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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.

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Comments

  1. AnonymousThu Oct 01, 10:32:00 AM MDT

    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.

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