Realize The Promise...

This weekend, as a combined group of Young Women, Young Men, and Leaders, our ward set out on a HUGE challenge. We planned to read the ENTIRE Book Of Mormon in two days, and 'Realize The Promise' offered by Moroni to discover the truthfulness of it. After all was said and done, it ended up taking 21 hours. We listened to most of it on CD (at 1.2 times it's normal speed), read some aloud as a group, and had some guest readers. We started Friday afternoon at 4 PM, and went until 10 PM that night. We were back at the church at 7 AM on Saturday, and ended at about 11 PM, after we cleaned and set up the church for Sunday's meetings. We had planned to read the last chapter, Moroni 10, together in a combined meeting during the third hour on Sunday, but ended up reading 8 chapters together in that meeting to finish up.

Thanks to Suzanne Brenchley, for photo documenting this event, and allowing me to steal her pictures!




As YW leaders, we were in charge of feeding this group of about 60 people, four full meals, and LOTS and LOTS of snacks in between. It was a big undertaking, so we recruited the help of the ward members to donate baked goods, and come and help with preparing, serving, and cleaning up. I was so impressed with the people in our ward and their willingness to sign up and help. It was a bit overwhelming to realize how much help we had, and all that were involved to help make this event a success. We had invisioned the ward members doing all of the work, allowing us as leaders to stay in the main room the entire time. That of course, didn't happen, because there is always more to do than you think of, but with their help it was executed much more easily! We knew that food was the key to keeping the kids awake, and excited about the hours and hours that we spent at the church. My goal going into this, was to make it feel like a cruise ship, where you could get whatever food you wanted to, whenever you wanted to. I think it was an overall success! We all ate too much!!!




I was overwhelmed, and completely touched by the STRENGTH of our Youth. I received a strong witness that they are truly a chosen generation, much stronger than any other before. I was impressed by their overall desire to be there. Truth be told, there were times of boredom, and difficulty staying awake, but overall they did much better than any of us as leaders expected them to do.





I serve with an amazing bunch of women, and was grateful for the chance to get to know them each a bit better (we've only been serving together for a few months). Through this experience, not only did my testimony of the truthfulness and power of the Book of Mormon get strengthened, but I also received a strong testimony that my Heavenly Father knows each and every one of us personally, and individually. He has a plan for us, and for the orgainization of His Church. When our Gina conducted her first meeting as a new YW President, she powerfully told each of us that she had received personal insight regarding the people she chose to serve with her, and felt strongly that each of us was there for a reason. I received that witness this weekend, too. I know that these ladies are the right ones to help strengthen the young women of the Davis Creek 3rd ward, and to help strengthen me too!




We had 11 of our 15 AWESOME young women attend. They are great girls, and I'm so glad I get to be their leader, and get to be taught by them and their examples each week!

Sammy


Alana


Sidney (on the right) and her friend


Elizabeth


Brittney



Jordan


Marissa



Bree


Ashlyn


Olivia


Samantha


We ended on Sunday after we finished reading, with a testimony meeting, where EVERY single youth bore testimony of this great event, confessed to it's difficulity, wished that they had been more awake, more attentive, (I wish the same thing for myself), but the most touching part was when they testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. They testified that they felt like they never before had while reading, that they knew that Christ loves them, and that he gave His life for them. They bore strong testimony that the prophets in the Book of Mormon are real people and that they sacrificed so much, including their own lives, in some cases, for the truth. Some said that this was the first time reading the entire Book of Mormon, and that they gained a greater understanding of it's importance in our lives and know that it can be their own personal guidebook in their lives.

I was touched and grateful that I was able to be a part of this amazing event!