Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Gift Giving Ideas and Traditions for Christmas
Here are some of the different ideas I've heard of that are similar to the four gifts idea above.
3 Gifts- (similar to the top picture)
1. One need gift- something to make life easier or more comfortable.
2. One thing to wear- a new dress, necklace, tie or dress shoes for church.
3. One thing to read- a special book just for them.
2. One thing to wear- a new dress, necklace, tie or dress shoes for church.
3. One thing to read- a special book just for them.
*Santa still comes and fills the stockings with fun little trinkets and fruit, but those are the only three gifts they receive on Christmas morning. We then have a big traditional breakfast and explain that that the three gifts represent gifts of the Savior- he has provided a way for our physical needs to be met- (the needed gift), our spirits to be healed (new “sacrament” church clothes) and minds and eyes to grow (book.)
4 Gifts-
1. Santa only brings one gift for each child.
2. Santa brings one family gift for the the family to share.
3. A meaningful gift to a family member.
4. A gift to Christ
*Make a "Jesus Birthday Cake" the whole family decorates for your Christmas Eve dessert to help young children understand the birthday celebration for Jesus. Then you give your "gift" to Christ (a new commitment to do better in an area or something you will do in dedication of Him).
2. Santa brings one family gift for the the family to share.
3. A meaningful gift to a family member.
4. A gift to Christ
*Make a "Jesus Birthday Cake" the whole family decorates for your Christmas Eve dessert to help young children understand the birthday celebration for Jesus. Then you give your "gift" to Christ (a new commitment to do better in an area or something you will do in dedication of Him).
How do you make your Christmas Holidays meaningful?
Syd's Wedding Photos
In June, Syd and Lance were married in the Vernal LDS Temple!
Here are some photos of their special day.
Syd has a blog post about it here
See their engagement photos here.
Turning to God in our Afflictions
In 2 Nephi 2:2 Lehi blesses his son Jacob saying...“
Thou art my first -born in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness. And
behold, in thy childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow... Nevertheless,
Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and
he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.”
To "consecrate" means to make or declare sacred or to devote solemnly to a purpose. God is a God of miracles. He can take our afflictions and turn them into blessings if we will rely on Him and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
We may resist relying on God's power and choose to lean instead,
on ourselves or others and the answers the world provides. Afflictions make us look for answers to find
relief. Our afflictions humble us to the
point where we despair of receiving help and we realize that the only source we
can turn to is God. To "consecrate" means to make or declare sacred or to devote solemnly to a purpose. God is a God of miracles. He can take our afflictions and turn them into blessings if we will rely on Him and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Afflictions can help show forth God's power in our lives because we
are in such dire straits that we MUST rely on the Lord to make it through our
trials. Afflictions can also be a tool
to wake up the wicked unto repentance.
Afflictions can be looked at as a type of bondage and there are many scriptures that talk about people being in bondage. Often being released from bondage is a process rather than a singular event.
In Mosiah 7: 33 it says: “But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.”
This scripture says the Lord will deliver us according to his own will and pleasure. What is our willingness or lack of willingness to submit to the Lord's will and "pleasure?" It helps to remember that the Lord’s will and pleasure is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life through our experiences of this life.
The people of Alma were in bondage to the Lamanites who were treating them very harshly. We can find out what happened to the burdens and afflictions these people struggled with when they put their trust in God to deliver them.
Mosiah 24: 14-15 "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."
It is hard to bepatient through suffering. Could we be satisfied to have God lighten our burdens instead of removing them? Can we be long-suffering and patient with God and ourselves?
Tony Snow, who was a press secretary in the Bush Administration, announced that he had colon cancer in 2005. The disease took his life in 2008. Prior to his death, he wrote about the spiritual lessons he had learned through his ordeal.
"We want lives of simple, predictable ease--smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see--but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension--and yet don't. By his love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise…
The natural reaction when faced with trials is to turn to God and ask him to serve as a cosmic Santa. "Dear God, make it all go away. Make everything more simple." But another voice whispers: "You have been called." Your affliction has drawn you closer to God, closer to those you love, closer to the issues that matter--and have dragged into insignificance the concerns that occupy our "normal time."
God wrings from our bodies and spirits the most we ever could give, the most we ever could offer, and the most we ever could do… Through such trials, God bids us choose: Do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don't matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?
