“What’s in It for You,” New Era, Mar. 2003, 49

What’s in It for You

Personal Improvement

“The Enemy Within” on page 4 focuses on self-mastery and personal worthiness. Share your testimony of a gospel-centered habit, like keeping the Word of Wisdom, being honest, or honoring the Sabbath with a close friend. It will help strengthen your resolve and may show your friend the way to go.
Doesn’t it feel good when someone says something nice about you? Read “True Beauty” on page 9. Spread that good feeling by going out of your way to give sincere compliments today as you help raise someone’s feelings of self-worth.
In “G-Rated Recruit,” on page 32, a young man is blessed because he made good decisions about entertainment. Do you have any questionable material in your music, video, or reading collection (no matter what it’s rated) that you’d be better off without? Throw away any garbage you’re keeping.

Every issue of the New Era has articles written by a member of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (see page 4 and page 42). Can you name all of the First Presidency and the Twelve in order of seniority? Memorize them by putting their last names to a song and sing it over and over again as a class. (The Primary songs that help you learn the books of the Bible work well.) Then share a couple of interesting facts about each one. The more you get to know them, the more their words will stick with you when you hear them speak or you read one of their articles.

Read Q&A, and discuss the principle of tithing. Read D&C 64:23. For an activity, have each family member decorate an envelope, box, or jar to keep their tithing money in.
Emphasizing the positive in your home will help maintain happiness and harmony. Read together “The Truth about My Family” (page 26), then make a list of what makes your family great. Put the list and a copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World in a place where family members can refer to them often.

Sharing your testimony can be intimidating (see “Online Testimony,” page 38). Get together and practice what you can say in response to questions your friends might ask, like “Why are your standards so strict?” or “Why do you think yours is the only true church?” To practice what you’ve learned, write your testimony in a Book of Mormon and give it to a friend.
Using Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s article “Reasons to Stay Pure” (page 42) as a guide, plan a standards night on chastity. Pay special attention to the list of 10 principles of chastity and the list of 8 consequences and blessings of staying pure.