Thursday, December 23, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Look to the Temple
This week's lesson was on temples, particularly, learning some of the wonderful stories associated with these magnificent buildings.
President Monson stated (in October 2010 Ensign) "The temple provides purpose for our lives. It brings peace to our souls - not the peace provided by men but the peace promised by the Son of God when He said,'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.'"
"You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the 'mist of darkness.'"
—Gary E. Stevenson
"I urge our people everywhere, with all of the persuasiveness of which I am capable, to live worthy to hold a temple recommend, to secure one and regard it as a precious asset, and to make a greater effort to go to the House of the Lord and partake of the spirit and the blessings to be had therein."
—Gordon B. Hinckley
"Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. The answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways."
—Ezra Taft Benson
"As we come unto Christ and journey to higher ground, we will desire to spend more time in His temples, because the temples represent higher ground, sacred ground."
—Joseph B. Wirthlin
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it."
—Isaiah 2:2
"Everything that occurs in the temple is uplifting and ennobling. It speaks of life here and life beyond the grave. It speaks of the importance of the individual as a child of God. It speaks of the importance of the family and the eternity of the marriage relationship."
—Gordon B. Hinckley
Below are two slideshows I put together to showcase some of these beacons of light that dot the earth.
President Monson stated (in October 2010 Ensign) "The temple provides purpose for our lives. It brings peace to our souls - not the peace provided by men but the peace promised by the Son of God when He said,'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.'"
"You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the 'mist of darkness.'"
—Gary E. Stevenson
"I urge our people everywhere, with all of the persuasiveness of which I am capable, to live worthy to hold a temple recommend, to secure one and regard it as a precious asset, and to make a greater effort to go to the House of the Lord and partake of the spirit and the blessings to be had therein."
—Gordon B. Hinckley
"Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. The answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways."
—Ezra Taft Benson
"As we come unto Christ and journey to higher ground, we will desire to spend more time in His temples, because the temples represent higher ground, sacred ground."
—Joseph B. Wirthlin
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it."
—Isaiah 2:2
"Everything that occurs in the temple is uplifting and ennobling. It speaks of life here and life beyond the grave. It speaks of the importance of the individual as a child of God. It speaks of the importance of the family and the eternity of the marriage relationship."
—Gordon B. Hinckley
Below are two slideshows I put together to showcase some of these beacons of light that dot the earth.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Some of the Cookie Recipes
Molasses Spice Cookies from Cooks Illustrated: (makes about 22 cookies)
For best flavor, make sure that your spices are fresh. Light or mild
molasses gives the cookies a milder flavor; for a stronger flavor use dark molasses. Either way, measure molasses in a liquid measure. If you find that the dough sticks to your palms as you shape the balls, moisten your hands occasionally in a bowl filled with cold tap water and shake off the excess. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time; if baked two at a time, the cookies started on the bottom rack won't develop the attractive cracks. Remove the cookies from the oven when they still look slightly raw and under-baked.
1/3 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar, plus 1/2 cup for dipping
2 1/4 cups (11 1/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup packed (2 3/4 ounces) dark brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup light or dark molasses
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place 1/2 cup for dipping in 8- or 9-inch cake pan.
2. Whisk flour, baking soda, spices, and salt in medium bowl until thoroughly combined; set aside.
3. In standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter with brown sugar and remaining 1/3 cup granulated sugar at medium high speed until light and fluffy,about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low and add yolk and vanilla; increase speed to medium-high and beat until incorporated, about 20 seconds. Reduce speed to medium-low and add molasses; beat until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping bottom and sides of bowl once with rubber spatula. Reduce speed to lowest setting; add flour mixture and beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping down bowl once. Give dough a final stir by hand to ensure that no pockets of flour remain at bottom. Dough will be soft.
4. Using tablespoon measure, scoop heaping tablespoon of dough and roll it between your palms into 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-inch ball; drop by tbsp into cake pan with sugar and repeat to form about 4 balls. Toss balls in sugar to coat and set on prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart. Repeat with remaining dough.
5. Bake, one sheet at a time and reversing position of baking sheet from front to back halfway through baking, until cookies are browned, still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft (cookies will look raw between the cracks and seem underdone), about 11 minutes. Do not over-bake.
6. Cool the cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then use wide metal spatula to transfer cookies to wire rack; cool cookies to room temperature and serve.
Sandi Evan’s Pumpkin Bars:
4 eggs
15 oz canned pumpkin
1 ½ cup sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp soda
Put eggs in bowl, beat and add: sugar, oil, pumpkin and beat. Put dry ingredients together in a bowl, mix thoroughly. Sift if necessary. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients mix stir together, but don’t over mix. Bake at 350° for approx 25 minutes until lightly golden brown or a toothpick comes out clean. Cool and frost.
Cream Cheese Frosting for Pumpkin Bars:
¼ cup softened butter
3 oz cream cheese softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Mix butter and cream cheese. Mix in powdered sugar, add vanilla.
Double Chocolate Drops:
3 cups flour
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup shortening
4 squares (4 oz) unsweetened chocolate
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
2 6 oz pkg (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1 cup chopped walnuts
Buttercream frosting of choice
Toasted coconut (optional)
Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In medium saucepan melt shortening and unsweetened chocolate over low heat. Cool 10 minutes. Stir in brown sugar. Add egg, buttermilk, or sour milk, and vanilla, beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients to saucepan mixture and beat until well blended. Stir in chocolate pieces and nuts. Drop from a teaspoon two inches apart onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake in 350° oven about 10 minutes or until done. Cool about 1 minute before removing to wire rack, cook thoroughly. Frost cookies with buttercream frosting. Sprinkle with toasted coconut, if desired. Makes about 42.
