Standards Week

Our Ward does many a good thing and this annual event is one of them. Early in the school year for all the youth 12 and over the focus for one week is the For Strength of Youth Pamphlet. The standards are something we have taught in Family Home Evening, made the subject of dinner table discussion, shared with friends at work and neighbors, carry in my wallet and brief case; and would make a huge difference if everyone in the world would live by them.

Knowing the standards is good - living them is better. Two stories shared at this evening's fireside launch; both with a different twist on learning to stand for the right.


The first was a story by NBC Sport's writer Shaun Powell on Decade’s dominant force wasn’t athlete or team - no not Kobe - Shaq - Tiger but:

1. Temptation. The undisputed force of the decade. It's not even close. Her perfume filled the air. Her stiletto footprints were everywhere. Too many in sports couldn't resist her. How many lives did she professionally and/or personally damage?

Temptation seduced many into taking drugs and brought down Clemens, Bonds, A-Rod, Canseco, the facade over the great home run chase and also broke into the home shared by the fastest man and woman in the world and brought down Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, too.

Temptation also took others from their wives/significant others/baby mamas because they just had to flirt with a skirt. She saved her biggest name for last, whipping Tiger with a month to spare. But she also shook up Kobe, Barkley, Shaq, Jordan, Brady, Pitino, Brodeur, Steve Phillips (twice!), Pokey Chatman, Dwyane Wade and Matt Leinart. And those are just the ones we know about.

The next story was an excerpt from a Clayton Christensen Harvard business review article entitled: how will you measure your life ( which Brigham cited over a month ago and I am just catching up.) The key take away for Standards Week being the impact of just letting your standards slip once - does it matter.

"Clayton Christensen has a very interesting article in the HBR from his commencement address to this year's MBA students. You can read it here: http://hbr.org/2010/07/how-will-you-measure-your-life/ar/1"

Then there was a cheesy poem about becoming a chocolate cupcake and the need to live within rules (the paper cup) in order to take form when heat is applied as you form - but I can't find a reference for it.

Anyhow, in summary, the standards follow:

Dating
• Prepare now for temple marriage.
• Begin dating only after you are sixteen.
• When you begin dating, go in groups or double date.
• Date only those with high standards.
• Avoid temptation.

Dress and Appearance
• Dress modestly to show respect for God and yourself.
• Avoid extremes in your clothing and appearance.
• Dress appropriately for all Church meetings and activities.

Friendshipping
• Choose good friends with whom you share common high standards.
• Go out of your way to help shy friends.
• Treat everyone with kindness and dignity.
• Invite your nonmember friends to Church activities.

Honesty
• Be honest with yourself.
• Be honest with others.
• Be honest with Lord.

Language
• Use language to build up and inspire others.
• Do not use profane, vulgar, or crude language.
• Never take the name of Deity in vain.
• Do not gossip.

Media
• Use only good media that will uplift and inspire yourself and others.
• Avoid pornography in all forms.
• Do not see vulgar movies or videos.
• Leave or change any immoral or suggestive situation.

Mental and Physical Health
• Keep your body, mind, and spirit healthy.
• Do not use drugs, alcohol, coffee, tea, or tobacco products.
• Remember your body is a temple of God where the Holy Spirit can dwell.

Music and Dancing
• Use good music to help you draw closer to Heavenly Father.
• Do not listen to music that encourages immorality, uses offensive language, or drives the Spirit away.
• When dancing, avoid full body contact or intimate positions with your partner.
• Plan and attend dances where the Spirit of the Lord may be present.

Sexual Purity
• Treat your date with respect, and expect respect in return.
• Abstain from premarital sex, petting, necking, sex perversion, masturbation, and preoccupation with sex in thought, speech, and action.
• Reserve sexual intimacy for marriage.
• Refrain from homosexual and lesbian activities.
• Seek help and counseling if you become a victim of rape, incest, or other sexual abuse.

Sunday Behavior
• Use the Sabbath to worship the Lord, strengthen family relationships, help others, and draw close to the Lord.
• Avoid seeking entertainment or spending money on the Sabbath.
• When possible, avoid working on Sunday.

Repentance
• If you have made mistakes, you can be cleansed through proper repentance.

Spiritual Help
• You are never alone. Rely on the Holy Ghost. Knowing what is right and wrong is always possible.