Read-A-Thon

We had pizza, salad, breadsticks, and Costco Red Velvet cake. What could be better? The reading of the scriptures in between all of the courses of food. Hooray!

I'm apologizing now for all the pictures of the young women and none of the young men. Sigh. I am biased, though. I love my girls! I do promise to take more of the boys next activity. Sorry, men!!

Day 12: Emily Freeman and Isaiah

Bah! I can't believe I forgot my camera! OK, I can believe it. My brain would be better used for a science project than in my skull these days.

Anyway, we had a great Red 5 activity tonight. We had LDS author Emily Freeman (click here for a list of books by Emily Freeman) come and talk to us about the Isaiah chapters coming up in our reading this week. She did an incredible job involving the youth in the activity, really helping them understand why Isaiah is important, how better to understand the language, and to invite the Spirit in your reading to better understand as well.

Thank you, Sister Freeman, for taking time away to better enrich our reading of the Book of Mormon!

Day 5: Easter Egg Hunt

Tonight's Red5 Activity was a blast! We had an Easter Egg hunt with all the youth. Inside the eggs were words that had to be put together to form a scripture from last week's reading. Teams had to put the correct wording together without the help of the scriptures, and if they needed help, they had to give away some of the candy they got from the other eggs.

Great activity, April and Daniel! Thank you!

Day 0: Bonfire and Kickoff

It's finally here! The bonfire and kickoff was tonight. We had a good turnout of young women, and a great turnout of young men. It was, after all, the last day of Spring Break, and many of the youth were out of town. 

So much work went into the planning of the bonfire. Mostly, it was the detailed fun stuff that Shannon did that made it all worthwhile. 

Yes, that is a Book of Mormon cake. Kohlers in Lehi makes them.

Kits given to all the youth. Included were the Red 5 Book, a Book of Mormon, red pencil,
and calendar of events during the 100 days.

We began the night with the bonfire and making s'mores. Socializing and food always bring us together! 

Cam, I had to. And yes, I have your Dad's permission to post this. :)

Moroni came out in all his glory to present the group with his story of protecting the plates and the sacred nature of the plates.Moroni went on to explain that he did hard things and that the youth could, too. He gave them the challenge to read the Book of Mormon, then turned the time over to Shannon (our Grand Master of Red 5) to explain the Red 5 Book, how the program will work, and to get the youth excited to participate in the activities, breakfasts, and being on a team with a captain to help. 

Aaron and Devyn's facial expressions are priceless as Moroni reveals the gold plates!

Our Captains: (from left to right): Hannah, Caitlin, Savannah, Kaylee and Brody (hiding), Trevor, Devyn.

Hannah's fifteen minutes of fame posing with Moroni

We had the privilege of hearing from two youth who have completed the Red 5 program recently and heard their testimonies. Brynn and Tanner were incredible, and I'm so grateful they could come and bear testimony of the program and the importance of reading the Book of Mormon. Thank you!!

We served up the Book of Mormon Cake and gave out their packets. 

Day 1 starts tomorrow. 

Let the games begin!!

Invite to the Bonfire/Kickoff: Day -10

I know, I know, the invite is going out WAY sooner than normal for an activity, but next week is Spring Break (the whole week), and many of our youth are going out of town for the whole week, and I want them to see the invite before they leave so that if there is an option of them coming home in time, they will. :)

April Calendar

An April calendar so we can all keep track of what's going on.

Click on the calendar to bring it up as a bigger image. If I make it bigger on here, it goes off the screen and into the right margin, and that bugs me. Sorry. Type A wins here.

Committee Called and Accepted

It took about ten days from submission to calling, but our Red5 Committee Members have been called and accepted. I can't wait to meet with them tomorrow night. We get to explain to them what their roles are and basically have a little pep rally. Here we go!

More Suspense: Day -12

Shannon put this one together. Mounted on red card stock and mailed in white envelopes.

I love love love President Monson's picture and expression. 

P.S. who has teeth that amazing at that age?!

The Suspense is Killing Me! Day -17

Only a numbers geek would put the days leading up to an event as negative numbers. 

Sorry, that's what you get. :)

We wanted the youth to begin looking for the Red5 logo everywhere and wondering what it is. You know, gathering the suspense a bit (or a lot). We hand delivered these handouts to each youth, complete with baggies of Sweedish fish attached to them. First delivery two weeks in advance. Next delivery: tomorrow. The third (the invite to the bonfire/kickoff): Thursday. 