Chocolate Chip Carmel Muffin Cookies:
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® chocolate chip cookie mix
½ cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
OR I used my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe
24 round chewy caramels in milk chocolate, from 3 (1.91 oz) rolls, unwrapped
(use Junior caramels . . . like Junior Mints only caramel or Rolos)
72 mini marshmallows (about ¾ cup)
1/3 cup cup semisweet chocolate chips
1. Heat oven to 350°. Spray 24 mini muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. Make cookie dough as directed on package, using butter and egg. Shape dough into 24 (1 ½ inch) balls. Place 1 ball into each muffin cup.
3. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove from oven; firmly press 1 candy into center of each cookie until flush with cookie top. Top each with 3 marshmallows. Bake 2 to 4 minutes longer or until marshmallows are puffed. Cool 10 to 15 minutes. Loosen edges of cookie with small metal spatula and remove to cooling racks. Cool completely.
4. Place chocolate chips in small resealable freezer plastic bag. Microwave on high about 1 minute or until softened. Gently squeeze bag until chocolate is smooth; cut off tiny corner of bag. Squeeze bag to drizzle chocolate over marshmallows. Let stand until hardened, about 10 minutes.
Make 2 dozen cookies
Baker Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Sift together:
2 ¼ cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
Set aside
Blend:
1 cube butter
½ cup Crisco
Add and Mix:
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 bag chocolate chips
Walnuts (if you like them)
Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes
Chris Christie’s Molasses Crinkle:
¾ cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
¼ cup molasses
2 ¼ cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp cloves
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
Cream shortening and sugar together. Add egg and molasses. Combine flour, soda, salt and spices in a separate bowl. Add dry to wet ingredients. Chill dough. Roll into (golf ball sized) and roll tops of balls in sugar. Sprinkle with a couple drops of water. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies:
2 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup cocoa
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Powdered sugar
In a large bowl stir together sugar and oil; add cocoa, blending well. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt; add to cocoa mixture. Cover and refrigerate until dough is firm enough to handle.
Heat oven to 350°. Grease cookie sheet. Shape dough in 1 inch balls, roll in powdered sugar. Bake 10-12 minutes and no indentations when touched and tops are cracked. Makes about 4 dozen.
Sugar Cookies:
Cream together:
2 cups butter (soften)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract
Add and mix:
6 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
Spoon size scoop, roll in powder sugar and place on cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes 375°. Makes about 7 to 8 doz.
Dreamy Chocolate Bars by Jodi Sadleir:
Step 1:
• Preheat oven to 350°
• Sift together 1 cup flour, ½ cup brown sugar, and ½ cup butter.
• Butter the bottom of a 9x13 pan, and press mixture into bottom.
• Bake until golden brown. About 15-20 minutes.
Sept 2:
• Mix together; 1 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tbsp flour, ½ tsp salt, 2 cup chocolate chips, 1 cup chopped nuts and 1 tsp vanilla.
• Spread chocolate chip mixture over cooled crust. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes.
• When cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and cut while still slightly warm.
Options: Use raisins or different nuts in step 2. Try putting cereal in the crust, or granola and nuts. If you use raisins, and granola, put a tsp of cinnamon in the crust as well.
Dutch Apple Pie Bars: 24 bars
Granny Smith apples are suggested, but other apples, such as Empire, Cortland, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, or Braeburn can also be used.
Tip: Pre-cooking the apples in a large nonstick skillet will help evaporate their moisture before baking. This will help keep the crust dry and prevent it from being soggy.
Crust
8 ounces (4 cups) animal crackers
1/3 cup packed (2 1/3 oz) light brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt
6 Tbs (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted/cooled
Streusel
1 cup (5 oz) all purpose flour
1/3 packed (2 1/3 oz) light brown sugar
1/3 cup 2 1/3 cup) granulated sugar
1 tsp yellow cornmeal
6 Tbs (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted/cooled
Filling
2 Tbs unsalted butter
2 pounds (4-6) Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced ¼ inch thick
¼ cup (1 ¾ oz) granulated sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
½ cup (2 ½ oz) golden raisins (optional)
Instructions:
Adjust the oven rack to the middle and heat to 375°. Line a 13/9 baking pan with a foil sling and grease foil.
Process the animal crackers, brown sugar and salt together in a food processor to fine crumbs, about 15 seconds. Drizzle the melted butter over the crumbs and pulse to incorporate, about 10 seconds. Sprinkle the mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer with the bottom of a measuring cup. Bake the crust until fragrant and deep golden brown, about 10-13 minutes.
For the streusel: Whisk the flour, sugars, and cornmeal together in a medium bowl. Drizzle with the melted butter and toss with a fork to combine.
For the filling: Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add the apples, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and slat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples have softened and all the liquid has evaporated, about 8-10 minutes. Stir in raisins if using.
Spread the apple mixture over the warm crust and sprinkle with the streusel. Bake the bars until the streusel has browned, 25-30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan, about 2 hours. Remove bars from the pan using the foil, cut into squares and serve.
For best flavor, make sure that your spices are fresh. Light or mild
molasses gives the cookies a milder flavor; for a stronger flavor use dark molasses. Either way, measure molasses in a liquid measure. If you find that the dough sticks to your palms as you shape the balls, moisten your hands occasionally in a bowl filled with cold tap water and shake off the excess. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time; if baked two at a time, the cookies started on the bottom rack won't develop the attractive cracks. Remove the cookies from the oven when they still look slightly raw and under-baked.
1/3 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar, plus 1/2 cup for dipping
2 1/4 cups (11 1/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup packed (2 3/4 ounces) dark brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup light or dark molasses
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place 1/2 cup for dipping in 8- or 9-inch cake pan.
2. Whisk flour, baking soda, spices, and salt in medium bowl until thoroughly combined; set aside.
3. In standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter with brown sugar and remaining 1/3 cup granulated sugar at medium high speed until light and fluffy,about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low and add yolk and vanilla; increase speed to medium-high and beat until incorporated, about 20 seconds. Reduce speed to medium-low and add molasses; beat until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping bottom and sides of bowl once with rubber spatula. Reduce speed to lowest setting; add flour mixture and beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping down bowl once. Give dough a final stir by hand to ensure that no pockets of flour remain at bottom. Dough will be soft.
