Week 11: Measuring the Cost

 I really liked the articles we read and the videos we watched this week. We were taught some very useful information on money. From the article "Attitude on Money" by Stephen W. Gibson we learned his view on money and why it should be sought after and how it should be used. I agreed with many of his points and especially appreciated these 6 rules that he shared with us...

So if you want to prosper:

Rule 1. Seek the Lord and have hope in him

Rule 2. Keep the commandments, that includes the temporal ones, tithing and fast offerings.

Rule 3. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant.

Rule 4. Take advantage of chances for learning so you will not be ignorant of these matters.

Education, as President Hinckley has taught us, is the Key to Opportunity.

Rule 5. Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated.

Rule 6. Do not send away the naked, the hungry, the thirsty or the sick or those who are held captive

Week 10: Dream Big Dreams

 This was a great and challenging week. I learned a lot from the interview with Susan Kofford and follow up paper I wrote on Harvest Massage and Wellness company. I am thankful for the opportunities that this class is giving me. The talk "The Challenge to Become" by Elder Oaks was a wonderful reminder of the power that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to help us become something more. In his opening paragraph Elder Oaks states,

"The Apostle Paul taught that the Lord’s teachings and teachers were given that we may all attain “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). This process requires far more than acquiring knowledge. It is not even enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something."

In this weeks study of "Dream Big Dreams" this talk helped me focus on dreams that are not just for this world but for the eternities. 

Week 9: Disciple Leadership

 I found this weeks study so inspiring! The things we are learning are really applicable to my life. Reading the talk by Kim B. Clark "Leadership with a Small "L" gave me some profound things to think about. Brother Clark gave us three principle to remember for our lives and especially for leading our families.

Principle #1: Lead by Example

The Savior established this principle when He said, “what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”2  One of the most important things that leaders do is what they do.  In your family, your most powerful influence on your children will be the example of your life.  That example includes the actions that you take and the principles and values that guide you.  Your children will watch you very, very closely.  They will learn from you and follow your example—(eventually!). 

Principle #2: Lead with Vision

The Savior used this principle all throughout His ministry on earth, and He uses it now. On many, many occasions he prefaced a parable with the words, “The kingdom of heaven is like . . .”3 and then He would connect a principle from familiar day-to-day life with salvation in His kingdom.  He always held before His disciples, and holds before us, the ultimate purpose of our work and our lives.  He gives us the vision of what we should do in our daily lives and what we might accomplish eternally if we will follow Him.  One of the most important things that leaders do is to help the people they lead understand the larger meaning and purpose of their daily work. 

Principle #3: Lead with Love

The Savior’s life, suffering, and death are testimony of His perfect love for us. Everything He has done for us, He has done because of His great love for His Father and His perfect love for us.  There is a powerful principle of leadership in John’s words about the Savior’s love: “We love him, because he first loved us.”4  Effective small “L” leaders learn to energize the people around them through love in action.

I am thankful for this class and keeping a blog so I have a place to remember each week what is most valuable to me.

Week 8: Over Coming Challenges

 Something we studied this week that had the greatest impact on me was the talk by Elder Holland called "However Long and Hard the Road". He gave us some good encouragement to overcome and persevere. I found this quote to be a needed reminder that...

"We speak about excellence a great deal at BYU these days, and, by definition, excellence does not come easily or quickly—an excellent education does not, a successful mission does not, a strong, loving marriage does not, rewarding personal relationships do not. It is simply a truism that nothing very valuable can come without significant sacrifice and effort and patience on our part." 

In a world that promotes instant gratification we often overlook that, things of real value take time. Elder Holland also spoke of marriage and its importance, 

"No one would wish a bad marriage on anyone. But where do we think “good marriages” come from? They don’t spring full-blown from the head of Zeus any more than does a good education, or good home teaching, or a good symphony. Why should a marriage require fewer tears and less toil and shabbier commitment than your job or your clothes or your car?

Yet some of you will spend less time on the quality and substance and purpose of your marriage—the highest, holiest, culminating covenant you make in this world—than you will in maintaining your ’72 Datsun. And you will break the hearts of many innocent people, including perhaps your own, if that marriage is then dissolved."

Even though this talk was given 40 years ago, it is much needed advice for today!

Week 7: Seven Habits

I am so thankful for people like Stephen Covey in the world who seek to help others succeed. It was so valuable to read through the summery of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". Each habit is useful but I found the second habit to be most impactful to me. 

Habit 2 is "Begin with the End in Mind"...

"To begin with the end in mind requires a clear vision of your destination, and where you now are. Then you can clarify what needs to yet be done to get where you’d like to end up. It’s easy to get so caught up in climbing the ladder of success that you fail to make sure the ladder is leaning against the right wall. It’s easy to be busy without being effective, to score many hollow victories at the expense of critical events. We may be very busy, we may even be very efficient, but we will only be truly effective when we begin with an end in mind."

I have good intentions but often don't take the mental time to develop a clear and specific vison of my destination, so I never really reach my goals. I want to put this into practice for my life and be more mindful of my destination.