October Week 1: Leadership Academy

WEEK 1: Leadership Academy

A look at VIRTUE and how it relates to our Freedom, both as individuals and as a society.

*Each week, you need to meet with your parents or a mentor and review the material for the week so you can individually tailor it to your studies: powerful and necessary :).

"Starting Point":
1. Review our Poem and Scripture for the month
2. Consider the following quote:

"Elders Maxwell, Holland, and President Hinckley remind us forcefully that constitutional freedom cannot endure without personal virtue."                                             Just and Holy Principles, pg xiii

3. Do a word study on "Virtue"--make sure to include scriptures!
4. Read this:

Many years ago I heard the story of the son of King Louis XVI of France. King Louis had been taken from his throne and imprisoned. His young son, the prince, was taken by those who dethroned the king. They thought that inasmuch as the king’s son was heir to the throne, if they could destroy him morally, he would never realize the great and grand destiny that life had bestowed upon him.

They took him to a community far away, and there they exposed the lad to every filthy and vile thing that life could offer. They exposed him to foods the richness of which would quickly make him a slave to appetite. They used vile language around him constantly. They exposed him to lewd and lusting women. They exposed him to dishonor and distrust. He was surrounded 24 hours a day by everything that could drag the soul of a man as low as one could slip. For over six months he had this treatment—but not once did the young lad buckle under pressure. Finally, after intensive temptation, they questioned him. Why had he not submitted himself to these things—why had he not partaken? These things would provide pleasure, satisfy his lusts, and were desirable; they were all his. The boy said, “I cannot do what you ask for I was born to be a king.”

4. Read "The Freedom Factor" by Gerald Lund.  Read at least pages 97-end after reading the synposis below to get the feeling we are looking for. Pay attention to behaviors, quotes, or feelings you notice or feel while reading.

5. Review the "Be Pro-Active" Chapter in "The 7 Habits for Highly-effective Teens."  Choose a baby step (or create your own) and practice it. Share in class how you are applying this principle in your studies. Consider the following questions: How can being pro-active help us preserve our liberty?  Does being pro-active increase our liberty?  How about our ability to live virtuous lives? 

"Bunny Trails":
Select from the following or pick your own--
-Write a paper based upon the Freedom Factor or persuasive essay.  Possible topics:

Was the book convincing that we should not have communism.  Why or why not?

Different people had different approaches to how to govern.  Compare and contrast two of them, using quotes and examples.  

-Watch this video about modesty and sexual purity:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31aK2Y9yvZc 
...then ask yourself how does their choice to be pure and virtuous give them freedom, freedom to be themselves, freedom from guilt, and freedom to feel God’s love and freedom to feel the Holy Ghost?  Do some more study and research on this and tell us what you find.

-Read pages 8-9 or 19-23 of "Our Constition Rocks" and relate it to "The Freedom Factor."  You can either share with someone verbally or in writing your thoughts. Reconsider the quote about the relationship between freedom and virtue when thinking about this.  What principles are there?  What is the messages they share?  Are they true?  Can you find scriptures or words of the prophets to validate or discredit them?

-Read the whole article in "The King's Son" story quoted above and act out the story for someone.  Share your favorite quotes and any thoughts you have about it.  Find other videos or thoughts that help inspire people to remain virtuous and share them!

-Review "What would the Founding Father's Think?" after reading "The Freedom Factor" and notice any connections you may have.  Bring them to share in a presentation type of your choosing.

-What other things did the readings above make you think of?  What stood out as interesting to you?  Do a brain cloud, pick a topic that you feel interested in or inspired to do.  Research it in depth and bring it to class to share!

-Do a more in-depth study of "Be Pro-Active" complete with conference talks, scriptures, videos or examples and share them in a FHE or with us in class.

More Bunny Trail ideas!
-  Read, watch or listen to Elder Hales talk from the April 2014 conference about obedience and being obedient as a society to God's laws.  Sing, play or listen to "Do What Is Right!" and then think of any connections or ah-hahs you have.  Share the quotes, connections and thoughts you have in any way you would like: skit, powerpoing, speech, etc.  You could also learn the song "Do What Is Right!" in sign language here, perform it for us, and share why it is important to do what is right.

"Project Time"
Start a project this week that you feel inspired to as you start your study of Virtue and how it relates to you and your freedom.  It can be a week-project or a month-project.  Report to us in class how it is going.

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Synopsis of first 97 pages of "The Freedom Factor" by Gerald Lund:
Nathaniel Gorham, an original Founding Father, visits young Bryce Sherwood, a rising aide to a Washington senator and a key player in an attempt to pass an amendment that would eliminate the checks and balances built into the Constitution. Bryce refuses to change his position.

Meanwhile, Bryce is falling in love with Leslie Adams, a spirited young history teacher who is passionate about defending the Constitution.  While they enjoy each other greatly, their different feelings about the Constitution keep getting in their way.

Bryce is also being enticed to join Elliot Mannington, the passionate, charismatic leader of the new ammendment.  Bryce feels special and selected by Mannington's attention.  Mannington, hearing of Bryce's growing attachment to Leslie, demands that Bryce sever the relationship.

Read pages 62-65 which covers one of the key conversations between Gorham and Bryce.

Then you can start reading at page 97 to cover the key section of the book that I want read for CORE class.

There is a lot of character building during the first section, but if you are pressured on time, I would prefer you focused on finishing up the book from 97-294.  You can still come to CORE class if you only read these parts along with the synopsis.  We will be doing a simulation based upon this book, so get ready!