16 years ago
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
A very Bickerstaff Christmas
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The Blessings of Personal Progress
The following is the talk I gave at church this morning:
I was asked to speak by Bishop Ferrin about a month ago, and I have been putting up a good fight because public speaking is my least favorite thing to do. It terrifies me even more than spiders. But the subject that I have been asked to speak about has become near and dear to my heart over the last year.
As most of you probably already know, I am a convert to the church. I joined the church in April of 2000 just a few weeks before my 21st birthday. Since I joined as an adult I never had the opportunity to be in Primary as a child or Young Women as a teenager. I also have never had a calling in Young Women until I moved here. So serving in the Young Women program has been a very new experience for me, and I absolutely love working with the Youth in this ward especially the Young Women.
Over the last year I have been introduced to Personal Progress. This is the program that the leaders of the church have developed for the young women of the church between the ages of 12 and 18.
The Young Women Theme says:
We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us ,and we love Him.
We will “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:
Faith* Divine Nature* Individual Worth* Knowledge* Choice & Accountability* Good Works* Integrity and Virtue
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.
Through Personal Progress the Young Women are able to strengthen their faith in and testimony of Jesus Christ by learning His teachings and regularly applying them to their lives. It helps to strengthen both their present families and future families. It helps to prepare them to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple. And it will prepare them to be faithful, contributing members of the church.
The Personal Progress program uses the eight Young Women values to help these young girls more fully understand who they are, why they are here on Earth and what they should be doing as a daughter of God to prepare for the day they go to the temple to make sacred covenants. It will also help them prepare for their future roles as faithful women, wives, mothers, and leaders in God’s kingdom. It teaches them to make commitments, carry them out and report their progress to a parent or leader. They will establish personal daily habits such as prayer, scripture study, service and journal keeping as they work on Personal Progress. These habits will help them learn and improve throughout theirs lives as they increase their testimonies.
In order for a Young Women to complete her Personal Progress she will need to:
● Regularly attend sacrament meeting.
● Live the standards in For the Strength of Youth.
● Keep a personal journal.
● Attend seminary or participate in independent study.
● Read the Book of Mormon regularly.
● Record her testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ.
● Complete the value experiences and value project for each of the eight values.
Each of the values except virtue has three required value experiences that they must complete. They also have three additional value experiences to complete that can be selected from the options in their book or they can write up to two of their own experiences that must be approved by a parent or leader. The virtue value has four required value experiences. Each of the values also has a value project that must take at least ten hour to complete. Virtue has a required project of reading the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. While reading they must regularly record their thoughts in their journals, and then, after completion, record their testimony.
Now I am going to touch on each of the individual values and the blessings that they will receive from them.
The first value is faith. In Alma 32:21 it says: “Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” By completing the experiences and project for faith they will know that they are a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves them. They will have faith in His eternal plan which centers on the Savior Jesus Christ.
The second value is divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4-7 states: “Be partakers of the divine nature...Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” By completing the experiences and project for divine nature they will know that they inherited divine qualities and strive to develop them.
The third value is individual worth. By completing the experiences and project for individual worth they will know of their infinite worth with their own divine mission to fulfill. In Doctrine and Covenants chapter 18 verse 10 it says: “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God”
Fourth we have the value of knowledge. It says in Doctrine and Covenants 88:118: “Seek learning, even by study and also by faith” Through completing the value experiences and project for knowledge they will continually seek opportunities for learning and growth.
Choice & accountability is the fifth value. Upon completion of the experiences and project for choice & accountability they will be able to choose good over evil and accept responsibility for their decisions. Joshua 24:15 states: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve;. . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”
The next value is good works. “Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” 3 Nephi 12:16. By completing the experiences and project for knowledge they will help others and build the kingdom through righteous service.
The seventh value is integrity. In Job chapter 27 verse 5 is says: “Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me” They will have the moral courage to make their actions consistent with their knowledge of right and wrong when they complete the value experiences and project for integrity.
The final and newest value is virtue. Upon completion of the experiences and project for virtue the Young Women will prepare to enter the temple and remain pure and worthy. Their thoughts and actions will be based on high moral standards. In Proverbs 31:10 it says: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies”
After completing all the value experiences and projects for the eight Young Women values she will have an interview with the bishop and be able to receive her Young Womanhood Recognition certificate and medallion. But even more important, she will have received the habits, knowledge and skills to help her throughout her mortal and eternal life.
