Personal Progress Update

I can’t believe that January is half over already! It’s been a very busy month so far! For our Personal Progress activity our Laurels planned a very special event called Women of Virtue. They asked several women from our ward and a few from our stake to portray virtuous women from throughout the scriptures. Each of the sisters set themselves up at different houses throughout our ward and we walked from house to house to hear the various portrayals. We ended the night with a bonfire testimony meeting. It was a great activity and all of our girls felt the spirit and enjoyed themselves.

Our value for the month of January is FAITH.

In April of 2003 in General Conference President Richard G Scott gave a talk called “The Sustaining Power of Faith in Times of Uncertainty and Testing” In this talk he says “Faith in God and in His guidance through the Holy Spirit will sustain you in an increasingly more challenging world.” Faith will forge strength of character available to you in times of urgent need. Such character is not developed in moments of great challenge or temptation. That is when it is used. Character is woven patiently from threads of principle, doctrine, and obedience. In James we read: “The trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” The bedrock of character is integrity. Worthy character will strengthen your capacity to obediently respond to the direction of the Spirit. Righteous character is what you are becoming. It is more important than what you own, what you have learned, or what goals you have accomplished. It allows you to be trusted. Righteous character provides the foundation of spiritual strength. It enables you in times of trial and testing to make difficult, extremely important decisions correctly even when they seem overpowering. It is through our faith that we will be able to endure to the end.

I encourage each of you to look for ways this month to complete some of your Faith Value Experiences. If you have already finished Faith, look for ways to strengthen your faith and help others.