We don't know much, but we know this: No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us, each and every day, lies in the same safe and impregnable place--in the hollow of God's hand."
In Mosiah 3: 19 it says ..."For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."
How do we receive the ability to be able to cheerfully submit our
will to God? The answer is through the Atonement
of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ.
Pray unto God with all your hearts for His peace and comfort to be with
you. Miracles will occur; answers will
come whether it is through church leaders, family members, friends or direct
revelation. Great peace and answers to
prayer will come through faithful temple attendance. By sanctifying yourself through faithful temple attendance you can help lift
those around you and miracles will occur.Afflictions can be looked at as a type of bondage and there are many scriptures that talk about people being in bondage. Often being released from bondage is a process rather than a singular event.
In Mosiah 7: 33 it says: “But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.”
This scripture says the Lord will deliver us according to his own will and pleasure. What is our willingness or lack of willingness to submit to the Lord's will and "pleasure?" It helps to remember that the Lord’s will and pleasure is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life through our experiences of this life.
The people of Alma were in bondage to the Lamanites who were treating them very harshly. We can find out what happened to the burdens and afflictions these people struggled with when they put their trust in God to deliver them.
Mosiah 24: 14-15 "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."
It is hard to bepatient through suffering. Could we be satisfied to have God lighten our burdens instead of removing them? Can we be long-suffering and patient with God and ourselves?
Tony Snow, who was a press secretary in the Bush Administration, announced that he had colon cancer in 2005. The disease took his life in 2008. Prior to his death, he wrote about the spiritual lessons he had learned through his ordeal.
"We want lives of simple, predictable ease--smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see--but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension--and yet don't. By his love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise…
The natural reaction when faced with trials is to turn to God and ask him to serve as a cosmic Santa. "Dear God, make it all go away. Make everything more simple." But another voice whispers: "You have been called." Your affliction has drawn you closer to God, closer to those you love, closer to the issues that matter--and have dragged into insignificance the concerns that occupy our "normal time."
God wrings from our bodies and spirits the most we ever could give, the most we ever could offer, and the most we ever could do… Through such trials, God bids us choose: Do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don't matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?
We don't know much, but we know this: No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us, each and every day, lies in the same safe and impregnable place--in the hollow of God's hand."
In Mosiah 3: 19 it says ..."For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."
I solemnly testify that God can and will consecrate our afflictions for our gain. In D&C 98: 3 it says: Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks; Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, (suh-bey-ohth) and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted. Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.
I know that the Lord consecrates all of our afflictions for our good. He walks with us even when we think we are alone. He is only waiting for us to turn to Him and ask for His help and grace so we can be able to bear up under the burdens that are placed upon us. I know He lives and loves us. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and only waits for you to lay claim upon its healing power.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen
"No One Can Take a Woman's Place" - Mother's Day Lesson for Church
I taught the lesson on Mother's Day in church. At first I considered using a newly published book, "Christ's Gifts to Women," as the basis for my lesson, but I was led to do something different. I still wanted to highlight this beautiful book. The artwork is wonderful and so are the messages.
As a Relief Society Presidency we wanted to make sure to include ALL women in the lesson on Mother's Day and focus on the blessings of being a woman and the blessings of having women in our lives who have "mothered" us in so many different ways. I decided to post my lesson in case someone else needs an idea for a lesson to give on Mother's Day.
"No One Can Take a Woman's Place"
2. The second word is the word "Nurture" with D&C 121: 41-42. Read Scripture #2. Bonnie D. Parkin said that nurturing feels like the words in these verses. Who are the women that have nurtured you? Tell about someone who mothered you by nurturing you.
3. The third word is the word "Protect" by reading 1 Nephi 5:7-9. Read Scripture #3. Women always want to protect others, especially children. How has a woman protected you? Do you know of a prayer or prayers for your protection? Tell about a woman "mothering" you by protecting you or praying for you.
4. The fourth word is the word "Teach" by reading Alma 56: 47-48. This is about the 2000 Young Stripling Warriors that volunteered to go to war in the Book of Mormon. Read Scripture #4. One of the main jobs of a woman is teaching the gospel. Who has mothered you by teaching you about faith? What did she teach you? Share your experience about this woman.
Closing: This quote is by Sheri Dew from her book, “No one can take yourplace.” The chapter is: "Are We Not All Mothers?" She was a counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency. She wasn't married and she didn't have children.