4. Using tablespoon measure, scoop heaping tablespoon of dough and roll it between your palms into 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-inch ball; drop by tbsp into cake pan with sugar and repeat to form about 4 balls. Toss balls in sugar to coat and set on prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart. Repeat with remaining dough.
5. Bake, one sheet at a time and reversing position of baking sheet from front to back halfway through baking, until cookies are browned, still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft (cookies will look raw between the cracks and seem underdone), about 11 minutes. Do not over-bake.
6. Cool the cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then use wide metal spatula to transfer cookies to wire rack; cool cookies to room temperature and serve.
Sandi Evan’s Pumpkin Bars:
4 eggs
15 oz canned pumpkin
1 ½ cup sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp soda
Put eggs in bowl, beat and add: sugar, oil, pumpkin and beat. Put dry ingredients together in a bowl, mix thoroughly. Sift if necessary. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients mix stir together, but don’t over mix. Bake at 350° for approx 25 minutes until lightly golden brown or a toothpick comes out clean. Cool and frost.
Cream Cheese Frosting for Pumpkin Bars:
¼ cup softened butter
3 oz cream cheese softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Mix butter and cream cheese. Mix in powdered sugar, add vanilla.
Double Chocolate Drops:
3 cups flour
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup shortening
4 squares (4 oz) unsweetened chocolate
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
2 6 oz pkg (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1 cup chopped walnuts
Buttercream frosting of choice
Toasted coconut (optional)
Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In medium saucepan melt shortening and unsweetened chocolate over low heat. Cool 10 minutes. Stir in brown sugar. Add egg, buttermilk, or sour milk, and vanilla, beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients to saucepan mixture and beat until well blended. Stir in chocolate pieces and nuts. Drop from a teaspoon two inches apart onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake in 350° oven about 10 minutes or until done. Cool about 1 minute before removing to wire rack, cook thoroughly. Frost cookies with buttercream frosting. Sprinkle with toasted coconut, if desired. Makes about 42.
Chocolate Chip Carmel Muffin Cookies:
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® chocolate chip cookie mix
½ cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
OR I used my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe
24 round chewy caramels in milk chocolate, from 3 (1.91 oz) rolls, unwrapped
(use Junior caramels . . . like Junior Mints only caramel or Rolos)
72 mini marshmallows (about ¾ cup)
1/3 cup cup semisweet chocolate chips
1. Heat oven to 350°. Spray 24 mini muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. Make cookie dough as directed on package, using butter and egg. Shape dough into 24 (1 ½ inch) balls. Place 1 ball into each muffin cup.
3. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove from oven; firmly press 1 candy into center of each cookie until flush with cookie top. Top each with 3 marshmallows. Bake 2 to 4 minutes longer or until marshmallows are puffed. Cool 10 to 15 minutes. Loosen edges of cookie with small metal spatula and remove to cooling racks. Cool completely.
4. Place chocolate chips in small resealable freezer plastic bag. Microwave on high about 1 minute or until softened. Gently squeeze bag until chocolate is smooth; cut off tiny corner of bag. Squeeze bag to drizzle chocolate over marshmallows. Let stand until hardened, about 10 minutes.
Make 2 dozen cookies
Baker Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Sift together:
2 ¼ cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
Set aside
Blend:
1 cube butter
½ cup Crisco
Add and Mix:
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 bag chocolate chips
Walnuts (if you like them)
Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes
Chris Christie’s Molasses Crinkle:
¾ cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
¼ cup molasses
2 ¼ cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp cloves
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
Cream shortening and sugar together. Add egg and molasses. Combine flour, soda, salt and spices in a separate bowl. Add dry to wet ingredients. Chill dough. Roll into (golf ball sized) and roll tops of balls in sugar. Sprinkle with a couple drops of water. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies:
2 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup cocoa
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Powdered sugar
In a large bowl stir together sugar and oil; add cocoa, blending well. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt; add to cocoa mixture. Cover and refrigerate until dough is firm enough to handle.
Heat oven to 350°. Grease cookie sheet. Shape dough in 1 inch balls, roll in powdered sugar. Bake 10-12 minutes and no indentations when touched and tops are cracked. Makes about 4 dozen.
Sugar Cookies:
Cream together:
2 cups butter (soften)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract
Add and mix:
6 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
Spoon size scoop, roll in powder sugar and place on cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes 375°. Makes about 7 to 8 doz.
Dreamy Chocolate Bars by Jodi Sadleir:
Step 1:
• Preheat oven to 350°
• Sift together 1 cup flour, ½ cup brown sugar, and ½ cup butter.
• Butter the bottom of a 9x13 pan, and press mixture into bottom.
• Bake until golden brown. About 15-20 minutes.
Sept 2:
• Mix together; 1 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tbsp flour, ½ tsp salt, 2 cup chocolate chips, 1 cup chopped nuts and 1 tsp vanilla.
• Spread chocolate chip mixture over cooled crust. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes.
• When cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and cut while still slightly warm.
Options: Use raisins or different nuts in step 2. Try putting cereal in the crust, or granola and nuts. If you use raisins, and granola, put a tsp of cinnamon in the crust as well.
Dutch Apple Pie Bars: 24 bars
Granny Smith apples are suggested, but other apples, such as Empire, Cortland, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, or Braeburn can also be used.
Tip: Pre-cooking the apples in a large nonstick skillet will help evaporate their moisture before baking. This will help keep the crust dry and prevent it from being soggy.
Crust
8 ounces (4 cups) animal crackers
1/3 cup packed (2 1/3 oz) light brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt
6 Tbs (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted/cooled
Streusel
1 cup (5 oz) all purpose flour
1/3 packed (2 1/3 oz) light brown sugar
1/3 cup 2 1/3 cup) granulated sugar
1 tsp yellow cornmeal
6 Tbs (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted/cooled
Filling
2 Tbs unsalted butter
2 pounds (4-6) Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced ¼ inch thick
¼ cup (1 ¾ oz) granulated sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
½ cup (2 ½ oz) golden raisins (optional)
Instructions:
Adjust the oven rack to the middle and heat to 375°. Line a 13/9 baking pan with a foil sling and grease foil.
