Skip to main content

Institute Men's Association (IMA)

Does the guy in the middle look like Benedict Cumberpatch to you?
I've never seen a men's association like it. Since I returned home from my mission, at age 21, I have been looking for a system to help prepare me for the next stage of my life.

I'd been exposed multiple plans to help returned missionaries transition between the mission and marriage. First, my parents encouraged me to create my own list...of stuff...to do...in order to keep me from going off the deep end. Then, the BYU Stake Presidents all tell their single students to go to institute and be a good home or visiting teacher. Really, there's no program out there specifically designed for single men and women preparing to become devoted husbands and wives. That is until I found the IMA motto while registering for my Logan institute:
I am a man of God. I strive daily to be all that He wants me to be. I develop integrity by making and keeping covenants. I share the gospel with others. I am preparing to marry in the temple and to become a devoted husband and father. I seek opportunities to serve in the home , the church and the community.
That was it. I found something to get involved in. So I did. Now, I'm in the IMA presidency.

My goals for the current semester include:

*Cultivate a Christlike attribute throughout the semester.
*Memorize the hymn, Rise Up, O Men of God.
*Read 10 minutes in the BOM each morning.
*Go on 2 dates/month.
*Invite people to go to stuff with me. Stuff includes: weekly temple visits, ward activities, and other weekly fun things.

Comments

  1. Awesome move/goals, Bryan! Pre-emptive strike I'd say. I especially like that last one: take others with you when you go someplace (even shopping) It's called the "Anyway principle"...I'm going anyway, so... Also the scripture study in the morning rather than evening. I've just heard a mission president telling how that one thing improved his life so much he's get all his missionaries to do that the restof their lives if he could: the single most strengthening habit he claimed.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please share your thoughts.

Popular posts from this blog

Rummi-"CUB" vs. Rummi-"CUBE"

The "Rummikub" Pronunciation Debate Affirmative Constructive: "Cub" For years, I have been a firm advocate and defender of the pronunciation, Rummi-"CUB".  The game box I grew up with spelled it, Rummicub  on the box. However, other productions of the game have variant spellings: Rummykub , Rummy Kube , Rummy Tiles , etc.  Based solely on box spelling, the game's true pronunciation is open to interpretation. Therefore, Rummi"cub" is equally acceptable to any other given pronunciation. Negative  Constructive : "Cube" My opponents argue that since the game originated over seas, we ought to respect and maintain its original pronunciation. Affirmative Rebuttal: Americanization of the Term When the game was brought to America and given Americanized rules, its name was also Americanized. Pronunciation loyalists then counter my rebuttal with, "there are lots of adopted foreign words that have retained their original pron...

Who's Got The Funk?

I am an amateur guitarist, and I've got no funk. My musical skills seem to lacking that special something . Great musicians have it . Those fortunate enough to have gotten hold of  it , create timeless hits. While musicians without it  fade into oblivion. After spending hours searching through Blues history websites and 1970's band documentaries online, I discovered what that special something  is thank to a (70% Man, 30% fish) character from the BBC show "The Mighty Boosh" named Old Gregg. He identified that  thing  as  The Funk ! But what exactly is The Funk ? Here is some dialogue from the show to help explain its origin and purpose: Old Gregg: You're a musician, yeah? Howard: Yes I am. Old Gregg: Butchya ain't very good, are ya? Howard: I'm one of the best in town. Old Gregg: Come on, I read your reviews. Hmm? You know what your problem is? Howard: What? Old Gregg: Ya ain't got the funk. You're all rigid. Hmm? You're l...

Song Analysis: Your Blood by Aurora

Do You Recognize the Melody? When I first listened to Aurora's 2023 hit single, " Your Blood ," I was immediately reminded of " Lovefool ," a 1996 classic from fellow Scandinavians, The Cardigans. I assumed they were both singing about unrequited love, but I realized they told different stories as I spent more time with Aurora's work. Background Interview with the Artist In this article, A Matter of the Heart , Aurora gives listeners a glimpse into the meaning behind her hit single, " Your Blood" .  In summary, "Your Blood" reflects on the loss of heart and empathy in a world driven by rationality and profit, exploring themes of pain, empathy, and interconnectedness.  Inspired by a letter written by  Indigenous activists from Brazil , Aurora's album,  What Happened to the Heart?,  questions humanity's reliance on mind over heart, highlighting how decisions driven by logic rather than compassion lead to suffering, both for the Eart...