Job Descriptions.

We had our big meeting with each representative from the auxiliaries on Sunday. A member from Sunday School, Elder's Quorum, Relief Society, Bishopric, High Priests, and Primary were all there. Plus, all the Young Men and Young Women leaders were there, too.

After filling them in on the juicy details of this awesome program, they were all ready to support and lend a helping hand.

We discussed the positions that needed to be filled as well as possible names of people to fill them. We also chatted about the mentor program and how to execute the assignments.

Here are the "job descriptions" if you will, that we have modified:

Red 5 Job Descriptions:

Book of Mormon Specialist (really, the Party Planner):

• Help organize/orchestrate the 5 major activities:
• Bonfire/kickoff
• Isaiah chapters
• Burying our swords
• Christ’s visit to the Americas
• Finale
• Purchasing/ordering:
• Red5 books
• Books of Mormon
• Pencils
• Etc.

Breakfast Coordinator:

• Work with RS to give/collect sign-up sheets for RS sisters to host and moderate at the breakfasts
• Work with breakfast hosts and moderators to remind and support them where needed. Reminder calls, getting substitutes, etc.
• Possibly buy supplies and deliver to hosts? At least let hosts know to keep breakfasts simple. Pancakes and one side, one drink?

Mentors Managers:

• Female MM and Male MM (husband and wife team?)
• Calls to mentors every other week. Check in with them, ask about problems, successes, etc.
• Return and report to Kristi and Jared.

Media Specialist:

• Post activities and reminders in newsletter and sacrament sheet.
• Head up and operate Facebook page
• Thermometer of progress on Bishop’s door
• Calendars to all (youth, leaders, mentors, etc.)
• Help get commitment letters and parental information letters out

Presentation to Ward Council

We had our combined sunday school meeting with our YM and YW leaders today. After a recap of the program, taking down the pros and cons, and asking for any qualms people had, we all were in agreement to go forward with the program.

The next step to accepting and implementing this program was presenting it to the Ward Council. Today was the day. I was so nervous. How would I compact a huge program and all the fantastic details and intricate beauties of it in a tiny slot of time, all the while trying to sell it to them and ask for their support? Oh, and not scare them too much with the crazy amount of information? I'm positive it was the Spirit helping me present Red5 in a calm, collected, concise, and justified manner. Everyone there had nothing but positive things to say and were all on board to help out.

Our next step is to set up a committee of key players (YM and YW leaders, bishopric, and a member from each auxiliary) to hash out the calendar and modifying details of the program. That will be a marathon meeting, but I cannot wait!

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?!

For the last few months, our ward has been trying to focus on how to get the youth to read the Book of Mormon.

I got a phone call from my wonderful Beehive advisor, Shannon, last Thursday. She said she ran across a program for reading the Book of Mormon in 100 days. It's called "Red 5." The ward that came up with this program is from east Lehi and the Young Women's president, Sharee Hill, said she would love to have us over to better explain it to us. (What, the 100 page book isn't enough explanation?) No. No, it isn't.

After being at sweet Sharee's house for over TWO AND A HALF HOURS, it was clear that Red 5 is not just a book. It's not just a simple hand-the-book-to-the-youth-and-let-them-go program. It's intense. Very intense. We're talking about Moroni presenting the program to the youth at a fireside. Flag flying. Burying our swords. Group breakfasts and devotionals every other week. Presentation on how to get through the Isaiah chapters. Captains of 5's, 10's, and 50's.  And that's just the tip of the ice berg. I left having heart palpitations, both from the intensity of the impending program as well as the knowledge that this program will richly develop anyone's testimony in the Book of Mormon, and therefore, their testimony of Jesus Christ.

Sharee warned us from the beginning that because this program was so powerful and spiritual, Satan would work HARD to get us to not follow through with the intensity of it; the power of it. She said we will be shocked to find the types of opposition we will face. Here we are just in the thinking stages, and I've already dealt with problem after problem. Offenses have been taken from the least offended people. Printing people have given me quotes from $.52/book to $5/book. People haven't followed through with simple tasks.

 All I can say is, "Satan, get out of my way. This will happen. Our youth will succeed. They will become closer to our Savior. They will gain a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon. They will accomplish doing hard things."