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Sunday, March 24, 2013

3-Month Challenge


Our ward issued this today.  I thought other people might enjoy participating, too.
Three Month Challenge

Please hold a family council this week and through discussion and prayer, choose an activity (or more than one) that you would like to work on for the next three months. Your goal should be realistic but should require you to step outside of your current comfort zone.  Our Ultimate goal is to create righteous habits. From the following list of activities, select one or more that you would like to work on during the next three months of 2013. Some are meant to be accomplished by families, but more can be done as individuals also. Please concentrate on just one, two or three key goals. If you don't find
the goal you desire, please see number 31 and make up your own. Please adapt this to your own
family's situation. Our goal is to create righteous habits.

1)     As a family or individually, read Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and 3rd Nephi. If you read 2
pages per day you will be right on target.

2)     Read the Book of Mormon Daily for ½ hour.  If you read 6 pages per day you can finish in 3 months.


3)     Write one letter per week to a relative or missionary that needs encouragement.

4)      Outline and write a brief or detailed history of your family. Make a video with each
member of the family speaking as you share favorite memories of the past year, such as
favorite foods, vacation, friends, teachers, books, accomplishments, spiritual experiences,
etc.

3)      Start a family journal or scrapbook, with weekly entries summarizing important events,
accomplishments, etc. Use Family Home Evening as a
-time to add to the journal on a
regular basis.

4)      Study the scriptures each day for three months.

6)      Read and discuss the "Proclamation to the World on the Family." Consider the daunting
challenge of memorizing it.
                                             Proclamation on the Family

7)     Assign each family member a "secret pal"(within the family) and do an act of service each
day or week for that person.

8)     Select another family that you would like to serve during each of the next 3 months. As a
family, decide on one thing to do for them each week (Invite them to your home for dinner,
mow their lawn, write a special letter of appreciation, etc.)

9)     Hold Family Home Evening every week.

10) Have at least one meal together as a family each day for three months.

11) Have Family Prayer every day.

12) Have personal prayer every day.

13) Take a family Temple trip to do baptisms or other Temple ordinances.  Treat the family to dinner after.

14) Go to bed at___PM at least ___ days per week.

15) Take a non-LDS friend or family to the Orlando Temple Grounds.

16) Prepare a "care package" for one or more missionaries, or create a fun family newsletter or
original card to send to each of the missionaries from our ward.

17) Skip television for a month and use the time to do some of the activities suggested.

18) Do a “wordly media fast” for one, two, or three months. Replace worldly media i.e. T.V., Facebook, Radio, etc. with uplifting media i.e. general conference, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, church videos, etc.

19) Review each talk of the April 2013 General Conference.  Keep a journal of things the spirit teaches you.  Make a list of things the spirit prompts you to start doing or stop doing.
 
20) Forgive a family member (including ward family) who has offended you.

21) Give extra-mile service to a home teaching or visiting teaching family.

22) Invite the full-time or ward missionaries to your home for refreshments and then discuss
how you ca
n be better member missionaries.

23) As a family, make special preparations for each of the three Fast Days. Discuss the
purpose of fasting and decide what specific purpose your family will fast for. Fast for 24
hours, contribute a generous fast offering, and encourage testimony bearing in fast and
testimony meeting
.

24) Select a needy family to serve anonymously. Invite each member of the family to sacrifice
time, earnings, etc. in order to help others.

25) As a family project, design a family flag, crest or shield, select a family motto or slogan,
write
and family mission statement, or adopt a scripture that best represents your family
objec
tives or values.

26) Develop a talent i.e. write a poem or book or song, learn a musical instrument, learn a new language etc.

27) Plant a garden.

28) Exercise 3, 4, 5, or 6 times per week for 3 months.

29) Read an uplifting book.

30) For Teenagers Only:

__ Say "I love you" with a hug to your mom or other family member every day
        for 3 months
. (Be prepared for the best month of your life)

__ Keep your bedroom clean for 3 months.

__ Do one little act of service for someone in your family every day for 3 months.

__ Plan a special activity for a younger brother or sister.

__ Do your homework every day for 3 months without having to be reminded.
__ When you lose your temper with a family member, apologize and ask forgiveness.

