America Jane Speaks

For those of you who are new to scouting or who’ve never had this explained to you, here’s a few simple things you need to know about earning Merit Badges.

1. Get a Blue Card!!

If you’re in an LDS troop, there’s a possibility this is not the first step made. There’s even a possibility that this step is NEVER made.  I’m hoping this will be a thing of the past as training of LDS Scout leaders continues to improve.

**Insert Blue Card Horror Story Here**

I had a very interesting conversation with a woman in my ward who has been our Stake’s Eagle Scout coordinator for years. I’m sure her official title is something different, but the point is she is the one who acts as a liaison between boys who are applying for their Eagle Scout Award and the Boy Scout of America Council.

You know, they’re the ones that say YES you’ve earned your Eagle Scout Award or NO you haven’t.

Unfortunately, she has seen cases where boys have done ALL THE WORK to earn their Eagle Scout Award, but because of an error with paperwork and because the boy does not have his blue card to prove he earned certain merit badges, the boy DOES NOT GET HIS EAGLE SCOUT AWARD.

That is a sad, sad situation. She’s seen it happen more often than she’d like.

**End Blue Card Horror Story**

You should be able to obtain a blue card from your son’s scout leader or a member of the Scout Committee. If you run into difficulties or delays, don’t be afraid to be the squeaky wheel. If necessary, go to your local Scout Shop and purchase a pack yourself.

2. Get the blue card signed by your son’s scout leader or assistant scout leader.

There’s a place for this on the front of the card. This should be done before any work on the merit badge begins.

3. Determine who the merit badge counselor is going to be.

Oh yeah, every merit badge earned must be supervised and approved by a merit badge counselor. This may be any scout leader (including the Stake Young Men scout leaders and Ward Bishopric member over scouting), scout committee member, or registered merit badge counselor.

4. Earn the merit badge.

An obvious step, but there you are.

To see a complete list of available Merit Badges and their requirements, visit the America Jane Merit Badge page.

I highly recommend checking out the official merit badge pamphlet for each merit badge earned. (They’re called pamphlets, but if you’ve never seen one these are more like booklets. Well worth what you pay for them.) You can buy them at the link provided, at your local Scout Shop or you can check them out for free at your library. Look for used copies online or in used book stores.

These pamphlets are written specifically for the boy earning the badge. Reading the pamphlet will give him more depth and meaning to the experience than merely checking off a list of requirements. The pamphlets often give tips and ideas for fulfilling some of the requirements.

Make sure your son has access to the pamphlet and encourage him to read it.You may want to read it too, or at least give it a good skim.

There’s a place on the blue card for the counselor to sign off on individual requirements as they’re passed off. Depending on the boy, the merit badge and individual circumstances, a merit badge may be earned in as little as a few weeks or take as long as a few years. For merit badges that may take longer to earn, getting a signature for each requirement as you go will make sure your son doesn’t have to do work over again at a later date.

5. Obtain the Merit Badge Counselor’s Signature

Once the work for the merit badge is completed, the counselor signs and dates the blue card.

Keep in mind this is considered an official document by the BSA.

Once the merit badge is earned the blue card is separated into three parts, along the perforated creases. One part goes to the BSA along with other paperwork. (This is, or should be, handled by your ward’s scout leaders and committee. I’m told much of this is now done online.) One part is for the counselor to keep. One part is for the boy to keep or, more likely, the boy’s mother. Which brings us to the final step…

6. Keep Good Records

The date on the blue card is the date the merit badge is earned, NOT the date paperwork is submitted to council or the date the boy receives the award in a Court of Honor.

Keep your son’s portion of his blue card in a safe place. When he is awarded his merit badge in a Court of Honor, the badge will be attached to a card indicating when the merit badge was earned and will have signatures of leaders as well. Keep this card too.

A Final Word

Boy Scouts is different from Cub Scouts in that most of the work for rank advancements and merit badges is done outside the home. Often, your son will earn merit badges at his weekly meetings and at scout camp without you having to do a thing. All the steps above are taken care of by your son and his leader. Hooray for leaders!

In those cases, all you need to do is make sure you have your son’s portion of the blue card in hand when it’s all said and done.

Pester those leaders for it if you have to.

You did read the horror story above, right?