“Every one of us has an overarching obligation to model righteous womanhood because our youth may not see it anywhere else. Every sister in Relief Society, which is the most significant community of women on this side of the veil, is responsible to help mother someone--beginning, of course, with the children in our own families but extending far beyond. Every one of us can show by word and by deed that the work of women in the Lord's kingdom is magnificent and holy. I repeat: We are all mothers in Israel, and our calling is to love and help lead the rising generation through the dangerous streets of mortality. Motherhood is not only about those we have borne, but also about those we are willing to bear with. Every woman can show by word and by deed that the work of women in the Lord’s kingdom is magnificent and holy. And our work influences not only the here and now, but reaches into the eternities.”
“Mother” is the word that will define a righteous woman made perfect in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. Let us stand united and steadfast as mothers in Israel and as women of God. As mothers we have a sacred stewardship and a holy crown in the kingdom of God. No one can take a woman's place. No one can fill your shoes or serve those around them like you can. You have been born at this place and time with your sphere of influence for a reason. No one can take your special place in this world. We love you, the Lord loves you. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
"No One Can Take a Woman's Place"
I want to
wish you a Happy Mother’s Day. At times the words ‘mother’ and ‘motherhood’
have divided rather than united us. Some of us feel guilty about having children
who didn’t turn out the way we had hoped and prayed; some of us had mothers who
were abusive, unloving, bad examples; some of us fiercely miss our mothers who
have passed away; some of us haven’t been given the opportunity to have
children. Motherhood can be a tender subject that can evoke strong emotion,
ranging from great joy to great heartache.
As daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as daughters of Eve, we are all mothers, and we have always been mothers. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits and talents that our Father in Heaven gave us. We tend to equate motherhood with maternity, but in the Lord’s language the word mother has layers of meaning. Eve was called “the mother of all living” before she ever bore a child. Moses 4:26 says, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve because she was the mother of all living; for thus have I the Lord God, called the first of all women, which are many.” The Lord does nothing with a short-range view; our motherhood began before we were born. Motherhood is more than the bearing of children, though it is certainly that.
Prophets have taught the doctrine of motherhood again and again, without the slightest variation. What does this doctrine mean to all women? That motherhood is divine and eternal and core to the nature of every woman. It is the work of the women of God. Elder Matthew Cowley of the Quorum of the Twelve taught that “women are born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be the saviors of human souls…the regenerating force in the lives of God’s children.” Motherhood has an unparalleled role in helping God’s children keep their second estate.
For reasons known only to the Lord, some women are required to wait to have children. The delay and the disappointment are not easy for any righteous woman. But the Lord’s timetable doesn’t change our very nature. We are all needed as mothers; all around us are those who need to be loved and led, nurtured and mentored. The spiritual rewards of mothering are available to all. Few of us reach our potential without the nurturing of mothers—the mothers who bore us and the mothers we have been blessed to have as grandmothers, aunts, Primary teachers, visiting teachers, youth leaders, neighbors, and friends. These mothers in Israel have loved us, encouraged us, and helped us build a sense of confidence, safety and security while they have shown us where to find peace and truth.
As daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as daughters of Eve, we are all mothers, and we have always been mothers. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits and talents that our Father in Heaven gave us. We tend to equate motherhood with maternity, but in the Lord’s language the word mother has layers of meaning. Eve was called “the mother of all living” before she ever bore a child. Moses 4:26 says, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve because she was the mother of all living; for thus have I the Lord God, called the first of all women, which are many.” The Lord does nothing with a short-range view; our motherhood began before we were born. Motherhood is more than the bearing of children, though it is certainly that.
Prophets have taught the doctrine of motherhood again and again, without the slightest variation. What does this doctrine mean to all women? That motherhood is divine and eternal and core to the nature of every woman. It is the work of the women of God. Elder Matthew Cowley of the Quorum of the Twelve taught that “women are born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be the saviors of human souls…the regenerating force in the lives of God’s children.” Motherhood has an unparalleled role in helping God’s children keep their second estate.
For reasons known only to the Lord, some women are required to wait to have children. The delay and the disappointment are not easy for any righteous woman. But the Lord’s timetable doesn’t change our very nature. We are all needed as mothers; all around us are those who need to be loved and led, nurtured and mentored. The spiritual rewards of mothering are available to all. Few of us reach our potential without the nurturing of mothers—the mothers who bore us and the mothers we have been blessed to have as grandmothers, aunts, Primary teachers, visiting teachers, youth leaders, neighbors, and friends. These mothers in Israel have loved us, encouraged us, and helped us build a sense of confidence, safety and security while they have shown us where to find peace and truth.
