Here's the size of the universe resource that I used last week:

http://htwins.net/scale2/\

Yep!

My Poem on Planets

The planets of our universe

Mercury swift messenger,
Small and close to the sun,
Takes only 88 day for a year,
But it's day is longer then one (year)

It has no atmosphere you see,
A crater will stay for a long long time,
There are no volcanoes of any kind,
Temperature changes drop and then climb,

Venus now of and love beauty,
But underneath that atmosphere,
It traps heat and is the hottest planet,
There's no way that love is here!

The sun rises in the west,
And the sun sets in the east,
Quite the opposite of the others,
Just like siblings, don't you think?

Earth the one that we call home,
70 % of water,
Blue Marble that can support life,
For this lets thank our Heavenly Father,

The Moon it has some interesting cycles,
In which it waxes and wanes,
And on top of all that we have lunar and solar,
Eclipses, in which a lot is explained.

Mars the Roman god of war,
It's red because of Iron rust,
With a thin atmosphere and a longer orbit,
It used to be a lot like us,

A extinct volcano that is three times the size,
Of mount Everest, found on any maps,
A canyon deep enough to cover the Alps,
Mars has two small moons and polar ice caps,

 Jupiter, king of the planets,
It's the largest one after all,
Comprised of think clouds of gas,
And a huge giant red spot and four moons all,

Saturn second largest now,
The planet of time quite nice,
Quite far away from the sun,
Famous for it's rings of rock and ice,

Uranus, is our next planet,
By telescope it's visible only,
Named after the blue-green sky,
Half light half dark it seems quite lonely,

Neptune, with a slow orbit,
Roman god of the sea,
Crazy wind, storms and wind,
Beautiful deep blue is he.

Here is my Prezi for my Journeyman inspirement for Eureka Class today! Hope you all like it! :)

http://prezi.com/uxlwfhyeec95/hubble-space-telescope/

Vanugard-History and Geography

I wrote a poem for History and Geography last week for Journeyman. First poem, absolutely awful! But I thought I'd share anyway:

My New Land (A Poem)

If I were to find a new land,

I'd want it to be very grand,

I'd want the sun to be shining all through,

And the sky to be a beautiful blue.

If I were to find a new land,

I'd like to be able to stand,

And not get hot or even cold,

And just look at the trees, the leaves all gold.

If only I could have a new land,

That would be my own to command,

I'd lay on the ground, and listen to sounds

Of everything within my bounds.

I'd hear everything from shore to shore,

As I quietly lay down to snore. 

Michelangelo Favorites

I found the link to Isaiah's Prezi with your favorite Michelangelo works!
http://prezi.com/4hxidwq-pnf1/michelangelo-works/
John - interesting!
Gavin - you are such a cute baby.  Brenda, how cool to have been there!
I'd love to hear why you all picked what you did!

Vanguard-Imaginative Arts

Hey everybody! :) Here's my Prezi for The Scarlet Stockings! Hope you enjoy:
http://prezi.com/c2n2rgdlwiqp/the-scarlet-stockings-compared-with-proverbs-10-31/

Vanguard-Imaginative Arts

Hey everyone! Here are my two prezis the first one is on the acrostic poem (for journeyman) and the second is the pictures:
http://prezi.com/wpyamw20okrm/acrostic-poem/
http://prezi.com/nhmsidc6sel2/michelangelo-picture-prezi/

And here is my poem that I shared for Apprentice I took my potter poem from last year and changed it into a poem about a creator

The Creator

By Megan Johnson

A creator takes a ball of clay and works it in his hands,
He wonders what to create, he kneads, and sifts like sand,
He slaps it on his wheel and begins to spin and spin,
Soften and preparing for a master piece to begin.

He looks around his little shop at his creations and more,
He smiles at it tenderly, as the kiln begins to roar
His head turns from the kiln memories begin,
He turns back to his work and tugs at his lips a grin.

The many times he'd been here in his little quiet shop,
The time he ruined a batch of pots, the time the glaze was glop,
The sad times and the glad times, throughout his life till now,
The hard times and the good times why he did and how,

He was happy with each thing he made each perfect and messed-up,
He had a memory with each he loved them down to a cup,
He thought about the time he had discovered his talent wheel,
The first time he'd tried it, He remembered it gave him a thrill

There had been times His talent taken the back seat,
With finances and family, it wasn't always first treat,
He sighed to think of times oh so long ago,
When he had entered in that big art talent show.

It was that show that first began his love for creation,

He wasn't perfect at first his work needed re-makin',

But not to fear,he went with love and dreams anyway,
Through trials and hard ships he'd made it 'till today.

He had his knowledge of the world and science and art,
Most of all his creation a talent he'd worked on since start,
He sold and worked and created, others collected it too,
He'd help it go on and on to generations a new.

Was he satisfied with all he'd done?
Was he ready to move on?
Had he done something great?
If not was it too late?

Had he used his talent for righteousness,
Was he devoted to God?
He loved and feared the lord in lightness,
Was he kind to all with flaw?