For merit badges your son wants to do in addition to what’s being done with his troop, see if your ward or stake maintains a list of merit badge counselors who are willing to work with boys on specific badges. My stake has a list with at least one name under just about every merit badge offered. This is a great resource if your son is interested in something like Aviation or Veterinary Medicine. If you go this route, just make sure the rules about the buddy system are being followed at all times. You can always be a buddy and accompany your son to meetings with his counselor if necessary.

Most of all, keep to the spirit of merit badges. The point is not to collect badges to sew on a sash but rather to give boys a positive and challenging experience while they learn new skills and explore interests.

In fact, there are a few I’d like to “earn” myself, even if BSA doesn’t give moms the badge. Think I can manage a 20-mile hike?

Funny how once I gave myself permission to ignore the America Jane website as needed, I suddenly got the huge burst of energy required to build pages for the Varsity and Venturing scout programs.

Maybe I should go ahead and give myself permission to not make a million dollars this year and see what happens.

Anyway, as I was saying, the America Jane website now includes requirements for the Varsity and Venturing programs.

If you’re LDS and you have young men ages 14 and up, this applies to you.

I don’t think all parents realize this.

In any case, I lay it all out for you right HERE.

Incidentally, the last construction sign is off the site and the Extras page is now live and has, you know, extras. Extra goodies.

Not chocolate goodies, I’m sorry to say. But goodies parents, leaders and youth may find handy.

Enjoy.

I’ve been pondering the future of the America Jane website and blog for a few months now. Prior to General Conference, our Bishop advised us to prayerfully make a list of things we needed to receive revelation about. What to do with this blog was one of many things on my list.

My original intention for the America Jane website was much different from what the website actually is today. The site I launched back in March was intended to be the framework upon which I’d build. The site was going to be, so far as I can tell, unique from anything else already available on the web.

It was this uniqueness which made me feel it would be worth all the time and effort that would be required. After all, there are already many great resources on the web for LDS programs (such as the vast Sugardoodle) and scouting (such as the fabulous Boy Scout Trail). I had no desire to duplicate what was already out there.

I launched the website February 20, 2010. On March 27th I discovered my husband was having yet another affair and my marriage, I decided, was over. In the intervening six months, much has changed in my life. I’m a single mother of three wonderful boys. My commitment to raising them up unto the Lord has not wavered. If anything, it has increased. Of necessity, I have learned to be extremely careful with my time.

Priority one. Time for God. Spiritual health. I read my scriptures first thing in the morning to remind myself that He is first in my life.

Priority two. Provide for the temporal needs of my children. I have felt the sustaining hand of the Lord in this as I take on the role intended for the priesthood leader of the home. In lieu of a husband, I have felt so blessed to discover I am not alone, because the Lord is truly my partner.

Priority three. Be a mother to my children. I have been blessed with a job that allows me to drop my children off at school in the morning and pick them up when they get out in the afternoon. I have had several experiences that confirm to me that this “luxury” is in fact a necessity and is just as important to the Lord as it is to me. Those children need a mother in the home now as much as they ever have. My afternoons and evenings are dedicated to them. Rare is the day when I have even so much as 30 minutes, between when school lets out and when they’re asleep in their beds,  when at least one of my children doesn’t require something from me. I’m happy to give it to them. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity.

Priority four. Mental, emotional and physical personal health. I’ve learned by hard experience the importance of taking care of myself and not running myself into the ground. My Bishop once said, “You’re not good at not running faster than you have strength.” I could only laugh because he’s so right. But I am learning. I am determined to learn. I loved President Uchtdorf’s talk about slowing down. It truly is a divine principle we find so foreign in our harried, modern lives. Too often, we are not living out our days with the peace and calm the Lord would have us feel.

All of this is to say that when my children are finally in bed, I’m not far behind them. When I’m tired, I sleep. An obvious course of action I neglected for years and years. I consider it an investment in myself and a gift to my children.

I am not a happy mom when I’m tired.

On my “off” weekends, when the children are with their dad, I tend to regroup. I don’t clean. I don’t run errands. I give my mind and body rest. I pamper myself on occasion with little things. I spend time with friends and family. I prepare mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually for the 12 days to come, days when my moments of rest are short and few.

All of this is to say, the America Jane website and blog rarely make it to the “doing” part of my “to do” list. My original vision for the website, while valuable, would be extremely time consuming to pull off. There’s no way I have time for it without sacrificing one of my top four priorities. That’s the reality. I’ve known this for some time.

Yet, I didn’t want to let it go either.