President Ezra Taft Benson in “To the Young Women of the Church” said, “Give me a young woman who loves home and family, who reads and ponders the scriptures daily, who has a burning testimony of the Book of Mormon. Give me a young woman who faithfully attends her church meetings, who is a seminary graduate, who has earned her Young Womanhood Recognition Award and wears it with pride! Give me a young woman who is virtuous and who has maintained her personal purity, who will not settle for less than a temple marriage, and I will give you a young woman who will perform miracles for the Lord now and throughout eternity.”
I know that Personal Progress is a divine program that was developed to prepare Young Women for their eternal roles. That by completing this program they “will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation”. I leave this with you in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
I was asked to speak by Bishop Ferrin about a month ago, and I have been putting up a good fight because public speaking is my least favorite thing to do. It terrifies me even more than spiders. But the subject that I have been asked to speak about has become near and dear to my heart over the last year.
As most of you probably already know, I am a convert to the church. I joined the church in April of 2000 just a few weeks before my 21st birthday. Since I joined as an adult I never had the opportunity to be in Primary as a child or Young Women as a teenager. I also have never had a calling in Young Women until I moved here. So serving in the Young Women program has been a very new experience for me, and I absolutely love working with the Youth in this ward especially the Young Women.
Over the last year I have been introduced to Personal Progress. This is the program that the leaders of the church have developed for the young women of the church between the ages of 12 and 18.
The Young Women Theme says:
We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us ,and we love Him.
We will “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:
Faith* Divine Nature* Individual Worth* Knowledge* Choice & Accountability* Good Works* Integrity and Virtue
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.
Through Personal Progress the Young Women are able to strengthen their faith in and testimony of Jesus Christ by learning His teachings and regularly applying them to their lives. It helps to strengthen both their present families and future families. It helps to prepare them to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple. And it will prepare them to be faithful, contributing members of the church.
The Personal Progress program uses the eight Young Women values to help these young girls more fully understand who they are, why they are here on Earth and what they should be doing as a daughter of God to prepare for the day they go to the temple to make sacred covenants. It will also help them prepare for their future roles as faithful women, wives, mothers, and leaders in God’s kingdom. It teaches them to make commitments, carry them out and report their progress to a parent or leader. They will establish personal daily habits such as prayer, scripture study, service and journal keeping as they work on Personal Progress. These habits will help them learn and improve throughout theirs lives as they increase their testimonies.
In order for a Young Women to complete her Personal Progress she will need to:
● Regularly attend sacrament meeting.
● Live the standards in For the Strength of Youth.
● Keep a personal journal.
● Attend seminary or participate in independent study.
● Read the Book of Mormon regularly.
● Record her testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ.
● Complete the value experiences and value project for each of the eight values.
Each of the values except virtue has three required value experiences that they must complete. They also have three additional value experiences to complete that can be selected from the options in their book or they can write up to two of their own experiences that must be approved by a parent or leader. The virtue value has four required value experiences. Each of the values also has a value project that must take at least ten hour to complete. Virtue has a required project of reading the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. While reading they must regularly record their thoughts in their journals, and then, after completion, record their testimony.
Now I am going to touch on each of the individual values and the blessings that they will receive from them.
The first value is faith. In Alma 32:21 it says: “Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” By completing the experiences and project for faith they will know that they are a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves them. They will have faith in His eternal plan which centers on the Savior Jesus Christ.
The second value is divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4-7 states: “Be partakers of the divine nature...Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” By completing the experiences and project for divine nature they will know that they inherited divine qualities and strive to develop them.
The third value is individual worth. By completing the experiences and project for individual worth they will know of their infinite worth with their own divine mission to fulfill. In Doctrine and Covenants chapter 18 verse 10 it says: “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God”
Fourth we have the value of knowledge. It says in Doctrine and Covenants 88:118: “Seek learning, even by study and also by faith” Through completing the value experiences and project for knowledge they will continually seek opportunities for learning and growth.
Choice & accountability is the fifth value. Upon completion of the experiences and project for choice & accountability they will be able to choose good over evil and accept responsibility for their decisions. Joshua 24:15 states: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve;. . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”
The next value is good works. “Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” 3 Nephi 12:16. By completing the experiences and project for knowledge they will help others and build the kingdom through righteous service.
The seventh value is integrity. In Job chapter 27 verse 5 is says: “Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me” They will have the moral courage to make their actions consistent with their knowledge of right and wrong when they complete the value experiences and project for integrity.
