Lord, I Believe

We recently visited Forsyth as a Stake Relief Society presidency, and enjoyed the lesson, which was from the April 2013 General Conference message by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland entitled, "Lord I Believe."

Here are a few favorite quotes from the lesson:

"When problems come and questions arise, do not start your quest for faith by saying how much you do not have, leading as it were with your 'unbelief '. That is like trying to stuff a turkey through the beak! Let me be clear on this point: I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have. I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have."

"Brothers and sisters, this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will. In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith."

"... be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we."

To read (or listen to) the entire talk go here.

Good Things Will Come

I love this story from President Holland about his experiences as a young father.

He reminds us that no matter how challenging the way, good things will come to those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Chris.

You can read the entire talk here.

"There....is a Man!"

Fathers do so much for their families. Have you told your dad today how much you love and appreciate the things he has done for you?

This is a tender story and message from D. Todd Christopherson about his own father.

                                                                                                                                                                             
You can read the entire talk here.

Finding Joy In The Journey

This beautiful message from our Prophet seems appropriate for the month of February.   

If you would like to read President Monson's entire talk, go Here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

"I am satisfied that happiness in marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is an anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one's companion."

-Gordon B. Hinckley
(Read the entire talk here.)

Sisters, may your lives be filled with love of friends and family, but most of all, the assurance of the unfailing love of our Savior.

Create!

Don't you love President Uchtdorf?  One of my favorite talks from his many memorable messages was given at a Women's broadcast several years ago. Here's a "Mormon Message" taken from that talk, about 2 minutes long:

If you'd like to read the entire talk again you can find it here.

George Albert Smith

Today we had our first lesson from the new 2012 Relief Society manual. I hope you will take the time to read the introduction in the manual-it will give you an even better appreciation for this amazing prophet of the Lord. This youtube presentation has a video of President Smith speaking, and covers many interesting stories and events from his life.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

May we never let the things we can't have, or don't have, or shouldn't have, spoil

our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have. 
As we value our happiness let us not forget it,
for one of the greatest lessons in life is learning to be happy without the

things we cannot or should not have.
 --Richard L. Evans

Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
 D & C 59:7

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.
~H.U. Westermayer

In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.
 D&C 59:21

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
~William Arthur Ward

 

Live in thanksgiving daily.
Alma 34:38

Absence of gratitude is the mark of the narrow, uneducated mind. It bespeaks a lack of knowledge and the ignorance of self-sufficiency. It expresses itself in ugly egotism and frequently in wanton mischief.

Where there is appreciation, there is courtesy, there is concern for the rights and property of others. Without it there is arrogance and evil.
--Gordon B. Hinckley

The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man.
 --Joseph F. Smith

We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us. Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone."

                                                                                  --Thomas S. Monson

Patriotic Spirit

I want to dedicate this post to America and the upcoming 4th of July, the holiday celebrating the freedoms that we enjoy as a country. When I was younger, saying the Pledge of Allegiance and singing The Star Spangled Banner always meant so much to me, but as I have gotten older it means even more because of the understanding of the amazing country that we are blessed to live in. It brings tears to my eyes often, tears of pride, joy and thankfulness. I am incredibly grateful to all who have given or risked their lives to give us the freedoms that we enjoy. I am proud to be an American and hope that all of you celebrate this 4th of July holiday with family and friends and truly be grateful for all we have.

A Favorite Poem of Mine

This poem has long been my favorite. I found it in the Ensign years ago
and now keep it in my scriptures to read now and again. I hope that you
find meaning in it also.

Physician
by Mary Margaret Hawkins

Soul sick, I sought his promised balm
And soothing healer's art.
He quick dismissed my shallow wounds
But studied on my heart.

A gentle salve was not prescribed
For the wholeness I desired.
A surgeon's cutting to replace
My heart would be required.

In trust, consenting, then I begged
The method used on Saul:
One painful lance and three days dumb
Then sweet rebirth as Paul.

But by more common miracle
The Healer works in me,
As day by decade soft He builds
New heart where none can see.

A tedious, mighty change is wrought
Till no cell is the same.
As in the fleshy tables there
He writes His word, His name.

Making Conference More Meaningful For Families

The ideas in this post came from my sister, Judy Cannon, of Redlands, California.

-Chris Jones

GENERAL CONFERENCE IDEAS FOR FAMILIES

KID CONFERENCE

1. At FHE a week or two before conference, have each child make the cover for their own “My Conference Book.” This can be an 8½ x 11 sheet of paper, folded in half. They can draw whatever picture they want on the front that they associate with General Conference.

2. Make pages for the book by folding or cutting white sheets of computer paper in half. Staple book together.

3. On the day of Conference, have child “take notes” on each speaker by drawing something from the speaker’s talk on one of the pages. Write the speaker’s name at the top of the page. Older children can write a few key words or sentences to explain the picture.

