I have been praying about, pondering, studying, preparing for the YW Evening of Excellence which should be happening soon. In trying to come to a theme, agenda, purpose for the night I am still struggling. A couple of years back, B was walking into the room where this event was being held for the year with another respected gentleman. B said something about coming to the "Evening of Excellence" to which the gentleman responded with something like: "More like an "Evening of Mediocrity."" Why? I will note it was NOT that the leaders weren't Extraordinary! I believe rather it was a reflection on the YW Personal Progress Program that was not being utilized Exceptionally, but rather only minimally in the lives of those in the program.
As I struggle for ideas to make this a spectacular event for all involved, I have had several ideas, but have NOT managed to feel like it is quite right with all involved. I don't know what or who or where. I feel that my attitude needs check. I have been asked to be over Personal Progress for our YW program, however, I am not called to be in charge, the leader, or even in the presidency. I was asked to come to a presidency meeting last week, but my visiting teachers had previously scheduled a visit at the same time. I told them I would come as soon as I could sneak away. They didn't meet close, they went to lunch in town. When I got there, I hurried through the restaurant they had said they were meeting at, but I didn't find them. I then realized that they had texted and said that they were done. I was briefed later about the meeting, and told that they didn't discuss any ideas for this event as they were waiting for me to come with them. I have not been called to be the leader. I have suggested several ideas, but they have turned them down, questioning details of them, and I am still on ground zero! I am not sure what needs to happen, or how to help it move ahead. Carefully! That is what I do know! I have been guided several times to the LDS.org website which encourages the input and ideas of the young women and leaders together. I don't believe this is a program I should plan from ideas from someplace else on the Internet, nor just from my home or life. I believe to make this an extraordinary evening, we have to do more than just simplify, although I don't believe that means it hast to be a huge production. It must take effort to be worthwhile. Otherwise why do we hold the event at all? If that is the goal, 'simplify' and cancel the evening!
On to positive... I have been thinking about "Being!" I want to BE! I want to Believe! I want to Be Grateful, Be Smart, Be Clean, Be True, Be Humble, Be Prayerful as President Hinckley challenged us to BE! I also want to follow President Monson to "Be of Good Cheer," Be my best self, and Be an Example of the Believers! Be Virtuous! I want to BE! Today I took the kids and we bought some fabric to make cute Beehive Pillows. In the talk by Sister Elaine Dalton I referenced a couple of days ago, she challenges all to contemplate...(here are her words:)
"All over the world young Latter-day Saint women are declaring their commitment to remain pure and chaste. Young women, along with some young men, have climbed mountains and unfurled their personal banners declaring their commitment to return to virtue and to remain pure and chaste. Will you join with them? Contemplate your personal banner. What would you put on your banner if it were your only or last message to the world? What would your banner be or look like?
In another time and another place, another banner was unfurled. It was done by one courageous man, Moroni, who was committed to the cause of righteousness. The society in which he lived was in turmoil. The desire for power and wealth and status had caused some of the strongest and most determined to, as the Book of Mormon describes, be “poison[ed] by degrees” (Alma 47:18). In other words, those who were initially fixed and determined not to compromise were slowly persuaded to do just that. Alexander Pope expressed what it means to be poisoned “by degrees” this way:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.18
It was in this climate that Moroni unfurled his banner—the title of liberty—calling for a defense of families, of women and children, and of religion and God. He was not neutral. He was not passive. He was not tolerant. He was right! He went forth boldly. The scriptures describe Moroni in words that I believe describe many of you: “If all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men” (Alma 48:17; see also Alma 46:12–13, 18, 21).
You are the banner! Your lives of purity and virtue are the banner that will cause the nations of the earth to look up—to come to the temple. As you remain virtuous, you will be led by the Holy Ghost, and your personal virtue will qualify you to go to the temple often."
Interesting thoughts here. On many levels!
Moroni was Extraordinary! He was NOT ordinary or orthodox! B has been reading a interesting ancient book recommended to us. He came across this truth a couple days ago:
""The orthodox" translates the Chinese word cheng. Its original meant, at least a thousand years before the Sun Tzu was "straight," and thus "correct." From these senses evolved the term to govern. "The orthodox," then, is the right way to do things according to public measures. In social life it would indicate conventional good form. "The extraordinary" is literally "the strange." It has none of the political associates of the orthodox.
In general, the orthodox is the familiarity of our world, the ways in which we engage reality, the way our senses normally work. It is what we and the enemy expect. For the military, it is accepted means and models. It may also include conventional strategy and tactics.
The extraordinary is always surprising. It is not defined as an particular action. It is simply what the enemy does not expect." (The Art of War, The Denma Translation)
I believe that Moroni followed the promptings of the Spirit, not knowing beforehand what or how he would proceed, thus the unexpected, extraordinary! Extraordinary is not the ordinary, it is not always planned, anticipated, expected. It requires one ready to act... ready to BE! Love that thought! I want to BE! Not Mediocre! BE Extraordinary!
