Why a Homeschool Salvation Mountain Unit Study?
Over the last few posts, I've shared my incredible experience serving as a docent, or greeter, at the outdoor monument, Salvation Mountain located in Slab City, California. As a result of working at the Mountain, I've recently created the free Salvation Mountain Unit Study Kids Activity Book & Educator's Guide which will be released soon.
Here's what I wrote in my last few posts in case you didn't see them:
Have a watch of this little short to see some more cook views of Salvation Mountain.
Salvation Mountain, created by outsider, or, self-taught artist Leonard C. Knight (1931 - 2014), has stood the test of time over the last 35 years. It still stands strong thanks to Leonard's foresight of setting up his own non-profit, Salvation Mountain Inc. 501(c)(3). In 2011, Leonard assigned 9 board members to oversee the restoration and protection of Salvation Mountain.
The loyal nine board members work very hard to ensure that the Mountain is well staffed with 4 docents and 1 caretaker, the later of which lives on site full time. Additionally, the board members make sure that there is ongoing restoration work to keep Salvation Mountain safe and standing strong for decades to come.
Why did I create the Salvation Mountain Unit Study Kids Activity Book & Educator's Guide? Leonard wanted the whole world to know something. He wanted everyone to know that no matter what they believed, God loved them. That's the main message at the very top of Salvation Mountain, which says, God is Love.
Previously, I've shared that Salvation Mountain is unifying common ground where people of any faith or non-faith worldviews can come and enjoy a message of love for everyone.
Here you can see the giant red heart with Leonard's version of the Sinner's Prayer.
Next on the Mountain, beneath God is love, Leonard wrote in giant adobe letters within a massive red heart his version of the sinner's prayer found in Acts 4:38:
"Say Jesus, I'm a sinner, please come upon my body and into my heart."
This was the prayer that 36 year old Leonard repeated over and over to himself.
The story goes like this:
When Leonard was 36 years old, his sister invited him to come stay with her in Lemon Grove, California. She kept asking him to come to church with her, but, he kept resisting. Finally, one day while sitting alone in his truck, he spontaneously spoke the words of the sinner's prayer over and over until tears streamed down his face. He was never the same again.
Leonard had a profound spiritual experience that never left him. This was part of his big motivation to create something the size of Salvation Mountain.
When I got the idea from a friend to create the Salvation Mountain kids activity book, I felt a profound motivation to get it done and share it with the world.
Why a Homeschool Salvation Mountain Unit Study?
Personally, I'm someone that has joyfully left all organized religion, yet, I'm fully able to be present and serve with open-hearted enthusiasm at Salvation Mountain. My mission is not to tell anyone what to believe, neither was it Leonard's. He willingly with love shared his experience with God and the Bible but without being pushy about it.
I am willing to share Leonard's story and about the Mountain's art with children and adults without persuading anyone to convert or unconvert. My hope is that the activity book will inspire you and your family to come on out and see Salvation Mountain for yourselves and have your own experience with it. It's a truly beautiful and remarkable place.
My biggest why of all is to help bring divided humanity together on common ground with love as our main currency!
Leonard didn't want anyone preaching, teaching, or being showy at the Mountain. All he asked his board to do was allow people to have their own experience and, "Let the Mountain speak for itself."
That is what we docents uphold at Salvation Mountain. We greet folks as they arrive, show them what's available for the free tour, briefly go over a few rules and send folks on their way to have their own experience with the art.
Are you looking forward to the release of the Salvation Mountain Kids Activity Book & Educator's Guide?
I sure am!
I have a few more tweaks to make and then I'll be releasing it soon!
Talk Soon,
NatureGlo