The power of desire...a follow-up on "...the power of thought"

As I have delved deeper into the concept of the power of thought I posted earlier, I was inspired to do a "word study" on the word "desire."  As I did that, the following all "fell into place" as a class for myself and whichever of my scholar kids wanted to join.  

***************

"Hello, amazing young people!

I would like to invite you to a special brain-storming session on desire!

Requirements to attend:

1st read "Jack Rabbit Factor" (on the post above, there is a link where you can get this and the 8 emails for free)

Read 8 emails that I will forward to you and answer her questions for yourself
Do a "word study" on "desire" *see below
read/ listen to Neal A. Maxwell's talk

read/listen to Dallin H. Oak's talk

listen to http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_how_to_escape_education_s_death_valley.html

Write down 10 BIG DESIRES ("Big Desires"=Dream Big!)

*Word study (click on "word study" for an example of how to do one)
How to do a word study: Find a definition for my focus from the Webster 1828 dictionary (sometimes there is more than one definition):

Underline key words that stand out to you and define them:

Looking at how it is used in Scripture (Conference addresses are also scripture) not just general quotes or articles online. Find at least 10.

Application: re-write the definition in your own words and how you are going to apply it.

It will be on Saturday, 6pm. The other kids will be watching a movie while we discuss, debate, share, teach...come prepared to share what you learned!  We will be watching a movie afterward. (After you do all the things above and think of a movie that would go with it--I was thinking Forever Strong, The Princess Bride, or Amazing Grace--then let me know!)

Love,

:) mom"

**************
As I have been working through these messages, it is marvelous to see the foundation of truth behind the concept of the power of desire I am studying, particularly as you listen to/read the talks by Neal A. Maxwell  and Dallin H. Oaks below.

Here are a couple tidbits to tantalize you :)...

Maxwell: 

Desires thus become real determinants, even when, with pitiful naivete, we do not really want the consequences of our desires...Therefore, what we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity. “For I [said the Lord] will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts” (D&C 137:9; ...

Mostly, brothers and sisters, we become the victims of our own wrong desires. Moreover, we live in an age when many simply refuse to feel responsible for themselves. Thus, a crystal-clear understanding of the doctrines pertaining to desire is so vital because of the spreading effluent oozing out of so many unjustified excuses by so many. This is like a sludge which is sweeping society along toward “the gulf of misery and endless wo” (Hel. 5:12)...

Some seek to brush aside conscience, refusing to hear its voice. But that deflection is, in itself, an act of choice, because we so desired. Even when the light of Christ flickers only faintly in the darkness, it flickers nevertheless. If one averts his gaze therefrom, it is because he so desires...

Like it or not, therefore, reality requires that we acknowledge our responsibility for our desires...It is up to us. God will facilitate, but He will not force.

 Oaks:

How do we develop desires? Few will have the kind of crisis that motivated Aron Ralston,3 but his experience provides a valuable lesson about developing desires. While Ralston was hiking in a remote canyon in southern Utah, an 800-pound (360 kg) rock shifted suddenly and trapped his right arm. For five lonely days he struggled to free himself. When he was about to give up and accept death, he had a vision of a three-year-old boy running toward him and being scooped up with his left arm. Understanding this as a vision of his future son and an assurance that he could still live, Ralston summoned the courage and took drastic action to save his life before his strength ran out. He broke the two bones in his trapped right arm and then used the knife in his multitool to cut off that arm. He then summoned the strength to hike five miles (8 km) for help.4 What an example of the power of an overwhelming desire! When we have a vision of what we can become, our desire and our power to act increase enormously.

Most of us will never face such an extreme crisis, but all of us face potential traps that will prevent progress toward our eternal destiny. If our righteous desires are sufficiently intense, they will motivate us to cut and carve ourselves free from addictions and other sinful pressures and priorities that prevent our eternal progress.

We should remember that righteous desires cannot be superficial, impulsive, or temporary. They must be heartfelt, unwavering, and permanent. So motivated, we will seek for that condition described by the Prophet Joseph Smith, where we have “overcome the evils of [our lives] and lost every desire for sin.”5