Saturday, September 11, 2010

Monthly Motto for September: 1 Nephi 8:24

Every month, we choose a motto that we try to focus on together. We would love for you to be a part of this as well! Please feel free to share your thoughts about our motto, our theme, or our Book of Mormon reading!

Our monthly motto for September comes right out of our Book of Mormon Reading. It is found in 1 Nephi 8:24: 

“…and they came forth and caught hold of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the midst of the darkness, clinging to the iron rod...” 

As we start down this road as Young Ambassadors, let us decide now, in the beginning, that we will hold fast to the rod. Let us decide now that together, as a group, we will be unshakeable. Because we are only in our second week, we can choose now to start out solid, to keep up with our reading of the Book of Mormon, and to cleave unto the Lord even when the mists of darkness cloud our lives. The Iron Rod will safely guide us through!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Our Book of Mormon Reading Schedule

This year, the BYU Young Ambassadors have committed to reading through the entirety of the Book of Mormon before the end of this calendar year. Our schedule has us finishing the final pages of the Book of Mormon on Christmas Day. It has been an incredibly enriching experience so far, and we would love for you to join with us, if you wish! The following is our reading schedule (it averages about four to five pages a day) and it will always be accesible on the right hand side of our blog!

Date Page # to Finish
September
1 4
2 8
3 12
4 16
5 20
6 24
7 28
8 32
9 36
10 40
11 44
12 48
13 52
14 56
15 60
16 64
17 68
18 72
19 76
20 80
21 84
22 88
23 92
24 96
25 100
26 104
27 104
28 108
29 116
30 120
October
1 124
2 128
3 132
4 136
5 140
6 144
7 148
8 152
9 156
10 160
11 164
12 168
13 172
14 176
15 180
16 184
17 188
18 192
19 196
20 200
21 205
22 210
23 215
24 220
25 225
26 230
27 235
28 240
29 245
30 250
31 255
Novermber
1 260
2 265
3 270
4 275
5 280
6 285
7 290
8 295
9 300
10 305
11 310
12 315
13 320
14 325
15 330
16 335
17 340
18 345
19 350
20 355
21 360
22 365
23 370
24 375
25 380
26 385
27 390
28 395
29 400
30 405
December
1 410
2 415
3 420
4 425
5 430
6 435
7 440
8 445
9 450
10 455
11 460
12 465
13 470
14 475
15 480
16 485
17 490
18 495
19 500
20 505
21 510
22 515
23 520
24 525
25 531

















Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Young Ambassador Retreat!

The Young Ambassador retreat was a great way to kick off an amazing 2010- 2011 season! We had the opportunity to get to know each other and come together as Young Ambassadors. The band, technicians, costumers, and performers were in attendance along with our amazing directors and choreographers. During the retreat we were given different responsibilities as members of the BYU Young Ambassadors, we learned about our show and where we will be performing, and on top of all that we were given expert advice on how to make the most of our year. Sue Boothe, Ron Simpson, Michelle Boothe, Brad Wilcox, Randy Boothe, and the YA’s presidency all helped teach us how to better serve the Lord through Young Ambassadors. Many of these speakers reminded us of how great a responsibility we have as Young Ambassadors. We are the Lord’s tools and all that we do and say should reflect Him. As Michelle Boothe explained “Harmony”, she told us that it would only represent goodness so that the only opposition would be within the audience members. However, in order to have the spirit in our shows and to show only good on stage, we have to have it in our personal lives. We can’t live lives without the Spirit and still expect to have it on stage. We have a great responsibility, but also a great blessing. It is very rare that a theatre opportunity focuses on the gospel and we must remember what an amazing experience it will be to be apart of something so unique and life- changing.

After hearing about our responsibilities, Brad Wilcox spoke to us about feeling worthy to be the Lord’s tools. Because we are human and make mistakes, it is easy to feel like we are not good enough to represent the Lord. However, as Brother Wilcox explained, when we repent and change our sins become similar to the marks on granite. They make us beautiful and unique and show the Lord all that we have learned. So, as our season kicks off, remember the passion and desire we felt at retreat. Remember that we are all worthy to serve the Lord and remember that we have all been blessed with this experience for a reason. Seek to keep the Spirit through all that you do. Be “anxiously engaged” in repentance, forgiveness, charity, hope, and love. 2010-2011 Young Ambassadors here we come!