I would like
to spend the rest of our class time in celebrating and expressing our gratitude
for the women in our lives who have mothered us in various ways. There
are too many to count so we are only going to focus on five and while we read the following scriptures I would like you to think of the women who have blessed you or someone you know. I would love to have you share some of your thoughts and feelings if you feel prompted to do so.
1. The first word to discuss is the word "Bear" Hannah is cannot bear or have a child and is depressed. Read Scripture #1:
1. The first word to discuss is the word "Bear" Hannah is cannot bear or have a child and is depressed. Read Scripture #1:
2. The second word is the word "Nurture" with D&C 121: 41-42. Read Scripture #2. Bonnie D. Parkin said that nurturing feels like the words in these verses. Who are the women that have nurtured you? Tell about someone who mothered you by nurturing you.
3. The third word is the word "Protect" by reading 1 Nephi 5:7-9. Read Scripture #3. Women always want to protect others, especially children. How has a woman protected you? Do you know of a prayer or prayers for your protection? Tell about a woman "mothering" you by protecting you or praying for you.
4. The fourth word is the word "Teach" by reading Alma 56: 47-48. This is about the 2000 Young Stripling Warriors that volunteered to go to war in the Book of Mormon. Read Scripture #4. One of the main jobs of a woman is teaching the gospel. Who has mothered you by teaching you about faith? What did she teach you? Share your experience about this woman.
5. The fifth
and last word is "Lead." In Proverbs 31:10 it says: “Who can find
a virtuous woman? for her price is far above
rubies.” Read scripture #5: 2 Nephi 31: 9-10. As Jesus Christ showed, the best leading is by
example. Share an example of a virtuous woman whose influence and example has
touched you.
Closing: This quote is by Sheri Dew from her book, “No one can take yourplace.” The chapter is: "Are We Not All Mothers?" She was a counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency. She wasn't married and she didn't have children.
“Every one of us has an overarching obligation to model righteous womanhood because our youth may not see it anywhere else. Every sister in Relief Society, which is the most significant community of women on this side of the veil, is responsible to help mother someone--beginning, of course, with the children in our own families but extending far beyond. Every one of us can show by word and by deed that the work of women in the Lord's kingdom is magnificent and holy. I repeat: We are all mothers in Israel, and our calling is to love and help lead the rising generation through the dangerous streets of mortality. Motherhood is not only about those we have borne, but also about those we are willing to bear with. Every woman can show by word and by deed that the work of women in the Lord’s kingdom is magnificent and holy. And our work influences not only the here and now, but reaches into the eternities.”
“Mother” is the word that will define a righteous woman made perfect in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. Let us stand united and steadfast as mothers in Israel and as women of God. As mothers we have a sacred stewardship and a holy crown in the kingdom of God. No one can take a woman's place. No one can fill your shoes or serve those around them like you can. You have been born at this place and time with your sphere of influence for a reason. No one can take your special place in this world. We love you, the Lord loves you. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
- I wrote the title of the lesson on the top of the chalkboard: "No one can Take a Woman's Place."
- I had five printed signs with the words: Bear, Nurture, Protect, Teach, Lead and the scriptures for each one printed under the word. I put these under the lesson title the chalkboard.
- I handed out the five scripture references to individuals in the class to be ready to read when I asked for them.
2012 Relief Society Auxiliary Leadership Training
During the Relief Society training, Julie Beck, former General Relief Society President, said,
“Sometimes we think taking care of a family is like dealing out cards. But it’s not that way. You can’t give everyone an even cut of the deck, every time. Sometimes you have a need and you go to that need. Sometimes a certain child gets more help than the others.”
Julie Beck then said.
“And for all you women who say you’ll never be enough? Well, that is true.”
Then she continued,
“But it’s okay. Because we have the Atonement in our lives. And the Savior makes up the difference for all our inadequacies and imperfections, the things we miss and regret, the things we need help doing. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and his power in our lives, will get us through the difficult journey.”
My Favorite Visiting Teaching Handouts for Relief Society
This is my favorite website for visiting teaching handouts! Every month she has creative and fun ideas.
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