What’s Up?

“What’s Up?” New Era, April 2011, 40–43

What’s Up?

Butterfly Garden

Adam Fabiano, a priest in the Palm Springs Ward in South Florida, envisioned an Eagle Scout project that would be both appealing and educational. “I wanted to do a project that would be beneficial to a school and children,” Adam explained. “I am really happy with the outcome.”

Adam planned and supervised the creation of a butterfly garden just outside the kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms at Sunset Lakes Elementary School in Miramar, Florida. The students will use the garden in their science curriculum.

Months of research and planning culminated in the project itself, which included removing existing flora, digging, setting up a pathway through the garden, planting feeder plants that nourish caterpillars, planting nectar plants that attract and nourish butterflies, placing hummingbird feeders, and putting in a bench and a fountain.

Photograph courtesy of Adam Fabiano

Plan a Great Date

While it can be fun to be spontaneous and do something on the spur of the moment, there’s a lot to be said about planning a date in advance. At the very least it will show your date, and everyone else involved (if it’s a group date) that you care enough to put some thought into planning a fun activity. Some other reasons it’s a good idea to plan ahead are:

You’ll be able to let everyone know how to dress for the particular date.
You’ll be able to make reservations, purchase tickets, or take care of all the details ahead of time (you’ll avoid showing up at a sold-out movie or a restaurant with no tables available).
Everyone will be able to let their parents know where they’ll be and what time they’ll be home.

Photograph By Welden C. Andersen

Write Away

Fulfilling My Duty to God

Now that you have your new Duty to God handbook and you’re developing greater spiritual strength; fulfilling priesthood duties; and improving your physical health, education, and relationship with family and friends, we want to hear how it’s going. Tell us about your experiences with making plans, reaching goals, and sharing what you’ve learned with others. Maybe you’ve learned something new about a gospel topic, or strengthened your relationship with others, or experienced some other new changes in your life as a result of the work you are doing to fulfill your Duty to God?

Send in your responses by going to newera.lds.org and clicking Submit Your Material and then selecting Call for Articles.

Or send it by mail to:

New Era, Duty to God

50 E. North Temple Street., Rm. 2420

Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0024

USA