I’ve invested hundreds of hours in the building and launching of the website and in the (albeit sporadic) maintaining of the blog. It felt like a lot to give up on.

I also like having a place for things I think are of value. The family home evening I shared on pornography has, in a very short time, become one of my most visited posts. That alone is worth keeping the blog alive.

I’m fond of the little tips and helps for parents too and would like to do more. So many sites focus on what leaders can do to help youth with their programs. As a parent who remembers what it feels like to be baffled by the scouting program, I think there needs to be more out there for us.

So, what to do?

I realized this morning that what I needed to let go of was the original idea for the website. I needed to reconsider a new future for America Jane just as I’ve had to do for myself.

I’m going to loosen up the parameters of the blog so I can post, from time to time, those things I think have timeless value. It may or may not have anything to do with scouting, the LDS youth programs or family home evening. If I feel in the mood and have the time for quick, light posts that’s fine. I think in general, though, my posts will be about things that are worth the time it takes to put a post together. I’m giving myself permission to let sporadic posting be the permanent nature of this blog. I’m letting go of the hope that it will ever be as frequent as I’d once hoped. I can live with that. The blog is staying for sure.

As for the website, there are a couple of things I need to check into before I make my final decision. I don’t renew the domain and site builder until spring. I’ll make my decision then.

Promotion, while key to a successful blog, is time consuming. Very, very time consuming. I have not had time for it for months and don’t plan on going back to it any time soon. That’s just the way that’s going to be.

For those of you who follow, read, comment and email, I thank you so much for your support.

Lastly, a tidbit about the name behind this blog, for clarification.

America Jane is the name of one of my ancestors who lived in the American South in the 1800′s. I discovered her when I first got into family history work over a decade ago. I fell in love with her name. America Jane. What a great name!

So, since I try to keep personal information off this blog since it’s more public than my family blog, this blog is named after her.

You can read my guest post, as part of the Family Proclamation Celebration, here at Chocolate on My Cranium.

And by here, I mean HERE.

Just kidding.

I gotta say, I’ve felt a little guilty for not participating more in the celebration. But just a little. As a single mom most of my “free time” (ha ha) goes to my kids and the rest goes to recuperation. I’m sure they understand.

I’ve enjoyed following along via my reader, though. There are daily guest posts on two blogs (Chocolate on My Cranium and We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ) and it’s been interesting to see what the various participants have to say.

My favorite so far is That’s What Father’s Do, by Braden Bell. I love, love, loved hearing a male perspective on the family. Very refreshing. He made me think about the Stripling Warrior story in a whole new way too.

The world needs more fathers like that.

Check it out if you haven’t already. Check out mine too, if you’re so inclined.

I don’t talk about Stripling Warriors. I talk about cottage cheese.

Prepare to be inspired.

There once was a horse.*

This horse loved strawberries.

These strawberry bushes look awfully good to our horse. What our horse doesn’t know is that these strawberry bushes are full of thorns. Holes lurk beneath many of the branches.

Beyond the dangerous bushes lies a beautiful garden.

The strawberry bushes in the beautiful garden are good for our horse and safe to eat.

Ask: How do we get our horse past the strawberry bushes that will hurt him and into the beautiful garden?

(My children suggested a bridle, which I drew on the horse. I suggested a fence might be helpful too.)

Read Alma 38:12: “Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love…”

The strawberries can represent many different passions human beings have. The strawberries with thorns and hidden holes represent unbridled passions. The strawberries in the beautiful garden represent passions bridled by correct principles.

So if the passion we’re talking about is money, unbridled passions would be greed, covetousness and miserliness.

The bridled passion for money would be a righteous desire to provide for one’s family, avoiding debt, saving money, keeping our wants modest and giving to those in need.

If the passion is food, unbridled desires would be gluttony and fad diets. (But not chocolate addiction! Oh no.)

The bridled passion for food would be following the principles of the Word of Wisdom.

If the passion we’re talking about is praise, unbridled passions would be an unhealthy desire for fame or popularity, caving in to peer pressure, gossip, lying and fear of rejection.

An healthy outlook on the normal human desire for acceptance involves looking to the proper source for that acceptance.

As President Ezra Taft Benson put it: “If we love God, do His will and fear His judgment’s more than men’s, we will have self esteem.”

If the passions we’re talking about is sexual desire, a normal and God-designed passion within us all, then unbridled passions include pornography (there it is!), sexual relations outside of marriage and other sexual sins.

