2013 April 8

Wasn't General Conference great?! I loved Sister Elaine S. Dalton's talk about the importance of women in God's plan and what we can all do to help young women. I'm sad she was released, but I'm sure Sister Oscarson will be great as well. 

Today for Personal Progress you need to discuss with a parent or leader what you have learned about Faith over these last 3 weeks and how daily prayer has strengthened your faith. Be sure to express your feelings about faith and prayer in your journal as well. 

Guess what!? You are finished with Faith 1! Way to go! 

Don't forget to get it signed off.

2013 April 7

So yesterday, you chose a talent or skill to develop. Today, you need to make a plan to develop the talent or skill you chose*. For Knowledge 2, you can use your judgement on when you feel like you have mastered it. But if you are combining it with a Value Project, you need to record your hours and spend at least 10 hours mastering it.

Let's take a minute and talk about setting goals. There are three important things to remember when it comes to setting goals: 

• Be Realistic. In choosing a talent or skill to learn, consider your schedule and other responsibilities. You aren't going to learn about Nutrition in 30 minutes. But a good "surface" understanding probably won't take more than a month. 
• Set a finish line. Going back to being realistic, you should have a time frame in which you would like to complete your project. Or maybe you'll learn everything you can about that subjuct in the time frame you've alloted yourself. Either way, if you don't set a deadline for yourself you might get too carried away or accomplish nothing. We've all been there....
• Be quantitative. When you set your goals, set them by something that's measurable  Instead of "I'm going to study about Nutrition every day" be specific with how long you will study each day. That's something that's measurable. Understand?

Now, since I'm doing this right along with you, I thought I would share my plan with you:

1. Spend 30 minutes each day practicing the piano (I'm combining this with the Knowledge Project)

2. Use the church's keyboard course

3. Learn to play 3 hymns, using both hands.

*I've helped you with the easy part, choosing a skill or talent to develop and finding resources. The hard part is the developing. I can't do that for you. If now isn't a good time for you to start a project like this, make a plan anyway and start the project another time. 

 

2013 April 6

Today for Personal Progress, you need pray and you need to look at your list of talents and skills you'd like to develop and choose one to work on. It wouldn't hurt to pray for guidance on which skill to choose.

Here are some ideas and links to resources. In addition to what I've provided, be sure to check out your local library. Libraries always have a wealth of how-to books! Don't forget textbooks too for things like Nutrition. There are many, many options for skills you could choose. You do not have to choose one of these. Since learning a new skill takes time, lots of time, I've noted where you might be able to combine this with a project. If you find other resources that would be helpful to others, please share them in the comments.

Budgeting (Combine with Choice and Accountability 7)

Mint

Living Essentials BYU- Budgeting tips

Living Essentials BYU- Resource management

Living Essentials BYU- Budgeting

Cooking (Combine with Good Works Value Project or Divine Nature Value Project)

Divas Can Cook

Living Essentials BYU- Cooking with Grains and Legumes

Living Essentials BYU- Cooking with Food Storage

Childcare/Babysitting (combine with Good Works Value Project)

American Red Cross- Babysitting Basics Course ($25)

American Red Cross- Family first-aid ($35)

Playing the piano (Combine with Knowledge Value Project)

lds.org- Keyboard Course

Organizing (Combine with Choice and Accountability Value Project)

Living Essentials BYU- Home Organizing

Time Management 

Money Saving Mom- Time Management 101 Free eBook

Food Storage/ Emergency Preparedness 

Living Essentials BYU- Food Storage planning

Living Essentials BYU- 72 hour kits (and here)

Living Essentials BYU- Emergency Preparedness 

Living Essentials BYU- Cooking with Food Storage

Nutrition (Combine with Good Works Value Project)

Living Essentials BYU- Nutrition

Gardening (Combine with Faith Value Project)

Be sure to check your local library for region-specific gardening books

Living Essentials BYU- Gardening

Be sure to check for county extension offices as well. 

Canning (Combine with Knowledge Value Project if you find get someone to teach you how)

Living Essentials BYU- Canning

Be sure to check for your local county extension office.

  

 

2013 April 5

Today, we are starting yet another value experience: Knowledge 4. 

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.

For today's personal progress task, read Matthew 25:14-30, The Parable of the Talents. Make a list of the skills you have and make a list of the skills you'd like to develop.  

As part of Faith 1, you need to share what you've learned about prayer and faith with a parent or leader sometime between today and Monday. See if you can arrange to teach the Family Home Evening lesson this upcoming week and share your experiences. Use some of the scriptures you read to help you teach your lesson about faith and prayer. 

 

2013 April 4

We are finishing up Virtue 4 today. All you have left is to think about how you can live to always be worthy to partake of the Sacrament each week. One suggestion would be to make a daily plan to remain pure and worthy.  Once you finish that, be sure to have a parent or leader sign off on Virtue 4. Way to go! 

Keep on praying, ladies.

