"My Journey Starts Here"
(Moroni 10:32)

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Trail of Faith Award


Trail of Faith Award
Completion Goal:  before June 25, 2014
The Trail of Faith Award requirements are for all trek participants and will help you spiritually and physically prepare for the 2014 Trek.  Some of these activities may also fulfill some requirements from Duty to God(DTG) or Personal Progress(PP), which are noted after some of the goals.


Spiritual Preparation Goals
_____ Read “Go and Bring Them In,” Ensign Dec. 2006
_____ Read “Faith in Every Footstep: The Epic Pioneer Journey,” Ensign May 1997
_____Read “Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice: A Priceless Heritage,” Friend, September 2002
_____Read “By Faith All Things are Fulfilled,” Marcus B. Nash, Ensign, November 2012
_____Read “Faith to Answer the Call,” Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, July 2011
_____Read “Lord, I Believe,” Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, May 2013
_____ Read D&C 136
_____ Memorize all verses to the hymn “Come Come Ye Saints” (PP Knowledge #6)
_____ Memorize Mutual Theme Scripture: Moroni 10:32
 _____ Watch at least 1 pioneer video, such as “Faith in Every Footstep: the Epic Pioneer Journey” or “Tried in All Things” on the Church History DVD, Legacy,  17 Miracles, or Ephraim’s Rescue
_____ Choose an ancestor to walk in remembrance of on trek.  Find out who was the 1st person in your family to join the church. Write a 3-5 minute history and be prepared to share it during trek. **Choosing a Pioneer:  Pick a Mormon Pioneer from your own ancestry, such as the 1st person in your family to join the church, or from the Martin or Willie Handcart companies.  Find out all you can about this person.  What is their story?  When and where were they born? How old were they when they came across the plains? What do they have in common with you?  Find out what this particular person went through and how  it can help you today. (DTG Spiritual Strength/Understand Doctrine Section-Eternal Families and Family History Work, PP Faith Project 3, Individual Worth #6 or Project #1)
_____ Participate in a group service activity. (DTG-Priesthood Duties-Serve Others Section, PP Good Works #6)
_____ “Go and Bring Them In”-Look for someone who needs lifting up and help without being asked.
_____ Pray morning and night for 2 weeks prior to trek. (DTG Spiritual Strength-Pray and Study Scriptures section, PP Faith #1)
_____ Read the scriptures at least 5 minutes a day for 2 weeks prior to trek. (DTG Spiritual Strength-Pray and Study Scriptures Section, PP Choice and Accountability #1, Virtue Project)

Choose 4 additional activities:
_____Keep a regular journal, and record your thoughts as you prepare for trek.
_____ Learn how to index a name on FamilySearch.org.  Complete at least10 names. Login to: https://familysearch.org/volunteer/indexing.
_____ Research names in your ancestry and find someone who needs some temple work done.  Prepare the name(s) for the temple and complete their baptism and confirmation. (PP Good Works Project #3, DTG Spiritual Strength/Understand Doctrine Section-Temples and Family History Work)
_____Teach a lesson in Family Home Evening about the pioneers and share things you have learned from your preparations for trek and your readings.
_____Watch 2 Mormon Messages about Pioneers: “Faith of our Fathers,” and “Pioneers,” and discuss them with your family.
_____ Pray for a missionary experience.  Invite a friend to a church meeting or activity, or share your testimony with them. (PP Good Works #7, DTG Priesthood Duties Section)
_____Memorize the hymn “They the Builders of the Nation”
Go the Extra Mile (Optional): Complete ALL of the above activities

Physical Preparation Goals
“There is a close relationship between physical health and spiritual development.”
-  Elder Delbert L. Stapley
We will be walking ~ 20 miles in 3 days.  Complete these goals and you will be glad you did!

_____ Designate a pair of sturdy and comfortable athletic shoes as your Trek Shoes.  Use these to walk and hike in regularly before trek.
_____ Read D&C 89 and Read Isaiah 40:28-31 and come up with a personal plan to improve your health, nutrition, and fitness prior to trek. (PP Knowledge Project #3, DTG Physical Health Section for Deacons)
 _____ One month prior to Trek:  Refrain from drinking any soda pop, carbonated, or sugary drinks. 
_____ Complete the monthly fitness goals listed below:
_____January: 
·       Walk and/or run 1 mile at least 3-5 times per week.*
·       Start drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day (the ideal you are shooting for is to drink ½ your body weight in ounces each day).
_____ February: 
·       Walk and/or run 1.5 to 2 miles at least 3-5 times per week.
·       Continue drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day.
_____ March:
·       Aim for running and/or walking 3 miles at least 3-5 times per week.
·       Continue drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day.
_____  April:
·       Aim for running and/or walking 3-4 miles at least 3-5 times per week.
·       Continue drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day.
_____ May:
·       Aim for running and/or walking 39999 miles at least 3-5 times per week.
·       Go on at least a 3 mile hike in your trek shoes.
·       Continue drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day.
_____ June:
·       Aim for running and/or walking 3 miles 4-5 times per week.
·       Be able to walk 4 miles on level ground in 60 minutes or less.
·       Continue drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day.
*Other cardio/strength training exercises can be substituted for walking and running in the earlier months; however, during the later months walking, hiking, or running becomes very important to be physically prepared for trek.

Go the Extra Mile (Optional):
_____ Add a callisthenic program to your workouts each month (create your own – a little research online can help you build a program with 5-10 different exercises.  See the article “No Weights, No Bench, No Problem” in the New York Times - June 13, 2013).
_____ Eliminate caffeinated drinks from your diet from January through the end of Trek (See the article “The Energy Drink Epidemic” by Thomas J. Boud in the Ensign – December 2008).

***I have completed the above spiritual and physical requirements for the Trail of Faith Award. 
Name:_____________________________________
Ma/ Pa Signature:____________________________


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