Process the animal crackers, brown sugar and salt together in a food processor to fine crumbs, about 15 seconds. Drizzle the melted butter over the crumbs and pulse to incorporate, about 10 seconds. Sprinkle the mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer with the bottom of a measuring cup. Bake the crust until fragrant and deep golden brown, about 10-13 minutes.
For the streusel: Whisk the flour, sugars, and cornmeal together in a medium bowl. Drizzle with the melted butter and toss with a fork to combine.
For the filling: Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add the apples, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and slat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples have softened and all the liquid has evaporated, about 8-10 minutes. Stir in raisins if using.
Spread the apple mixture over the warm crust and sprinkle with the streusel. Bake the bars until the streusel has browned, 25-30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan, about 2 hours. Remove bars from the pan using the foil, cut into squares and serve.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Felicita Relief Society Cookie Exchange
Tuesday, November 9 at 7pm at Deborah Naves Home
Please bring 4 dozen of the same cookie and 12 copies of the recipe. Also bring an empty container to take new assortment of cookies home.
Cookie recipes will be put on blog for those who can’t attend and incase we run out of copies.
Please bring 4 dozen of the same cookie and 12 copies of the recipe. Also bring an empty container to take new assortment of cookies home.
Cookie recipes will be put on blog for those who can’t attend and incase we run out of copies.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Notes from Fireside by President Haynie
Parenting requirements for the current climate – Allen D. Haynie, 10/10
1. Purify ourselves – has to be parenting that is a product of revelation.
2. Pray longer and harder for our children – counsel with God,
2 Ne. 33:3: For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.
3. Be sure that they learn and understand the true doctrines of the kingdom (the reason we have FHE and youth activities). Alma taught that God gave Adam and Eve commandments after giving them the doctrine. Also, Alma 31: 5: And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.
4. Honor the Sabbath Day = power; it’s not a day for sports or shopping. Don’t work or play so hard on Friday and Saturday night that you have to sleep all day on Sunday either. We should do something on Sunday, appropriate things.
5. Don’t provide them with access to porn or any inappropriate matter; control time and access on the internet, no R rated movies and limit PG-13, don’t be a stranger to children’s FaceBook or texts, and consider sleepovers with caution. No computers in kid’s rooms; a computer in a boy’s room will lead to trouble.
6. Only allow safe dating at 16. Their daughter’s early boyfriends have wondered if he didn’t like them, but they have chosen to keep the early boyfriends at a distance as bringing them into the family circle will only intensify the couple’s feelings for each other.
7. Emphasis on modesty in dress – use doctrine to help them understand why, not just giving rules and asking obedience.
D&C 43:8-10 has been taught at three recent training meetings he has been to. It must be important for us right now:
8: And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given.
9: And thus ye shall become instructed in the law of my church, and be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me—
10: That inasmuch as ye do this, glory shall be added to the kingdom which ye have received. Inasmuch as ye do it not, it shall be taken, even that which ye have received.
1. Purify ourselves – has to be parenting that is a product of revelation.
2. Pray longer and harder for our children – counsel with God,
2 Ne. 33:3: For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.
3. Be sure that they learn and understand the true doctrines of the kingdom (the reason we have FHE and youth activities). Alma taught that God gave Adam and Eve commandments after giving them the doctrine. Also, Alma 31: 5: And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.
4. Honor the Sabbath Day = power; it’s not a day for sports or shopping. Don’t work or play so hard on Friday and Saturday night that you have to sleep all day on Sunday either. We should do something on Sunday, appropriate things.
5. Don’t provide them with access to porn or any inappropriate matter; control time and access on the internet, no R rated movies and limit PG-13, don’t be a stranger to children’s FaceBook or texts, and consider sleepovers with caution. No computers in kid’s rooms; a computer in a boy’s room will lead to trouble.
6. Only allow safe dating at 16. Their daughter’s early boyfriends have wondered if he didn’t like them, but they have chosen to keep the early boyfriends at a distance as bringing them into the family circle will only intensify the couple’s feelings for each other.
7. Emphasis on modesty in dress – use doctrine to help them understand why, not just giving rules and asking obedience.
D&C 43:8-10 has been taught at three recent training meetings he has been to. It must be important for us right now:
8: And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given.
9: And thus ye shall become instructed in the law of my church, and be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me—
10: That inasmuch as ye do this, glory shall be added to the kingdom which ye have received. Inasmuch as ye do it not, it shall be taken, even that which ye have received.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Super Friday - October 15
Class times:
Boo/Joy Plaques will take all night and start at 6 p.m. (Allie Chapman)
Gift Box 6-8 p.m. (Heather Muir)
Compassionate Soup 6:-7:30 p.m. (Jane Thurston)
Christmas Board 7-8 p.m. (Kathleen Muir)
Three Pumpkins 7-9 p.m. (April McEvoy)
Frankenstein Block 7-10 p.m. (Heather Muir & Katie Sabin)
Bags 8 p.m. (Lynn Muir)
Sugar Scrub 8:30 (Lynn Muir)
B-day anytime
Wreath anytime (Katie or Lynn)
Hair bows all night (Heather Long)
Boo/Joy Plaques will take all night and start at 6 p.m. (Allie Chapman)
Gift Box 6-8 p.m. (Heather Muir)
Compassionate Soup 6:-7:30 p.m. (Jane Thurston)
Christmas Board 7-8 p.m. (Kathleen Muir)
Three Pumpkins 7-9 p.m. (April McEvoy)
Frankenstein Block 7-10 p.m. (Heather Muir & Katie Sabin)
Bags 8 p.m. (Lynn Muir)
Sugar Scrub 8:30 (Lynn Muir)
B-day anytime
Wreath anytime (Katie or Lynn)
Hair bows all night (Heather Long)
Saturday, October 9, 2010
New Reading Challenge
We have a new reading challenge. Together as a Relief Society we will be reading Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. We will try to read up through the birth of Christ by Christmas. We will then continue with the remainder of the book throughout the next year.
