April Apprentice Class

APPRENTICE: Having a pure heart

Study/Learn

1 - Read chapter 9 and the conclusion in "Just Like Jesus" by Max Lucado.  

2 - Read "The Bulletproof George Washington" by David Barton

3 - Read Matthew 5:8

4 - Print out and read this workbook for writing your own personal mission statement.  (I know it is written for moms, but it's really good information.  So just ignore the "mom" part.)

5 - Read the talk "The Ministry of Angels" by Jeffrey R. Holland

6 - Read part of the talk given by Wendy Watson Nelson found here

Know/Understand

DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Work through the steps in the workbook to create your own personal mission statement.  You will not have to share in class unless you would like to.

• Make a list of people from the scriptures and your ancestors who you feel close to.  Write their name down and why you feel drawn to them.  What character traits to they have that you admire?  What makes you feel closer to them than others?

Become/Serve

The following is from a speech that Ezra Taft Benson gave at BYU on March 04, 1979 entitled In His Steps.  How do you feel when you read these words?  Journal your feelings and read them often.

"For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of the Lord. Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, but ours will not. True, there will be some individuals who will fall away; but the kingdom of God will remain intact to welcome the return of its head—even Jesus Christ. While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time. It is that God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the Kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God.

All through the ages the prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. Make no mistake about it—you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us. Never before on the face of this earth have the forces of evil and the forces of good been as well organized. Now is the great day of the devil’s power, with the greatest mass murderers of all time living among us. But now is also the great day of the Lord’s power, with the greatest number ever of priesthood holders on the earth. And the showdown is fast approaching.

Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good pick up new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions that show where our support will go. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will finally win. What remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this fight—and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last-days, foreordained mission?

Great battles can make great heroes, but heroes will make great battle. You will never have a better opportunity to be a greater hero in a more crucial battle than in the battle you will face today and in the immediate future. Be warned that some of the greatest battles you will face will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul. David’s battles in the field against the foe were not as critical as David’s battles in the palace against a lustful eye. We will each find our own battlefield. The tactics that the enemy will use against us will vary from time to time; he will feel after our weak spots. We must be alert to the devil’s devious designs, to the subtle sins and clever compromises as well as the obvious offenses."

April Journeyman & Master

For our April afternoon class we will be having a guest speaker.  Samuel Fisher from Riverton, UT.  He teaches a class called "A Liberty Course for the Serious Patriot".  I've asked him to come and share part of that class with us.  He will be speaking on how to get leadership from history, how to drive your own leadership education, how to engage in current battlegrounds of virtue and morality in the public arena and how to be a messenger and stand up for a cause.

Everyone is invited to attend the afternoon class and hear Mr. Fisher that day.  Please do all (or at least make an attempt at part) of the following introduction items.  The more you do, the better of a foundation you will have.

1 - Read Ether chapters 2-4

2 - Read this article: "Why Study History?"

3 - Read the excerpt of the article "True Americanism" by Carl Schurz found here

4 - Reread or review The 5000 Year Leap principle 1 "The Role of Natural Law"

True Americanism by Carl Schurz

excerpt of the article "True Americanism" from the book Speeches, Correspondence and Political Papers of Carl Schurz, Volume I  

(Article found here)

TRUE AMERICANISM

SPEECH DELIVERED IN FANEUIL-HALL, BOSTON, ON

THE 18TH OF APRIL, 1859.

The speaker had been invited to Boston to participate in a public dinner on the anniversary of Jefferson's birth-day. Several prominent gentlemen of Massachusetts arranged for him a public reception in Faneuil Hall, which took place a few days after the Jefferson dinner, Hon. Henry Wilson, United States Senator, presiding. The speech was made in response to the introduction by Senator Wilson. The line of argument pursued in the speech was not without a special object. The Legislature of Massachusetts had adopted an amendment to the constitution of the State, by which foreigners should not be permitted to vote until two years after they had become citizens of the United States. This amendment, generally known as the "two-years' amendment," was soon to be voted upon by the people. It was one of the measures brought forth by the so-called "Know-Nothing" or "American" movement, which had met with surprising successes in many parts of the United States. It was against this spirit of proscription on account of birth, creed, or opinion, styling itself "Americanism," that the speaker directed his arguments.


