March Theme and Scripture

THEME: Leadership. How the seed of leadership is planted.  What principles direct a good person, family, society?

SCRIPTURE

Mark 12:30-31 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

Remember to memorize the scripture before leadership class. We'll be passing it off then! 

NOTE FROM SISTER EDWARDS

You'll notice I'm offering quite a few inspirements about writing. I've recently been reminded how important it is to write regularly, both to help you ponder and ingest what you're learning, and to improve on a skill that is often important to filling your life mission.  What if Thomas Jefferson hadn't learned to write well?  So don't be intimidated if you haven't yet learned to love writing.  Just dig in and see what happens!  The more you practice, the easier it becomes, and the better you become!  

March Apprentice Inspirements

Read the following three, marking your favorite parts: 

• Read TJED for Teens, chapter 7

• Read The 5,000 Year Leap, principles 3 and 20. 

• Read the article: "The Constitution -- A Glorious Standard"  by Ezra T. Benson (from Ensign, September 1987). 

And do one or more of the following:

• From TJED for Teens, in your own words, write, draw, or make a clipart collage or Prezi of the fourteen rules for financial success, family leadership, and happiness.  Choose three of those rules and write something you are doing to achieve them, or something you plan to do to achieve them. 

• Teach the class a presentation on either principle 3 or 20 from The 5,000 Year Leap. Use a Power Point, Prezi, political cartoons, a group activity, a skit, etc to present. 

• After reading Benson’s speech, write a list in your own words of the principles and provisions of the Constitution, and the things we must do to help protect the Constitution. Share your list with the class. You’re welcome to use Power Point, Prezi, drawings, or another way to record and present these. 

March Journeyman Inspirements

Read The Constitution of the United States. 

Read only the first half. Stop reading when you reach the amendments – we’ll read those next month. If you read this version  it gives explanations of what each paragraph means  I encourage you to mark up your copy with highlights and notes. If you’ve read it before read it again.

Bonus: 

If you haven’t already, see if you can memorize the Preamble to the US Constitution. This “School House Rock” song makes it easy. The song left out one phrase.  Tell us what it is.

And do one or more of the following: 

• In the margins of your printout or booklet, write a word or phrase that summarizes what each paragraph is about.  If you need help understanding what the paragraphs are saying, watch the videos below, use the printout above with explanations, discuss it with your parents, or find other helpful sources.  Come share some things you learned from reading and summarizing it.  

• Watch these two videos (part 1 and part 2 are 15 minutes combined) that explain the Constitution. Take notes as you watch. Come prepared to share your notes with us.  

• Watch any three videos from this list to help you understand US government principles. Take notes as you watch. Come prepared to share your notes with us.  

• Do your own research to better understand the Constitution.  Write a paper to summarize what you learned.  Come prepared to read the paper to the class.  Or create a graphic summary, Power Point, clip a of what you learned about the Constitution. 

• Search for and record ten different quotes or scriptures that you think relate to the Constitution. Come ready to share them with the class. 

March Master Inspirements

Read The Traveler’s Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success, by Andy Andrews. 

This is the same author who wrote How Do You Kill 11 Million People?: Why the Truth Matters More than You Think.  The Traveler's Gift is a story of a discouraged man who gets transported to seven key points in history and learns keys of success from people like Lincoln, Columbus, Anne Frank, and Harry Truman.

And do one or more of the following: 

• Do some research about the author Andy Andrews. Andrew's Amazon page is a good source. Scan down to see the books he has written, and click “read more” to get the full printable bio of him. Come ready to share what you learned about him. What impressed you the most about his life? What can you learn from him to make you a better person? 

• Choose one of the historical figures David Ponder met in the story. What lesson did he learn from that person?  Choose a specific way you can apply this to your own life.  Share this with the class, and tell us your plan for applying it to you. 

• Write a paper or journal entry about the most helpful parts of this book. Make it a page or longer. Some ideas are: write one or more of your favorite principles in your own words, write how it applies to your life, how you think it applies in a gospel sense, scriptures or life experiences it reminds you of, and anything else that comes to mind.  Come ready to read it to us.  

• Research one of the seven historical figures in the book. Prepare a report about the person.  Tell us facts about the person, as well as character traits you admire.  Share the report with the class.  You can read your report to us, show us on a Power Point, etc.