We hope you will share your thoughts and insights as we read together so we can enrich each others reading experience.
Anyone who does not have a copy can contact a member of the Relief Society Presidency to receive a copy.
We think this is going to be a wonderful experience for our entire Relief Society.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Depend on the Savior
A few weeks ago we were taught by Tonya Scott and the Young Women. They introduced us to their DOTS program. Each Young Woman gave an example of how they've come to Depend On The Savior. Now we are seeing dots everywhere we go, too.
Our Relief Society President, Ginger Proffitt, was touched by the young women's program. She realized that in order to depend on the Savior, we need to know Him better. She was inspired to encourage each of us to read the book Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmadge. As a Relief Society our goal is to finish this book by this time next year and read up to the birth of Christ by Christmas.
Today's lesson by Deborah Haynie was all about the Savior and how He carries us through our burdens and trials.
Enjoy the following video shared today and whenever you see dots, think of how you depend on the Savior.
Our Relief Society President, Ginger Proffitt, was touched by the young women's program. She realized that in order to depend on the Savior, we need to know Him better. She was inspired to encourage each of us to read the book Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmadge. As a Relief Society our goal is to finish this book by this time next year and read up to the birth of Christ by Christmas.
Today's lesson by Deborah Haynie was all about the Savior and how He carries us through our burdens and trials.
Enjoy the following video shared today and whenever you see dots, think of how you depend on the Savior.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Crafts for Super Friday
Here are some of the crafts for Super Friday on October 15. Watch for more crafts to be added.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
No-Sew Birthday Banner Instructions
For those who couldn't be there. Here are the instructions:
Supplies:
• 5-14 different fabrics, you only need a little of each
• Double fold quilt binding- 3 yards
• Rotary cutter with mat and guide. OR scissors and pinking sheers
• Acrylic craft paint
• Pellon-Interfacing- 2 Yards
• Foam brush
• Iron
• Freezer paper
• Hot glue gun
How to:
First- Cut pieces of your fabric out (pieces just a little larger than your triangles) and iron your Pellon to stiffen the fabric and to keep it from fraying when you cut the triangles.
Cut out your triangles. I did mines 8.5" long and 8" wide. I wouldn't go wider than that, but smaller would be okay. You just want to make sure you don't go over the 3 yards of the binding. I also cut mine out with a rotary pinking blade.
Next you will want to lay them out and decided how you are going to place them in line.
Then, cut out your letters out of freezer paper with ad die-cut machine; or with a stencil and an exact-o knife.
I used my Cricut. To cut freezer paper with a Cricut you will want pressure of 3 med, speed of 1 or 2, and depth of 2. I used the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge- roly poly font for the heart- 3inches big. For the letters I used Opposites Attract cartridge in the "Upright" font. For the H and B capital letters I did 4inches and for the lower case letters I did 5inches.
After cutting out the letters I ironed them onto my triangles. Use directions on freezer paper box.
I then painted them using the foam brush and acrylic paint. I didn't like the fabric paint color choices, and this works just as good. You’re probably not going to be washing this, so no worries about the fabric paint.
After they were dry I peeled the freezer paper off and lined up my letters. Make sure you line up your binding and letters before you glue so it is all evenly spaced before you glue
Open up the quilt binding. Glue on the bottom first. Overlap the triangles just a little, place on hot glue. Glue the top and press down. Done!
For detailed pictures you can look at my craft blog at www.lynnspin.com under “No-Sew Birthday Banner”
Thanks CRAFT GROUP!- Lynn Muir
Supplies:
• 5-14 different fabrics, you only need a little of each
• Double fold quilt binding- 3 yards
• Rotary cutter with mat and guide. OR scissors and pinking sheers
• Acrylic craft paint
• Pellon-Interfacing- 2 Yards
• Foam brush
• Iron
• Freezer paper
• Hot glue gun
How to:
First- Cut pieces of your fabric out (pieces just a little larger than your triangles) and iron your Pellon to stiffen the fabric and to keep it from fraying when you cut the triangles.
Cut out your triangles. I did mines 8.5" long and 8" wide. I wouldn't go wider than that, but smaller would be okay. You just want to make sure you don't go over the 3 yards of the binding. I also cut mine out with a rotary pinking blade.
Next you will want to lay them out and decided how you are going to place them in line.
Then, cut out your letters out of freezer paper with ad die-cut machine; or with a stencil and an exact-o knife.
I used my Cricut. To cut freezer paper with a Cricut you will want pressure of 3 med, speed of 1 or 2, and depth of 2. I used the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge- roly poly font for the heart- 3inches big. For the letters I used Opposites Attract cartridge in the "Upright" font. For the H and B capital letters I did 4inches and for the lower case letters I did 5inches.
After cutting out the letters I ironed them onto my triangles. Use directions on freezer paper box.
I then painted them using the foam brush and acrylic paint. I didn't like the fabric paint color choices, and this works just as good. You’re probably not going to be washing this, so no worries about the fabric paint.
After they were dry I peeled the freezer paper off and lined up my letters. Make sure you line up your binding and letters before you glue so it is all evenly spaced before you glue
Open up the quilt binding. Glue on the bottom first. Overlap the triangles just a little, place on hot glue. Glue the top and press down. Done!
For detailed pictures you can look at my craft blog at www.lynnspin.com under “No-Sew Birthday Banner”
Thanks CRAFT GROUP!- Lynn Muir
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
July's Craft Group (Smoothies & Shakes)
July's Craft group was one of the best in Felicita History (and one of the tastiest too) Thanks to Angela- for sharing her recipes and tips with us. And, for making us some delicious smoothies and shakes to try out! We had a great time :) - Lynn Muir
Angela Lee’s Smoothies and Shakes
A few tips!
