i will learn to survive

So I'm on Faith, Value Experience #2 which goes as follows:

"Discover the principles of faith taught by the mothers of Helaman’s stripling warriors. Read Alma 56:45–48 and 57:21. Review what “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” says about a mother’s role. With a mother, grandmother, or leader, discuss the qualities a woman needs in order to teach children to have faith and to base their decisions on gospel truths. How can these principles help you in your life today and help you prepare to be a faithful woman, wife, and mother? Record your thoughts and feelings in your journal."

I read the scriptures last night as well as the parts in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World". So now I just need to discuss it with a leader. Yesterday after sacrament meeting, Kristin said we should be discussion buddies since she doesn't have a leader, so I'll probably discuss it and pass it off with her.

I'm still working on Value Experience #1. I've still been praying every morning! It's kind of incredible, cause I never used to remember. Gotta keep it going though. For at least 3 weeks. I'm guessing that by the time I do it for 3 weeks, it'll be like breathing. I see your ulterior motives, Personal Progress, despite your half-hearted methods of disguising them!

there's a possibility

So... I've slowed down some since the first day, as is typical for me. I tend to have bursts of inspiration and drive and then never stick to them. But I'm quite determined to see this through. I have until I graduate, right?

I'm still working on Experience #1. I've got trouble remembering to pray every morning, but I'm honestly trying. I've always struggled with it. I've been praying before I sleep for so long, it's impossible to forget, but in the morning my thinking processes are a little... skewed.

I need to start on Experience #2 tomorrow. There's no reason I can't be working on two at once, right?

won't stop until my tears are all shed

 “My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.” - Thomas S. Monson

I was required to read two conference talks for my first Faith Value Experience. I chose to read "How Do I Gain a Testimony" and "Face the Future With Faith". (Links provided on the right.)

The first is about building your own testimony and inspiring new growth by nurturing it. In order to gain a testimony, you must have faith. If you have faith, you will surely gain a testimony.

The second is about the necessity of Faith in these latter days. Essentially, he describes the state of the world and how things are only going to get worse, and if we lack faith, we'll be lost in the turmoil. This rings with certainty to me, for I've already witnessed friends that were lost because of their frail testimonies. There really is no leaning on someone else when it comes to faith.

I also read the scriptures required. They explain that "if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith." Basically, all things are brought to pass through faith in the Lord.

In Joseph Smith History, the first Prophet describes the life-changing moment when he inquired of the Lord as to the truthfulness of the churches about him. At the age of 14, he had such amazing faith in the Lord. He believed he would receive an answer, and receive an answer he did. It's really just amazing to me. When I was 14, I was rebellious and resentful. I didn't want to be dragged to church every Sunday. It's incredible how much I've changed.

i used to sign my name

I'm starting today, right now.

As of right now, my plan is to do all six experiences for each value, then do all of the projects last. Except for Virtue, of course, which is reading the Book of Mormon all the way through. Is it awful that I've was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and at the age of seventeen, I still haven't completely read it? Probably.

I've got some ideas for my other projects, so I'll record them here so I won't forget.

Faith: Plant flowers or a garden of some sort and take care of it. (Possibly in Jenn's backyard.)

Divine Nature: Develop my sewing skills (I'm in the middle of sewing a dress right now with Kristin Shumway whom I love to death) or build/create something for my future home. I'm thinking a quilt, because I've been wanting to make one for ages.

Individual Worth: This one I'm not quite sure about. I like the idea of developing a marketable skill. It would be useful for someday when I'm (hopefully) an accountant or something like it.

Knowledge: One of the suggestions in the book is to "prepare for a higher education and obtaining marketable skills by learning about college or trade school entrance requirements, scholarships, and tuition and other expenses. Apply for entrance when appropriate." This makes me doing Personal Progress in general would count toward this project, seeing as I intend to use it as a credential.

Choice and Accountability: I'm thinking either something to do with clothing alteration and repair or cleaning and organizing. A cleaning and organizing project would be extremely beneficial for me, judging by the state of my room.

Good Works: My sister mentioned to me that something that she wants to do is do temple work in all of the temples in Utah. She suggested I do one hour of temple work in ten different temples for my project.

Integrity: The book says that "making and keeping temple covenants requires integrity." It goes on saying that a good idea for this project would be to make a wear an item of clothing that conforms with the standards of modest dress.

Virtue: Read the Book of Mormon.

Today I start with Faith, Required Value Experience #1. It goes as follows:

"The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Learn about faith from the scriptures and living prophets. Read Hebrews 11; Alma 32:17-43; Ether 12:6-22; and Joseph Smith-History 1:11-20. Read two general conference talks on faith. Exercise your own faith by establishing a habit of prayer in your life. Begin by regularly saying your morning and evening prayers. After three weeks of following this pattern, discuss with a parent or leader what you have learned about faith and how daily personal prayer has strengthened your faith. In your journal express your feelings about faith and prayer."

Since I already pray every single night, I will just have to start making a habit of morning prayers. This will definitely be challenging. Wish me luck!

in the beginning

Welcome to my very own Personal Progress blog. I'm going to start off with a little introduction.

For the past several years of my life, I've been quite aimless. I would wake up, go to school, not really pay attention, come home, play video games, eat, go to bed, and start all over the next day. I really felt like I had little or no purpose in life. It wasn't really until this year that I actually decided I wanted to get an education after high school.

My dad has been nagging at me for years. He always tells me that out all of his children, I should be the one to actually go to college and get an education. Being a teenager, I naturally wanted to rebel. I never really wanted to go to school in the first place, let alone more school once I was done with all of that. This year, all of that changed.

My brother mentioned to me that he wanted to start a business building custom computers at lower prices than the leading competitors. I don't really know what happened, but suddenly, I felt like we should really do something like that. After that, my path in life was suddenly clear. I wanted to learn about financing, accounting, and business management in order to help my brother start his business. Of course, in order to do these things, I would have to go to school. I signed up for classes like Business Math and Accounting, and set up an internship with a local company in their Financing department. All that's left for me to figure out is college. What better college to study business management at then Brigham Young University?

Thus, we arrive at the purpose of this entire blog. I want to go to Brigham Young University. Because I never really cared about school prior to a couple months ago, my grade point average hasn't been exemplary. I'm not on any sort of honor roll. The only things I really have going for me right now are my (so-called impressive) composite ACT score of 30 and my 4.0 in Seminary. I believe that the best chance of being accepted at BYU or offered some kind of scholarship lies in completing my Personal Progress and receiving a Young Woman Medallion.

Flipping through my (completely untouched) Personal Progress book, I realized that almost all of the experiences and projects require journal entries. I've always been awful at writing in a journal. Almost as awful as I am at doing Personal Progress. Then my sister suggested I make a blog to document my "progress". So now here I am, writing the first post of my newly created blog: Progressing Personally.