31)Come up with your own challenge:

______________________________________________________________

We accept this family challenge (signatures)
 

 

Friday, March 15, 2013

8-Day Walk with Christ

This year my husband (our Bishop) wanted to have our ward do a Walk with Christ, so I got an opportunity to create another one.  This time instead of focusing on creating opportunities for participants to feel the Spirit, I focused on qualities the Savior possessed.  "Becoming" is probably the highest level of obedience---more than just knowing or doing the right things.  This one is culminates on Easter Sunday.  Of course, you can adjust the dates and use this anytime.  It will always help you grow closer to your Savior.

Some of this may look a little familiar from my  14-Day Walk with Christ because why reinvent the wheel.

Walk with Christ

An 8-day Journey to Strengthen your Relationship With Christ
 

This 8-day journey is intended to help you feel closer to your Savior and learn how to become more like Him.  Some of the days focus on things to do.  Others concentrate on ways to be or qualities that we should have.  Mornings are hectic; therefore, the bulk of your study will happen at night with most of your Challenges or assignments to be carried out the following day.  Later that night, we encourage you to journal about some of your experiences and then read the scriptures and stories pertaining to the next day’s Assignments.  In this way, we hope that you will have an opportunity to apply the principles you study, ponder the experiences you have, and really critique what you have learned from them.                 

This Walk with Christ will use several elements daily.  First, you will study the scriptures. President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.”  You will open yourself to feeling the Spirit as you read the scriptures that are listed for each day.  Then, the Spirit can much more easily testify of Christ’s divinity and of the truthfulness of the gospel.  So take the time to read the assigned scriptures.  Overall, I have tried not to make them too lengthy.

                Secondly, you will write in your journal.  President Spencer W. Kimball described that process of inspired writing: “Those who keep a book of remembrance are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives. Journals are a way of counting our blessings and of leaving an inventory of these blessings for our posterity.” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 349).   The act of writing in your journal will help you be closer to the Lord as you remember Him.  When we take the sacrament, we are promised that we will have the Spirit to always be with us if we remember Christ.

                Each day, you can listen to good, uplifting music.  We have included several songs that coordinate with the topic for each day.  Reverent music can be a powerful method for helping us feel close to the Lord.  In fact, for many people hearing good music is one of the fastest ways to bring the Spirit. You can listen to the songs by going to lds.org/music.

You will have the opportunity to apply what you learn.  When we “experiment upon the word” we have the opportunity to receive a testimony of what we are doing.  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained, “To follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His character. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the potential to incorporate Christlike attributes into our life and character. The Savior invites us to learn His gospel by living His teachings. To follow Him is to apply correct principles and then witness for ourselves the blessings that follow. This process is very complex and very simple at the same time. Ancient and modern prophets described it with three words: “Keep the commandments”—nothing more, nothing less.  Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal with real life. The test comes in practicing what we proclaim. The reality check comes when Christlike attributes need to become visible in our lives—as husband or wife, as father or mother, as son or daughter, in our friendships, in our employment, in our business, and in our recreation. We can recognize our growth, as can those around us, as we gradually increase our capacity to “act in all holiness before [Him]” (DandC 43:9).” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Developing Christlike Attributes,” Liahona, Oct. 2008, 2–7).

Lastly, we encourage you to pray.  This will be an assigned Challenge on several days, but you will benefit from doing it every day.  It should become a habit for your entire life. 

                One of our greatest desires is to see each of you have a strong testimony that burns within you.  With this testimony you can be fully converted and become even stronger and more courageous in choosing the right than you already are.  This will bless you in your individual life and strengthen your family.  Of all the things you should seek in this life, a close relationship with Jesus Christ is at the top of the list.  I hope you will take this opportunity to strengthen that relationship over the next week. 

Journal:  Write what you would like to gain from this experience, Walk with Christ.  When we begin with the end in mind, we gain more than if we just set off not knowing where we are headed or why we are even going there. 

 

Day One:  Sunday, March 24, 2013

Prayerful


Evening Study:  Read and mark DandC 88:63

Prayer is a powerful way to draw near unto the Lord.  We humble ourselves as we go before our Heavenly Father and pray in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  However, sometimes we forget to pray or our prayers become routine.  As we strive to make our prayers more effective, we will be closer to our Savior.  Jesus Christ set the example for us in how to pray. Throughout the scriptures we see Him communicate with His Father through prayer, often in behalf of others. 