Smoothies-
1. Always put your liquids in the blender first.
2. You need to keep equal frozen to non-frozen ratio to keep a good consistency.
3. Peaches will give a smoothie a creamy texture and add a lot of vitamin C.
4. Juice concentrate is a great sweetener- 2 tablespoons of any flavor.
5. Use frozen berries so you don’t have to add ice.
6. If need to add more ice or water make sure to add more flavoring.
7. Can add honey to sweeten.
8. Can add veggies, but make sure they are on the bottom so they get the most chopped.
9. If adding spinach use dark berries to hide the green.
10. Concentrates Angela uses the most are grape juice and white grape juice.
Shakes-
1. Very soft ice cream makes better shakes! Leave out for 15-30 mins to soften ice cream. If not soft make sure a little milk is in the bottom of blender.
2. If using strawberries soak in sugar first to sweeten (if you are making shakes we don’t care about calories anymore J )
3. Don’t over blend. The more you blend the runnier it will be.
4. If want to make a malt, just add 2 tablespoons of malt to any shake.
Recipes!
Smoothies-
Strawberry Banana Smoothie:
2-4 T grape juice concentrate
handful of frozen strawberries
half a banana
half handful of frozen peaches
2 T of vanilla yogurt
handful of ice
Berry Spinach Smoothie:
¼ cup grape juice concentrate
2 heaping T of vanilla yogurt
1 handful of spinach
2 small handfuls of frozen blueberries
1 handful of frozen mixed berries
½ banana
½ handful ice
2 T water if too thick
Sore Throat Smoothie:
½ cup ginger ale
2 T orange concentrate
½ cup caned pineapple
handful of ice
2 T vanilla yogurt
½ banana
Shakes-
Strawberry Shake:
1 cup vanilla ice cream
¼ cup milk
1 cup strawberries
Peanut Butter Chocolate Shake:
3 scoops vanilla ice cream
2 heaping T of peanut butter
¼ cup Heresy’s chocolate syrup
(Add ice if want)
Caramel Oreo Shake:
½ cup of milk
2 cups of vanilla ice cream
¼ cup caramel
4 Oreo’s
BLEND
Then add 4 more Oreo’s and blend slightly
Butterscotch Shake:
¼ cup milk
1 cup vanilla ice cream
2 T butterscotch
Angela Lee’s Smoothies and Shakes
A few tips!
Smoothies-
1. Always put your liquids in the blender first.
2. You need to keep equal frozen to non-frozen ratio to keep a good consistency.
3. Peaches will give a smoothie a creamy texture and add a lot of vitamin C.
4. Juice concentrate is a great sweetener- 2 tablespoons of any flavor.
5. Use frozen berries so you don’t have to add ice.
6. If need to add more ice or water make sure to add more flavoring.
7. Can add honey to sweeten.
8. Can add veggies, but make sure they are on the bottom so they get the most chopped.
9. If adding spinach use dark berries to hide the green.
10. Concentrates Angela uses the most are grape juice and white grape juice.
Shakes-
1. Very soft ice cream makes better shakes! Leave out for 15-30 mins to soften ice cream. If not soft make sure a little milk is in the bottom of blender.
2. If using strawberries soak in sugar first to sweeten (if you are making shakes we don’t care about calories anymore J )
3. Don’t over blend. The more you blend the runnier it will be.
4. If want to make a malt, just add 2 tablespoons of malt to any shake.
Recipes!
Smoothies-
Strawberry Banana Smoothie:
2-4 T grape juice concentrate
handful of frozen strawberries
half a banana
half handful of frozen peaches
2 T of vanilla yogurt
handful of ice
Berry Spinach Smoothie:
¼ cup grape juice concentrate
2 heaping T of vanilla yogurt
1 handful of spinach
2 small handfuls of frozen blueberries
1 handful of frozen mixed berries
½ banana
½ handful ice
2 T water if too thick
Sore Throat Smoothie:
½ cup ginger ale
2 T orange concentrate
½ cup caned pineapple
handful of ice
2 T vanilla yogurt
½ banana
Shakes-
Strawberry Shake:
1 cup vanilla ice cream
¼ cup milk
1 cup strawberries
Peanut Butter Chocolate Shake:
3 scoops vanilla ice cream
2 heaping T of peanut butter
¼ cup Heresy’s chocolate syrup
(Add ice if want)
Caramel Oreo Shake:
½ cup of milk
2 cups of vanilla ice cream
¼ cup caramel
4 Oreo’s
BLEND
Then add 4 more Oreo’s and blend slightly
Butterscotch Shake:
¼ cup milk
1 cup vanilla ice cream
2 T butterscotch
Friday, July 16, 2010
God Bless America
Ginger Proffitt gave a wonderful lesson on the foundation of this nation on the 4th of July. (Turns out it is also her favorite holiday.)
Our founding father's were really more like children, in that they were relatively young and inexperienced in such matters as starting a new country. None of them had any prior experience in revolutions. How did they do it? It could only have been done through the grace of God. Each of them were God fearing men who knew they could not do what they were about to do without help from the Almighty.
Ginger said, "Our Constitution was written for a moral people. It will not survive a people who collectively lose their virtue. In other words, if America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." James Madison said, "We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of government, far from it. We have stake the future...upon the capacity of each..of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God".
Even though there are struggles in America, we can do our part to help preserve this great nation. As we have seen throughout history, one person can make a difference. (Think of the likes of Noah and Queen Esther.) What is our part? What can we do? We must live with Integrity. Think of "Honest Abe" Lincoln, George Washington and men who lived as John Adams when he declared "I never swerved from any principle..to obtain a vote. I never sacrificed a friend or betrayed a trust." We must learn to be selfless. Selfless service has been core to our nation from the beginning. How benevolent, how generous, how quick to be one of the first responders in disaster is America? The people must individually and collectively continue to offer service. The most crucial service being rendered to preserve the family unit. Most importantly, we must live with devotion to God. Patrick Henry declared that "there is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us." He would know since there was no other way a ragtag group of Colonists could have defeated the superior British army.
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln called for a national day of fasting and prayer. "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven..but we have forgotten God..It behooves us..to humble ourselves before the offended power."