"Thus, I say, was founded the colony of free humanity on virgin soil. The youthful elements which constitute people of the new world cannot submit to rules which are not of their own making; they must throw off the fetters which bind them to an old decrepit order of things. They resolve to enter the great family of nations as an independent member. And in the colony of free humanity, whose mother-country is the world, they establish the Republic of equal rights, where the title of manhood is the title to citizenship. My friends, if I had a thousand tongues, and a voice strong as the thunder of heaven, they would not be sufficient to impress upon your minds forcibly enough the greatness of this idea, the overshadowing glory of this result. This was the dream of the truest friends of man from the beginning; for this the noblest blood of martyrs has been shed; for this has mankind waded through seas of blood and tears. There it is now; there it stands, the noble fabric in all the splendor of reality.

They speak of the greatness of the Roman Republic! Oh, sir, if I could call the proudest of Romans from his grave, I would take him by the hand and say to him, Look at this picture, and at this! The greatness of thy Roman Republic consisted in its despotic rule over the world; the greatness of the American Republic consists in the secured right of man to govern himself. The dignity of the Roman citizen consisted in his exclusive privileges; the dignity of the American citizen consists in his holding the natural rights of his neighbor just as sacred as his own. The Roman Republic recognized and protected the rights of the citizen, at the same time disregarding and leaving unprotected the rights of man; Roman citizenship was founded upon monopoly, not upon the claims of human nature. What the citizen of Rome claimed for himself, he did not respect in others; his own greatness was his only object; his own liberty, as he regarded it, gave him the privilege to oppress his fellow-beings. His democracy, instead of elevating man kind to his own level, trampled the rights of man into the dust. The security of the Roman Republic, therefore, consisted in the power of the sword; the security of the American Republic rests in the equality of human rights! The Roman Republic perished by the sword; the American Republic will stand as long as the equality of human rights remains inviolate. Which of the two Republics is the greater — the Republic of the Roman, or the Republic of man?

Sir, I wish the words of the Declaration of Independence "that all men are created free and equal, and are endowed with certain inalienable rights," were inscribed upon every gate-post within the limits of this Republic. From this principle the Revolutionary Fathers derived their claim to independence; upon this they founded the institutions of this country, and the whole structure was to be the living incarnation of this idea. This principle contains the programme of our political existence. It is the most progressive, and at the same time the most conservative one; the most progressive, for it takes even the lowliest members of the human family out of their degradation, and inspires them with the elevating consciousness of equal human dignity; the most conservative, for it makes a common cause of individual rights. From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor's rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own. And when the rights of one cannot be infringed without finding a ready defense in all others who defend their own rights in defending his, then, and only then, are the rights of all safe against the usurpations of governmental authority.

This general identity of interests is the only thing that can guarantee the stability of democratic institutions. Equality of rights, embodied in general self-government, is the great moral element of true democracy; it is the only reliable safety-valve in the machinery of modern society. There is the solid foundation of our system of government; there is our mission; there is our greatness; there is our safety; there, and nowhere else!"

Wendy Watson Nelson Talk

Excerpt from the talk

“…My soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord.”

 by Wendy Watson Nelson

This address was given Thursday, April 30, 2015 at the BYU Women’s Conference

You can read the full talk here, or watch it here.

As we keep our covenants, to what else do we have access? Joseph Smith declared that if we
as covenant women “live up to (our) privilege,” the angels will not be able to be restrained from
being our associates. Our “privilege” includes our covenants. Our covenants are a “privilege”!
Therefore, as we live up to our covenants, the angels will not be able to be restrained from being
our associates. (Relief Society Minute Book, Nauvoo, Illinois, Apr. 28, 1842, Church History Library, 38)

We could also say it this way: As we keep our covenants, we can ask for angels to help us.
Literally!