                Read and mark 3 Nephi 17:3, 15-18

                When Christ faced his greatest challenge, the Atonement, He turned to his Father in prayer.

                Read and mark Matthew 26:36-45
            Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin explained:  “There are many reasons our prayers may lack power. Sometimes they become routine. Our prayers become hollow when we say similar words in similar ways over and over so often that the words become more of a recitation than a communication. This is what the Savior described as “vain repetitions” (see Matt. 6:7). Such prayers, He said, will not be heard. . . Our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, has observed: ‘The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries—we place our order and hang up. We need to meditate, contemplate, think of what we are praying about and for and then speak to the Lord as one man speaketh to another.’  Do your prayers at times sound and feel the same? Have you ever said a prayer mechanically, the words pouring forth as though cut from a machine? Do you sometimes bore yourself as you pray? . . . As we approach our Heavenly Father in the name of Christ, we open the windows of heaven. We can receive from Him truth, light, and knowledge.  Prayer is the doorway through which we commence our discipleship to things heavenly and eternal. We will never be alone so long as we know how to pray.” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Improving Our Prayers,” Ensign, Mar 2004, 24–31)

Read and mark important phrases in Enos 1:1-8 

Challenge (beginning tonight and carrying on tomorrow):

Be sure to say your personal prayers morning and night kneeling.  One way to push ourselves to improve our prayers is to lengthen them just like Enos did.  For the next 3 days, try to pray for about 10-15 minutes at least once each day (or longer if you are already praying this long).  At first, you may feel that you have nothing to say, but doing this will encourage you to break your routines.  Praying does not mean that you must always be saying something.  Feel free to stop in the middle of your prayer to think.  This gives the Holy Ghost an opportunity to speak to you.  Also, the Spirit may put things into your heart and mind that you need to pray for and ways you should improve yourself.  Follow those promptings.

Day 2: Monday, March 25

Faith


Music:   "When Faith Endures" (Hymn #128)

                 "Faith" (Children’s Songbook p. 96)

                "I'll Follow Him in Faith" (lds.org/music)

Evening Study:  Read and mark Hebrews 11:1     Alma 32:21

Faith is a principle of action and power. Whenever we work toward a worthy goal, we exercise faith. We show our hope for something that we cannot yet see.  In order for faith to lead to salvation, it must be centered in the Lord Jesus Christ (see Acts 4:10-12; Mosiah 3:17; Moroni 7:24-26; Articles of Faith 1:4). We can exercise faith in Christ when we have an assurance that He exists, a correct idea of His character, and a knowledge that we are striving to live according to His will.

Having faith in Jesus Christ means relying completely on Him—trusting in His infinite power, intelligence, and love. It includes believing His teachings. It means believing that even though we do not understand all things, He does. Because He has experienced all our pains, afflictions, and infirmities, He knows how to help us rise above our daily difficulties (see Alma 7:11-12; D&C 122:8). He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33) and prepared the way for us to receive eternal life. He is always ready to help us as we remember His plea: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36).

Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “The one help we all need is given to us freely through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Having faith in Jesus Christ and in His Atonement means relying completely on Him—trusting in His infinite power, intelligence, and love. Christlike attributes come into our lives as we exercise our agency righteously. Faith in Jesus Christ leads to action. When we have faith in Christ, we trust the Lord enough to follow His commandments—even when we do not completely understand the reasons for them. In seeking to become more like the Savior, we need to reevaluate our lives regularly and rely, through the path of true repentance, upon the merits of Jesus Christ and the blessings of His Atonement.  Developing Christlike attributes can be a painful process. We need to be ready to accept direction and correction from the Lord and His servants. Through the Church’s regular worldwide conferences, for example, with their music and spoken word, we feel and receive spiritual power, direction, and blessings “from on high” (DandC 43:16). It is a time when the voice of personal inspiration and revelation will bring peace to our souls and will teach us how to become more Christlike. This voice will be as sweet as the voice of a dear friend, and it will fill our souls when our hearts are sufficiently contrite.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Developing Christlike Attributes,” Liahona, Oct 2008, 2–7).

Faith in Christ leads you to want to change your life for the better. As your faith increases, you will desire to repent of your sins. In other words, you will want to change those thoughts and actions that are not in harmony with the teachings that Heavenly Father has revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ.  If your desire for righteousness has decreased, you may need to nurture your faith.  Just by completing this Walk with Christ, your faith can be strengthened.  Prayer, scripture study, and obedience all increase our faith.