Each one of us, regardless of wealth or position, can make a difference. Every man, woman and child, uneducated, highly educated, rich or poor, born here or adopted into this nation, each one can do our part to live with integrity, offer selfless service and call upon God to help preserve this nation.
Our founding father's were really more like children, in that they were relatively young and inexperienced in such matters as starting a new country. None of them had any prior experience in revolutions. How did they do it? It could only have been done through the grace of God. Each of them were God fearing men who knew they could not do what they were about to do without help from the Almighty.
Ginger said, "Our Constitution was written for a moral people. It will not survive a people who collectively lose their virtue. In other words, if America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." James Madison said, "We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of government, far from it. We have stake the future...upon the capacity of each..of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God".
Even though there are struggles in America, we can do our part to help preserve this great nation. As we have seen throughout history, one person can make a difference. (Think of the likes of Noah and Queen Esther.) What is our part? What can we do? We must live with Integrity. Think of "Honest Abe" Lincoln, George Washington and men who lived as John Adams when he declared "I never swerved from any principle..to obtain a vote. I never sacrificed a friend or betrayed a trust." We must learn to be selfless. Selfless service has been core to our nation from the beginning. How benevolent, how generous, how quick to be one of the first responders in disaster is America? The people must individually and collectively continue to offer service. The most crucial service being rendered to preserve the family unit. Most importantly, we must live with devotion to God. Patrick Henry declared that "there is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us." He would know since there was no other way a ragtag group of Colonists could have defeated the superior British army.
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln called for a national day of fasting and prayer. "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven..but we have forgotten God..It behooves us..to humble ourselves before the offended power."
Each one of us, regardless of wealth or position, can make a difference. Every man, woman and child, uneducated, highly educated, rich or poor, born here or adopted into this nation, each one can do our part to live with integrity, offer selfless service and call upon God to help preserve this nation.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
RS Retreat - May 21, 2010
A "shout out" to Lynn Muir for the delicious food and to Chanel Weddle for organizing some fun games. A big "thanks" to Ned and Cynthia for letting us use their amazing cabin on Mt. Laguna.
Monday, June 21, 2010
2010 Pool Hops
Pool Hops Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m.
June 22 - Sadleir's home
June 29 - Haynie's home
July 6 - Proffitt's home
July 13 - Strawn's home
July 20 - Sabin's home
July 27 - Baker's home
August 3 - Krueger's home
August 10 - Haynie's home
August 17 - Buzzard's home
June 22 - Sadleir's home
June 29 - Haynie's home
July 6 - Proffitt's home
July 13 - Strawn's home
July 20 - Sabin's home
July 27 - Baker's home
August 3 - Krueger's home
August 10 - Haynie's home
August 17 - Buzzard's home
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Tuesday, June 8 Craft Group
Craft group will be making this Tooth Fairy tooth on Tuesday June 8th at Lynn Muir's home 7pm. These are great and super cute! No more reaching under the pillow of a sleeping child! :)
For those interested:
Please bring felt for tooth, pocket, cheeks, little teeth, and any accessories you add, like the crown and ballerina skirt. (we also have white felt for the teeth, and lots of small felt scraps for decor/accessories, ribbon for the hanging loop, buttons for eyes, Fabritac or other fabric glue, matching thread, embroidery floss, etc... (we have a bunch left over from another craft, I will have it.),optional pipe cleaners for wings, poly stuffing (Bring 25 cents for stuffing. We will buy a bag.
Two of the 8 x 11.5 pieces of felt work great for the tooth. Or 8 inches off the bolt.
Retreat Recipe
Cafe Rio Pork
1 pork loin
2 cups pace medium salsa
2 cups brown sugar
Put in your slow cooker for 6-8 hours on low. Shred and let sit for one more hour.
Lime Rice
3 cups of rice
3 cups of water
1/2 onion
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 can green chilies
4 t garlic- minced
4 t chicken bouillon
1/2 t salt
1 T butter
4 T lime juice
Blend/Chop onion, cilantro, and chilies in a food processor (or you can just chop onion and cilantro by hand). Then put all ingredients in with the rice and cook; either on stove or in a rice cooker. I did it in my rice cooker. So, I added 3 cups of rice to 3 cups water, then added in the blended stuff PLUS the rest of the ingredients, mixed it up and closed the lid. I don't think you have to be exact with this, it pretty much always turns out good. Some people like to add jalapenos to the rice or dressing for more spice. But, I am not a spicy person :)
Creamy Cilantro Dressing
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (dry mix)
1 cup buttermilk
1/2-1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 cup mayo
2 tsp. lime juice
2 tomatillos (remove outer papery skin)
2 garlic cloves
Blend all ingredients in blender or food processor. Refrigerate.
I enjoyed cooking it for you sisters! Glad you all liked it!
LOVE- Lynn Muir
1 pork loin
2 cups pace medium salsa
2 cups brown sugar
Put in your slow cooker for 6-8 hours on low. Shred and let sit for one more hour.
Lime Rice
3 cups of rice
3 cups of water
1/2 onion
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 can green chilies
4 t garlic- minced
4 t chicken bouillon
1/2 t salt
1 T butter
4 T lime juice
Blend/Chop onion, cilantro, and chilies in a food processor (or you can just chop onion and cilantro by hand). Then put all ingredients in with the rice and cook; either on stove or in a rice cooker. I did it in my rice cooker. So, I added 3 cups of rice to 3 cups water, then added in the blended stuff PLUS the rest of the ingredients, mixed it up and closed the lid. I don't think you have to be exact with this, it pretty much always turns out good. Some people like to add jalapenos to the rice or dressing for more spice. But, I am not a spicy person :)
Creamy Cilantro Dressing
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (dry mix)
1 cup buttermilk
1/2-1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 cup mayo
2 tsp. lime juice
2 tomatillos (remove outer papery skin)
2 garlic cloves
Blend all ingredients in blender or food processor. Refrigerate.
I enjoyed cooking it for you sisters! Glad you all liked it!