The bridled passion of sexual desire is a healthy, loving sexual relationship within marriage. (I conducted a separate FHE on healthy sexuality the following week.)

So, back to our strawberry bushes. Our horse likes strawberries. And that’s okay. Our horse is supposed to like strawberries. He was created to like strawberries.

But what happens if our horse goes to the strawberry bushes outside of the beautiful garden? What if he doesn’t learn to bridle his passion? What if he jumps the fence?

He’s going to get hurt.

What do those thorns and holes represent?

• Spiritual damage from sexual encounters outside of marriage
• Low self-esteem from sexual encounters outside of marriage
• Pornography addiction
• Lack of ability to control sexual urges which may begin as teenage promiscuity and repeat itself later in life in the form of marital affairs
• Teenage pregnancy
• Sexually transmitted diseases

What does the fence represent?

God’s commandments (found in the scriptures), guidance by Church leaders (such as that found in For the Strength of Youth – just as pertinent to adults I believe), and guidance by righteous parents.

What does the bridle represent?

Self control.

Here I interjected this little thought:

There’s something important to understand about Satan. First, he is our enemy. He hates us and wants nothing more than to destroy us any way he can. Do not expect him to avoid using every weapon he has against you just to be nice. He’s not nice, he shows no mercy and he will use every weapon he can.

Second, he will use something good and distort it to suit his evil purposes.

Therefore, one weapon that is an absolute plague on the earth today is pornography.

I explained this next part pretty much the way the LDS counselor explained it.*

Our minds and our bodies are designed to react to sexual stimulation, physical or visual. It’s the way God created us and that’s just the way it is. So this is what happens when a young boy (or an adult, for that matter) first views pornography.* *

The boy views a sexually arousing image.

The boy’s body has an instant physical reaction to it, as he is designed to do. In other words, he likes it. His body will NOT be disgusted by it. His body will like it. (The counselor actually explained the anatomical and neurological process, but I didn’t retain all that information, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.)

The boy will most likely know he’s not supposed to like things like pornography. Intellectually, he may not like what he’s seeing at all. In short, he’ll know that what he’s viewing is bad.

The boy will put those things together in the following way:

1. I liked that
2. That was bad
3. I liked bad.
4. I am bad.

That is a universal reaction that leads to shame, secrecy and damage to self esteem. All of which is one leg of the vicious addiction cycle. (He talked at length about the addiction cycle too, but I won’t get into that either.)

So, Satan knows your body is going to react to something like pornography, because he knows you’re supposed to like strawberries. But what does he do to get sweet boys like you to look at pornography? He knows you’re not going to go looking for it.

Satan becomes the hunter.

What might a hunter do when he’s hunting deer? (Yes, I know, I’m mixing my animal metaphors, but bear with me.)

Let’s imagine the hunter lays traps.

The hunter lays traps where he knows his prey is going to walk, like on a deer path through the woods or next to a food source.

Then, the hunter is going to hide that trap.

What’s going to happen when our deer walks along the path, sees nothing but leaves, and steps in a trap?

SNAP!

The deer didn’t do anything wrong by walking along that path. But he’s caught nonetheless.

What does an animal do when it’s caught in a trap? Can the animal get out unharmed? The animal will have to chew its own leg off to get out of that trap.

Because here’s the next part. Satan knows that if you look at pornography, you will have a physical reaction of pleasure.

He also knows you’ll feel guilty about it. Ashamed.

He wants you to feel ashamed. He wants you to feel embarrassed. He wants you to hide and be in the dark.* * *

Satan works in secrecy.

He doesn’t want you to tell a soul about what you saw or how you felt or what you might be tempted to do next. He wants you to drown in your feelings of worthlessness. He wants you, bit by bit, to cycle into pornography addiction.

He wants you to chew your own leg off.

The other way an animal can get out of the trap is if a human being opens the trap for him and sets him free. How do we get out of the pornography trap?

We tell someone who can help. And we don’t wait.* * * *

Back to the strawberry fields and the fences and the bridles. Trust the wisdom of the people who built the fence to keep you away from harm. They know where the thorns and holes are most likely to be hidden. Exercise your free agency and bridle your passions. Be committed to that. Be committed to following the commandments no matter what. Do this, and the fruits of the beautiful garden will be yours. They will be sweet to the taste and cause you no harm.

