memorizing

I know that in this church, you do a LOT of memorizing. Especially during the year in seminary for scripture mastery. During the couple months I was in seminary, I memorized all of the scripture mastery but 4. I've memorized the 13th article of faith for personal progress (Knowledge required value experience #3) and I know in Knowledge under the elective value experiences there is one choice to memorize 2 of your favorite hymns, which I am working on. In Faith, you can memorize and recite "The Living Christ" which sounds like a challenge, so I want to do that too. There are a ton of other things to memorize in personal progress as well.
I am really good at memorization because I like to go over and over and over things in my mind. I have also found an easier way of memorization. Since you have a lot of memorizing ahead of you in seminary, personal progress, and in preparation for a mission should you choose to go on one... I'll share it with you.
Yesterday I was memorizing the 13th article of faith. That is this year's mutual theme. It's also a required value experience under Knowledge. (#3) Here's what I did to memorize:
WBIBHTCBVAIDGTAMIWMSWFTAOPWBATWHATWHEMTAHTEATITIAVLOGROPWSATT

That is the first letter of each word in the article. It's sort of a cheat sheet that will help pave the way in memorization. I found that once I mastered this, I was able to recite the article without the "cheat sheet" much more quickly than if I hadn't made it.
Now, I just took a few months of the Doctrine and Covenants course in seminary. So I know there are quite a few REALLY REALLY long scripture mastery scriptures. (Like, Joseph Smith History. Which I passed off. woot woot :) For these, just use the first letter of each word as I showed you above and highlight small chunks of the scripture mastery at a time until you've memorized that chunk. Then move on to the next chunk when you feel confident, adding the part you've already learned.
I hope this helps! I know it really helped for me.
I don't know exactly where I am in personal progress just yet, but it looks like I'll be finishing by the end of August. Craziness!

In other news, I've been writing to a missionary who is currently in Sao Paolo, Brazil. (Portugese speaking mission) He is having the time of his life. He loves Sao Paolo. He's already had some challenges with members and inactive members but he says he is just so happy to help them. He is a really great example to me. He is a great example of honoring his priesthood and doing good unto all men. He's been writing to me and updating me on several people he's spoken to or whatever. It's really cool. He's a great missionary. I can't wait until he comes back but I am so glad that he has this experience right now. It is just so valuable to him and the brothers and sisters around him. This is how he closed the last time he wrote me:
Esta semana eu li Jacó e eu gosto de quando Jacó explica a importância dos profetas. Por exemplo, em versiculos Jacó 4:4. Muitas pessoas aqui não entendem que nós precisamos um profeta hoje e não entendem o que um profeta é. Mas eu sei que nós temos profetas denovo, que como Deus chamou profetas nos tempos antigos que José Smith foi chamado a ser um profeta, e AGORA nós temos um profeta chamado Thomas S. Monson. Nós temos profetas então nós podemos ser guiados atrevés esta vida e ter felicidade e saber o que Deus quer que nós fazemos. Esta obra é dificil as vezes, mas como é diz em Jarom 1:3, que muito obra precisa acontecer aqui.

[This week I read and I like Jacob when Jacob explains the importance of the prophets. For example, in verses 4:4 Jacob. Many people here do not understand that we need a prophet today and do not understand what a prophet is. But I know we have prophets again, that as God called prophets in ancient times that Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet, and now we have a prophet named Thomas S. Monson. We have prophets, then we can dare to be led this life and be happy and know what God wants us to do. This work is hard sometimes, but as is said in Jarom 1:3, that much work needs to happen here.]
Thank goodness for google translator! :)