Significant Institute Dates for 2013-2014

Here are the significant dates for the rest of this year for institute:

• Nov. 10: 2:00-3:30PM, Institute Lunch & Devotional, (we will be able to continue to do these with the help of the wives from the YSA Bishoprics)
•   Dec. 9: 6:20-7:50PM, Closing Institute Social at the AFA (typically held in a ballroom, specific location to be announced)
• Dec. 16: 7:00-8:30PM, Christmas Institute Choir Sing-Along, Jamboree (this has typically been done as a YSA Ward combined activity in place of FHE), led by Sister De Ford

Here are the dates for 2014:

• Jan. 19, 2014, 2:00-3:30, Jamboree: Institute Lunch & Devotional Rebroadcast
• Mar. 9, 2014, 2:00-4:00, Jamboree: Institute Lunch & Devotional Rebroadcast
• May 4, 2014, 6:00-7:30, Lexington, Live Broadcast (all graduating high school seniors are invited to this one)
• July 13, 2014, 6:00-7:00, Jamboree, Institute Fireside, speaker TBA
• Aug. 24, 2014, 2:00-4:00, Jamboree: Institute Lunch & Devotional: Four Stake Presidents Devotional
• May 25, 2014, 2:00-3:00, Jamboree: Institute Graduation
• Sep. 21, 2014, 2:00-4:00, Jamboree: Institute Lunch & Devotional Rebroadcast
• Nov. 9, 2014, 2:00-4:00, Jamboree: Institute Lunch & Devotional Rebroadcast
• Dec. 15, 2014, 7:00-8:30, Jamboree: Christmas Institute Choir Sing-Along

There will more than likely be adjustments here and there, so be sure to write these dates in pencil rather than pen J .

Teaching Religion 327: The Pearl of Great Price

Teaching The Pearl of Great Price is a pearl in and of itself. I just came from teaching my Wednesday Pearl of Great Price (Religion 327) at UCCS. Our numbers are not what they should be there, but for those who come, it is a sheer delight to study this book with!

I am ever amazed at some of the things we learn about together, for example: Adam is so obedient. He is commanded to offer the firstlings of his flocks as a form of worship, so he does, without question. The passage says, "And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord" (Moses 5:5), no questions about why, or what for, he just does what he is told and is content to do so. The potent principle here for me is simply obedience, or as the Prophet Joseph Smith said, "When the Lord commands, do it" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 2007, 160).

Later, when an angel appears and asks Adam why he is offering sacrifices to the Lord, Adam simply says, “I know not, save the Lord commanded me” (Moses 5:6), and then the angel teaches Adam the meaning of the sacrifices, that they are done in “similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father” (Moses 5:7). Adam learns the why through obedience! How much more could I learn if I did not waste so much time asking the Lord “why?” upfront and just went to work obediently like Adam!

Even the Savior of the world had to learn by practicing the principle of obedience. We learn through the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Savior “received not the fullness at first, but received grace for grace; and that he received not the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fullness” (D&C 93:12-13). And because He, the Savior, allowed Himself to learn through obedience, “he received all power, both in heaven and on the earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt with him” (D&C 93:17).

The principle here is this simple: As I am obedient to the light, truth and knowledge the Lord has imparted to me through the Holy Ghost, the scriptures and the words of the living prophets, I am blessed with more light and truth.  The principle is so easy!

     Another doctrine we learned about in Moses today came from Moses 4:27. As Adam and Eve were being put out of the Garden of Eden, the scripture says, “Unto Adam, and also unto his wife, did I, the Lord God, make coats of skins, and clothed them.” At first glance, it almost seems like, “Oh, that’s nice, the Lord didn’t send them out into the old cold world with nothing but their fig leafs sown together!” But there is much more to it than that. Where do coats of skins come from? From an animal, or as I like to say, a critter. A critter was sacrificed by the Lord, not just for Adam’s warmth from the elements, but as a sacrifice, more than likely done in “similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father” (Moses 5:7). If this is so, then the Atonement of Jesus Christ was going into full effect immediately after the Fall, truly making it an “infinite atonement” (2 Nephi 9:7) as described by Jacob, reaching both backward as well as forward from the meridian of time, which had not even occurred yet!