As you obey Heavenly Father, He blesses you. He gives you inner strength and determination to meet life's challenges and helps you change the desires of your heart. Through your faith in Jesus Christ, you can be healed, both physically and spiritually.

Challenge:  Think about the Atonement of our Savior and your complete reliance on Him.  Pray to express your gratitude for His sacrifice for you.  He died for you.  He suffered for you.  You can be exalted if you learn to rely on Him and accept His atonement in your life. 

 
Journal:  Write your feelings regarding the Atonement.  Write about any experiences you have had using the atonement to repent for your sins.  You may also choose to write about times when your faith in the Lord has helped you during times of trial.  How did those experiences strengthen your testimony of the Savior?


Day 3: Tuesday, March 26

Humility and Gratitude

Music:  "Be Thou Humble" (Hymn #130)

                "With Humble Heart" (Hymn #171)

                "Count Your Blessings"(Hymn #241)

Evening Study:  Read and mark James 4:6, 10                      Alma 5:27-28

                                D and C 59:21                                                           2 Nephi 9:52

                               

To be humble is to recognize gratefully our dependence on the Lord—to understand that we have constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that our talents and abilities are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness, timidity, or fear; it is an indication that we know where our true strength lies. We can be both humble and fearless. We can be both humble and courageous.

The Lord wants us to be grateful to Him.  All we have is because of His mercy.  When we do not recognize His hand in our lives, we truly offend Him.  We can have an attitude of gratitude in our lives by not complaining when things do not go as planned or as we wish them to go.  We can express thanks to those we interact with, and we can express our gratitude to our Heavenly Father in prayer.  Doing so will help us “draw near unto” him. 

            Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin wrote, “When you find yourself getting into a routine with your prayers, step back and think. Meditate for a while on the things for which you really are grateful. Look for them. They don’t have to be grand or glorious. Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one’s voice.  Thinking of things we are grateful for is a healing balm. It helps us get outside ourselves. It changes our focus from our pains and our trials to the abundance of this beautiful world we live in.” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Improving Our Prayers,” Ensign, Mar 2004, 24–31).

            Pres. Henry B. Eyring said, “President Benson suggested prayer as a time to [thank the Lord]. He said:  ‘The Prophet Joseph said at one time that one of the greatest sins of which the Latter-day Saints would be guilty is the sin of ingratitude. I presume most of us have not thought of that as a great sin. There is a great tendency for us in our prayers and in our pleadings with the Lord to ask for additional blessings. But sometimes I feel we need to devote more of our prayers to expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving for blessings already received. We enjoy so much.’ (God, Family, Country, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974, p. 199).”  Pres. Eyring continued, “You could have an experience with the gift of the Holy Ghost today. You could begin a private prayer with thanks. You could start to count your blessings, and then pause for a moment. If you exercise faith, and with the gift of the Holy Ghost, you will find that memories of other blessings will flood into your mind. If you begin to express gratitude for each of them, your prayer may take a little longer than usual. Remembrance will come. And so will gratitude.”

Journal:    Write your feelings about prayer.  Do you feel that your prayers are improving?   List some of the things you are grateful for. 

            Pres. Eyring said, “As you start to write, you could ask yourself, “How did God bless me today?” If you do that long enough and with faith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. And sometimes, you will have gifts brought to your mind which you failed to notice during the day, but which you will then know were a touch of God’s hand in your life.”

 Challenge (beginning tonight and carrying on tomorrow): 

Elder David Bednar taught:  “During our service at Brigham Young University–Idaho, Sister Bednar and I frequently hosted General Authorities in our home. Our family learned an important lesson about meaningful prayer as we knelt to pray one evening with a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Earlier in the day Sister Bednar and I had been informed about the unexpected death of a dear friend, and our immediate desire was to pray for the surviving spouse and children. As I invited my wife to offer the prayer, the member of the Twelve, unaware of the tragedy, graciously suggested that in the prayer Sister Bednar express only appreciation for blessings received and ask for nothing. His counsel was similar to Alma’s instruction to the members of the ancient Church “to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things” (Mosiah 26:39). Given the unexpected tragedy, requesting blessings for our friends initially seemed to us more urgent than expressing thanks.

