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!!!