He pondered his life from start 'till now,
And was proud of it some how,
He wasn't perfect, but he could say,
He'd walked God's chosen way.

He released his joyful heart through his creations,
He made it all his own, some even call it amazin!
He loved what he did, and he loved what he made
Who else could be happier? Whats more, he gave.

As he finished the art work and laid it gently aside,
He wiped his hands upon his apron, and cast about his eyes,
Preparing to glaze and finish the pot just as God finishes each of us,
We should be as a pot and let our Potter help and guide and fuss.

For God can help us become perfect even if we don't look the part,
God sees all of us perfectly each sour, spicy and tart,
He can help us become perfect on the inside so deep
Let us each be like a Potter so humble and so meek

Love the Lord and the talents he give us,
Use the for righteous purposes,
I'm happy with my talents, not really any for art :)
But I can do what I can do and work with happy heart.

I will be contented with all that I can do,
I will be kind to all, find not fault through and through,
I will guide the troubled soul, I will always do my part,
Follow God's rules all ready like a chart

Follow the commandments, fulfill my mission complete,
I will be like a Creator, Humble, kind and meek.

 

It was a great week!!

Imaginative Arts Reflection

We (in the young men's class)  did not get to our reflection today, so here are some reflection questions - you can pick one and answer it in your reflection book today...

-What is a weakness that I want God to turn into a strength?  What is my part?
-How can I serve more in my family?
-What "natural man" tendency (sleeping in, wasting time, eating junk, etc) can I give up in order to strengthen my spirit?

If you are willing to share any thoughts from your reflection, please leave a comment!

Here is a video that Isaiah sent - it goes perfectly with our lesson.  Feel free to comment on it and let us know your thoughts:



 And last, but not least, here is a new video on lds.org that also illustrates how we are God's Masterpiece (something Michelangelo seemed to really understand)  and we can choose to use our bodies to move us away from God or to help us grow closer to God.

 Again, we'd love to hear your thoughts!

Lincoln

Here is my hero report on Lincoln, if anyone wants to read it. I would love feedback.

Lincoln—Isaiah Pack

“Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Americans from Miami to Juneau have heard these words. Do they know what these words mean? Perhaps. Do Americans know the name of the man who spoke these words? Probably. Does someone’s name tell a lot about them? They may know his name, but do Americans know Abraham Lincoln? Who was this man, and why did he do what he did? Biographers have portrayed Lincoln with many different masks. Many Americans know Lincoln as a jokester, a politician, a president, and some may even know him only as a man with a beard. Abraham Lincoln was more than this. Lincoln was a man sent to Earth by God to save the United States from crumbling into separate countries. He was a man of God who did God’s work on Earth.

            “My early life can be summed up in a single sentence:” Lincoln once said, “the short and simple annals of the poor.” Lincoln was not raised up in a situation of prosperity or wealth, but in a humble farming community. As a result of this, his education was not provided for him, and even if it had been, he wouldn’t have had time for it. Lincoln worked all throughout the day on the farm of his father, and he had little time to do anything but work. Somehow, though, Lincoln still found time at nights or during breaks to read books and educate himself. Abraham Lincoln is the true definition of an autodidact. While others were getting rest at night for the coming day, Lincoln was sacrificing his sleep for an education and a chance to read, learn, and ponder. Most of Lincoln’s books had to be borrowed and returned to others because Lincoln’s father did not have the means to purchase them. However, Lincoln was brought up by his father as a humble, hard-working Christian through work and study of the Bible. One time, Lincoln was borrowing the book “Life of Washington” by Parson Weems from a neighbor, but the book was damaged in the rain. In order to pay his neighbor back for the book, Lincoln was required to do three days worth of work for him, but Lincoln completed all of the work in only two days.  This simple story shows how much Lincoln valued learning and how hard of a worker he was. Lincoln’s childhood bookshelf also consisted of books such as Pilgrim’s Progress, Robinson Crusoe, and Aesop’s Fables. Abraham Lincoln’s humble childhood gave him good, God-like qualities for his mission in life, such as honesty, industry, and passion for learning.

            As Lincoln grew older, his values were tested through trials. He had a lot of hardship in his life, but the Lincoln family was used to hardship. Lincoln had already experienced many hard, bitter winters, deep snows, cold nights, and poverty when his mother, Nancy Lincoln, passed away. Poverty continued in the Lincoln family long after this. When Abraham was 21, he left his father’s household, and at the age of 23 he enlisted as a soldier to drive the tribe of Black Hawk to the other side of the Mississippi. Other soldiers were so moved by Lincoln’s leadership abilities that they chose him as their captain.  Lincoln was grateful for this, but more hardship came. At one point, Lincoln’s company went three days without supplies or food after crossing a river. This adversity took much endurance, but Lincoln was able to bear it. Shortly after finishing his service, Abraham Lincoln announced himself as a candidate for the Illinois state legislature. He delivered many inspiring campaign speeches, but unfortunately, he was defeated in the election. After practicing law for two years, though, Lincoln ran for state legislature again, and this time he was voted in. During his career as a Congressman, Lincoln experienced firsthand and helped with many political campaigns, speeches and debates, failures, and eventually success. Lincoln helped with William Henry Harrison’s presidential campaign, which eventually got Harrison elected. Lincoln also debated a lot against his rival, Stephen A. Douglas, on the issue of slavery. After all of this hardship, Lincoln was eventually nominated as a candidate for president of the United States. The election following the nomination was exciting because Lincoln’s debate rival, Stephen A. Douglas, would be his opponent in the election. Though it took a lot of hard work, Mr. Lincoln was finally elected in November and inaugurated the following March, 1861. The victory was short-lived, though, as four years of a painful civil war would follow.  A year later, in 1862, a great battle was fought at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and many soldiers of the Union valiantly gave up their lives for freedom. Pennsylvania decided to give the battlefield as a burial ground, and in November of 1863, Lincoln gave his famous “Gettysburg Address”. This speech inspired many Americans, especially those of the Union, to value freedom and fight for its cause. Lincoln would give many other speeches during his presidency that would not only inspire freedom, but promote morality and Godliness as well.

