Protectors of the Environment

That's what we are as mentors: protectors of the environment. 

And I don't mean like Green Peace or treehuggers.

Our job as mentors in Vanguard is to create and protect and environment of respect and inspiration that will allow the youth to find and explore their God-given genius--using their agency--and to learn enough principles of freedom to be able to protect their rights to use than genius.

I have been reflecting on this truth a great deal as I head into the new year.  As a protector, it is not always an easy, safe, or comfortable job.  However, as I turned to the scriptures this morning to try and keep my purpose Christ-like, I felt directed to the following two scriptures:

3 Nephi 12:48/Matt. 5:48: Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect. ("Perfect" in the original Greek:"complete, finished, fully developed")
High, even idealistic standards!

3 Nephi 27:21: ...for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do.

My mind went to the cleansing of the temple, one of the few times we see Christ full of wrath and indignation in the scriptures.  He was protecting the sanctity of the environment of the temple, and we should do the same with our classes.

Cell phone use, attendance, behavior in class and treatment of peers...these are all hard and challenging issues and must be considered on a group by group basis.

However, we must not be afraid to expect standards in the group that protect that learning environment.  We do not ask for a $1000/semester tuition, but I feel that the quality of what we can offer is worth the commitment of time and sacrifice that high, idealistic standards demand.   We must be mindful of this so that our groups do not deteriorate into play-dates for our youth...unless that is what you want, of course :).   

Remember that rules and standards are not terrible if righteously established and followed through with.   In fact, it is moral rules and standards that made our nation great. It is religious rules and standards that demand the sacrifice it takes for sanctification.  Every institution and organization has basic standards that define it and establish a ground level for its membership.

As we review or establish our bylaws for the year, may we prayerfully consider what kind of environment we feel is necessary in our group to protect the mission of Vanguard:

We will engage in a respectful and inspiring peer environment that will not only help us grow in our faith, but will help us feel free to develop our unique strengths

as well as a passion for learning that will allow us to better ourselves, our families, our communities, and, ultimately, the world.

(Check out the quote by Orson Whitney on page 229 of "Teach the Children"...it goes beautifully with this and expands on the instructor's role to "cultivate, nourish, care for and protect [the student], places them in those conditions where they can best expand according to the laaws of their own being.")