S. Michael Wilcox
3 - Read the chapter, The Wheel-Turner: Siddharta, the Buddha from the book, 10 Great Souls I Want to Meet in Heaven by S. Michael Wilcox
4 - Add the following to your timeline:
- Confucius (500 BC)
- Mencius (300 BC)
- Mohammad (610 AD)
- The first Buddha (500 BC)
- Hinduism (2000 BC)
Know/Understand
Do all of the following:
Do all of the following:
- Hopefully by now you have realized that we have much more in common with the religion of Buddhism than we have differences. Make a list of at least 5 of the teaching from Buddhism and find scriptures from our LDS scriptures that teach the same thing. Bring your list to class and be prepared to discuss.
- The first step on the Eight-fold Path of enlightenment in Buddhism is Right Understanding/View. This is, basically, overcoming selfishness and thinking of others. Journal for 20 minutes about ways you find yourself acting selfishly. Set a very specific goal to do one unselfish act of service for someone in your family each day this week.
- Choose one thing you learned from the article you read (#5 above) and come to class with a creative way to teach it to the class.
Become/Serve
Read the following introduction from Pres. Boyd K Packer's at the BYU devotional, "Building Bridges to Harmony Through Understanding" by Alwi Shihab in Oct 2006. You can find the whole article here.
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expresses “special love and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race, or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we are sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.”1
We believe that “the great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.”2
It is not a coincidence that the world’s great religions come together at Temple Hill in modern-day Jerusalem. Known now as the Place of the Rock, it is a religious shrine for Islam, for Christianity, and for Judaism. All three great religions hold ties to this place. All three, likewise, have a common thread in a tradition that Elijah the prophet would return.3
Knit together by world history and by Old Testament history and doctrine, the Church and the Islamic world can see each other as People of the Book, indeed Family of the Book.
Church members and Muslims share similar high standards of decency, temperance, and morality. We have so much in common. As societal morality and behavior decline in an increasingly permissive world, the Church and many within Islam increasingly share natural affinities."
As we begin a study of world religions, I hope that we will joy in the beliefs we have that are the same as those of other religions instead of focusing on the differences. Pray every night this week to have the Spirit of discernment with you as we study these religions, for an increase in love for all people of the world and a testimony that we are all children of the same God.
Notes
1. “Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind,” February 15, 1978.
2. Ibid.
3. See Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, [Bookcraft: 1980] 117.