4. After Conference, possibly at FHE the next Monday (or two), have kids compare “notes” for each speaker, telling why they chose the picture they did to represent the talk.

(Idea courtesy of Kristin Richey)

“HEY! I KNOW THAT GUY!”
Gather as many pictures of the General Authorities as you can. There is usually a centerspread in the Conference editions of the Ensign, or you can buy individual and group pictures of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve very inexpensively through LDS Distribution or at CTR Books. Try to learn the names of as many of them as you can before Conference weekend, starting with the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. You can use the individual pictures as flash cards. For older children, learn one story or fact about the person along with the name. Try to identify their picture when they are announced as a speaker but before they come to the podium, post their picture when they speak, or try to remember the story/fact about them when they speak.

GENERAL TOPICS OF GENERAL CONFERENCE
Sometime before Conference weekend, make a list of topics you think will be discussed in General Conference (e.g., Joseph Smith, repentance, testimony, etc.). Write them on chalkboard or whiteboard, or write them on a piece of paper and make a copy for each child. Each time that topic is mentioned, make a mark by it on the board or sheet. See how accurate your predictions were. During your next FHE, discuss the topics that were mentioned over and over. This will help you discover some of the major themes of the Conference.

ADD SOME COLOR TO YOUR GENERAL CONFERENCE
Color a picture of the person speaking, or of their topic. Many line drawings of the prophet and apostles and church topics can be found at: http://lds.about.com/library/gallery/clipart/blclipart_gallery_%20subindex.htm

I HEARD IT!
After listening to the first few minutes of a talk, choose a key word you think will be repeated often in that talk (like “Thankful”). Count how many times that word is used in the talk.

CONFERENCE BINGO
Make BINGO cards in several variations where each square has a common talk theme (tithing, obedience, and so on). When you hear a theme mentioned, you get to cover it with an edible marker (raisins, Cheerios, M&Ms, etc.). At the end of the session, you get to eat the goodies on your card. If you got a “bingo,” you get extra goodies. See examples of cards at: http://lds.about.com/od/familyhomeeveninggames/a/fheg_bingo.htm

CONFERENCE FOR TOTS
It is hard to make Conference a positive experience for very young children. Keep special somewhat quiet toys—special building blocks, a special coloring book, a craft kit—that are only available during Conference. After Conference was over, the toys are put away and don’t come out again until next Conference. This makes it so that the kids look forward to Conference—maybe not for the right reason initially, but as they outgrow the toys, the feeling of “looking forward to Conference” remains.

TREASURE BOX MEMORY QUIZ
After each talk, if someone can tell Mom or Dad (whoever is the candy box holder) what the talk was about, they get a Halloween-sized piece of candy from a special Conference Treasure Box, brought out only on General Conference weekend. For older kids, wait until the end of a session to go over the talk themes. Pictures of the speakers from the Ensign can help children remember individual speakers. It’s amazing how attention will increase with the promise of a small reward.

CONFERENCE SOUP PARTY
Older children can invite some of their friends come over to watch with your family. One family always has a big "Conference Soup Party" between Saturday sessions of Conference. All the teens watch the morning session together, enjoy a fun lunch between sessions, then settle back down to watch the afternoon session. Teens can also watch the morning session at home, then gather to eat lunch and watch the afternoon session together. Additionally, a special food tradition can be started within a family or group of friends, with a favorite dish always cooked for lunch between sessions. An atmosphere of festivity helps reinforce to everyone that Conference is a special time.

WHAT WOULD YOU CALL IT?
(GOOD FOR OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS)After each talk, record the name of the speaker and his or her topic, then try to guess what the talk will be titled when it is printed in the Ensign or on-line. Keep the list to check against the actual titles later. The goal is to think about the message and summarize it in your mind, seeking for the “essence” or theme of the talk.

Temples
This is a recent YouTube video produced by the church. It's about 3 minutes long. It's well worth the time it takes to watch! Click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x_-TQivCx8,

Gospel Consistent from the Beginning of Time

"As the restored Church of Jesus Christ blossoms throughout the globe—now with more than 13 million members—'the faith of our fathers' has an expanded meaning. . . . Often when people learn of the restored gospel, they are impressed by it—many even want to join the Church. But they are reluctant to disappoint their ancestors; they feel they should be true to the faith of their fathers. . . ."What, then, is the faith of our fathers? Is it the religion of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents? "But what of the faith of the ancient ones before them? What of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? . . . of the Savior and those disciples who followed Him? "The faith of our Father in Heaven has been consistent since the beginning of time, even from before the foundation of this world. . . . "We believe in the great plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, the plan of salvation, whereby God's children may experience mortality and return to the presence of the Father—a merciful plan established from before the foundation of this earth. "This is the plan and the faith of our Father!"

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency "Faith of Our Fathers"