Monday, February 26, 2007

Proclaiming the Proclamation

Okay, guys, our Bishop has given our entire ward the challenge to memorize the Family Proclamation! One sister even developed a beautiful book, complete with pictures to help us all memorize better. I even copied it for each of our children to have for their own purposes to teach their children. We have been promised that when difficult questions come that the Proclamation will keep us from being deceived or from getting confused!!!

But why is it I have such a hard time memorizing!!????? I still am at the third paragraph, still looking at the pictures to try to remember. Wow, and I still have, what, six more large paragraphs to go. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Proclamation. I remember when President Hinckley spoke in the General Relief Society Conference in 1995 and I was by myself sitting on my bed watching it, when he Proclaimed this document. I sat up so ready to hear what he was going to say. It took us all by surprise!! It was an incredible experience. I knew that it was inspired perfectly for us. So here it is 12 years later and look at what has happened to society. There is no question in my mind that it was given for a purpose.

I do love what Pres. Hinckley has to say, he has such a positive outlook, which I need, by the way, and one thing stuck out today in my personal study: "God did not place us on earth to fail. .... that your efforts as parents will not be counted as failure unless you give up".

So everyone, back to memorizing the Proclamation. At least I have the first 2 paragraphs down really good!!!

2 comments:

Lara Neves said...

Memorizing is hard. I heard that if you are moving forward while memorizing you will retain better...maybe do it while you're walking the mall when you do it.

My girls have the first paragraph down as long as the pictures are available. :)

Hilary said...

Now, I know that I am putting one tiny toe into hell right here... but honestly, I think the idea is that we know what the proclamation says.
Yes, if we are good memorizers, memorizing it was great.... but I am sometimes shocked at all the memorization that goes-on in our church. I mean, we are NOT MONKS. :) I know the main truths, and I fear that's just going to have to be good enough for me.
BTW, one of my YW memorized Jesus the Christ for Personal Progress, and we all went off on how great it was, and she went inactive one month later -- perhaps that time would've been better spent.... :)