Sister Bednar responded in faith to the direction she received. She thanked Heavenly Father for meaningful and memorable experiences with this dear friend. She communicated sincere gratitude for the Holy Ghost as the Comforter and for the gifts of the Spirit that enable us to face adversity and to serve others. Most importantly, she expressed appreciation for the plan of salvation, for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, for His Resurrection, and for the ordinances and covenants of the restored gospel which make it possible for families to be together forever.

Our family learned from that experience a great lesson about the power of thankfulness in meaningful prayer. Because of and through that prayer, our family was blessed with inspiration about a number of issues that were pressing upon our minds and stirring in our hearts. We learned that our gratefulness for the plan of happiness and for the Savior’s mission of salvation provided needed reassurance and strengthened our confidence that all would be well with our dear friends. We also received insights concerning the things about which we should pray and appropriately ask in faith.

The most meaningful and spiritual prayers I have experienced contained many expressions of thanks and few, if any, requests.

Let me recommend that periodically you and I offer a prayer in which we only give thanks and express gratitude. Ask for nothing; simply let our souls rejoice and strive to communicate appreciation with all the energy of our hearts” (“Pray Always”, General Conference, Oct. 2008).

Continue to lengthen your prayers.  However, this time pray only about the things you are grateful for.  For an entire day, try not to ask the Lord for anything at all and instead focus on all He’s already given you.

 

Day 4: Wednesday, March 27

Obedience

Music:   "Keep the Commandments"(Hymn #303)

                 "Do What is Right" (Hymn #237)

                "Choose the Right" (Hymn #239)

Evening Study:  Read and mark Matthew 5:48    3 Nephi 12:48     3 Nephi 27:27    

While it can seem overwhelming to fulfill the commandment to be perfect, we must take one day at a time.  We must constantly be progressing day by day.  We can use the Atonement to repent of the areas we have weakness.  Eventually those will become strengths for us.

Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, “It is important to develop faith to keep all of the commandments of God, knowing that they are given to bless you and bring you joy. You will encounter people who pick which commandments they will keep and which they will ignore. This practice of picking and choosing will not work. It will lead to misery. To prepare to meet God, you need to keep all of His commandments. It takes faith to obey them, and keeping His commandments will strengthen that faith.” (“Focus on Values”, New Era, Feb. 2013)

David A. Bednar explained, "Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel" ("Converted unto the Lord", Liahona and Ensign, November 2012).

Challenge:  Think about a commandment that you have difficulty with.  Commit to be obedient to that commandment.  Pray to repent as well as to ask for the Lord’s help in overcoming your weakness. 

Journal: Sister Elaine S. Dalton shared, “It starts with making a commitment. When I was a young woman, I learned that some decisions need to be made only once. I wrote my list of things I would always do and things I would never do in a small tablet. It included things like obeying the Word of Wisdom, praying daily, paying my tithing, and committing to never miss church. I made those decisions once, and then in the moment of decision, I knew exactly what to do because I had decided beforehand. When my high school friends said, “Just one drink won’t hurt,” I laughed and said, “I decided when I was 12 not to do that.” Making decisions in advance will help you be guardians of virtue. I hope each of you will write a list of things you will always do and things you will never do. Then live your list.” (Elaine S. Dalton, “Guardians of Virtue,Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 121–24).

Write in your journal a list of things you will never do and things you will always do.  Then commit to live that list.


Day 5: Thursday, March 28

Meekness

Music:  “Lord, I would Follow Thee” (Hymn #220)

                “Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words” (Hymn #232)

Evening Study:  Matt. 11:29                         D and C 31:9                              Moroni 7:43-44

Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained meekness, “Agency is essential to perfectibility, and meekness is essential to the wise use of agency—and to our recovery when we have misused our agency. . . The Father and our Savior desire to lead us through love, for if we were merely driven where They wish us to go, we would not be worthy to be there, and, surely, we could not stay there. They are Shepherds, not sheepherders. . . Meekness, however, is more than self-restraint; it is the presentation of self in a posture of kindness and gentleness, reflecting certitude, strength, serenity, and a healthy self-esteem and self-control. . . We even tend to think of a meek individual as being used and abused—as being a doormat for others. However, Moses was once described as being the most meek man on the face of the earth (see Num. 12:3), yet we recall his impressive boldness in the courts of Pharaoh and his scalding indignation following his descent from Sinai. . . Meekness does not mean tentativeness. But thoughtfulness. . . Among the meek there is usually more listening and less talking. . . The meek use power and authority properly, no doubt because their gentleness and meekness reflect a love unfeigned, a genuine caring. . . Meekness permits us to be prompted as to whether to speak out or, as Jesus once did, be silent. But even when the meek speak up, they do so without speaking down.” (“Meekness:  A Dimension of True Discipleship”, from an address at a BYU Fireside, Sept. 5, 1982).