What blessings come from bridling our passions?

“Bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love.”

Love of self. Love of others. Love of God. Holy, virtuous principles lead to these things.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

________________________________________________________________________________________

* This is an actual FHE lesson I taught when my sons were aged six through ten. It was inspired by a joint Relief Society/Priesthood lesson taught by an LDS counselor specializing in sex addictions. He’s considered an expert in his field. He didn’t teach us grown ups with a horse and strawberries, that was my idea for my children.

* * The average age children are first exposed to pornography is age 11. That means some children view it much sooner. More often than not, the first time a person sees pornography (whether child or adult) is on accident. Malicious web designers purposely design their sites to be accidentally discovered, because they know how ensnaring that first experience can be. This sex addiction counselor spent a significant portion of his lesson explaining how easily people are trapped (adults with pornography addictions almost always began by accidentally stumbling across pornography online) and how important it is to A) educate kids about this danger, healthy sexuality, etc. and B) put multiple filters on your computer.

Filters are not foolproof. That’s why you have more than one. Determined kids might be able to figure out a way around them, that’s why you educate your kids, keep the lines of communication open and stay very aware of what they’re doing online. But you put filters on your computer for the same reason you lock your front door: to keep malicious intruders from barging into your home and doing damage. The lives of sweet, innocent, trustworthy children have been blown to bits because they accidentally saw pornography. This guy sees it all the time. The statistics back him up. Don’t make the mistake of thinking your children are immune. The potential damage is not worth the risk. Filter your computers.

* * * I’ll never forget my ten-year-old listening to this with rapt attention and with wide eyes saying, “He does?” He later told me that when he and his dad had gone camping several months prior, he was looking through the newspapers his dad had brought for starting campfires. In it was an ad of a scantily clad woman, dressed (or barely dressed) in some sort of animal skin. This (not surprisingly) caught the attention of my innocent, preadolescent boy. He hid the paper, went back to it several times during the trip, and finally threw it in the fire to get rid of it. He never discussed it out of fear and shame, and it had been corrupting his perception of himself. He wondered if he was a bad boy.

This FHE lesson gave him the permission to talk to me about this. He was visibly relieved to know that it’s natural to like the way a beautiful woman looks and that doesn’t make him bad. We talked about respect for ourselves, respect for women, healthy sexuality, and blessings that come from following the commandments. This talk freed my child from Satan’s trap.

Which he found in a newspaper.

Soft-core porn is all around us and social acceptance of it doesn’t dilute its poison at all.

* * * * For those already deep into pornography addiction, Satan may tell them they’re too far gone for help. Which is another way to keep them in the dark. Or as they go through their addiction cycle – which includes periods of abstinence before falling back into the trap again – Satan may encourage them to feel that they can control it on their own or to think the problem “really isn’t that bad because…” Again, Satan works in secrecy. Pornography addiction requires more counseling and education than a trapped deer can provide for itself.

In the last seven months, I’ve learned there’s a difference between running a personal blog and running a blog and website like my America Jane project.

When all I had was a personal blog, all I read were personal blogs by people I personally knew. I didn’t know about the famous blogs out there (and probably still don’t, Pioneer Woman notwithstanding).

So as I’ve gone about doing my various America Jane things, I’ve stumbled upon a bit of treasure out there in the blogging world. Some of it applies to the theme of this blog. Some of it doesn’t.

For example, Geninne’s Art Blog is a delight. I thought I’d tire of the birds, but I haven’t at all. In fact, she’s recently moved and has been busy setting up her studio (with an enviable view) and I miss seeing her birds. There’s something so cheerful about her blog and her artwork. It’s been a lovely addition to my Google reader.

Then there’s Škorčica. I don’t remember how I found this blog, but I love it. I love seeing bits of another culture. I love that English is not the primary language of that blog (and greatly appreciate the translations). See, it makes me feel all cultured. I don’t get a lot of culture in these parts. It’s nice to feel part of the International community, even if my part in the relationship is “lurker”.

Once Upon A Tea Time… Design Stories is like a picture book for me. I don’t even read the text. I just drool over things like this cozy spot.

I must say, following these blogs makes me want a decent digital camera all the more. If I ever get around to plunking down $600 for a camera, the look of this blog will completely change. I didn’t realize how bad my camera was until I tried taking pictures for this blog. That’s why my posts are typically limited to one picture. Ah well.

