It is once again time for a new post. Once again, I have learned alot over the last two weeks since the last update. In my Life Skills class, I learned about Personal Finances and Family Relationships. In my Book of Mormon class, we studied Mosiah 4-Alma 7 (yes, that IS a lot of chapters). There is amazing things in those chapters.

First off, for my Life Skills class, we talked about how to be financially stable and in what ways to be financially stable. We talked about how being financially stable brings peace into the home.  Some of the ways to become financially stable is: Pay an honest tithing, spend less than you earn, live within your means, grow a garden, use a budget, get an education, and teach children early.

The only things that you should go in to debt is for: a modest home, education, a modest car. We should not go into debt for any other reason. We should have enough money in our savings account to cover for unexpected expenses. It is also suggested that you keep out cash, just in case you are unable to have access to your accounts. It is also a good idea to put a portion of each paycheck into  your savings account.

This week we talked about family relationships. We talked about how important families are and how we need to treat our family members with love, kindness and compassion.

One of the things we studies was "The Family: A Proclamation to the World". It is amazing that although it was written 20 years ago, the things that are contained in the Proclamation, are things that we are fighting for now. Throughout the world the sacredness of families are increasingly being threatened. Views on the family are increasingly being changed. What once was considered the norm just a few years ago, is now becoming more and more a rarity.

One of the things that struck me this week was a quote from President Eyring from his talk "Help Them On Their Way Home".  This talk is about the importance of teaching small children. One of the things he said was, "In those precious years the Lord helps families by calling Primary Workers to help strengthen children spiritually". My current callings in my ward are as a Primary Worker over the 4 year olds and as a Cub Scout Leader over the 9 year olds. This quote made me realize that I am more than just a teacher. I have a vital role in helping the children I teach to lay a foundation of faith, that will last them throughout their lives. That is a big responsibility.

One of the things I learned as I studied for my Book of Mormon class was from Elder Oaks. We were studying about Taking Upon Us the Name of Christ. Elder Oaks brought to my attention, "It is significant that when we partake of the Sacrament, we do not witness that we take upon us the name of Christ, we witness that we are WILLING to take upon us the name of Christ. The fact that we only witness to our willingness suggests that something else must also happen before we actually take upon us that sacred name. The willingness to take upon His name, means we are willing to take upon us the authority of Jesus Christ. This means that when we partake of the Sacrament, we witness our willingness to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple, and to receive the highest blessings available".

I never noticed that in the Sacrament prayers that it said "willing". I always just thought that it said/meant that we WERE taking upon ourselves His name. I also never realized that when we partake of the Sacrament, that we are taking upon ourselves willingness to participate in temple work. It goes to show you how important temples and temple work actually is.

Something else that was brought to my attention this week, that is often overlooked, is what happened with King Mosiah and his people. When he was getting ready to appoint a new king, he made a proposal to his people instead. He suggested, that instead of appointing another king, he suggested to appoint judges, chosen by the people, instead.

He suggested this for several reasons. One reason he suggested this because, if an unrighteous king was made ruler, then he would drag all of his people down with him into sin. He brought up the account of King Noah, and how wicked of a king he was and how he destroyed his people. "How much iniquity doth one wicked king cause".

Another reason he suggest that the people appoint judges instead of kings is because "it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right. When the day comes when a majority of the people choose inequity, then their iniquities shall be answered upon their heads".

With election season upon us, this is a great lesson on why it is so important for us to partake in our voting privilege. Our church leaders urge us to go out and vote. They encourage us to vote for the candidates that most closely resembles our ideals. Voting is one of the ways we raise our voices. It is how the "voice of the people" is made known. If we don't vote, then our "voice" won't be heard, nor will it be counted.

There was so many things that I learned over the last few weeks, I was only able to write about a small portion of them. I hope you enjoyed this post. I will be back to write again soon.

It is time once again for another update. As usual, I have learned a lot since the last update two weeks ago. I have decided for this post, instead of posting everything I have learned, I think I will just post the highlights, that way it's not quite so long of a read.

For the last two weeks in my Life Skills class, I have been studying about Self-Reliance and Work. President Romney said in his talk entitled "Self-Reliance is tied very closely to freedom it's self". When you depend upon others for support, you usually "sign a contract", either an actual contract or implied contract. By signing this "contract", you agree to live by the rules THEY have set. You are "bound" to them. You are not "free to act for yourself". You are not free to live by your rules. Being Self-Reliant, and not depending on anyone else, releases you from this "contract", and you are free to live how you want to live. You are not bound by anyone elses rules.

Later on in the same talk, President Romney talked about how being self-reliant allows you to serve others. He said "self-reliance...is the prerequisite to service...without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing to give? Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse. Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned. And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak".

President Romney also talked about those who do need assistance. He said, "pride should not prevent us from graciously accepting the helping hand of another when we have a real need. To do so denies another person the opportunity to participate in a sanctifying experience." When we need help with something, we are to accept the help with gratitude. When we don't accept the help we need, we not only get the help that we need, but we also deny the other person the blessings that come from serving others. We should not let pride, or anything else stand in the way of us getting the help that we need.

In "Living the Principles of Self-Reliance", it says that being self-reliant, doesn't mean that we lose our dependence upon the Lord or upon eachother. "Self-reliance should not be mistaken for complete independence. After all, we are ultimately dependent upon our Heavenly Father for everything. We need His continual guidance, preservation, and protection. We also depend on one another. Since we are given different spiritual gifts, we are expected to share what we have been given so that all may be blessed. The key is to become self-reliant..."