     The Pearl of Great Price is rich with doctrines and principles which point me toward the Savior. I bear my testimony that The Pearl of Great Price is exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith said it was, a “vouchsafed…supply of strength….” (HC, 1:98). I am learning, and am so grateful to the Lord for the precious gift of the Holy Ghost to teach me and for great institute students and faculty who help me along too! 

Religion 130 Missionary Preparation to Come to Fall Class Schedule

Due to an expressed need, we will start an Institute sponsored Missionary Preparation course on Thursday evenings at the Jamboree building (8295 Jamboree Circle), beginning at 7:00PM. The first class for this term will convene Thursday, September 26.

With continued permission from the local Church Board of Education Chair, President McConkie, the Institute continues to invite all young people who will graduate from high school and immediately leave on their missions to Missionary Preparation. This includes those who will graduate early (i.e. in December) and leave in the Spring. Please note, however, that attending institute as high school student does not satisfy seminary graduation requirements. Students in high school who choose to attend Missionary Preparation continue to need to attend seminary. And unless directed otherwise by a their Bishop or Stake President, no young person should miss their youth activities to attend this course.

Please note that this is an invitation for your youth planning to go on a mission directly after high school and not a directive of any kind. 

Colorado Springs Institute of Religion Final Fall 2013 Schedule

Fall Colorado Springs Institute Schedule – Begins 9-2-13

USAFA—Cadets Only*
MONDAYS 6:20-7:50 p.m.	121 – Book of Mormon Br. Ryan Webb	Fairchild Hall – L-2
	327- Pearl of Great Price Br. Sam Palmer	Fairchild Hall – L-6
WEDNESDAYS 6:30-7:30 p.m.	092R – Writings of John Elder & Sister Sparrow	USAFA Community Chapel
Aeroplaza Building (1310 Aeroplaza Drive)
TUESDAYS 7:30-9:00 p.m.	301 – Old Testament, Gen.-2 Sam. Br. & Sis. Frazier	High Council Room
Jamboree Building (8285 Jamboree Circle)
TUESDAYS 7:00-8:30 p.m.	333- Teachings of the Living Prophets Br. R. Woodruff	Multi-purpose Rooms 19-20
WEDNESDAYS 6:20 – 7:50 a.m.	341- LDS History/ Joseph Smith- Martyrdom Br. Sam Palmer	Multi-purpose Rooms 19-20
7:00-8:30 p.m.	110R-Institute Choir or ChorusRyan Sis. Sally DeFord	Chapel
THURSDAYS 7:00-8:30 p.m.	121- Book of Mormon Br. Sam Palmer	PH Room
	392R – Writings of Isaiah Br. Reed Romney	Multi-purpose Rooms 19-20
	*130 – Missionary Preparation Br. & Sister Mills	Multi-purpose Rooms 8-10
	324-Docrine & Covenants Sections 1-76 Sisters Anderson & Snell	Relief Society Room
UCCS (University Center)**
WEDNESDAYS 12:00-1:30 p.m.	327 – Pearl of Great Price Br. Sam Palmer	UC 126
Fort Carson (Building 2359 at Titus Blvd & Magrath Street)***
WEDNESDAYS 6:30-8:00 p.m.	324-Docrine & Covenants Sections 1-76 Elder & Sister Ford	Provider Chapel, Building 1350

A class with fewer than 5 students may be dropped.  Please invite a friend!

For further information, please call 719-574-5204

Email palmersj@ldschurch.org  or michelle.cooke@ldschurch.org.

Register online at www.ldsces.org/cs

Dinner & CES Firesides at Jamboree, 2:00-4:00, 11/10

Institute Social Activity every Thursday night at Jamboree beginning at 8:30PM!

*Starts September 26

The More I Learn...

At the beginning of my third year as a director of an LDS Institute of Religion, I feel like I am actually getting the hang of the job, well, kind of at least. Here is the best comparison I can come up with: For several years I served as a Forest Service Smokejumper. My first year was really tough, the "Rookie Year." The training was intense, but I got through it like many of my peers. But still, every time the fire horn went off on the base my belly was filled with anxiety, and when it was time for me to jump from the airplane to fight a fire, I was nearly sick with anxiety. My second year, the "Snookie Year," was a little better, I felt a little more comfortable under the parachute canopy. I hit the spot most nearly every time. By my third year, I felt good. Still some anxiety when I went out of the airplane, but I was confident in my ability to manipulate the parachute to the spot safely and accurately. My fourth year I owned the business of smokejumping. When I stepped into the door to jump out there was no anxiety and no doubt I knew my business and I knew it better than anyone around me. Smokejumping was mine, I owned it.

