120 Doughnuts 8 Gallons Hot Chocolate and ..... No Teachers Yet?????

How can this be?  I hope to have an improved update within minutes.

Family History Library Visit and Christmas Lights (kind of) and Hot Chocolate

Tonight for YM activity we went downtown to the Family History Library.  I have found that when you first mention geneology to 14 & 15 year old boys, the initial reposnse is a look of combined boredom and dread accompanied by a guttural sound that eminates from the gut and sounds somewhat like a wookie.  However, each time we have started to share personal stories of family history or unearthed some names in the process there is a change that comes over these young men.  Tonight was so awesome!  We found that Hunter and Harrison are related to a Sir Lord of the Bees (your chariot awaits sire).  In fact we have had at least 4 of our teachers find titled ancestors.  Trevor found family lines that traced back as far as 50 generations.  It was super-cool-o-rama to see these 14 and 15 year old young men learning from some pretty awesome grannies and a few church service missionaries and enjoying it.  It was so exciting to me that I forgot to take any pictures ;( of it.  So the photo for this post is from when my car load went for hot chocolate and we saw a sign "Size Doesn't Matter any size hot beverage 99 cents."  So of course we have to get the big ones cause that's what guys do.  So at the cashiers it comes up more expensive and so I correct the man and refer to the sign in the front window.  He says that it says in small letters "Up to 16 ounces". So on our way out, of course we have to check it out.  And indeed in black marker written on what appears to be surgical tape is written "up to 16 oz".  Moral if the story:  Size doesn't matter unless that size is over 16 ounces.  Cheers!

What are you finding in your study about "Agency"

In reading a talk by Elder Robert D. Hales I found that he noted that the meaning behind the word "Agency" in the LDS church is often misunderstood by those outside of the church.  I am so grateful for the doctrines of the church, and particularly Agency.  Thanks Kaden for choosing this topic for our study.  Here is an excerpt of what Elder Hales said when he gave a friend who was not a member of the church some gospel related reading and the friend shared his difficulty understanding what was meant by "Agency":  

I was surprised he did not understand what we mean by the word agency. I went to an online dictionary. Of the 10 definitions and usages of the word agency, none expressed the idea of making choices to act. We teach that agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and “to act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon.”1 Agency is to act with accountability and responsibility for our actions. Our agency is essential to the plan of salvation. With it we are “free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil.”2

The words of a familiar hymn teach us this principle very clearly:

Know this, that ev’ry soul is free

To choose his life and what he’ll be;

For this eternal truth is giv’n:

That God will force no man to heav’n.3

 (Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life; Elder Robert D. Hales)

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/agency-essential-to-the-plan-of-life

This is a good thing to keep in mind when discussing gospel topics.  There are some LDS jargon words.  If we verbally invite someone to Stake Center, do they think they are about to get a nice Ribeye?

Priesthood and Popcorn (and cookies)

Today we met at Bishop Erickson's home and discussed the doctrinal topic of Priesthood and Priesthood Keys.  Of course we also had fun conversation about other topics as well. ;)

Bishop Erickson reminded us to work on making our plan in Duty to God (D2G) to learn and fulfill our home teaching duties in the best way we can.  Here is a link:   https://www.lds.org/young-men/duty-to-god/teacher/invite/learn?lang=eng Make a plan to learn/improve skills for home teaching and record it in your D2G book or online.

Cayden chose the doctrinal topic of "Agency" for us to study the next two week.

Today we discussed the Priesthood and some doctrinal issues regarding women and the priesthood and history of priesthood in the church with relation to blacks throughout the world.  It is an interesting topic and one which has a lot of incorrect theories.  LDS.org has a wonderful webpage discussing that topic.  It does not give all of the answers, but it does give some understanding and dispels some of the incorrect theories that have floated around for many years.  Here is the link for that:  http://www.lds.org/topics/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng#11

See you all on Wednesday for the trip downtown to the Family History Center and to see the Christmas Lights at Temple Square.  We will meet at the chapel at 6:45 for opening exercises and then leave from the church for downtown.

The movie event of the year . . . The BC Ward YM Show No Fear!

BC Ward YM Belly Flop Contest

Link is currently not functioning.  We will work to get it and repost.

Family History

Tonight we had a LAN party.  Well kind of ;). It was the Lord's LAN party.  We had 5-6 different laptops out.  We worked on the Thomas S. Monson award and the Genealogy Merit Badge.

We traced back different people's family history using familysearch.org and found a few people's history dating back to the 1500's and 1400's.  Grant is related to a Knight from the 1400's and Kaleb is hoping to find that he is related to Benjamin Franklin.  Well, we will have to find out.  

Next Wednesday we will be going to the Family History Center in Downtown Salt Lake City and then to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square.

Did you know that genealogy work is among the top uses of the internet?  Cool huh!

Remember Teachers to discuss what doing your Duty to God means to you with your families.

Oh we also had doughnuts.  Thanks Brother Dare!

Postponing our Survival Camp

We had a Survival Camp planned for Dec 13th and 14th.  We are postponing this Camp in order to be better prepared for it.  We will be forming a YM schedule with some events to help us prepare for this camp.  Get ready for an awesome experience!