President Gordon B. Hinckley's recent challenge to read the Book of Mormon by the end of 2005 has been called prophetic counsel, timeless guidance and wise direction.
Now add H.I.P. (as in President Hinckley's Inspired Promise) to the list of adjectives.
The young men and women of the Herriman Hills Ward, Herriman Utah Stake, created H.I.P. to help them meet President Hinckley's well-publicized Book of Mormon challenge. The program has allowed the Herriman Hills youth to deepen their relationship with the scriptures, follow President Hinckley's direction and grow closer as a ward.
About 20 young men and women — along with many of their leaders — finished the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. The H.I.P. program provided them with a reading schedule, along with fun incentives to keep them on track. The young readers who, say, reached mid-book goals by their scheduled completion date were treated to breakfast prepared by Bishop David Russell and his counselors.
Each participant also received a H.I.P. T-shirt to help share the message of President Hinckley's challenge. "They would wear the shirts and people would ask them what H.I.P. meant," said Amy Warren, the ward's Young Women president.
But the blessings of the program stretched far beyond breakfasts and fun T-shirts. Unity among the young men and women has increased. Thanks to dramatic growth in the Herriman community in the southwest section of the Salt Lake Valley, there have been several ward divisions in recent years. As the Herriman Hills youth shared their Book of Mormon experiences with each other during weekday and Sabbath Mutual activities, their friendship and respect for each other deepened.
"And families have also been brought closer together," as they have made reading the Book of Mormon a family project, Sister Warren said.
Many of the youth who met President Hinckley's challenge to read the Book of Mormon completed the book for the first time.
"Reading the Book of Mormon helped me through each day," said Stephanie Hansen, 13. "It reminded me to pray. I felt happier the days that I read it."
Recently, the Herriman Hills Mutual met with Young Men General President Charles Dahlquist. Brother Dahlquist congratulated the youth on meeting President Hinckley's challenge and encouraged them to continue to turn to the scriptures for guidance. He spoke of reading the Book of Mormon as a young seminary student at the request of President David O. McKay.
"It has been my experience that when we read in the scriptures daily, we are more likely to have the Spirit of the Lord with us to help us make right choices in our lives," Brother Dahlquist said.
He asked the Herriman Hills youth to always carry with them a copy of "For the Strength of Youth" and its accompanying message from the First Presidency. "There was never a time in the history of the world when the standards of the Book of Mormon and from the First Presidency are more needed by the youth of Zion."
E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com
