Therefore, when we build let us think we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work that our descendants will thank us for, and let us think, as we lay stone upon stone, that a time is to come when these stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, "See! This our fathers did for us."

* * * * * * * * *

Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts, the book of their deeds, the book of their words and the book of their art. Not one of these books can be understood unless we read the two others, but of the three the only trustworthy one is the last.

John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

I like John Ruskin. He was a level-headed and yet sympathetic man who wanted life to be enriched with a noble purpose, not merely the vanities of excesses in his day. While browsing the interweb for some of Ruskin's quotes (too lazy to pull out my college texts for this post, I suppose) I came across this blog: 

 “Therefore, when we build let us think that we build forever.  Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone.  Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for, and let us think as 

 we lay stone upon stone that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them and that men will say as they look upon the labor and the wrought substance of them, ‘See! this our fathers did for us.’”  John Ruskin

There we stood, admiring the amazing, awe-inspiring neo-gothic architecture surrounding us.  My son Benjamin and I were in Chicago for a little father/son getaway.  We were drawn into the Tribune Tower – iconic home of the Chicago Tribune Newspaper.  The quote from John Ruskin is etched into the floor of the magnificent entrance foyer.

What struck me the most about this moment was not necessarily the gorgeous architecture of this incredible structure, but the sentiments of Ruskin’s quote.  It caused me to ask myself a few questions:

What am I doing today that will be celebrated by my descendants?  Do I really live with a long-term vision, or am I merely living for today?  Is my life creating a benefit for future generations?  What are the “sacred stones” I am working with today that are laying the foundations of blessings for my descendants?

Really, these questions are all about legacy.  We will all leave a legacy.  What will your legacy be?  Will your legacy be one of benefit or detriment?  Will the seeds that you sow, the sacred stones with which you build, reap a harvest for the betterment of others, or your own benefit?

There are two kinds of people:  1. Those who will spend others for their own benefit, and 2. Those who will spend themselves for the benefit of others.  Ruskin is speaking to the second kind of person.  His sentiments ask us to examine the outcome of our efforts today in the perspective of generations to come.  What will the outcome of your leadership and your life be after you are gone from this world?   Will you leave a lasting legacy of benefit to future generations, or are you simply looking for your own personal benefit?

Are you leading in such a way that you may be gaining the world, but losing your heart in the midst of it?  The privilege of leadership obligates us to work for the benefit of others, and hopefully other generations.  There is an old adage that states, “You will reap what you sow.”  So, as a leader, what are you sowing?  Whatever you do today will leave a legacy.  We want to ensure that the legacy we leave will be celebrated.

So, what are some sacred stones with which we can build for the benefit of generations to come?  Justice.  Compassion.  Integrity.  Mercy.  Grace.  Humility.  Wisdom.  Generosity.  Love.  Faith.  Hope.  Sacrifice.  Commitment.   Courage.  Character.  Empathy.  Excellence.  Selflessness.  These stones have long term value.  As we build our lives with these sacred stones there is benefit for generations to come.  We do not want to build our lives with things that have no long term  value.

Let us ensure that we are building our lives, and therefore our legacy, with sacred stones that will benefit generations to come.   Do not just build for present delight nor for present use alone.  Let the work of our lives be such that our descendants will thank us, and let us know that as we lay sacred stone upon sacred stone that a time will come when men will celebrate as they look upon our labor.

Build with sacred stones – stones of long term value for the benefit of those who will take the baton from you and continue to run the race that you have started.  Build so those who come after you can stand on your shoulders and see further, for far greater good and impact that you may have been able to see.  Lead and live with a long-term perspective to see the work of your life celebrated by those who come after you.

“See, this our fathers did for us!”

Architecture

Eureka! I have found it! Here is the Inspirement for Everyone:

We are building paper models! Below are links to several skyscrapers and other interesting buildings. Cardstock and an X-acto knife will be your friends! Print one, build it, and bring it to share. Make it simple or elaborate, but don’t get in over your head—some of these are pretty serious. We’d love to hear any interesting facts or backstories about your structure.

Choose one (or more, if you are crafty): Bring it on Tuesday

http://www.papercraftsquare.com/tag/building-paper-model

https://sites.google.com/site/miniskyscrapers/miniskyscraperlinks

http://www.papercraftsquare.com/dubai-skyscrapers-diorama-free-building-paper-models-download.html

http://skyscrapermodels.us/models/model_main.html

This is a Frank Lloyd Wright house, but there are a number of links down the left side of the page as well:   http://papermau.blogspot.com/2012/09/frank-lloyds-fallingwater-house-paper.html

http://www.debrujar.cz/php/doc/pokusmanie09navod1.pdf

http://cp.c-ij.com/en/contents/3154/03355/downloads/towerbridge01_e_ltr.pdf

Also: Come ready to discuss the blog posted above. J

More Inspirements—See if you can stop with just one! Mwa ha ha!

