This is the final week of this lenten personal progress journey.
In the United States today we are celebrating Independence Day, the day when we declared to Britain that we were free, no longer under subjugation to her rule. This was a step that had been considered at length by educated and wealthy individuals, who knew that they risked the loss of all and death for this declaration of freedom.
As we embrace the gospel of Christ, there may be those who would claim we have no such power, to free ourselves from the habits and rule of those around us who don’t agree with Jesus Christ and those things He asks us to do.
Day 39 (Saturday) Today is Independence Day, and our congregation has a tradition of holding a breakfast in honor of this day.
This morning I cut up fruit as my contribution. Others will have been at the Church building making eggs and pancakes. As I prepared the fruit, I couldn’t help but think of those who have taught me these things, even in such a seemingly minor task as this. And as I cut the fruit, I thought of those who had shown me, and I remembered not just their instructions, but their lives and kindness. I remembered the family gatherings that this earlier fruit was served at, and the conversations around the table.
This is a level of richness that we can enjoy as we live day after day and year after year in the gospel. The good experiences and kindness of our fellow Saints builds, leading us to a richness that we might not have imagined when we first began our walk with God and the others willing to turn their lives to His service. Book of Mormon: Read 3 Nephi 20 – 3 Nephi 27: Jesus continues to minister to the descendants of Lehi, telling them of the second coming, and that this is a land where they will prosper in freedom as long as they believe and obey.
Begin and complete Good Works 7: This past week you invited someone to Church who is not already attending and shared your testimony. Write about this in your journal.
This is the final week of the lenten personal progress, so there are no more “long term” experiences to start. If you have any experiences you didn’t fully complete, take time to finish them now.
Remember to:
Review and keep your standards
Learn a new skill/talent and share what you have learned (reminder 7 of 7)
Using Article of Faith 13, evaluate a performance and share your thoughts (reminder 6 of 7)
Prepare and give a talk about a gospel principle you’d like to understand better (reminder 4 of 7)
Learn about work/service that interests you and interview someone in that field (reminder 3 of 7)
List supplies and skills needed in an emergency , and share/teach about this (reminder 2 of 7)
Book of Mormon: Read 3 Nephi 28 – Mormon 3: Jesus concludes his ministry to the descendants of Lehi. The people live in peace and righteousness for two centuries, but by the time of Mormon all have become wicked. The boy Mormon is entrusted with the sacred writings and artifacts passed down since the time of Nephi. At age 16 he is called to lead the Nephite armies. Begin and complete Knowledge 1: Think about why you need to gain knowledge and understanding about how to apply gospel principles. Write in your journal what you have learned. This is the final week of the lenten personal progress, so there are no more “long term” experiences to start. If you have any experiences you didn’t fully complete, take time to finish them now.
Remember to:
Review and keep your standards
Learn a new skill/talent and share what you have learned (final reminder)
Using Article of Faith 13, evaluate a performance and share your thoughts (reminder 7 of 7)
Prepare and give a talk about a gospel principle you’d like to understand better (reminder 5 of 7)
Learn about work/service that interests you and interview someone in that field (reminder 4 of 7)
List supplies and skills needed in an emergency , and share/teach about this (reminder 3 of 7)
Book of Mormon: Read Mormon 4 – Mormon 9: Mormon leads the Nephites, but is without hope because of their wickedness. The great and final battle occurs at Cumorah, where Moroni entrusts the plates to his son, Moroni.
Complete Knowledge 2: You learned a new skill/talent and shared what you had learned. Write about this in your journal.
This is the final week of the lenten personal progress, so there are no more “long term” experiences to start. If you have any experiences you didn’t fully complete, take time to finish them now.
Remember to:
Review and keep your standards
Using Article of Faith 13, evaluate a performance and share your thoughts (final reminder)
Prepare and give a talk about a gospel principle you’d like to understand better (reminder 6 of 7)
Learn about work/service that interests you and interview someone in that field (reminder 5 of 7)
List supplies and skills needed in an emergency , and share/teach about this (reminder 4 of 7)
Book of Mormon: Read Ether 1 – Ether 7: History of the people of Jared, who fled when the languages were confused at Babel. The brother of Jared, a prophet, asks God for light to see in the barges that will take them across the ocean and sees Jesus Christ. Prophets condemn wickedness and idolatry, bringing the people to repentance.
Complete Knowledge 3: You attended a performance. Use Article of Faith 13 to evaluate the performance and share your thoughts.
This is the final week of the lenten personal progress, so there are no more “long term” experiences to start. If you have any experiences you didn’t fully complete, take time to finish them now.
Remember to:
Review and keep your standards
Prepare and give a talk about a gospel principle you’d like to understand better (reminder 7 of 7)
Learn about work/service that interests you and interview someone in that field (reminder 6 of 7)
List supplies and skills needed in an emergency , and share/teach about this (reminder 5 of 7)
Book of Mormon: There is no scheduled reading for today. If you are behid or have skipped chapters, use this time to catch up.
Complete Knowledge 4: You prepared a talk about a gospel principle you’d like to understand better. If you haven’t had a chance to give it yet, speak with a member of the Bishopric about doing so. Write about this in your journal.
This is the final week of the lenten personal progress, so there are no more “long term” experiences to start. If you have any experiences you didn’t fully complete, take time to finish them now.
Remember to:
Review and keep your standards
Learn about work/service that interests you and interview someone in that field (reminder 7 of 7)
List supplies and skills needed in an emergency , and share/teach about this (reminder 6 of 7)
Book of Mormon: Read Ether 8 – Ether 13: Jaredite history continues with strife, contention, murder and intrigue. Ether prophesies that the Jaredites will be destroyed because of their wickedness and of a new people that will come to inhabit the land.
Complete Knowledge 5: You learned about a field of work or service that interests you and interviewed someone in that field. Write about this in your journal.
This is the final week of the lenten personal progress, so there are no more “long term” experiences to start. If you have any experiences you didn’t fully complete, take time to finish them now.
Remember to:
Review and keep your standards
List supplies and skills needed in an emergency , and share/teach about this (reminder 7 of 7)
Book of Mormon: Read Ether 14 – Moroni 6: As prophesied, the Jaredites are destroyed. A fugitive Moroni returns again to the plates to add precious information, including the sacramental prayers.
Complete Knowledge 5: You learned about a field of work or service that interests you and interviewed someone in that field. Write about this in your journal.
This is the final week of the lenten personal progress, so there are no more “long term” experiences to start. If you have any experiences you didn’t fully complete, take time to finish them now.
Remember to:
Review and keep your standards
List supplies and skills needed in an emergency , and share/teach about this (reminder 7 of 7)
Book of Mormon: Read Moroni 7 – Moroni 10: Moroni adds two letters his father wrote to him: one on the doctrine of how children are saved by Christ’s atonement if they die before the age of accountability and a second on the horrific depravity of the people as they torture and murder one another. Moroni concldes with his testimony, inviting all to com unto Christ.
Complete Integrity 1: Since the day you started this journey, you have reviewed your standards and lived them. Write about this in your journal.
Remember to:
Continue your walk with God as you stand for truth and righteousness. Write your testimony in your journal.
