Early to Bed, Early to Rise, and an Introduction to Inspiration Lamp Post

Good early morning! I’m writing this at just after 7 am (I’m posting it a little later than that) on a Saturday morning. Most teenagers don’t get up till way later than that. I myself don’t get up this early on the weekends. But I read this post (I’ll get back to it in a second), and this Ensign article, and I realized that my sleep habits are TERRIBLE. Seriously, I usually turn off my lights at around 11:30 every night before getting up at 7:15 for school. And then I can barely keep my eyes open. Sometimes after we finish family scripture study, I go back upstairs and sleep for another half hour or so.

I stumbled across the blog post I linked to just after my thirteenth birthday. My aunt emailed my mom this awesome Youtube video and I decided to check out the website linked to at the end. I was impressed. Inspiration Lamp Post is a website run by six teenagers (most, if not all of them, are LDS!) who have a mission. What is it?

“To create a culture of excellence among teenagers.” Isn’t that so amazing, especially in today’s world?!?! But these kids mean it. They are hard workers, most of them are homeschooled/self-directed learners, they read classics and success books like this one, and they write about it!

Dillon Kinser, one of the teenagers, wrote the Nocturnal vs. Diurnal post. I felt pretty guilty, and have been resolving to get on a ‘10-6’ (follow-up on that in a minute) schedule since then, but the first time I actually did it was today. I got to bed around 10:30, and set my alarm for 6:30. Usually I just flip the switch on my (analog style) alarm clock and go back to sleep. But this blog post gives a tip: Put your alarm clock somewhere else in the room right before you go to sleep, so you have to stand up to go turn it off. You’ll be pretty awake by then. By the time you turn off your alarm, you’re awake enough to say your prayers and read your scriptures without your eyes drooping onto the page (or falling asleep while saying your prayers!).

Part of the reason for my late nights was that I was reading my scriptures. Not a bad thing, but I really could benefit more from them if I read them in the morning. Not only would I be saving sleep, but then I could use the power and principles found in the scriptures throughout my day instead of throughout my dreams. I mean, seminary uses that technique, and it seems to work!

So when I woke up at 6:30, I read my Bible (I’m now in Leviticus—where are you in the BIBLE Challenge?) and my Book of Mormon (Alma!). And then I came downstairs to write to you!

The second article, and the 10-6 schedule. Well, the article basically talks about improving our sleep habits, and recounts the many scriptural and prophetic promises associated with that. One of them, from President Hinckley, says “If you go to bed at 10:00 and get up by 6:00 a.m., things will work out for you.” Please read the rest of the article! It is so worth it!

The prophets and apostles get up very early to do their pondering and often to receive revelation. Former Relief Society General President, Sister Julie B. Beck, told a group of auxiliary leaders at a training that she “works with a bunch of insomniacs”, referring to the Brethren. She said that they would often say something along the lines of “Oh, I was up at three this morning and I noticed this in the scriptures”, etc. I’m pretty sure this is part of why they are such great men!

So, maybe you should try to get a little more sleep this week. This month? This whole year? Well, it’s one of my New Year’s Resolutions, so that’s my plan!

See ya in the morning! (Okay, maybe that backfired, considering the time—but maybe the General Authorities consider it ‘high noon’ already!)

Thank God for Sunshine!!!!!!

I am so grateful for sunshine!!! It brings so much happiness into my life and the lives of others. I have a missionary cousin, who, in every email she sends, tells us how wonderful the sunshine is! And it never gets old. No matter how many times she has, or will, let us know how much she loves the sunshine, I don't think I will get tired of it. I totally understand how she feels! The sun is one of the most wonderful gifts from our Heavenly Father! 

In Alma 30:44, Alma tells Korihor, the Anti-Christ, that "all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." I think that the sun can be included in this context as a planet, even if it isn't actually one. It is a wonderful witness of God's unfailing creation. 

Sometimes the flowers aren't in bloom. Sometimes the leaves on the trees are not there. Sometimes it doesn't rain. "If the flowers, the leaves, and the rain are all creations of God," someone might ask, "then why are they not always here? Is God not 'the same, yesterday, today, and forever?" Yes, He is. The flowers will bloom again, the sky will eventually shed rain, and the leaves will grow back. "But they are not always the same; they are not always here." Look at the sun. It is always the same, it is always there. Without fail, every morning the sun will rise somewhere. It is a beautiful and constant reminder of God's mercy and love and gentleness.

There are several verses throughout the Standard Works that tell us of the glory and symbolism of the sun. I love D&C 88:7, which talks about the relationship and similarities of Jesus Christ and the sun. (Another missionary cousin of mine once told us of a church marquee she saw--'Today's weather forecast: God reigns and the Son shines!' It goes perfectly with this verse!)

A few other verses are D&C 76:70, which is about the symbolism of the sun in relation to the celestial kingdom, and 2 Samuel 23:4, once again talking about how Jesus Christ is like the sun. The sun is a wonderful way to teach people about the Savior!

Tell me your favorite things about the sun!

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On another, totally different note: In Sunday School today, my teacher showed us a neat video...I really recommend it for FHE or just for some uplifting media.

Scriptures Legacy

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Good Works Rock!

Hey everyone! Last night at my Beehive class activity, my Beehive adviser signed off Good Works Required Experience #1. I actually did this one with my whole Beehive class as part of a Personal Progress activity we did two weeks ago. 

This is the experience:

Learn why service is a fundamental principle of the gospel. Read Matthew 5:13–16; 25:34–40; Galatians 6:9–10; James 1:22–27; Mosiah 2:17; 4:26; and 3 Nephi 13:1–4. Others often give service you may not notice, such as preparing meals, reading to or listening to younger children, repairing clothing, or helping a brother or sister. For two weeks record in your journal the quiet acts of service your family members and others perform. Acknowledge their service in some meaningful way.

We read these scriptures as a class and discussed them, then went home and individually recorded the acts of service we saw others doing, around our home and elsewhere. The acts of service could be as small as picking up a crying sibling and comforting her, to making a full-fledged pancake dinner!! I noticed so many diverse acts of service I otherwise probably would have overlooked. Another reason I love Personal Progress--it keeps me on track and helps me see so much good!

'Acknowledging' the service sounded a little daunting, but when it says 'meaningful', it just means that you shouldn't just be like, "Oh, by the way, thanks for doing [fill in the blank]." Actually, it just needs to be simple and sincere, like this: "Hey, I really appreciate your going out of your way to do service. It didn't go unnoticed." If they don't believe you, you could flash your Personal Progress journal and say, "Look, I even wrote it down!" 

See? Personal Progress experiences, when you break them down, are really not as hard as they seem. Just take them at your own pace and you'll do great!

Have a great Thursday!

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