Salmon Creek Young Men

Youth Conference 2009 - Oregon Coast

We were missing several of our young men at this conference but those who came had a great time!...especially since they had at least twice the number of girls in attendance!

Our beach bonfire/s'more making became a beautiful testimony meeting. The Spirit was so strong and all around us the "world" was going about its business. At one point I turned to our YW president and, looking at the hotels around us, with blue lights from television sets, parties going on around us, I said, here we are surrounded by "the great and spacious buildings" of the world but not a part of it. It was a beautiful experience.

Power of music

It took me over an hour to figure out how to put on a "widget" this morning...then about three minutes to do it the right way. I was so frustrated with this little project. And what was I trying to put on? The widget for the Mormon Channel. Why? Because, for the most part, I find it calming to listen to while I work around the house and on the computer. hmmm. Yes, I was listening to it - a talk on being a better mom of all things! - while I attempted the near impossible task. But now it's on so whoever is reading my rantings can listen to.

At breakfast our dear little 6-year-old and 8 year-old had quite an argument over how much sugar was too much to put on their "roly-polies"...you know, pancakes rolled up with sugar in the middle. I had already left the table and was trying to find Sunday clothes that were supposedly cleaned yesterday (I found them in the washing machine!) so I went to investigate the problem...One had about 1/2 cup of sugar on his pancake - YES! too much!...the other about 1/4 cup on hers - STILL too much....So I told them how much should be enough to make a sweet topping and left it...and return and find them adding more sugar still. oh dear.

Now the sweet husband has returned from Bishopric meetings to ask what is for breakfast. I hope the children left something! Best go check

Enjoy your music...I've put on Primary music upstairs to calm us all down!

Virtue Value for Young Men

In the training meeting for Young Men leaders in April 2009, President Dahlquist, told a personal story and the need for the young men as well as the young women to participate in the Young Women's new Value for Virtue. Here's what he said (it can be found on the church's website (lds.org) under the "serving in the church" - young men section):

Many of you have also been working on Duty to God along with your boys—not because you can earn the award, but to help you be better prepared to strengthen the young men you serve. Each of us in the Young Men general presidency and board has done the same. Let me tell you of an experience I recently had as I have been working on my priests Duty to God requirements. Not long ago, Sister Dahlquist and I had an assignment in Mexico with Sister Elaine Dalton and her husband, Steve.
Throughout Mexico Sister Dalton continued to speak about the new “Virtue Value” that had been added to the Young Women theme. As I listened, I thought, “Virtue is not gender-based, and young men of the Aaronic Priesthood should be as virtuous in their thoughts, words, and actions as the young women.” So when we returned home and Sister Dalton sent me a copy of the new Virtue Value insert to the Personal Progress program, I wrote in my priests Duty to God manual: “Accomplish each of the 4 Virtue Value Experiences and the Virtue Value Project.” I am pleased to report to you that I have accomplished each of these and recommend to you that you consider challenging your priests to accomplish each of these requirements as part of the “Spiritual Development” section of their Duty to God award. For, you see, virtue is already part of the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood, as we strive to help each young man be “worthy” to receive the ordinances of the temple and receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, serve an honorable mission, and serve worthily in priesthood offices and priesthood callings. It has been a blessing for me to accomplish each of these requirements, and I have a feeling it will be a blessing to all young men and young women as we work together to “flood the earth with virtue.”
“Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
“The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth” (D&C 121:45–46). Never has there been a greater need for this blessing of virtue in the lives of the youth of Zion than now.

It's been a few years since I have worked with the young women and received my medallion, but after reading this I want to add the virtue value to my personal goals! When my sweet husband was trained at a General Conference with the young men board, he came home determined to accomplish the Duty to God award himself - just as the young women leaders are encouraged to do with Personal Progress. It was wonderful to see HIS progress as he accomplished the goals...perhaps the elders and high priests should set a goal to do it too! My favorite was doing his own laundry for a month! I think I will suggest that he and I do the Virtue Value for Personal Progress together. President Dahlquist said that "there has never been a greater need for this blessing of virtue in the lives of the youth of Zion than now" - I think there's never a greter need for virtue in ALL of our lives!

Why now?

Several years ago my husband was called to be Stake Young Men president in our Colorado Stake. In the entire stake there had only been two young men receive the Duty to God award. We were both saddened and concerned at this trend. My husband searched for something to encourage "his boys" to complete their goals and prepare better for the missions, education, marriage and life. Knowing the church provided a beautiful medal/coin for the completion of this inspired program, he designed his own tie tack.
Before the tie tack was manufactured, we moved to the Northwest. No longer "needing" them, he put it aside for a few years, but it kept nagging at us...so we went ahead with the manufacturing. We hope to have it available on this blog as soon as possible.
The tie tack is beautiful in gold and silver. We have sold some to the Church History and Art museum but want it to be available to those who aren't in Utah and can't get there regularly.
My husband has served with the Young Men 13 of our 14 years of marriage. We love "our boys." We love to see them complete worthwhile goals, serve honorable missions and marry in the temple to raise another righteous generation. And now we have a young man of our own in our home. What a joy it is to work together as a family to help him accomplish his Duty to God and watch him progress.
I love this quote by President Dahlquist, former Young Men General President:
"With the challenges that are bombarding young men today—Satan’s attempts to weaken them and lead them astray—there has never been a greater need for the blessings that come through achieving the Duty to God Award. A young man who is dedicated to reading the scriptures daily, memorizing the Articles of Faith, and accomplishing the other requirements will not only be more focused on that which is good and right and true, but he will be more prepared to shun evil. When I was a teenager in Mutual, we learned a scripture that was our theme for the year: “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32).
The window of opportunity with our young men is not open for very long and passes so swiftly. Today, as the scripture teaches, is the day to perform our labors. The First Presidency has challenged the young men in the Church: “You live in a day of great challenges and opportunities. You have been called to make a difference in the world. As a son of God, with the power of the Aaronic Priesthood, you can be a wonderful force for good.”2
May God bless each parent and leader of young men in the Aaronic Priesthood to begin today to understand the Duty to God program and to help our young men achieve the objectives of this program." Charles W. Dahlquist II, “Fulfilling Our Duty to God: A Window of Opportunity,” Liahona, Sept. 2006

Mighty Men of God

"Young men, would you be willing to do something a little unusual, a little different? You see, your leaders and parents are so keen on seeing you achieve the vision that our Heavenly Father has for you...the handiwork of the Lord will make of you mighty men of God." Stephen Nadauld New Era, May 1993,25