Things to Look At:

Here’s a Pinterest page where someone has collected some really unique examples of architecture. Have some fun looking at these structures: http://www.pinterest.com/Etienneoldeman/worlds-most-inspiring-architecture/?z=1

This page shows some buildings inspired by mathematics. Crazy and Cool. Click on the arrows to navigate through the slideshow: http://flavorwire.com/330293/10-amazing-examples-of-architecture-inspired-by-mathematics

Cool Ancient Architecture: http://www.roughguides.com/gallery/26-awe-inspiring-architectural-wonders/

Things to Watch:

Cathedral by David McCauley (56:31): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMlwnYObUKc

Castle by David McCauley (55:34): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFnH6B2mlfU&list=PLX8Ax9RoC5kwH3Tx1_2Yu2sKXsFMqYEJ4&index=1

Learn about mega structures. Watch this (45:01): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyaEIf2ok6I or this—the largest dam in the world (24:35): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8cCsUBYSkw

Here is something our family likes to do for fun:

Make your own blueprint. What are you building—a home? A hospital? A library or public space? Think of the planned uses of your structure, the materials you want to use, and its surroundings. Simple guidelines on how to draw a blueprint are here: http://www.the-house-plans-guide.com/make-your-own-blueprint.html, but don’t stop there.

The Arts, the Spirit of the Lord, Van Gogh and YOU

The Sower, 1888

Read:

“It is a mistake," said Boyd K. Packer, "to assume that one can follow the ways of the world and then somehow, in a moment of intruded inspiration, compose a great anthem of the Restoration, or in a moment of singular inspiration paint the great painting. When it is done, it will be done by one who has yearned and tried and longed fervently to do it, not by one who has condescended to do it. It will take quite as much preparation and work as any masterpiece, and a different kind of inspiration.

There is a test you might apply if you are among the gifted. Ask yourself this question: When I am free to do what I really want to do, what will it be?”

You know and know of many hard working individuals in history who have made a huge impact on our lives through their hard work, like Abraham Lincoln, Gladys Alyward, George Washington and even Vincent Van Gogh. 

The Good Samaritan, 1890

Van Gogh painted 1,000 paintings in 10 years! He put all of his effort into all of his endeavours. Not any of them gained recognition while he was alive. When he wanted to be a minister, he failed to "fit in," and was dismissed from his position for living a much too pious life. After he was dismissed, he wanted to continue to serve the Lord, so he put his genius to work. He worked extremely hard and poured out his love of the Lord through his paintings. Above, to the right and below are some of his religious paintings that are rarely shown. The ones you may be familiar with are a continuation of his ode to the humble and the beautiful things of this earth and sky. 

I hope what you take away from this weeks inspirements is that we have talents (no matter what they are) that can and should serve the Lord. We are expected to grow our talents, find what the Lord needs of us with our talents and glorify God with them.  (see the Parable of Talents.)

Required:

1. Read pdf or listen to (both the same talk):

a. To Listen:    The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord, by Boyd K. Packer (BYU Speech)

                    To Listen on computer:  Go to http://www.naturalreaders.com/onlinetts.php

        OR        then, copy the link below and copy and paste it.

b. To Read:    The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord, by Boyd K. Packer (BYU Speech) http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=380

**This talk really gave meaning to me many years ago! I have read it almost every year at least the past 8 years, it reminds me (among other things) that WE create our culture, people who create uplifting art/literature/etc... are imperative to the culture I dream of having.**

2.  With an interest/talent/genius that you currently have, how could YOU serve the Lord with it? Share with us your ideas.

3. Watch YouTube Video: Van Gogh in his own words.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hXMuK5NQEA 

Keep going down past pictures...inspirements below....

The Raising of Lazarus, 1890

Van Gogh, Pieta 1889

The Sheaf Binder, 1889

Choose to do 1 or more of the following:

1. Some express themselves with song, painting, wood working, writing, photography, speaking,  etc…, create an expression of your love and/or gratitude of the beautiful world around you or blessings you have received? 

2. Choose your favorite Van Gogh painting, why do you like it? Share with us your favorite painting of his and why? (Deeper than just the colors please, although the colors are really fun!))

3. Since 1976 MANY new songs have been written, paintings have been painted, poetry has been written, etc… Share with us a song, painting, speech, poem, etc... that has inspired and uplifted you, that has been created within the past 40 years.

4. Research and share you findings about a leader that has worked very hard to share their love of our Lord and/or Gospel through their own genius.

Outside optional: There is a Dr. Who episode with Van Gogh, it oddly enough involves an alien. However, it is kinda fun: Free with Amazon Prime membership: http://www.amazon.com/Vincent-and-the-Doctor/dp/B003U21TBO

or for $1.99 at the BBC store https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85-_1u3nIHo

We will have Vanguard at the Hanks home on Tuesday, Jan. 27th. See you then!

