Personal Progress Helps

We know that Personal Progress can seem like a daunting, never-ending thing.

There are so many Value Experiences that you need to work on and the hours upon hours that go into Value Projects! We know it's tough work!

But that's what makes Personal Progress SO rewarding.

We promise, that when you finish and receive your medallion, 

you will be so proud of yourself knowing all of the effort you put into it!

And you'll have some awesome experiences along the way :)

And because we're awesome (and really humble) we want to help you out any way we can!

So you'll see a few new things on the blog to do just that!

This lovely stamp . . .

. . . will be at the end of posts and articles that apply to a specific Value Experience or Project Idea.

It is also located on the side bar so that you can easily click on it to get to a page with ALL of the ideas.

And you'll also notice on the toolbar a lovely new tab . . .

. . . that when you click on it you will be taken to this page with ALL of our Personal Progress ideas for Value Experiences, Projects, and Activities!!!!!!

Since we're just getting started with this, there are not a ton of links on there right now, but we'll be adding more and more throughout the next, well, forever so check back in often!!

We loved our own experiences of working on Personal Progress back we were young and hip Young Women (haha) and we hope to pass on that excitement and help to you!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK!

Tithes & Offerings

What are your thoughts about Tithes & Offerings?

Have you had an experience of paying your tithing and it blessed your life?

Read below from our Summer 2015 Issue to see one way it has blessed ours!

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Faith Value Experience #7: The Lord has commanded us to pay tithing. Read Doctrine & Covenants 119 and Malachi 3:8-12. Since obedience to the law of tithing is an evidence of your faith, pay a full tithe. After three months record in your journal how paying tithing has heaped your faith grow. List blessings in your life, both large and small, that have come because of your faith in the principle of tithing.

Choice & Accountability Value Experience #7: Making choices is part of Heavenly Father's plan for us. Read Moses 4:1-4; 7:32; and 2 Nephi 9:51. Establish a pattern of wise money management by making a budget for saving and spending your money, including the payment of tithing. Live within your budget for at least three months. Set priorities that allow you to meet your most important needs before satisfying your wants. Record in your journal what you have learned and how following these patterns will continue to bless your life.

Women in History: Amelia Earhart

Today is Amelia Earhart Day!

If you'd like to learn more about this awesome lady, read the article below

from our Summer 2015 Issue!

Happy Pioneer Day!

For those of you in Utah, today is Pioneer Day!

It celebrates the day that Brigham Young and a group of pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley!

(It was on July 24th 1847...I totally had to look that up...)

Painting by William Henry Jackson

If you celebrate Pioneer Day, you'll probably be out at parades, having BBQ's, and watching fireworks. In the midst of all that AWESOME fun though, take some time to think about the pioneers. A great way to celebrate, maybe later this weekend, would be to spend some time on Family Search learning more about your pioneer ancestors or finding more ancestors that need their temple ordinances. 

The new pioneer site on Family Search is awesome and you can connect it to your family tree to see what information there is about your pioneer ancestors. 

Or you can read more about the journey of the pioneers and check out their Google map with information about their stops and experiences.

And you can also share what makes you a pioneer...I think this is so great since all of us are creating and leaving a legacy for those who follow, whether it be our families, future children, or friends and acquaintances.

So how are you going to celebrate??

The Idaho Falls Temple

From our Summer 2015 Issue, a spotlight on the Idaho Falls Temple!

Tips for Becoming an Author

In our Summer 2015 Issue the amazing and awesome LDS author JoLyn Brown gave some tips for those of you who see writing in your future! Read below for ideas on how to become a confident and more dedicated writer! Thanks JoLyn!!!

And you can check out our previous review of her book RUN here!!!

Family History: Are you doing it?

