January week 4: Imaginative Arts

Monthly Theme: The Role of God in Society and our Lives

PRINCIPLE: Courage

POEM/SCRIPTURE of the MONTH: (see if you can have these memorized by the end of the month :)!)

Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

(read through the whole poem once  week, but try to memorize at least the part at the end)
FEARLESS THOU SHALT BE
In the wake of yawning decadence,
In the arms of dreadful pestilence
In the eyes of hopeless impudence,
Fearless Thou shalt be!
When the time is ripe to cast the sword
When the time is prime to spread the word,
When evil’s ugly head is reared,
Fearless Thou shalt be!
When it’s time to do the best things right,
When it’s time to hold your stance and fight
When you don’t look back to dread your plight,
Fearless Thou shalt be!
When evil’s deed is unvanquished
When all good seems to have perished
When good almighty’s left ravished
Fearless Thou shalt be!
For darkness comes before the light
Victory comes as the hero’s right
Tarry not, Stand up and fight!
Fearless Thou shalt be!
--anonymous 

Imaginative Arts week focus: Courage to DO

KNOW: Create Knowledge by studying the following

1) Before you begin your studies, plan this week's studies and discuss it with your parents. Use something like a SAR (Student Accountability Report) and weekly parent mentor meeting (PMM)

2) Read the following:
- Joshua 10:25, 2 Timothy 2:1-6, and D&C 128: 22 
-The last chapters of “The Last Battle”
-“Way To Be” Ch 9: Be Prayerful: 

-Read the following and memorize your favorite two lines:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.... You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you... We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Re-read the poem titled "When Nature wants a Man" and think about how it relates to courage.  I would do it while listening to the song below :)!

3) Watch the following video:

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-05-005-dare-to-stand-alone?category=mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2012

4) Watch/listen to "Game of Thrones":

UNDERSTANDING: Choose ONE of the following to increase your understanding for our book discussion:
-Do a word study on "soldier."  Come prepared to share with the class :)! 

-Think of your own way to teach something you learned from The Last Battle. Remember, understanding requires action so knowledge can sink into your heart. Have a parent, or mentor, approve your inspirement.

-We are living in the Last Days and taking part in the “Last Battle” before the end of the world. Make a list of some of the enemy’s tactics in the book and see if you can find some ways how you see them around you today. Also, list some of the tactics used by those on Aslan’s side and how you might use some of them today. Teach us what you learned.

-Pick your favorite scene in the book and represent it in some way (a skit, a picture, a poem, etc). Teach us why you liked that scene and what you learned from it.

-There were several leaders in this book such as: Shift, Trinian, Tash, Aslan, Rishda Tarkaan, any of the Queens and Kings of Narnia, and others. Pick two leaders and compare how they reacted to uncertain or hard things.  How did they show courage? Share what you learned in your own way.

-Things became more “real” as the characters went “further up and further in”. Have you ever seen this pattern in your life? Write about, or present in some way, how this might apply to our lives today.

-Why could the dwarves not see what everyone else could see? Have you ever felt like this or know someone who acts like this? What can you do to help yourself or others in this situation? Does that take courage? What must happen for people to want to see? Present your thoughts.

INTELLIGENCE: Choose one of the following to apply what you have learned:

-Choose to do a courageous action from your understanding about The Last Battle to work on this week. Record what you chose and how it went. 

-Teach your family what you learned from The Last Battle in a family lesson. Give them a challenge and take the challenge yourself. Record how it went.

- Choose a weapon or tactic of the Spirit that you want to become an expert in using to bless others. Set a goal on how you will practice. Follow through (you may want to ask someone to check on you or write it somewhere where you’ll remember to check on yourself). Record what you learned.

-Pray and ask for guidance in how you can become a better soldier for the Lord. Write down and act on your prompting. Record how it went.

-Consider everything you have learned about courage this month and bring something from the “Imaginative Arts” lens to share with us something that inspires you about courage: poetry, art, music, etc.