Challenge:  Think of a relationship where you struggle to be meek.  Sometimes when we become frustrated we react in anger to others.  For the next day, seek to act with gentleness, meekness, and kindness regardless of how others treat you.  Treat others based on correct principles instead of reacting to their behaviors---good or bad.

Journal:  Write about your experience of acting in meekness.  How did acting like the Savior in your interactions with others help you feel closer to the Savior?  How did it strengthen your testimony of Him?

 

Day 6: Friday, March 29

Sacrifice

Music:  "I Stand All Amazed" (Hymn #193)


Evening Study:  Today is Good Friday—the day Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for us.  Please prayerfully read these scriptures to remember Him. 

Read and mark Luke 22:39-46

                                                                Matthew 27:27-38

                                                                Matthew 27: 45-54

                                                                Luke 23:50-56

                                                                2 Nephi 9:21      

 

Read and mark 3 Nephi 9:19-20         DandC 97:8

 

In ancient days, sacrifice meant to make something or someone holy. It has now come to mean to give up or suffer the loss of worldly things for the Lord and His kingdom. Members of the Lord’s Church should be willing to sacrifice all things for the Lord. Joseph Smith taught that “a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.” In the eternal perspective, the blessings obtained by sacrifice are greater than anything that is given up.

Jesus Christ sacrificed so much for us.  All He asks is that we sacrifice our will to the Father’s.  We must have broken hearts and contrite spirits.  We must be willing to give our money, time, and talents in building His kingdom on this earth. 

 

Challenge: (beginning tonight and carrying on through Sunday night)

Pres. Ezra Taft Benson taught, “The people of the world have the light of Christ to help guide them, but we are entitled to the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the Holy Ghost to be fully operative in our lives, we must keep our spiritual channels of communication open. The clearer our channels, the easier it is for us to receive God’s message. And the more of His promptings we receive and follow, the greater will be our joy. If our channels are not clear of sin, then we may think we have received inspiration on a matter when it is really promptings from the devil.” (Ezra Taft Benson, “In His Steps,” Ensign, Sep 1988, 2)

                On earthly battlefields, the enemy often attempts to destroy the lines of communication.  If that is gone, troops cannot follow orders.  They cannot find out about the enemies’ strategies from those in a position to warn them.  Satan does the same thing to us today.  He attempts to jam the communication lines between us and the Lord.  He does this by constantly barraging us with noise---radio, TV, books.  If we aren’t careful, we can become numb to the things of the Spirit because our minds are always busy with trivial things.   Popular music, movies, and books have a place but they shouldn’t take the place of spiritual things. 


For the next 3 days, do not watch or listen to anything of the world (Media Fast).  This includes:  TV, movies, CD’s, MP3 players, internet, Facebook, etc.  Instead, fill your life with things that will bring the Spirit.  Read General Conference talks.  Immerse yourself in the scriptures.  Listen to music that has a spiritual message.  Spend time interacting with your family.  Get outside and enjoy Nature.  Fill that time positively.

 
Journal:  Write your feelings regarding Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for you.  Write about the things of the world you can sacrifice that will help you draw near unto Him.


Day 7: Saturday, March 30

Charity and love

Music:  “Because I Have Been Given Much”  (Hymn #219)

                "Have I Done Any Good?" (Hymn #223)

                 "Love One Another" (Hymn #308)

Evening Study:  Read and mark John 15:12       John 13:34-35         Matt. 5:44           Moroni  7:45-48

Mosiah 2:17        DandC 4:2               

Jesus Christ’s live was filled with service.  He blessed others, at all times.  He put others’ needs above his own.  And He has commanded us to also serve others with all our hearts, might, mind, and strength. 

 

President Monson explained, “We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness. … We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.”