            One cannot plead with others to be moral or listen to God unless he himself is moral and listens to God. Abraham Lincoln had every right to plead with the people in 1863 at Gettysburg, not only because of his trust and willingness to follow God, but because of his awakening to what would happen to America if the people would continue to be corrupt. In 1862, more than a year before the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln checked out a book at the Library of Congress. Through looking at records, it was shown that Lincoln kept this book longer than he should have, and he returned it late. After checking out this book, a change happened in Lincoln’s presidency, and he started making choices that would bring America closer to God. The book that Lincoln checked out, as well as Lincoln’s Bible study, brought him to the knowledge that America was not just a nation, but a covenant land. A memo that was written by Lincoln in September of 1862 stated, “In the present civil war, it is quite possible that God’s purpose is something different from the purpose of either party…I am almost ready to say this is probably true—that God wills this contest, and wills that is shall not end yet.” This note was later found by Lincoln’s secretary, so it is certain that Lincoln did not write this for the praise of men. Abraham Lincoln (just like father Abraham) made a covenant with God that if a battle would be won for the Union, Lincoln would free the slaves. Lincoln even admitted not only that Confederacy was in the wrong, but that the Union was also. Just before this time, Lincoln’s son and best friend Willie had passed from the world. Lincoln was in deep distress, and he admitted that he often pleaded before God because he didn’t have anywhere else to go. Lincoln had turned back to God, and now God would turn back to help the United States of America. At about the same time that Lincoln was pleading before God, a miracle happened for the Union near Frederick, Maryland, where the Battle of Antietam would soon happen. Union Corporal Barton W. Mitchell was walking in an empty field when he stumbled across a package. He opened it, and he could not believe his eyes. Inside the package were the battle plans of the Confederacy for the Battle of Antietam! Was this not a miracle? Corporal Mitchell showed the plans to Union General George McClellan, but McClellan was not so convinced. This could easily be a trap, because the story wasn’t very believable. However, McClellan was immediately able to validate the plans because his aid had been good friends with Robert Chilton, who was Confederate General Lee’s secretary. McClellan’s aid recognized Chilton’s handwriting, and as a result of the Union obtaining the plans, they were able to win the Battle of Antietam. Lincoln kept his promise to God by shortly afterwards placing the Emancipation Proclamation on the table before his cabinet, and freeing the slaves. God kept the United States of America intact and united through his servant, Abraham Lincoln.

            Lincoln was elected to a second term as president in November of 1864. The Civil War was now over, and Lincoln gave his 2^nd Inaugural Address the following March. God was certainly a theme of this exceptional speech. Lincoln wanted to secure the abolishment of slavery in the U.S., so he pushed for the 13^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to be ratified. However, Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1865 by John Wilkes Booth. He never got to see the adoption of the amendment, but it was adopted the following December. Many trials and much hardship were present in Lincoln’s life, but he proved his values and his trust in God through his persistence. Lincoln showed the world that he was a man of God through his writings, speeches, kindness, persistence after failure, and most of all, through his actions. The actor Nicolas Cage once said in the movie National Treasure 2: “Before the Civil War, the states were all separate. People used to say, ‘The United States are.’ Wasn't until the war ended people started saying, ‘The United States is.’ Under Lincoln... we became one nation. And Lincoln paid for it with his life.” Lincoln truly kept this nation united through God. Though it’s very controversial, the book that Lincoln checked out from the Library of Congress in 1862 was called The Book of Mormon, and that was a huge turning point in the war. Lincoln knew that this was a covenant land. Abraham Lincoln was a man of God.

Bibliography

“Lincoln’s Fireside Reading” by H. Jack Lang

“Abraham Lincoln: A True Life” by James Baldwin

“The Covenant, Lincoln, and the War” by Timothy Ballard

Quote

This quote struck me, and I wanted to share (especially in light of current events.):

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
-Abraham Lincoln 

-Spinach

Conference Favorites

I would love to hear who gave your favorite talk or some of your favorite quotes from conference or any ah-has that you had.  Anyone willing to share???