It was during Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s April 2010 general conference talk that I first learned
this truth. He said, “Ask for angels to help you.” He said it with such clarity, and yet in a manner
that implied this was something we all knew. But for me it was an entirely new principle. I
wanted to call out, “Wait! Wait! What? You mean I could have been asking for angels to help
me all this time?”

Without intending to sound too dramatic, I can say with all candor that Elder Holland’s six
words changed my life. “Ask for angels to help you.” That counsel changed my prayers, changed
my understanding of the very real help from heaven that is always available to us as we keep our
covenants.

I started to ask for assistance from those on the other side of the veil from that moment on. Now
I’m not talking about praying for fantasy angels with wings to magically fairy-dust our problems
away. I’m not talking about praying to angels. I’m talking about praying to your Heavenly
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, for those on the other side to be “dispatched” (Elder
Holland’s word) to assist you. Perhaps a loved one or two could be sent to help you with
whatever you need.

Can you imagine the effort it took those angels who pushed from the rear of handcarts as they
helped the pioneers over the steep, snowy, windy, freezing, jagged terrain of Rocky Ridge? If
angels can manage that, they can certainly help you and me over our present Rocky Ridges. We
know the Lord gets His work done with the help of His angels. So could you use a little more
help in your life? If so, keep your covenants with more exactness than ever before. And then ask
for angels to help you with whatever you need. Or ask for them to be dispatched to help those 
you love.

Does your child need help? Is your husband in trouble? Does your aunt need comfort? Does your
best friend need direction? Ask for angels to be assigned to help them. As a covenant-keeping
woman, you can do just that!

One of my former institute students, let’s call her Barbara, followed through with that suggestion
with thrilling results. Barbara has served as proxy for many of my ancestors. During a few
particular temple sessions, Barbara had special experiences with a woman named Genevieve and
with Genevieve’s sisters. Barbara felt a deep connection with them. So she prayed and asked if
Genevieve and her sisters, who now live on the other side of the veil, could be dispatched to help
Barbara’s own sister, who lives on this side of the veil. Barbara’s sister had not been active in the
Church for years, and she was having heart-wrenching difficulties with some rigorous life
events.

Here are Barbara’s words: “I prayed that my sister could find peace in this world; that she could
find direction back to Heavenly Father; that the sisters of Genevieve could help her find her way
back, and watch over her in this process. A few weeks later my sister told me that she was taking
her three boys to church! Later she asked me how to get her patriarchal blessing. The eldest boy
turned eight this summer and was baptized. And my sister is now attending temple preparation
classes.”

How can we explain such miracles? Mormon tells us, “My beloved [sisters], have miracles
ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of
men. . . . And the office of their ministry is to call men [and women] to repentance, and to fulfill
and to do the work of the covenants of the Father.” (Moroni 7: 29, 31)

March Apprentice Class

APPRENTICE: Having a hope-filled heart

Study/Learn

1 - Read chapter 10 in "Just Like Jesus" by Max Lucado.  

2 - Read "The Family: a Proclamation to the World"

3 - Read Moroni 7:41

4 - Girls:

• Read this article: "Mothers Who Know" by Julie B. Beck

•  Read this article: "The Moral Force of Women" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

• Find principles as you read and record them in your commonplace book.

Boys:   

• Read this article: "Fatherhood—Our Eternal Destiny" by Larry M. Gibson

• Read this article: "Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling" by Elder L. Tom Perry

• Find principles as you read and record them in your commonplace book.

Know/Understand

Choose 1 of the following:

• Reread "The Family" paragraph 7.  Journal in your commonplace book about the different responsibilities of each family member: What are the responsibilities of a mother? A father? A brother or sister? A grandparent or other extended family member? What should a father and mother do together?   Why do you think God divided the roles like He did and why do you think He gave different strengths (and weaknesses) to men and women?  What kind of mother or father do you want to be?  Make a list in your journal to refer back to often.  Come prepared to teach the class what you learned and find a creative way to share.

