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."