What's next?

Linking our own personal development approach with Christ’s is absolutely brilliant.

After watching the face to face presentation with Elder Gong and other Church leaders this past Sunday, I’m simply impressed.  The Church just keeps raising the bar, continuing to innovate upon improvement after improvement.  Will it ever stop?

I’m not sure it will.  In the meantime, I can’t praise this new program for children and youth enough.  I shared some of my thoughts when the new program was initially announced.  But after watching Elder Gong and company present more details about the new children and youth program, I’ve further refined my thoughts.

The scriptural basis for the four-area life model they present for making goals — spiritual, social, intellectual, and physical — really impressed me.  I’ve long adopted that model, but I hadn’t made the connection with its scriptural foundation: “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

The Savior experienced the opportunity for growth in mortality we all experience.  Linking our own personal development approach with Christ’s is absolutely brilliant.  The Savior grew spiritually (“favor with God”), socially (“favor with man”), intellectually (“increased in wisdom”), and physically (“increased in . . . stature”), thereby providing an example for us to follow.

Let’s examine how Joy in the Journey Radio will be helping LDS singles follow that example starting in the coming year.  Let’s take a look at what’s next.

Increase in favor with God and man

We’ve always applied the restored gospel to the challenges of LDS singles life.  Focusing on Conference addresses and applying them to LDS singles, even when that application is not so apparent, is one such example.  Another lies in the Sermon on the Mount study tradition I’ve shared with the audience.  Such practices will continue as an important part of the program.

We’ve also delved into the social aspect of some of those challenges, particularly dating and relationships.  I want to delve further into this topic in the coming year.  But we’ll also examine all types of social relationships, not just romantic ones.  Building and maintaining true friendships can bless our lives as well as the lives of others.

I’ve shared one such friendship with a friend of another faith named Dick.  This gentleman graduated from college back in the 50s, so he’s definitely not anywhere near me in age.  But he’s been a good mentor and friend.  In addition to working together professionally, we occasionally had lunch as well as spouts of spirited but friendly banter as we played bocce in his backyard.

Despite the many differences between us, our friendship has truly enriched my life.  Seeking after such unusual friends will similarly bless the lives of LDS singles.  And so we’ll be learning about social skills that can support that effort.

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Increase in wisdom

Many in personal development and leadership circles cite reading as an essential for success.  I’m sure that faithful LDS singles read the scriptures, but there’s a whole world of secular knowledge that can enrich our lives and give us opportunity to bless the lives of others through the acquisition of new knowledge and new skills.

The Lord has said, “. . . seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118).  Earlier in that same revelation, the Lord speaks of learning

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. . . things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms. (D&C 88:79)

Reading is one of the best ways to gain this knowledge.  But here in the 21st century, a lot of knowledge transfer takes place with video, especially via YouTube.  That means some of the “best books” aren’t printed pages bound together but videos and films.  And so occasionally we’ll offer reviews of “best books” LDS singles can apply in their lives, both traditional tomes for reading and videos and films for viewing.

Increase in stature

Finally, we’ll be including more content about the physical area of life, which most people think comprises our physical health and wellness.  And indeed it does.  But inasmuch as our physical bodies provide a connection between us and the physical world, we could include anything else offering such a connection in the physical arena.

And so we’ll examine topics like exercise and healthy eating.  I know some singles dread these topics, so we’ll look at more interesting and engaging perspectives on them.  We’ll also look at other connections to the physical world, like personal finances, career, and your home and car.

I feel really excited about what’s next for the program in the coming new year.  This course correction will help many LDS singles live their best life.  As we together increase in favor with God and man as well as in wisdom and in stature, we’ll transform ourselves into better people who can offer more value in every area of life.  And that will bring us more joy in our journey.

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You can listen to the monologue from today's episode of Joy In The Journey Radio here.  Please also feel free to continue the conversation by leaving a comment below.  Want to hear more?  Listen to the whole show by going to the show page for this episode.