10-weeks to Come Closer to Christ

Specific ~ My project is to come closer to Christ through preparing for a full-time LDS mission. That is fairly vague, so I narrowed it down to six objectives for the 'spiritual' part of my preparation (excluding the physical and financial). These are...

·         Attend the temple regularly

·         Read the book of Mormon daily

·         Read the entire Ensign monthly

·         Read from ‘Jesus The Christ’ regularly

·         Read ‘Preach my Gospel’ weekly

·         Write in my journal to record what I’ve learned and to track my progress

Measurable ~ In order to measure my progress, I will create reading charts to cross off what I need to read daily, weekly, and tri-weekly. I also will record in my journal my growth and movement.

Applicability ~ This project is relevant to my life because I am at the crossroad in my life when I should be prepared to make the next big step in this mortal life, which is celestial marriage. However, my choice to serve a mission will help me to prepare for that step by coming closer to Christ and developing consistency in the small and simple things such as studying the scriptures, praying daily, studying and learning how to teach the gospel, and keeping a journal.

Rigor ~ As long as I stay diligent, this 10-week project will push me to more soul-searching and will help me create a consistent pattern of essential habits in learning to become like my Savior. Though these steps and goals seem simple, remembering to do them, giving them priority, and doing them consistently are very difficult for me. Therefore, this project will be rigorous for me to dedicate to.

Time ~ 

·         I will attend the temple every week

·         I will study the Book of Mormon for 20 minutes everyday

·         I will read the Ensign for 30 minutes, 3 times a week (ex. Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday)

·         I will read ‘Jesus The Christ’ for 20 minutes every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday

·         I will read ‘Preach my Gospel’ for 20-30 minutes once a week (ex. Every Wednesday)

·         I will write in my journal every Sunday (at least) for 10-weeks to track my progress and to develop my testimony and faith

Scripture tie-in ~ The verse from the BoM that corresponds to my project is Alma 37:46. In this verse, Alma is speaking to his son, Helaman. Though Helaman hasn’t had a really wicked past like some of his brothers (and his father), Alma reminds Helaman to “not be slothful because of the easiness of the way.” The way is already prepared for us as Latter day Saints. We know what is right and wrong. We have a prophet who leads and directs this church. However, many members, myself included, do not remain diligent in keeping the commandments. The ‘big 10’ may be simple in keeping, though the smaller ones, like daily prayer, scripture study, keeping the Sabbath day holy, and keeping Christ as the center of our lives, are much easier to simply forget to do. So even though my project may seem simple and obvious, these are the things that I struggle with doing consistently, and I want to avoid being ‘slothful’ because of the easiness of the way.