Allie Limas Seminar in Dance Learning Outcome 1 February 25, 2013 Standing Upright Before God It has been

a wonderful experience learning more about the words of the prophets and how we are expected to conduct ourselves as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The gospel gives us direction and influence in our lives to make us, not only better individuals, but better creators in this art form of Dance. The words of the prophets can direct and guide our work as teachers, choreographers and performers. Teaching by the spirit is key in teaching students in a dance setting. Whatever age a dance instructor teaches, it is so important to bring the spirit into the classroom. In order to do this as teachers, we must be spiritually in tune. That means that we must be filling our lives with only things that invite the spirit. We cannot have the spirit in our lives If we are participating in any questionable behavior or by simply not engaging in, meaningful personal and family prayer, feasting upon the words of Christ, diligent and exacting obedience, faithfulness and honoring of covenants, virtue, humility, and service,(Bednar, How To Always Have The Spirit To Be With Us). Participating in these activities brings the spirit into our lives. We are able to receive inspiration and learn what we need to do to improve ourselves and better teach our students. In Bednars talk, he explains how we can know if what we are engaging in is bringing the spirit into our lives or not. He states,

 The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us, (Bednar, How To Always Have The Spirit To Be With Us). This statement is simple and true. If anything takes us away from feeling the spirit, it is wrong to do. If we as teachers can listen to the promptings of the spirit and understand when something isnt the best to be participating in, we can receive guidance and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. We can in turn bless the lives of our students who in the classroom, we are stewards over. We can uplift, correct and handle situations in a way that brings the spirit in our class. We can literally teach in a Christ like way, which should always be the way we teach his precious children. We are so blessed to be able to choreograph and create in this art form of Dance. As children of God we are given the ability to create. Furthermore, as Latter day Saints, who through baptism are able to have the holy ghost and receive inspiration, imagine what we can create! We know how to and can actually call upon our loving Father in Heaven to provide inspiration and guidance in our choreography process. Creativity provides great joy and when done in a way pleasing to our Father in Heaven can be the most exquisite of feelings as one connects with Heaven. Neal A. Maxwell describes this process by stating that, Artistic and creative expressions that occur in conformity with reality and with the sublime and eternal truths help to deliver on that marvelous promise that men are that they might have joy (2 Ne. 2:25) and help us to have [life] more abundantly (John

10:10) by showing us a more excellent way (1 Cor. 12:31),(Neal. A Maxwell, Creativity). We really can be guided in our choreography and be shown a more excellent way. We can create something so much grander if we will rely on our Father in Heaven to help and guide us. We can receive that joy of creating with the spirit if we will but allow the spirit to work in us as we create. Maxwells explanation of the ability to celebrate truth in creating is beautiful. He states that , Since all truth comes from God, when we celebrate truth in creative breakthroughs, whether in new understanding of molecular structure or in the beauty of new sculpture or a new painting or new poetry, we are acknowledging the resplendent order in Gods universe, (Neal. A Maxwell,Creativity). This can perfectly be applied to dance choreography. We can celebrate the truth as we rely on prayer and inspiration to reveal that to us. Our Father in Heaven loves us and wants to help us in proclaiming his gospel through truth. He can reveal those truths to us if we will listen and obey him. Dieter F. Uchtdorf explains that, When we use our faculties and talents to discover truth, it can enrich mankind and improve our lives(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, What Is Truth). We can certainly use our talents through choreography to enrich and touch those around us. We can do this through choreography because true art can inspire and teach. It is our responsibilities as latter day saint creators to bring the truth to those around us. We can do this by calling upon the source who knows all truth, our Father in Heaven. As performers in the dance world, especially outside of Brigham Young University, dancers are confronted with different moral standards. Whether its costumes, choreography, or

the environment, it is easy in this genre of work to have latter day saint dancers standards put to the test. Thankfully we are given clear guidance by loving prophets who speak as the mouthpiece of God. Latter day Saints understand that we have a certain moral standard we must live up to. Our moral standard is different than the worlds and requires more integrity. David A. Bednar illustrates what true integrity is by stating, integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous from the very depth of our soul, not only in our actions but, more important, in our thoughts and in our hearts. Personal integrity implies such trustworthiness and incorruptibility that we are incapable of being false to a trust or covenant.(David A. Bednar, Be Honest). When faced with questionable circumstances in the dance world, we must always live up to our standard we are held to as latter day saints. We must say no to the dance piece with the questionable costumes, we must say no to performing the inappropriate choreography. We need to do what is right and good regardless of the immediate consequence, even if it means an end to our career at the time. It is far more important to be an example and be in good standing with God than the immediate consequence of holding to our standards. In conclusion, we are so blessed to have the light of the restored gospel in our lives. We are so blessed to be able to commune with a loving Father in Heaven who wants to inspire and direct our lives. We should always use these blessings in our careers as educators, choreographers and performers. We may never know how we have blessed lives by conducting ourselves with the light of Christ in all our doings as dancers; however, we will feel the joy of living in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bibliography David A Bednar, That We May Always Have His Spirit To Be With Us, April 2006 Neal A. Maxwell, Creativity, August 1982 Dieter F. Uchtdorf, What is Truth http://www.youtube.com/wathc?v=N42v7YqXE9l David A. Bednar, Be Honest (from a devotional address at BYU-Idaho) September 10,2002