Now starting my third year as an institute director I feel pretty good. I have a little anxiety at times, like whether I am going to drive my institute choir director nuts, or if I will actually have any students in my classes.... But I feel pretty good about how things are going and more importantly where we are going.

Here are some thoughts I put out to my faculty today, these thoughts are really principles, which if practiced, will help my teachers and I have great "jumps" if you will, into our classrooms and into the lives of our students:

Principle One: Enroll each student. “…And their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God…” (Moroni 6:4). Please ensure each student who comes to your class is enrolled, if they have not signed up online at www.ldsces.org/cs already, they need to complete the registration sheet in class (please see attached). Far too many students will tell you they will take care of it online, but do not. The registration sheet then needs to be given to Sister Michelle Cooke or me so they can be input into our system.

Principle Two: Keep an accurate roll. “…All things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them” (Moses 1:35). Please treat each class as if it is not over until you have accounted for every student who comes to your class by taking roll and recording it in WISE. This can be a revelatory experience if you allow it to be.

Principle Three: Reach one more person. “…Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (D&C 81:5). Please reach out to students who have attended your class but are not coming regularly. Please also reach out to young people who have not come to institute who need your invitation. A simple text, email or phone call will often make all of the difference.

Principle Four: Help your students study the scriptures. “…It is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity” (D&C 72:3). Please take care to collect daily reads weekly and record it in WISE under “Schedule Details,” then input the number of reads in “Title” or “Description.”

Principle Five: Yearn for improvement. “And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church…” (D&C 82:18). Teach great lessons by the power of the Spirit so students want to come, but please do not ever be satisfied. Ask the Lord what went well in your lesson and what could have been done better, be humble and He will help you improve. See pp. 78-79 of the Gospel Teaching & Learning Manual for more.

Every day I learn something new, a better way to do something, a more efficient way of doing things. I don't have it all perfect, no way, not even close, but I am striving and the Lord is teaching me.  

AFA Split of Classes

So here is a letter I put out sometime back on my Air Force Academy blog, it explains why I split the classes out there. I have had to put up with a good amount of passive-aggressive behavior because of the split, but that is okay. When I made the change I did it with a lot of prayer and counsel with local Priesthood leaders. We all felt it was right, but most importantly, the Lord impressed upon the director of the institute it was right. 

The only feeling I really have left to express on the matter is directed to those who have chosen to allow this decision to still chafe after all this time: I love you, but get over it. Really. I do really love each of the Cadets I have had the opportunity to teach at the AFA. Really. But it is really time to move on. Goodness me, guys, if the AF scrapped all the F-16s in their air order of battle tomorrow, and you would never ever get to fly one, would you allow it to rob you of enjoying flying an F-15, a C-5, or C-17, or whatever? I would hope you would learn to fly one of those with a big grin on your face too! Change happens, and it is not always the change we want or desire, but if there is one consistency in life we all need to adapt to it is change. 

Here is the letter:

"Brothers & Sisters,

"The Church Board of Education requires all students who attend Institute to take BofM to graduate. Because of the timing of cadets’ missions and a four year rotating block of classes: BofM, NT, OT, D&C, not every cadet was able to take the BofM, thus putting our institute out of harmony with the Board of Education & prophetic vision of the Chairman of the Board of Education, Pres. Monson.

"To rectify the situation and to ensure all cadets at the AFA were able to meet the requirements of the Board, I counseled with the Priesthood leadership of the North Stake, i.e.,  the Stake Presidency, the High Council member over the AFA institute program, the two YSA Bishops who were serving at time, as well as discussing the matter with several cadets. I then prayerfully made the decision as the program administrator to make the change to split the classes to ensure every cadet who attends institute at the AFA could meet the minimum requirement to complete institute. I felt a confirmation from the Spirit of the Lord that it was the right decision.

"Perhaps there is some other way we did not consider to rectify the situation; do you have suggestions to ensure all of the cadets can meet the requirements to complete institute? If so, please feel free to share them; if not, may I invite you to pray and receive the same confirmation I did about the path we have taken? 

"BroPalmer"