The last part of my wood badge ticket which I need to complete is to finish all the requirements for three of the values of the Young Women Personal Progress areas of focus. I set these goals back in June of 2009, and have been working at all five of my ticket items, with this one being the last I need to finish. I have done the value projects, months ago, and have been doing the other part of encouraging the girls to set and work towards their goals, it is time for me to wrap them all up! I am grateful for the opportunity to review my life, and to set new goals for the coming years! I am grateful for lessons I learned at Wood Badge, and for the opportunity to serve in the Boy Scout organization. It is an organization which helps boys become men - men of courage, honor, thrift, virtue many of whom go on to amazing things in this world! I am truly grateful to link arms with such a powerful program, designed by God I believe to mold boys into the men they need to become! I believe if women would get more involved in the program, their lives would be touched as well, mentoring all into valuable lives of virtue!
Virtue, that is the last of the three Personal Progress areas of focus I need to complete to mark done on my Wood Badge ticket. The Personal Progress book is written for girls ages 12-18 to help them improve, trying to mimic the Boy Scouting program for girls. Where boys have the Duty to God portion, and then they have hours and hours of service, and then they have some 65 merit badges to explore and complete, the Personal Progress program is contained all in one little spiral bound book. It is not quite the same, but it does cover the spiritual aspects of development for young women, and it also requires that the girls complete 7 ten hour service projects.
The Personal Progress book reads:
"Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It includes chastity and purity. The power to create mortal life is an exalted power God has given His children. He has commanded that this power be used only between a man and a woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife."
I found this article this week, and have been pondering it's message especially as it relates to "Standing as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places" and virtue. Elder Ballard writes:
"Today is the time Paul saw. There is an ever-growing number of people who believe that there is no God, no Christ, no plan of redemption, no Atonement, no repentance, no forgiveness, no life after death, no resurrection, no eternal life, and no eternal families sealed together forever.
How empty life must be without the blessings of the fulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. As Latter-day Saints, we follow Jesus Christ. We know the plan of happiness, the great plan of redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ. We know the doctrines of Jesus Christ. We must strive now and always to live by them. Upon the Church’s younger generation will rest the responsibility to teach the doctrines of the Lord and to know how to build up His Church. Please remember that you do not need to feel that you must justify your beliefs; you simply need to explain them in a spirit of love and kindness. The truth always prevails when true doctrine is taught."
I found myself in a conversation this week with some ladies I consider friends, which I haven't seen in some time. I was disturbed by the feelings I got as they learned that I was expecting. I believe I was led to find this line just for me: "The Lord will strengthen those who strive to maintain high standards regardless of what others may do or say." I am thankful for the opportunity to be a Mother! A blessing beyond measure! Having witnessed others who desperately wanted children, but couldn't have them, I am so thankful for the trust He has given me to bring each of the little ones here in my home into this world. I pray that I can be for them the mother that the Savior wants! What a charge! I know well that they won't always be little ones spilling milk on the kitchen floor, before long at all, they will be 19, leaving for new adventures! I pray that I can do some little part to help prepare them for the mission they have here on this earth!
This week as we prepared for Wednesday's MTC experience (test!), we learned of two from the ward that I grew up in who passed from this earthly mortality. As we drove to the Missionary Training Center, a young lady from that ward was being laid to rest. What a contrast! She was always popular, a part of the 'in' crowd. I don't really know details of her life, but I know that I am grateful for the choices I made of dressing modestly, avoiding drugs and bad language, not getting involved with boys, but rather marrying in the temple, keeping covenants of chastity and virtue to have the opportunity to rear children and see them now take on challenges greater than I ever envisioned! As a teen girl, I would have loved to have had the friends and acceptance this young lady enjoyed - however I would not have made the same decisions! 20/20 vision of the years testifies that staying true to the commandments brings true happiness! Today I stand even thankful for the years of thinking that I stood alone! Today with nine in my family, I am thankful for the messages of the Gospel which each testify of the truthfulness and value of the commandments and of the joy of family!
Virtue Value Experience #1 challenges me to write the promised blessings of being sexually clean and pure, and my commitment to be chaste. I am committed to be chaste, and to follow the commandments of purity; Grateful beyond words in fact for such commandments which I testify bring lasting happiness and joy!
Virtue, that is the last of the three Personal Progress areas of focus I need to complete to mark done on my Wood Badge ticket. The Personal Progress book is written for girls ages 12-18 to help them improve, trying to mimic the Boy Scouting program for girls. Where boys have the Duty to God portion, and then they have hours and hours of service, and then they have some 65 merit badges to explore and complete, the Personal Progress program is contained all in one little spiral bound book. It is not quite the same, but it does cover the spiritual aspects of development for young women, and it also requires that the girls complete 7 ten hour service projects.
The Personal Progress book reads:
"Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It includes chastity and purity. The power to create mortal life is an exalted power God has given His children. He has commanded that this power be used only between a man and a woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife."
I found this article this week, and have been pondering it's message especially as it relates to "Standing as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places" and virtue. Elder Ballard writes:
"Today is the time Paul saw. There is an ever-growing number of people who believe that there is no God, no Christ, no plan of redemption, no Atonement, no repentance, no forgiveness, no life after death, no resurrection, no eternal life, and no eternal families sealed together forever.
How empty life must be without the blessings of the fulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. As Latter-day Saints, we follow Jesus Christ. We know the plan of happiness, the great plan of redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ. We know the doctrines of Jesus Christ. We must strive now and always to live by them. Upon the Church’s younger generation will rest the responsibility to teach the doctrines of the Lord and to know how to build up His Church. Please remember that you do not need to feel that you must justify your beliefs; you simply need to explain them in a spirit of love and kindness. The truth always prevails when true doctrine is taught."
I found myself in a conversation this week with some ladies I consider friends, which I haven't seen in some time. I was disturbed by the feelings I got as they learned that I was expecting. I believe I was led to find this line just for me: "The Lord will strengthen those who strive to maintain high standards regardless of what others may do or say." I am thankful for the opportunity to be a Mother! A blessing beyond measure! Having witnessed others who desperately wanted children, but couldn't have them, I am so thankful for the trust He has given me to bring each of the little ones here in my home into this world. I pray that I can be for them the mother that the Savior wants! What a charge! I know well that they won't always be little ones spilling milk on the kitchen floor, before long at all, they will be 19, leaving for new adventures! I pray that I can do some little part to help prepare them for the mission they have here on this earth!
This week as we prepared for Wednesday's MTC experience (test!), we learned of two from the ward that I grew up in who passed from this earthly mortality. As we drove to the Missionary Training Center, a young lady from that ward was being laid to rest. What a contrast! She was always popular, a part of the 'in' crowd. I don't really know details of her life, but I know that I am grateful for the choices I made of dressing modestly, avoiding drugs and bad language, not getting involved with boys, but rather marrying in the temple, keeping covenants of chastity and virtue to have the opportunity to rear children and see them now take on challenges greater than I ever envisioned! As a teen girl, I would have loved to have had the friends and acceptance this young lady enjoyed - however I would not have made the same decisions! 20/20 vision of the years testifies that staying true to the commandments brings true happiness! Today I stand even thankful for the years of thinking that I stood alone! Today with nine in my family, I am thankful for the messages of the Gospel which each testify of the truthfulness and value of the commandments and of the joy of family!
Virtue Value Experience #1 challenges me to write the promised blessings of being sexually clean and pure, and my commitment to be chaste. I am committed to be chaste, and to follow the commandments of purity; Grateful beyond words in fact for such commandments which I testify bring lasting happiness and joy!