The final and newest value is virtue. Upon completion of the experiences and project for virtue the Young Women will prepare to enter the temple and remain pure and worthy. Their thoughts and actions will be based on high moral standards. In Proverbs 31:10 it says: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies”
 |
| My Young Womanhood Medallion earned December 19, 2010 |
President Ezra Taft Benson in “To the Young Women of the Church” said, “Give me a young woman who loves home and family, who reads and ponders the scriptures daily, who has a burning testimony of the Book of Mormon. Give me a young woman who faithfully attends her church meetings, who is a seminary graduate, who has earned her Young Womanhood Recognition Award and wears it with pride! Give me a young woman who is virtuous and who has maintained her personal purity, who will not settle for less than a temple marriage, and I will give you a young woman who will perform miracles for the Lord now and throughout eternity.”
I know that Personal Progress is a divine program that was developed to prepare Young Women for their eternal roles. That by completing this program they “will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation”. I leave this with you in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
More confessions of a crazy mommy person!!
1~ I LOVE steaming hot showers. So hot that the water scalds a bit when it touches your skin, the whole bathroom fills with steam, and everyone in the house gripes that you stole all the hot water. Hehehe
2~I don't hate Christmas, but I could live without Christmas music except at church on Sundays in December and on Christmas day. I think I used up all my Christmas music tolerance in 2001 when they started playing it after 9/11.
3~ Christmas is one of my least favorite holidays. It has gotten WAY too commercial. The stores seem to bring out the Christmas garb earlier and earlier every year. I want my kids to know the REAL meaning of Christmas and not worry about what a fat man in a red suit is going to leave under the tree for them on Christmas morning.
4~ I cannot stand calling people on the phone! It scares me to death. Don't get me wrong, I like talking on the phone just not the act of calling someone. I LOVE it when people call me though. As long as it isn't someone asking me to talk at church.
5~ I like Facebook a little too much. Okay, WAY too much! Having recently (within the last year) moved away from all my friends it is one of the only ways of keeping in contact with them, because I don't have long distance and probably wouldn't call them anyways. (See number 4)
6~ I am incredibly impatient!! I want what I want and I want it NOW!! It probably could be connected to the fact that I NEVER get what I want. Sometimes it causes me to throw a grown up temper tantrum. And, I actually wonder where my kids get it from. Hmmmm
7~ I get nervous really easily. All I have to do is think about something and I get butterflies in my tummy and my heart starts beating faster. Its probably a good thing I have never done anything that would cause me to have to be given a lie detector test, because I would SO fail just because I get so nervous. I especially get nervous if I have to call someone that I am not used to talking to on the phone (See number 4) or if I have to go somewhere and see people I have never met before.
8~ I am a reader!! I will totally neglect everything I have to do if I am reading an awesome book that I cannot put down. I don't happen to find these books very often, but when it does happen, you better just count me out of doing anything productive.
9~ I almost always have a song in my head. I go to sleep with one and wake up with one. Sometimes there are many different ones or the same one for days on end. What I can't figure out is how you can get a song in your head that you haven't heard in years. Makes ya think!
10~ I only like even numbers or things in groups of five. I can't eat three of something. I have to either eat two or four, and if its cookies it will definitely be four or maybe even five. And, even worse than odd numbers are prime numbers, and it really drives me nuts that we have seven people in our family.
2~I don't hate Christmas, but I could live without Christmas music except at church on Sundays in December and on Christmas day. I think I used up all my Christmas music tolerance in 2001 when they started playing it after 9/11.
3~ Christmas is one of my least favorite holidays. It has gotten WAY too commercial. The stores seem to bring out the Christmas garb earlier and earlier every year. I want my kids to know the REAL meaning of Christmas and not worry about what a fat man in a red suit is going to leave under the tree for them on Christmas morning.
4~ I cannot stand calling people on the phone! It scares me to death. Don't get me wrong, I like talking on the phone just not the act of calling someone. I LOVE it when people call me though. As long as it isn't someone asking me to talk at church.
5~ I like Facebook a little too much. Okay, WAY too much! Having recently (within the last year) moved away from all my friends it is one of the only ways of keeping in contact with them, because I don't have long distance and probably wouldn't call them anyways. (See number 4)
6~ I am incredibly impatient!! I want what I want and I want it NOW!! It probably could be connected to the fact that I NEVER get what I want. Sometimes it causes me to throw a grown up temper tantrum. And, I actually wonder where my kids get it from. Hmmmm
7~ I get nervous really easily. All I have to do is think about something and I get butterflies in my tummy and my heart starts beating faster. Its probably a good thing I have never done anything that would cause me to have to be given a lie detector test, because I would SO fail just because I get so nervous. I especially get nervous if I have to call someone that I am not used to talking to on the phone (See number 4) or if I have to go somewhere and see people I have never met before.