Anyway, thanks to the Family Proclamation Celebration (which is off to a fabulous start, by the way) I’ve discovered even more blogs. I checked out the other guest bloggers and found some treasures:

Scribbit’s blog hails from the northerly corners of the world (read: Alaska) and holds golden nuggets such as this delicious-looking poppy seed chicken casserole. There are a few other things I’ve found on her blog that I plan on highlighting separately.

Hungry Panda gets about a billion points for her Bob and Fred snowmen. I’m a big Calvin and Hobbes fan. These snowmen rock the house.

The Modern Hive has this cute Baked in a Jar idea. Supposedly you can let these sit on a shelf for up to six months, but who could wait that long?

And, if you haven’t already, check out Cocoa’s FHE database. I love the spider web idea.

What treasure have you accidentally found in the blogosphere?

I’ve been asked to be one of several guest bloggers for the Family Proclamation Celebration, hosted by Jocelyn of We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ and Cocoa of Chocolate on My Cranium (gotta love that blog title!).

During the month of September, bloggers from all over will be writing about some aspect of the Family Proclamation.

Mine’s already written and I gotta tell ya, I don’t mention Scouts or Personal Progress once. Not ONCE!

Nope, I decided to leave my little pet hobby at the door.

Instead I talked about such life-changing things as cottage cheese and ketchup.

Seriously.

I’m not quite sure if that’s what they had in mind.

But anyway, if you’re interested in The Family Proclamation and giveaways and joining one big ol’ party, then September is the month for you. Join in the fun and enter to win prizes by commenting on posts, putting a cute Family Proclamation Celebration button on your blog to spread the word, announcing it on Facebook, joining in on link-up parties and more.

To make it official, I suggest you eat some party-type munchies while you do this. The more chocolate-y the better.

The party awaits. See you there!

Ah, the pinnacle of Scout achievement: the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.

A word that’s sometimes overlooked in that phrase is “leadership”. The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project isn’t just about doing service (although that’s a great thing about it). This is a chance for a boy scout to learn what goes into planning a big project. To learn leadership.

Too often in the LDS Scouting community, boys are short-changed because parents and/or leaders don’t really know what’s expected. I don’t fault individuals for this. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know.

Well, the Eagle Project Planning Guide will take you through everything you need to know. This get to the point one-page website outlines the essentials in a clear, organized manner without overwhelming you with too much information.

It’s really a great site.

Read it. Have your scout read it. Let me know what you think.

If you’re looking for a unique Value Project idea, check out The Sketchbook Project. Whether you’re an established artist or a working mom with scant artistic ability (ahem) or a young woman looking for a fun way to complete a Personal Progress requirement, I’m telling you, this is a fantastic idea.

Here’s how it works. You pick a theme and order a sketchbook. They mail it to you. You fill it with art, doodles or what have you. You send it back (by January 15, 2011) and your super duper fantastic sketchbook becomes part of a literal (and sometimes travelling) library of sketchbooks.

Your sketchbook will go on tour.

Your sketchbook can be checked out at the sketchbook library.

Your sketchbook gets its own bar code so you can see who’s looking at it.

Now, how is that not completely awesome?

You don’t have to be an “artist” to participate. Your sketchbook will not be juried. This is just a way to express your thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams, fears and love for chocolate (or whatever) in a creative way.

I’m thinking this would make for a great Divine Nature or Individual Worth Value Project idea. Not to exclude the boys (or moms, ahem) this is a great idea for anyone. For a smaller-scale challenge, the same organization offers monthly sketchbook projects (with monthly themes).

Here’s a sampling of past sketchbook art:

everything is the same, by Wendy Cook

And Suddenly…#23, by Nicolas Healy  (see, boys can do it too!)

Solvent Transfer and Ink, by thermion7

From a million little, by Ashley Ivey.

What would you put in your sketchbook?

The new Duty to God booklets have made their way to meetinghouses (with more on the way – most shipments were bare minimum quantities) and you can now download the PDF version of the booklet online.

Be prepared to wait.

It’s a big file.

It takes awhile.

Additionally, the Church’s website also has videos you can watch (whether you’re a parent or a leader) to help get young men started on the new program.

It won’t surprise you to know I’m very excited about this new program and encourage parents, young men and leaders to get familiar with it. By working it. No program is all things to all people, but this is divinely inspired and blessings will come to young men and their families when it’s put into practice.