Vanguard Leadership Academy: February Apprentice Class

Principle of the month: BALANCE

Note: Sister Johnson is in charge of apprentice class, so direct any questions about it to her.

1. Read:

Luke 10:38-42
Just Like Jesus Chapter: Finding Gold in the Garbage
Promises of the Constitution, pages 227-257. Look for principles as you read, especially any principle that relates to balance. Write one or more sentences at the end of each mini chapter that summarizes the main point.
Freedom Factor, Chapters 1-10

2. Watch:

This video.

3. Create one of the following:

Create something using “garbage.” Bring your creation to show to us.
Create a food that balances healthy with delicious…bring some to share.
Create an original poem, story, song, rap, musical composition that reflects your feelings on finding balance.
Create a building, and see how high it can become while still maintaining it’s balance.
Create your own inspirement to share with us your feelings about balance.

4. Think About:

Complete a word study on the word Balance. Why is balance important in our lives? How can we find balance in the world we live in? What is the Lord’s kind of balance?

5. Project:

Choose a BALANCE project for this month. You will be working on your project each week and/or day throughout the month. This project should be something that is inspiring and personally meaningful to you. This is the application part of apprentice (applying principles to ourselves). Choose something that is challenging for you and will be a blessing to others. We will be giving presentations on your projects. After you pick one send Sister Johnson an email or note about what you have chosen, and then start working on it. Choose it before apprentice class so you can report what you're doing.

Here are some project options, or choose another one that is inspiring to you, or even better...ask the Lord for a project.

Learn how to balance your time by practicing time management skills...find a system that works for you and do it consistently this month.
Learn how to balance your health by eating healthy and exercise...track your eating and your exercise and make goals to improve your physical health.
Learn how to balance your emotional health by taking the time to go slowly, to think deeply, to ponder, to enjoy nature...go for a walk, meditate, take time each day to be quiet and still.
Learn how to balance your mental health by healing relationships in your life that are strained or need more attention. Seek to understand others in your life and to find balance between your desires and theirs.
Seek inspiration for the kind of balance God wants you to find in your life...then do what the Lord inspires you to do.
Start or keep faithfully a gratitude journal every day this month. Keep your gold box full of all the weighty things the Lord blesses you with.
Seek to understand a position opposite of yours, seek for understanding of another's position, NOT how to defend yours.
Seek a greater portion of spiritual balance in your life through doing one the following: diligent dedicated prayer daily, diligent dedicated scripture study daily, keeping a prayer in your heart always, serving someone every day.
Make a list of the things you need to do to seek first the kingdom of God. Pick one thing on the list and do it.
Look at the paradoxes that are all around you in the world and in the gospel. Study about a paradox from the scriptures and seek to understand why this paradox contains truth and how it applies in your life.
Choose a subject that you do not enjoy studying about. Find balance by finding purpose in studying all things which are of good report or praiseworthy.
The need for balance is found in many studies: art, colors, math, money, science, law, justice, time, energy. Study in depth about balance in one other subject and present a oral presentation to the group about your studies in balance.
Choose to seek for balance by improving spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. Pick at least one thing to improve on in each area.

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Apprentice Field Trip to Utah's Legislative Session!

Field Trip Inspirements:

Watch: This video.

Investigate:

This website is the government website for the Utah legislature. Visit the web site and answer the following questions:

Who are my representatives? (see legislators section)
What bills might be discussed during our visit? (see Bills section)
Pick one section in the legislative guide tab that looks interesting to you and read it?

Read:

Find the Utah constitution and read it.

Create:

Come prepared with a question you would like to ask.

Think About:

How does the government impact your life? How do you know if a bill is a good bill or not? How is the Utah constitution different from the United States Constitution? What part will you play in shaping the future government of our state and country? What can you do to be involved?