8~ I am a reader!! I will totally neglect everything I have to do if I am reading an awesome book that I cannot put down. I don't happen to find these books very often, but when it does happen, you better just count me out of doing anything productive.
9~ I almost always have a song in my head. I go to sleep with one and wake up with one. Sometimes there are many different ones or the same one for days on end. What I can't figure out is how you can get a song in your head that you haven't heard in years. Makes ya think!
10~ I only like even numbers or things in groups of five. I can't eat three of something. I have to either eat two or four, and if its cookies it will definitely be four or maybe even five. And, even worse than odd numbers are prime numbers, and it really drives me nuts that we have seven people in our family.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Confessions of a crazy mommy person!!
First of all, I want to thank Suzy for giving me this idea because I totally stole it from her. Second, I am titling this confessions of a crazy mommy person, because I am more than just unbalanced and my identity has become that of the mommy. So, in this post and maybe some more posts in the future, I will confess some of the things that I always want to tell people but never have the guts to share.
1~ I am not afraid of becoming my mother as I grow older, but I am terrified of becoming my mother-in-law. My mother is an awesome, strong person and I would love to be that person too. My mother-in-law is....(Katy, if you are reading this, you know what I mean).
2~ I have had 5 kids naturally and because of this I have a very weak bladder. Especially when jumping on the trampoline and doing certain things in TaeKwonDo. So, I have to completely empty my bladder before doing these things and usually wear a pantyliner for just in case I spring a leak.
3~ I wish I was 17/18 again, but with the knowledge that I have now. I think about the "what ifs" way too much lately, and want to go back and make different choices. I also think that juniors clothing is way better than grown up clothing.
4~ I worry way too much about what other people think of me. It doesn't really matter what they think and I know that, but I have the natural need to please people and be liked.
5~ I say "seriously" and "crap" all the time. I am working on cutting this down to a bare minimum, but the outlook doesn't look good.
6~ I am a daddy's girl through and through. I am more like him than my mom, and we have always had a very special bond.
7~ I am selfish. I don't like to share and I think about myself and what I want more than I should.
8~ I don't want Angela to be a daddy's girl. I want her to prefer me over anyone else. (See number 7.)
9~ Everyone thinks I am skinny, but I look in the mirror and see that I could lose a fews pounds. I want my jeans to be a little bit loose and have to buy a smaller size.
10~ I HATE talking about politics! I have very strong political views, but cannot stand when people talk about politics all the time. Michael is included in this. He could talk about politics all day long and he loves to listen to political radios shows. BORING!! I don't want to hear about it.
1~ I am not afraid of becoming my mother as I grow older, but I am terrified of becoming my mother-in-law. My mother is an awesome, strong person and I would love to be that person too. My mother-in-law is....(Katy, if you are reading this, you know what I mean).
2~ I have had 5 kids naturally and because of this I have a very weak bladder. Especially when jumping on the trampoline and doing certain things in TaeKwonDo. So, I have to completely empty my bladder before doing these things and usually wear a pantyliner for just in case I spring a leak.
3~ I wish I was 17/18 again, but with the knowledge that I have now. I think about the "what ifs" way too much lately, and want to go back and make different choices. I also think that juniors clothing is way better than grown up clothing.
4~ I worry way too much about what other people think of me. It doesn't really matter what they think and I know that, but I have the natural need to please people and be liked.
5~ I say "seriously" and "crap" all the time. I am working on cutting this down to a bare minimum, but the outlook doesn't look good.
6~ I am a daddy's girl through and through. I am more like him than my mom, and we have always had a very special bond.
7~ I am selfish. I don't like to share and I think about myself and what I want more than I should.
8~ I don't want Angela to be a daddy's girl. I want her to prefer me over anyone else. (See number 7.)
9~ Everyone thinks I am skinny, but I look in the mirror and see that I could lose a fews pounds. I want my jeans to be a little bit loose and have to buy a smaller size.
10~ I HATE talking about politics! I have very strong political views, but cannot stand when people talk about politics all the time. Michael is included in this. He could talk about politics all day long and he loves to listen to political radios shows. BORING!! I don't want to hear about it.
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