What Sister Colvin did this Weekend:

At the end of class today, I told the class a little story about my weekend.  Here is a video clip and news article that summarizes my experiences.  It is inspiring and miraculous.  I hope that you will share this story with your family and others.  Of course there are bonus points available for those who view and read this story. 

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=27045292

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/south/springville/wwii-pilot-honored-at-memorial-services/article_5c2ac782-e797-5ec3-afea-8684aa9b38c0.html#.Ukg3N7Qy7lY.email

For 10 points each:

1. What do you think was the reason that Vernal Bird was able to return home?
2. What do the family members of 2LT Vernal Bird plan to do in the future to honor him?

It's football season...

Today in class we listened to a beautiful true account of a tragic, but inspiring story that took place last week in BYU Utah.  I have included this link to let the parents read this story. In addition, there are another story that I would like you to watch that reflects the importance of developing strong characters and living our standards.  You can earn 10 points for having a discussion about the Spencer Hadley story with your family, 10 for reading and telling me about the other story in class.  Offer expires Monday, Sept. 30th!.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130925/spencer-hadley-byu/

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/25/utah-football-coach-suspends-entire-team-to-build-character/

Frankly Forgive - 1 Nephi 7:21

Congratulations Jinna for viewing the last blog entry and getting 10 bonus points for your team!  Today I have another video challenge, this time a little harder.  Please watched the following Mormon Message as it relates to what we talked about in the beginning of class today.  Copy and paste the questions at the bottom of the page and turn your answers in tomorrow for points. You can earn two points for each correct answer!  This offer is good until Sept. 25th.

1. Chris Williams lost how many of his family members in a car accident?
2. What caused the accident?
3. How did Chris feel?
4. How long did Chris feel this way?
5. Though it was difficult to pray, what did Heavenly Father do to help him when he was lonely and angry?
6. Where did Chris's anger get directed?
7. Which way did Chris decide to take to resolve his problem?
8. What did Chris do when he met the young man, Camryn, who killed his family?
9. Chris wrote an article in the newspaper about what topic?
10. What kind of effect did Chris's article have on Camryn's family?
11. Why is Chris grateful for the tragedy in his life?
12. How did Chris come to know a "man of sorrow, acquainted with grief"? 
13. What does Chris hope for?

Are you reading it?

For TEN TEAM points: tell Sister Colvin which Apostle bore his witness of the truthfulness and power of The Book of Mormon.

The Importance of Nephi's decision to GO and DO

Have you ever wondered where this world would be if Nephi did not have the courage to do what the Lord commanded no matter how hard it seemed?  Because of Nephi, his family had the scriptures/Brass plates from which to base the sacred record of their people.  Without the Brass plates there would not have been any other plates for Moroni to abridge into the Gold Plates because the written language would have been lost. Without the Gold Plates there would not have been a record for Joseph to translate and the restoration of the fullness of the gospel would not have occurred. What do the scriptures mean to you? 

This year in Seminary, I am asking each student to read from the Book of Mormon every day and keep a scripture journal about the impressions that they receive as they read.  Please encourage them to do this.  The following is a video about how keeping a scripture journal changed the lives of youth in Eastern Europe.  For ten team points, tell me what your thoughts are about this message:

Obedience to the Warning Voices

Remember the YOYO story...Don't let this happen to you!

Should have listened and obeyed 36 years ago!

Avoid Spiritual Vertigo by listening to and following the commandments given to us by our prophets through the scriptures and modern day revelation.

Tender mercies

Sister Colvin will award extra points to those of you who can answer the question: What are the Lord's tender mercies as defined by Elder Bednar?

Jump on into Seminary!

Thanks for coming to our swim, volleyball, swinging, trampoline, and pizza party!  We missed those of you who could not come. Each person who attended the party earned 5 points for their team!

Zero Hour Enthusiasm!

Check out this amazing series of Jump Shots!!!

I hope that you had as much fun as I did....or at least as much fun as Stephanie and Megan...

Testimonies of Witnesses...

We have had a wonderful first week in Seminary.  The class is on time, awake, alert, and PARTICIPATING!  I am thrilled to have grown our class from 14 to 20 in the first week!  I already love each one of them.  If there is someone you know who should be in seminary, but is not attending, please make an effort to invite them. Feel free to invite your friends to join us in seminary.  Everyone is welcome, including parents if you should ever wish to attend.

Every student should be working towards accomplishing the following goals (which are the basis of grades) in Seminary this year:

1. Memorizing the 25 Scripture Mastery Scriptures.
2. Reading the Book of Mormon Daily and writing in their Scripture journals about it.
3. Attending a minimum of 80% of the class for each semester.  
4. Actively Participating in Class Discussions.

I have asked that the students bring, and LEAVE, a copy of scriptures (all standard works), in seminary.  Their scriptures will be kept in our closet.  I would prefer that the set that they use in seminary is the one that they might consider taking on their missions.  We spent hours marking and cross referencing theses scriptures which would be useful tools to them should they decide to serve missions. They will also need to have another set of scriptures available to read at home for their daily personal study.

The Objective of Seminaries:  

"Our purpose is to help youth and young adults understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessing of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven."

I know that fatigue will set in soon, but I am really enjoying myself this first week!  We have had lessons about the role of the learner in seminary, studying scriptures, the Plan of Salvation in the Book of Mormon, The Title page, Introduction, and Testimony of the Witnesses of the Plates. This year we will be studying, The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ in great detail. 

 The Prophet Joseph Smith’s testified that ‘I told the Brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."  (Introduction to the Book of Mormon). 
 

President Henry B. Eyring said this about the Book of Mormon:

“Each time I read even a few lines in the Book of Mormon, I feel my testimony strengthened that the book is true, that Jesus is the Christ, that we can follow Him home. … It has been for me the book of books. It is the word of God.

“I pray that we and all those we love will drink deeply and daily from it” (“The Book of Mormon as a Personal Guide,” Ensign, Sept. 2010, 5).

 

President Ezra Taft Benson, taught us more about how the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion.  He said:

“There are three ways in which the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. It is the keystone in our witness of Christ. It is the keystone of our doctrine. It is the keystone of testimony”

 “All objections, whether they be on abortion, plural marriage, seventh-day worship, etc., basically hinge on whether Joseph Smith and his successors were and are prophets of God receiving divine revelation. Here, then, is a procedure to handle most objections through the use of the Book of Mormon.

“First, understand the objection.

“Second, give the answer from revelation.

“Third, show how the correctness of the answer really depends on whether or not we have modern revelation through modern prophets.

“Fourth, explain that whether or not we have modern prophets and revelation really depends on whether the Book of Mormon is true.

“Therefore, the only problem the objector has to resolve for himself is whether the Book of Mormon is true. For if the Book of Mormon is true, then Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was his prophet, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and it is being led today by a prophet receiving revelation” (“The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God,” Ensign, May 1975, 64–65).

For TEN team points, tell Sister Colvin which General Authority spoke in the Mormon Message, and what was the question that he asked the audience. 

Here We Go Again

It's that time of year again when we begin a new year of Seminary study together.  Although I am not quite ready for the 5 A.M. wake up call, I am really looking forward to our study of The Book of Mormon.  This will be a memorable year and one that can change our lives if we prepare ourselves and allow ourselves to be taught by the Spirit.  Here is a great introduction to what's in store: