We teach these Character Qualities during family meetings and try to reinforce them during the week (the whole reinforcing thing is something I'm hoping to improve on as part of this challenge!) Each has a definition, accompanying scripture, and stories to help reinforce the principle. I generally try to find stories from the scriptures, history, or classic fables to help teach the character quality. (More ambitious people might include games, puppet shows, or role-playing as teaching tools as well.)
I've been creating these as we go and will add to the list as we do them. Feel free to use what I've put together or to create your own Character Qualities lists and lessons. Also feel free to share stories (from history, current events, fables, etc) that you think would be helpful for teaching these skills.
The definition and scripture for each character quality can be reiterated and practiced during family prayer time throughout the week.
I totally hijacked this idea from the Duggars. I wasn't super thrilled with their list of character qualities and definitions, though, which is why I'm creating my own. You may find you'll want to create your own to reflect your family's values and culture.
Also-- just as an idea for your family--every two or three months, we'll take a break from character qualities to teach our kids about Safety and Health, things like:
1: Safety (poisons, sharp objects, fire procedures, bad people, when you get lost, our address and phone number)
2: Good touch/bad touch (I worked at a counseling agency for 4 years, and as a result I really believe in this!)
3: Caring for our bodies (hygiene, nutrition, exercise)Obviously there are more than 12 character qualities, so you won't be able to get through all of them during the course of the challenge. Hopefully, though, once you get into the groove of teaching these, you won't want to stop!
This is our list:
Integrity
Definition: Doing what you know is right, even when it's difficult. Being who you say you are, even when no one is looking.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV): "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."
Example: Abraham Lincoln walking 3 miles to return 6 1/2 cents to a customer he had accidentally short-changed.
Definition: Doing what you know is right, even when it's difficult. Being who you say you are, even when no one is looking.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV): "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."
Example: Abraham Lincoln walking 3 miles to return 6 1/2 cents to a customer he had accidentally short-changed.
Sacrifice
Definition: Giving up something good for something even better.
Scripture: Psalm 51:17. "The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart."
Examples: Many Pilgrims and the Pioneers gave up the security and comforts of their existing lives to ensure freedom and opportunity for themselves and their posterity. Soldiers fight to protect our country. A mother goes through discomfort to bring life to a child.
Selflessness
Definition: Putting the needs of others before your own.
Scripture: John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
Examples: Jesus (Matthew 14) went to spend some time with himself but people followed him-- he "felt compassion for them" and spent time healing and teaching them. King Benjamin (The Book of Mosiah) labored in the fields with his people. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for equal rights for black Americans, even though it put him in grave danger and ultimately cost him his life.
Definition: Giving up something good for something even better.
Scripture: Psalm 51:17. "The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart."
Examples: Many Pilgrims and the Pioneers gave up the security and comforts of their existing lives to ensure freedom and opportunity for themselves and their posterity. Soldiers fight to protect our country. A mother goes through discomfort to bring life to a child.
Selflessness
Definition: Putting the needs of others before your own.
Scripture: John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
Examples: Jesus (Matthew 14) went to spend some time with himself but people followed him-- he "felt compassion for them" and spent time healing and teaching them. King Benjamin (The Book of Mosiah) labored in the fields with his people. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for equal rights for black Americans, even though it put him in grave danger and ultimately cost him his life.
Honesty
Definition: Living truthfully. Never lying, cheating, sneaking, or stealing.
Scripture: Proverbs 12:22"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but they that deal truly are his delight."
Examples: George Washington's famous cherry tree. Aesop's "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."
Definition: Living truthfully. Never lying, cheating, sneaking, or stealing.
Scripture: Proverbs 12:22"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but they that deal truly are his delight."
Examples: George Washington's famous cherry tree. Aesop's "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."
Patience
Definition: Waiting for good things, understanding that sometimes good things take time and effort to come to us.
Scripture: D&C 121 7-8 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if you endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."
Examples: Story about kids/marshmallows. The story of Moses Mahlangu.
Definition: Waiting for good things, understanding that sometimes good things take time and effort to come to us.
Scripture: D&C 121 7-8 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if you endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."
Examples: Story about kids/marshmallows. The story of Moses Mahlangu.
Persistence
Definition: Stubbornly working toward achieving your goals, despite failures, difficulties, and opposition.
Scripture: Proverbs 24:16 "For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again."
Examples: Thomas Edison (great video!) Abraham Lincoln, Michael Jordan, Heber J. Grant, Moses
Bonus Quote: "That which we persist in doing become easier for us to do-- not that the nature of the things is changed, but that our power to do is increased." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Joyfulness
Definition: Taking time to celebrate the good things in life.
Scripture: Phillipians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!"
Example: (From "Where Do I Make My Stand?" in the October 2004 General Conference)
Kindness
Doing what you can to help the people around you feel loved.
Definition: Stubbornly working toward achieving your goals, despite failures, difficulties, and opposition.
Scripture: Proverbs 24:16 "For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again."
Examples: Thomas Edison (great video!) Abraham Lincoln, Michael Jordan, Heber J. Grant, Moses
Bonus Quote: "That which we persist in doing become easier for us to do-- not that the nature of the things is changed, but that our power to do is increased." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Joyfulness
Definition: Taking time to celebrate the good things in life.
Scripture: Phillipians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!"
Example: (From "Where Do I Make My Stand?" in the October 2004 General Conference)
Thomas Giles, a Welsh convert who joined the Church in 1844, also suffered much in his lifetime. He was a miner, and while he was digging coal in the mine, a large piece of coal hit him on the head and inflicted a wound nine inches long. The doctor who examined him said the injured man would not live longer than 24 hours. But then the elders came and administered to him. He was promised that he would get well, and that “even if he would never see again, he would live to do much good in the Church.” Brother Giles did indeed live but was blind the rest of his life. Within a month of his injury “he was out traveling through the country attending to his ecclesiastical duties.”
In 1856 Brother Giles and his family immigrated to Utah, but before he left his homeland, the Welsh Saints presented him with a harp, which he learned to play skillfully. At Council Bluffs he joined a handcart company and headed west. “Though blind he pulled a handcart from Council Bluffs to Salt Lake City.” While crossing the plains his wife and two children died. “His sorrow was great and his heart almost broken, but his faith did not fail him. In the midst of his grief he said as did one of old, ‘The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’” 9When Brother Giles arrived in Salt Lake City, President Brigham Young, who had heard his story, loaned Brother Giles a valuable harp until his own arrived from Wales. Brother Giles “traveled from settlement to settlement in Utah, … gladdening the hearts of the people with his sweet music.” 10 Kindness
Doing what you can to help the people around you feel loved.
Reverence
A deep respect for something or someone that is very special to you; showing this respect through your actions.
A deep respect for something or someone that is very special to you; showing this respect through your actions.
Forgiveness
Choosing to not allow someone else's mistakes to continue to hurt you.
Choosing to not allow someone else's mistakes to continue to hurt you.
Repentance
Recognizing that you've made a mistake, doing what you can to make it right, and trying harder to do better.
Recognizing that you've made a mistake, doing what you can to make it right, and trying harder to do better.
Humility
Realizing that you aren't always right, acknowledging that you have shortcomings and limitations.
DependabilityRealizing that you aren't always right, acknowledging that you have shortcomings and limitations.
Being where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there.
Curiosity
Resilience
Curiosity
Resilience
Diligence
Mindfulness
Light-Heartedness
Intuition/"In-tune-ition"
Gratitude
Thoughtfulness/"Thought-full-ness"
Commitment
Self-Control
Obedience
Thriftiness
Patience
Loyalty
Courage
Punctuality
Responsibility
Faithfulness
Accountability
Reliability
Hospitality
Compassion
Generosity
Respectful
Well-Mannered
Helpful
Flexibility
(...I'll be filling this out as we go!)
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