• Read about the stripling warriors (found in Alma 56–58), and how they were taught in their homes to be obedient and righteous. What do you think their homes were like? Make a list in your journal about the important things you want to have in your own home when you grow up.  Why are these things important to you?  Make a list of 5 things that you can do now to make those things come to pass in the future.  Come prepared to teach the class what you learned and find a creative way to share.

• Think about the skills that it takes to be a parent.  Choose a physical skill (something you DO, cooking, cleaning, art, laundry, reading, decorating, etc) that you aren't strong in.  Use your imagination.  Learn how to do it this week and bring a demonstration to class to teach the class what you learned.  (If you choose cooking, you can bring us something to eat if you want to.  ;)  

Become/Serve

In "The Family" paragraph 7, we see a list of principles that successful marriages and families are established on (faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities). Choose one of these principles and set goals to work on it this week.

March Journeyman Class

This course is an attempt to strike at the root.

--- The ten Boom Institute

Principles of Liberty - Threats to Liberty

Study/Learn

1 - Watch Lecture 5 (from the CD) and take notes.

2 - Read "The Proper Role of Government" by Ezra Taft Benson

3 - Watch this video by Ezra Taft Benson about America

4 - Watch this video of Ezra Taft Benson speaking about Socialism

Know/Understand

Write down your favorite quotes or thoughts from the videos and reading.

And choose one or more of the following, being ready to share it in class:

• In your own words, summarize each of the principles from The Proper Role of Government.

• In your own words, summarize each point Ezra Taft Benson makes in the other two videos.

• Create a skit, poem, story, or comic strip that shows examples of some of these principles of righteous government being followed or not being followed.

• Do some research on Ezra Taft Benson. Why do you think he felt so strongly about promoting freedom and rejecting socialism and communism?  What was his position in the government? What was his position in the LDS Church afterward? What role did he play in Germany after World War II?  Be ready to give the class a presentation on all you learned about him and why he was so passionate about the proper role of government.

February Master Charity Reports

Action Against Hunger

by Jessica B.

The charity I chose was Action Against Hunger. What they do is fight malnutrition by providing food, water, and food security to people around the world who are suffering from malnutrition. The way they help prevent malnutrition is by trying to discover the root cause of a malnutrition outbreak, then treating it accordingly. They also provide ready-to-use therapeutic foods to help prevent malnutrition from occurring.

Action Against Hunger also helps impact food security for the better. When a disaster occurs that destroys infrastructure and food supplies, Action Against Hunger provides food, cash, and and other stuff to prevent hunger in the short term and make sure that crops can be replanted in the future.

They make sure that people have clean water as well, by drilling and decontaminating wells, installing hand pumps, protecting natural springs, tapping aquifers, and piping water into hard-to-reach villages and health centers. They also promote sanitation and hygiene by distributing hygiene kits and building hand washing stations.

They have helped a lot of people. In 2014 alone, they have helped a total of 13.5 million people.

Action Against Hunger gets their funding through donations. I wouldn't donate to them, because I don't have any money. If I did have money though, it would be a very worthwhile charity to donate to.

Benson Food

by Hannah Anderson

What do they do?

Benson Food supports community efforts to improve the health and well-being of families through projects in food production, food storage, and nutrition training. They leverage local resources to meet challenges in food security. They partner with organizations to help communities as a whole. They help with planning and growing gardens, food storage, and nutrition training.

Who do they serve?

Families, communities and people who need to improve nutritional production. Families and communities can increase their food security by using sustainable practices such as gardening and animal production. Beneficiaries use their local resources to learn methods that are most effective and appropriate to their environment. As a result, they learn practices that are both sustainable and effective.

How do they get their funding?

LDS church and donations

Would you donate to this charity?

Yes.

Why?

Because it’s important for us to learn how to balance meals and plant gardens. It’s very important for us to have food storage, and I think this is a worthy cause.




Note from Sis. Cloward: I also have an report from Emma Skinner.  I'll type it and post it when I get home from Boston.  If anyone else would like theirs posted, you can still email me.  :)