This week in Life Skills, we learned about the principle of Work, and the blessing it is in our lives. After Adam ate the Fruit from The Tree of Life, God told him "cursed is the ground for they sake". Heavenly Father commanded Adam to work for his needs because He knew the blessings that come from hard work.

In his October 2010 General Conference talk entitled "Reflections of a Consecrated Life", Elder D. Todd Christofferson said "God has designed this mortal existance to require nearly constant exertion...by work we sustain and enrich life. It enables us to survive the disappointments and tragedies of the mortal experience. Hard earned achievement brings a sense of self-worth. Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God. A consecrated life is filled with work, sometimes repetitive, sometimes menial, sometimes unappreciated but always work that improves, orders, sustains, lifts, ministers and aspires."

In D&C 58:27, it reads "Verily I say unto you, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and to bring about much righteousness". This scripture states that we are commanded not only to BE good, but to also DO good. We are to be active participants in bringing about righteousness. It's not enough to just be good. We need to be out in our communities and be doing righteous things.

This week we also learned the difference between "leisure" and "idleness". Again from Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk, he said "Just as honest toil gives rest it's sweetness, wholesome recreation is the friend and steadying companion of work. Music, literature, art, dance, drama, athletics-all can provide entertainment to enrich ones' life and to further consecrate it". Leisure activities are enriching, they benefit your life, they are positive, productive, it's time that is earned, it has purpose, it is a treat, and they refresh and renew your spirit.

On the other hand, idle activities are the opposite. When you are being idle, it is not enriching your life, your mind is numb because your mind is not engaged, you are not being productive, and you are wasting your time on things that don't matter. Also, when you are being idle, you have "lost opportunities". You could have received answers to prayers or been an answer to someone elses prayer. You could have had opportunities to grow. Sometimes I think about all the "lost opportunities" that I have had when I have been idle. There are so many things in my life that might have happened if only I wasn't being idle.

In the "For Strength of Youth" pamphlet, it states "The Lord has command us not to be idle. Idleness can lead inappropriate behavior, damaged relationships, and sin. One form of idleness is spending excessive amounts of time in activities that keep you from productive work, such as using the internet, playing video games, and watching TV".

I know that I haven't valued self-reliance and  work as much as I should have. Because of this, I have missed out on so many opportunities that I could have had. I commit myself to being better at being self-reliant and to better appreciate work.

For the last two weeks in my Book of Mormon class, we studied Jacob-Mosiah 3. As always, there are a lot of cool things in these chapters. There are so many, that I can't write down everything. So, once again, I will just give you the highlights.

One of the things I learned was the importance of hope. You always here the scriptures that say "Faith, Hope, Love..." We are always having lessons on the importance of faith and love, but you don't have too many lessons on hope. I always thought that hope was more of a wish, like you "hope for something to happen". I learned that hope is much more than "wishing". "Hope is born of faith through experience. As we see God's hands in our lives, we gain hope. Hope is confidence or expectation that God will follow through. As we act, our faith becomes grounded. It becomes unshaken because of hope. Hope leads us to confidence that all things will work together for our good". Amazing things happen because of hope.

Another thing that was emphasized during my studies these last two weeks was the importance of families. Jacob 2: 35, 3:5,7, it says that even with all the bad things the Lamanites have done, they are more righteous than the Nephites because they love their families. The Nephites "broke the hearts" of their wives and their children. The Lamanites on the other hand, continued to keep their family relationships sacred. The husbands loved their wives. The wives loved their husbands. And the husbands and the wives loved their children. Love within families must be important if that is all that makes the Lamanites more righteous than the Nephites.

This week I learned a lot about Enos and how to gain the same faith that he had. Elder Hales talk "Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ", gives step by step instructions on how we too can have the same faith.
     1. Enos was taught by his father. Being taught by parents gives you an example you can rely on and trust. Being taught while you are young builds a foundation that will strengthen you throughout your life.
     2. Enos let the teachings of his father sink deep into his heart. When you hear the words of your parents, they touch you.
     3. He was filled with a desire to know for himself. Because he "hungered", Enos qualified himself to receive the Savior's promise of being filled with the Holy Ghost.
    4. Enos obeyed the commandments of God. We need to be obedient to the commandments so we can have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
    5. Enos keeled down in mighty prayer. He prayed all day and into the night. He prayed not only for his own welfare, but for the welfare of others as well.

We ourselves can't have Enos like faith, without Enos like effort. It won't come easy, and it won't come right away, but when we put effort and work into it, we too can gain the same faith that Enos had.

Also in Enos, we learn the value of work. The Nephites "worked diligenlty", while the Lamanites "were lead by their evil nature that they became wild, ferocious, and blood thirsty people, full of idolatry and filthiness..." Because the Nephites worked, they kept themselves away from sin. On the other hand, because the Lamanites were idol, they became sinful.

Another thing that caught my eye about Enos was what he prayed for. First he prayed for himself. But after he prayed for himself, he prayed for others. He prayed for the welfare of the souls for his brethren the Nephites and the Lamanites. He then covenanted with Heavenly Father that records would be preserved so that, at some future date, the Lamanites would once again be converted back to the truth. This thing that he prayed for were for many many many many many generations after his time. This got me thinking, how often do I pray for my future generations? My children and grandchildren will be alive during the Second Coming, what would happen if I pray for them? What if I prayed to Heavenly Father for Him to watch over my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc?

Like I said, this was only tiny bit of everything I learned these last two weeks. I can't wait to see what I learn next. Have a great day!!!