Linda K. Burton said, “For some, serving or ministering one by one, following the Savior’s example, doesn’t come easily. But with practice, each of us can become more like the Savior as we serve God’s children. To help us better love one another, I would like to suggest four words to remember: “First observe, then serve.” (“First Observe, Then Serve,” General Conference, Oct. 2012).

 
Elder M. Russell Ballard taught, “How do we ingrain this love of Christ into our hearts?  There is one daily practice that can make a difference for every member of the Church, including you boys and girls, you young men and you young women, you single adults, and fathers and mothers.  That simple practice is:  In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children.  Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help.  Stay focused. . . If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible.  And President Spencer W. Kimball said, ‘God does notice us, and he watches over us.  But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.  Therefore, it is vital that we serve one another.’  I know that if you do this---at home, at school, at work, and at church---the Spirit will guide you, and you will be able to discern those in need of a particular service that only you may be able to give.  You will be prompted by the Spirit and magnificently motivated to help pollinate the world with the pure love of Christ and His gospel.” (“Be Anxiously Engaged,” General Conference, Oct. 2012)


Challenge:  Observe those around you.  Watch for and create opportunities to serve others---first in your home, and then with those you home/visit teach.  You will even find neighbors and strangers that could use your helping hand. In addition, continue with the Media Fast.

Journal: Write about how you felt when you served others.  How does serving others strengthen your testimony of the Savior?


Day 8: Easter Sunday, March 31

Godliness

Music:   "More Holiness Give Me"(Hymn #131)

                "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" (Children’s Songbook, p.78)

                "I Know that My Redeemer Lives"(Hymn #136)

Evening Study:  Remember the true reason for this Easter season.

Read and mark John 20: 1-18      Mosiah 3:17

Because Jesus Christ was resurrected, we will all be resurrected.  He has done for us what we could never do on our own.  Through the Atonement, Christ overcame spiritual death or sin.  And through the Resurrection, Christ overcame physical death for all mankind. 

                                             
            Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught, “The “lively hope” we are given by the resurrection is our conviction that death is not the conclusion of our identity but merely a necessary step in the destined transition from mortality to immortality. This hope changes the whole perspective of mortal life. The assurance of resurrection and immortality affects how we look on the physical challenges of mortality, how we live our mortal lives, and how we relate to those around us.

            “The assurance of resurrection gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love, such things as the physical, mental, or emotional deficiencies we bring with us at birth or acquire during mortal life. Because of the resurrection, we know that these mortal deficiencies are only temporary!

            “The assurance that the resurrection will include an opportunity to be with our family members—husband, wife, parents, brothers and sisters, children, and grandchildren—is a powerful encouragement for us to fulfill our family responsibilities in mortality. It helps us live together in love in this life in anticipation of joyful reunions and associations in the next.” (Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, May 2000, 14).

 

Read and mark Alma 34:32          

Elder Quentin L. Cook taught, "Act in accordance with your true beliefs by spending your time on those things that will build and develop your character and help you become more Christlike. I hope none of you see life as primarily fun and games but rather as a time 'to prepare to meet God.'" ("A Time to Prepare to Meet God", Broadcasts, March 2012).

Read and mark DandC 20:69            Romans 12:2     

In order to best become like our Savior, we have to separate ourselves from the World.  We must be in the world but not be of the world.  This involves making careful choices about how we spend our time, what we say and how we behave.

Read and mark Titus 2:11-12       1 John 2:15-16

 DandC 84:19-22    James 1:27

Renewing our covenants by taking the sacrament will help us repent and be clean. As we are unspotted by the world, we become holy and godly. 

Challenge:  You have learned about some of the attributes of our Savior.  Your challenge is to continue to develop these qualities and gradually become more Christlike than you already are.  Prayerfully consider the challenges you want to undertake for the Ward 3-month Challenge beginning tomorrow.  You may want to choose one or two challenges to do as a family as well as ones you want to focus on personally.  Continue with your media fast today.

Journal: Write which challenges you have chosen to do for the 3-month Challenge.   Write a detailed plan of how you will accomplish these tasks.  Take note of things that might cause difficulties in accomplishing your goals.  Include what you hope to gain by taking on these Challenges.

                Furthermore, you may wish to write what you have gained while doing this 8-day Walk with Christ.  Write your testimony of Him as you remember that He lives again!