Reminds me of a song my Mom used to play to me that went something about "I am not the ordinary, ???, extraordinary..." It was something about Mormon Missionaries, being not the ordinary, but rather extraordinary. I can't remember, but I know that my family is not the ordinary! I will find that song! Be Extraordinary! BE!
In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.
Robert Green Ingersoll
As I struggle for ideas to make this a spectacular event for all involved, I have had several ideas, but have NOT managed to feel like it is quite right with all involved. I don't know what or who or where. I feel that my attitude needs check. I have been asked to be over Personal Progress for our YW program, however, I am not called to be in charge, the leader, or even in the presidency. I was asked to come to a presidency meeting last week, but my visiting teachers had previously scheduled a visit at the same time. I told them I would come as soon as I could sneak away. They didn't meet close, they went to lunch in town. When I got there, I hurried through the restaurant they had said they were meeting at, but I didn't find them. I then realized that they had texted and said that they were done. I was briefed later about the meeting, and told that they didn't discuss any ideas for this event as they were waiting for me to come with them. I have not been called to be the leader. I have suggested several ideas, but they have turned them down, questioning details of them, and I am still on ground zero! I am not sure what needs to happen, or how to help it move ahead. Carefully! That is what I do know! I have been guided several times to the LDS.org website which encourages the input and ideas of the young women and leaders together. I don't believe this is a program I should plan from ideas from someplace else on the Internet, nor just from my home or life. I believe to make this an extraordinary evening, we have to do more than just simplify, although I don't believe that means it hast to be a huge production. It must take effort to be worthwhile. Otherwise why do we hold the event at all? If that is the goal, 'simplify' and cancel the evening!
On to positive... I have been thinking about "Being!" I want to BE! I want to Believe! I want to Be Grateful, Be Smart, Be Clean, Be True, Be Humble, Be Prayerful as President Hinckley challenged us to BE! I also want to follow President Monson to "Be of Good Cheer," Be my best self, and Be an Example of the Believers! Be Virtuous! I want to BE! Today I took the kids and we bought some fabric to make cute Beehive Pillows. In the talk by Sister Elaine Dalton I referenced a couple of days ago, she challenges all to contemplate...(here are her words:)
"All over the world young Latter-day Saint women are declaring their commitment to remain pure and chaste. Young women, along with some young men, have climbed mountains and unfurled their personal banners declaring their commitment to return to virtue and to remain pure and chaste. Will you join with them? Contemplate your personal banner. What would you put on your banner if it were your only or last message to the world? What would your banner be or look like?
In another time and another place, another banner was unfurled. It was done by one courageous man, Moroni, who was committed to the cause of righteousness. The society in which he lived was in turmoil. The desire for power and wealth and status had caused some of the strongest and most determined to, as the Book of Mormon describes, be “poison[ed] by degrees” (Alma 47:18). In other words, those who were initially fixed and determined not to compromise were slowly persuaded to do just that. Alexander Pope expressed what it means to be poisoned “by degrees” this way:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.18
It was in this climate that Moroni unfurled his banner—the title of liberty—calling for a defense of families, of women and children, and of religion and God. He was not neutral. He was not passive. He was not tolerant. He was right! He went forth boldly. The scriptures describe Moroni in words that I believe describe many of you: “If all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men” (Alma 48:17; see also Alma 46:12–13, 18, 21).
You are the banner! Your lives of purity and virtue are the banner that will cause the nations of the earth to look up—to come to the temple. As you remain virtuous, you will be led by the Holy Ghost, and your personal virtue will qualify you to go to the temple often."
Interesting thoughts here. On many levels!
Moroni was Extraordinary! He was NOT ordinary or orthodox! B has been reading a interesting ancient book recommended to us. He came across this truth a couple days ago:
""The orthodox" translates the Chinese word cheng. Its original meant, at least a thousand years before the Sun Tzu was "straight," and thus "correct." From these senses evolved the term to govern. "The orthodox," then, is the right way to do things according to public measures. In social life it would indicate conventional good form. "The extraordinary" is literally "the strange." It has none of the political associates of the orthodox.
In general, the orthodox is the familiarity of our world, the ways in which we engage reality, the way our senses normally work. It is what we and the enemy expect. For the military, it is accepted means and models. It may also include conventional strategy and tactics.
The extraordinary is always surprising. It is not defined as an particular action. It is simply what the enemy does not expect." (The Art of War, The Denma Translation)
I believe that Moroni followed the promptings of the Spirit, not knowing beforehand what or how he would proceed, thus the unexpected, extraordinary! Extraordinary is not the ordinary, it is not always planned, anticipated, expected. It requires one ready to act... ready to BE! Love that thought! I want to BE! Not Mediocre! BE Extraordinary!
Reminds me of a song my Mom used to play to me that went something about "I am not the ordinary, ???, extraordinary..." It was something about Mormon Missionaries, being not the ordinary, but rather extraordinary. I can't remember, but I know that my family is not the ordinary! I will find that song! Be Extraordinary! BE!
In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.
Robert Green Ingersoll