Alright, so many of you are probably too young to remember the song "Genealogy" that was in the Primary Children's Songbook. Which makes me old I guess. :)

But you're probably familiar with the updated and new version called "Family History - I Am Doing It". I'll always like the old song best, since that's what I grew up yelling singing at the top of my lungs during primary. (I'm sure the music leader loved that!) But I think the lyrics to the new one have much greater meaning and stress the real importance of family history work. One part in particular says:

"Fam'ly living now and the ones who've died

Can all be sealed to me,

And someday I'll meet ev'ry one of them,

I'm sure as I can be."

The standout line is that my family "can all be sealed to me". That's our ultimate goal right? The purpose of our lives is to make choices and make covenants that will lead us back to God so that we can live with Him and our families eternally. We must have the necessary ordinances of baptism, confirmation, priesthood ordination (for men), endowment, and sealing to live as exalted beings with God. And of course, we know that after we have received these ordinances for ourselves, we can (and must!) receive these ordinances vicariously in the temple for ancestors who have passed on.

image source

And the more time that goes on, the easier it is to participate in this great work.

When I was singing primary songs and entering Young Women's, computers were slow and sluggish. The internet was a new concept of communication and cell phones were made for calling - no texts, data, photos, etc. Sounds like I grew up in the dark ages huh!?!?! But fast forward just a decade or so and we have THE WORLD at our fingertips! On phones and devices the size of a wallet, we can look up endless amounts of information. 

Do you think it's just coincidence that we have such in-depth access to historical documents and information? That we just happen to have advanced technology that allows us to send data, take photos, upload info, and send it across the globe in seconds? And that it also happens to be a time in the history of the world when temples dot the earth and it's easier than ever for Latter-day Saints to perform work for the dead?

I don't think so.

So take a minute and think about how you can be more involved in your family history. I would recommend starting with Family Search and checking out your family tree for needed/missing ordinances. From there you can continue to expand your tree and gather information...it's actually really amazing what you can do!

Here is a video with some youth in Utah that share their experience with family history:

In the future I'll be sharing some tips and ideas that I have found helpful while working on family history!! And if you have any neat experiences, let us know! We'd love to hear!

DIY Wall Art

In our Summer 2015 Issue we shared some fun ideas for DIY Wall Art!

Check it out below and you can also find tons of ideas on our DIY Pinterest Page!

This is a great project for summer when you have more time to be creative! 

Sister Missionary Series: What will best prepare YW to serve a mission?

Here is the LAST question in our Sister Missionary Series!

We hope you had some of your own questions answered about serving a mission

and don't hesitate to ask if you have more!!!!

And a BIG thanks to all of the amazing Sister RM's who helped us with this article!!

Check out the other questions in this series as well!

Preparing to Serve as a Sister Missionary Series:

1. Introduction

2. How did you decide to serve a mission?

3. What was the most difficult change to make while serving a mission?

4. How did your mission strengthen your relationship with God?

5. How was your family blessed while you serve?

6. How has your life been blessed by serving a mission?

7. What will best prepare Young Women to serve a mission?

Sister Missionary Series: How has your life been blessed by serving a mission?

The next question in our Sister Missionary Series:

Check out the other questions in this series as well!

Preparing to Serve as a Sister Missionary Series:

1. Introduction

2. How did you decide to serve a mission?

3. What was the most difficult change to make while serving a mission?

4. How did your mission strengthen your relationship with God?

5. How was your family blessed while you serve?

6. How has your life been blessed by serving a mission?

7. What will best prepare Young Women to serve a mission?

Happy Fourth!

Tomorrow is Independence Day here in the U.S. of A.! 

We hope everyone has an awesome weekend and plays safe!!!!

See you next week!

July 2015 Calendar

Summer is in full swing!!!

Are you LOVING it? 

Along with all of your adventures, check out some other fun holidays you can celebrate!

Obviously the 4th of July is a big one here in the U.S. of A.

but there are some yummy sounding holidays like Chocolate Day or Peach Ice Cream Day!

Relax on Hammock Day or find someone to served on Cheer Up the Lonely Day!

So many options!!!

Enjoy!