For January 20th

Vanguard

1.)Read this talk “Be Anxiously Engaged,” by Russell M. Ballard: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/be-anxiously-engaged?lang=eng&query=Beehive

2.)Watch this video here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=egxmSl6g8Uc&feature=youtu.be

3.)Recently, I was speaking with my dad's mother on the phone, discussing how things have changed in her lifetime. She was born before radio reached her neck of the woods. There were only a wood-based and a milk-based plastic invented, with very limited application, mostly film and jewelry. Now we email her and see her on Facebook and chat comfortably while hundreds of miles apart.

*Here's the neat inspirement for everyone to do: Pick a parent, grand-parent, or great-grandparent. Make a timeline using his or her birth and death date, or to the present if he or she is still alive. Mark when major inventions, and interesting ones, were created during their lifetime. Here is one good resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_historic_inventions#20th_century

*Pick one invention to theoretically “remove” from the timeline and speculate what effect that change would have on our lives. 

January! Work

January - Work

This is the principle that many, many, many people think is hard to think of as being good for us.  It seems that most people spend their lives working so that they can then retire and not work any more.  My father is 79 and he is still working because he loves to work.  He found his life’s mission for work (researching integrated circuit design) while in college.  But his habits of working hard were already part of him as he worked on the familly ranch growing up and spent hours hiking and being a boy scout as a youth.  He has inspired countless students at the university where he taught, Young Men that he led as a scout master, and missionaires as a mission president.  And he started out as a farm boy in Bear Lake who walked to 5 miles to school and milked cows, he worked hard and played hard.

Whenever people become converted to the gospel they become very hard working.  This month’s scripture is about the people of Ammon who completely changed after becoming converted to the Lord.  So to were the Mormon pioneers and converts today all seek to better themselves, whether in their work, their studies or their talents.

So as we try to become more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ we too will find our talents, our gifts and our missions in life and working will become what we want to do.

For everyone to do -

Go to this website - https://www.lds.org/family/work?lang=eng, watch the video, read the quotes, CHOOSE one of the quotes and click on read more.  Read or listen to the talk of your choice.

Read the section in your copy of For the Strength of the Youth on Work and Self-Reliance OR read it here https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth/work-and-self-reliance?lang=eng.  Make sure you click on show more.

Watch this video with one of the most famous coaches of all time talking about success - http://www.ted.com/talks/john_wooden_on_the_difference_between_winning_and_success?language=en#t-448996  Write, draw, paint,  compose what you think success is.  

Watch Gifted Hands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s33R7JhFO6s When do you think the turning point was for Dr. Carson?  In your opinion, what was the most important thing that happened to him to lead him to be able to help so many people?

We will be discussing all of these plus you’ll get to share what you’ve learned from the choice inspirements - but it won’t be a show and tell,  go around the room thing.  Be prepared to make connections! Also DO NOT wear Sunday clothes as we will be having a challenge activity.

Choose at least one of the following

Watch this extremely amusing TED talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MgBikgcWnY . Start to learn something new.

Read  the attached sections of “Created for Work” by Bob Schultz

Spend 1 day working as hard as you can all day and keep track of what you did during each hour from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Read or listen to Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell - read it here http://www.onereads.org/outliers-gladwell-malcolm?page=0,0

or listen to it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=596wT4mRq8w

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/printouts/T-Chart.pdf

Make a T-chart of things Dr. Carson worked at.

Choose a leader whom you admire, this could be someone still alive or not, in an official position of leadership or not, do some research on them in regards to work.  Where, when and especially HOW have the worked?  Make a presentation about it - T-chart, Prezi, Power Point, or Poster.  Examples - Church, Humanitarian causes, Science, Business, Sports, almost anything.  

Do a word study of Work on lds.org and in the 1828 Dictionary - http://webstersdictionary1828.com/

Collect 5 quotes on Work and bring a copy for everyone.  Don't be shy about using LDS leaders' quotes.  They have great ones.  Be careful not to choose ones that disparage working!

It Couldn’t Be Done

           BY EDGAR ALBERT GUEST

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done

    But he with a chuckle replied

That “maybe it couldn’t,”but he would be one

    Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin

    On his face. If he worried he hid it.

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

    That couldn’t be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;

    At least no one ever has done it;”

But he took off his coat and he took off his hat

    And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,

    Without any doubting or quiddit,

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

    That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,

    There are thousands to prophesy failure,

There are thousands to point out to you one by one,

    The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,

    Just take off your coat and go to it;

Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing

    That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

• 
  

• And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow them.  Alma 23:18

• • And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgement-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether they be good or evil:

    Mormon 3:2
•