 

2013 April 3

For personal progress today, read Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79. You will recognize these as the Sacrament prayers. Think about how the sacrament and Christ's sacrifice make it possible to live a virtuous life. 

And say those prayers morning and night. Has saying prayers become a habit yet? Have you had some experiences where your prayers have been answered. Feel free to share here if you like.

 

2013 April 2

For Personal Progress today, be sure to read  the section on Repentance from For the Strength of Youth. Again, consider what this section has to do with living virtuously. And pray morning and night.

 

2013 April 1

Hope your Easter was wonderful! We are starting a new Personal Progress value experience today: Virtue 4.

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. 

Today, all you need to do is read Moroni 10: 32-33 and Enos 1. Think about what these scriptures have to do with living virtuously. Also, we have just one more week left of saying prayers morning and night, then you can sign off Faith 1. You can do it! 

 

2013 March 31

Happy Easter! He is Risen. 
Today's Personal progress task is to read a General Conference talk about Faith. Don't forget to keep saying those prayers. 

Here are a few talks to choose from:

• Face the Future with Faith, Elder Russel M. Nelson, April 2011
• Faith- The Choice is Yours, Bishop Richard C. Edgley, October 2010
• Or you can search the Church's website to find another one you are interested in.

Alright, just one more week of morning and evening prayers and you are done with Faith 1. You can do it. 

2013 March 30

Today for personal progress, look over your lists of divine qualities for the readings this week. Think about how you can develop each of these qualities and record your ideas in your journal. And keep saying your morning and evening prayers. 

Guess what? If you've done the assignments this week, you've finished Divine Nature 1. Way to go! Be sure to have a parent or leader sign off on it. And we have less than 10 days left on Faith 1. Keep it up, ladies.

Alternate activity for those who have already completed Faith 1 and Divine Nature 1: Attend the Young Women's General Broadcast tonight. Invite a friend to go with you. 

2013 March 29

Today's personal progress task is to read Doctrine and Covenants 121:45 and list in your journal the divine qualities discovered in your reading. And say morning and evening prayers.

Alternate activity for those who have already completed Faith 1 and Divine Nature 1: Today is Good Friday, the Friday before Easter. What are we celebrating today? Why is it important?

2013 March 28

Your personal progress task for today:Read Alma 7: 23-24 and make a list in your journal of the divine qualities you discover in your reading. And say your morning and evening prayers. 

Alternate activity for those who have completed Faith 1 and Divine Nature 1: Serve someone today.

  

2013 March 27

Your personal progress task for the day: Read 2 Peter 1 and make a list in your journal of the divine qualities you discover in your reading. And say your morning and evening prayers. 

Alternate activity for those who have completed Faith 1 and Divine Nature 1: Wear a smile today.

 

2013 March 26

Today, we are starting another personal progress experience, Divine Nature 1. Read "The Family- A Proclamation to the World" and make a list in your journal of the divine qualities you discover in your reading. And say your morning and evening prayers. 

Alternate activity for those who have completed Faith 1 and Divine Nature 1: Look up the word Divine in the dictionary. Did you learn anything? Record it in your journal and/or share it here.

2013 March 25

Today for personal progress, Read Joseph Smith-History 1: 11-20.

And say morning and evening prayers.

You are almost done with Faith 1. The only reading assignment left is another General Conference talk. Just keep saying those prayers. Hopefully we are all establishing or keeping up great habits.

Alternate activity for those who have already completed this experience: Why do you think Faith is the first principle of the Gospel? Record your thoughts in your journal. Share with us here if you like.

2013 March 24

Today's task is to read a General Conference talk about Faith. Don't forget to keep saying those prayers. 

Here are a few talks to choose from:

• In Tune with the Music of Faith, Elder Quentin L. Cook, April 2012 Conference
• The Transforming Power of Faith and Character, Elder Richard G. Scott, October 2010 Conference
• Believe, Obey, Endure, President Thomas S. Monson, April 2012 Conference
• Or you can search the Church's website to find another one you are interested in.

Alternate activity for those who have already completed this experience: Watch Finding Faith in Christ (30 min).

2013 March 23

Today's personal progress task is to read Ether 12:6-22. 

Continue Saying your morning and evening prayers. 

Alternate activity for those who have already completed this experience: think about the relationship between faith and prayer. Record your thoughts in your journal. 

2013 March 22

Keep on, keeping on! Say those prayers morning and night. 17 more days to go. 

Alternate activity: Call a friend and ask them what they are doing TODAY to work on personal progress. Encourage them if they need it. 

Prayer reminders

Personal Progress Helps has a great idea to help you make prayer a consistent habit in your life: Make a prayer rock!

Simply Keirste

What other ideas do you have to help you remember to pray each day?

2013 March 21

Today for personal progress, read Alma 32: 17-43

And, you guessed it! Pray morning and night. 

Alternate activity for those who have already completed this experience: Look up "Faith" in the Bible dictionary. Learn anything?