For A Change

For A Change...

My husband Bret and I went to the movies this week and as I was waiting I saw this on the door. There was one by the pop machine and registers as well. Now you may look at this and think, "Thats a cool idea", where I look at it and say, "That's my idea!." I mean really...For our project last semester we were required to create a lemonade business. As a team with some of my class members, we had to come up with some ways to measure metrics of the business and get input from our customers. My big idea was to have a "Happy Button" to hit if you liked our product or experience at our shop. Seeing this at the theatre literally made my heart sing! I felt like maybe I can have good ideas that would be useful in a company. I applaud them for using such a clever idea!

This week we celebrated the 4th of July. I had an amazing experience. I woke up and listened to someone recite the Declaration of Independence as we got ready to go to the parade at 7:30 am. (Listen here.) Crazy, the parade was early I know, but our little grandkiddos were so excited to go. It turned out to be great fun and after a quick breakfast we each went our own way to celebrate the day. Bret and I decided to check out the Freedom exhibit downtown.  We had heard that Glen Beck, a well known radio personality had brought some articles to display for the weekend and thought it might be interesting. (See here the St. George News report.) It was much more than I expected. I am a museum buff anyway so this was a treat and I must say, I was....well, a little WOWED! Not only did we get to see important documents, flags, artifacts etc., we even had the Declaration of Independence printed for free on an original printing press they had on display. Glen Beck himself took time to explain about some of his collection. He asked for someone to say an opening prayer and then as I listened I realized he was actually teaching the class material we have been studying. He said that it is so important for us to align our passion with God and what he needs us to do. To become who he needs us to become. When we do he provides the way for us to do it. He said his desire to begin to collect important American documents, came in an unexpected moment of prayer and contemplation. It grew in importance as he began collecting. We learn so much from history and so much of it is being lost. The history curriculum in schools has changed dramatically and to have it available for those who would want it is so important. Beck is passionate about making it available for everyone.

I believe in this great country. I believe that our founding fathers understood the Shetobreyon principle as described by Elder Gay in his address, "Entrepreneurship and Consecration." Shetobreyon is said to have described it like this, "In the days of service, all things were founded, in the days of special privilege, they deteriorated, and in the days of vanity they are destroyed." In the days of the Revolutionary war, vanity was destroyed as men and women of the American colonies had tasted freedom. Leaders and common folk placed their lives on the line in service to their God and country and it blesses you and me today. They indeed changed the world!  And in their honor we must hold true to those same values.

The great people that settled the colonies were pioneers of their day. They learned to work together for the common good and in service even to death for each other, the greatest nation under God was established. People were freed from the tyranny of King George and this freedom made way for growth and prosperity that had been long in the making. People were ready "for a change."

What I Have Learned...

• I have learned that we are all pioneers and have something to give.
• I have learned that the Shetobreyon Principle is comparable to the pride cycle that we see in the scriptures. We must always be building upon the foundation of service to God and our fellow man or reap destruction.
• I learned from Elder Gay that, "It's not what you have, but who you are. That it is not what you say but what you do"
• I learned that I must search deeply to come to know what I would be willing to die for. These are where my true values lie.
• I learned from Jeffery R Hollands,"Are We Not All Beggars?", that we are all beggars and that "because we have been given much, we too must give."
• I learned from the example of Sister Teresa that every little effort is of worth and counts even in the largest scheme of things,
• I learned from Elder Gray that the Lord gave us an unfinished world to allow us to use what we have to create, to sing, to paint, and to process with the resources he has given us. From this I feel we can learn more of what it is to be more like him. When we do we are anxious to serve and love what we are doing.
• In "What's a Business For?" by Charles Handy, I learned that we should really be asking the question,"Whom is business for?" "A good business is a community with a purpose, and a community is not something to be "owned."(Handy)
• I learned from President Kimball that the cure for worlds poverty is through the paying of tithes and offerings.
• I was reminded that we were prepared from the foundation of the world for the mission God has for each of us.

What I Have Yet To Learn...

• The "How." I feel I have learned so much and my mind is exploding with thoughts and ideas, but how to zero in on what is most important is not there yet. I will keep trusting the Lords direction.
• Still working on organization.
• Still working on retaining what I am learning.
• Still working on time management.
• Still working to be more confident with technology.

Spiritual Insights...

A widow of Zarephath gave her last bit of meal to feed a prophet from another land. For her service  she was blessed. She did what she could with what she had and the Lord provided the miracle.

1 Kings 17:14

"For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waist. Neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth."

Goals...

• Get ready for family to come.
• Stay on top of my homework and finish as early as possible.
• Check in to find out more about what I need to do my internship. 
• Look for meaningful ways to serve in my personal life and in our business.