LOVE- Lynn Muir
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Family Home Evening
Did you know you can find over a years worth of Family Home Evening Lessons on the blog? It includes everything you need for a great family home evening, lesson, song and even refreshments.Just look for this picture on the right sidebar (it's near the bottom), click on it and it will take you to all of the lessons.
Remember my suggestion for a successful family home evening......A Prayer, A Song, A Treat! You can always add more but.....That's all it takes and you will have success.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Double Peak Park
On Saturday May 1, Felicita Flight 2010 had a little "layover" at beautiful Double Peak Park in San Marcos.
We were treated to a wonderful view, breakfast and short devotional. A group of sisters sang "How Great Thou Art" as we sat in the amphitheater and took in the vast view of hills, valleys and ocean. Then we had our keynote (and only) speaker, Cathy Nielsen and closed with the song "Nearer My God To Thee". Cathy started her speech with a lively demonstration. She took sisters out of the audience to perform "Row Row Row Your Boat". She showed us how we can take something ordinary and make it fantastic. (See video).
After the impromptu "performance" Cathy said the following... "As we row our boat down our own personal stream of life, do we fix our eye on what’s straight ahead of us? Or do we look around and take in what’s all around us as we “mosey” on down the river? Are we enjoying the ride? The greatest satisfactions in our lives don’t come from singing solos. They come from adding something more to the music, creating beautiful harmonies. 'Life is a big canvas; throw all the paint on it you can.' -- Danny Kaye ..
Gordon B. Hinckley 'Let us rise to the high ground of spiritual, mental and physical excellence. Let us all try to stand a little taller, rise a little higher, and be a little better. Make the extra effort. You will be happier. You will know a new satisfaction, a new gladness in your heart.' We can’t limit ourselves, sisters. We have to expand ourselves-work outside our boat. How do we do that? By choosing a more excellent way...
Our Relief Society Presidency has challenged us, to expand ourselves a little more in the areas of service, knowledge and spirituality. They have been inspired to bring this challenge to us this year so we can more align our lives to the example given to us by our Savior, Jesus Christ. Seneca said: “The wise man will always reflect concerning the quality, not the quantity of life.” This is my prayer that regardless of our past, that in 2010, we can row our boat down the stream more merrily, making exaltation with our Heavenly Father a reality." Cathy Nielsen
We were treated to a wonderful view, breakfast and short devotional. A group of sisters sang "How Great Thou Art" as we sat in the amphitheater and took in the vast view of hills, valleys and ocean. Then we had our keynote (and only) speaker, Cathy Nielsen and closed with the song "Nearer My God To Thee". Cathy started her speech with a lively demonstration. She took sisters out of the audience to perform "Row Row Row Your Boat". She showed us how we can take something ordinary and make it fantastic. (See video).
After the impromptu "performance" Cathy said the following... "As we row our boat down our own personal stream of life, do we fix our eye on what’s straight ahead of us? Or do we look around and take in what’s all around us as we “mosey” on down the river? Are we enjoying the ride? The greatest satisfactions in our lives don’t come from singing solos. They come from adding something more to the music, creating beautiful harmonies. 'Life is a big canvas; throw all the paint on it you can.' -- Danny Kaye ..
Gordon B. Hinckley 'Let us rise to the high ground of spiritual, mental and physical excellence. Let us all try to stand a little taller, rise a little higher, and be a little better. Make the extra effort. You will be happier. You will know a new satisfaction, a new gladness in your heart.' We can’t limit ourselves, sisters. We have to expand ourselves-work outside our boat. How do we do that? By choosing a more excellent way...
Our Relief Society Presidency has challenged us, to expand ourselves a little more in the areas of service, knowledge and spirituality. They have been inspired to bring this challenge to us this year so we can more align our lives to the example given to us by our Savior, Jesus Christ. Seneca said: “The wise man will always reflect concerning the quality, not the quantity of life.” This is my prayer that regardless of our past, that in 2010, we can row our boat down the stream more merrily, making exaltation with our Heavenly Father a reality." Cathy Nielsen
Quotes from Lynn's Lesson
Lynn Davis gave an excellent lesson on Prophets of God. The beauty of a modern prophet is knowing we are given guidance and counsel for what we are experiencing at this moment in time.
The following are some quotes from prophets of the past and today. May these words from true prophets of the Lord give you peace, comfort, hope and courage to stand up for what is right.
Joseph Smith
"With his great faith, and trust in God, Joseph [Smith] had an insurmountable optimism. he knew the truth, and the truth made him free - free from fear, free from doubt, and free from pessimism. He said, 'If I were sunk in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains pile on me, I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I would come out on top.'" (The Prophet and His Work: Essays from General Authorities, 89).
(thanks Jane Thurston for passing this one on)
Joseph Smith
“We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: ‘Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction” (Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City, July 19, 1840) (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 623 - 624).
Harold B. Lee
"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail.
This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the New Jerusalem...This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple.
We are living in a time of great crisis. The Country is torn with scandal and with criticism, with fault finding and condemnation. There are those who have downgraded the image of this nation as probably never before in the history of the country.
I plead with you to not preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world..It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through.
We must be on the optimistic side. This is a great nation; this is a great country; this is the most favored of all the lands. While it is true that there are dangers and difficulties that lie ahead of us, we must not assume that we are going to stand by and watch the country go to ruin. We should not be heard to predict ills and calamities for the nation. On the contrary, we should be providing optimistic support for the nation..
You must remember ..that this church is one of the most powerful agencies for the progress of the world, and we should ...all sound with one voice. We must tell the world how we feel about this land and this nation and should bear our testimonies about the great mission and destiny that it has.
If we do this, we will help turn the tide of this great country and lessen the influence of the pessimists. We must be careful that we do not say or do anything that will further weaken the country. It is the negative, pessimistic comments about the nation that do as much harm as anything to the country today. We who carry these sacred responsibilities must preach the gospel of peace, and peace can only come by overcoming the things of the world. Now, we must be the dynamic force that will help turn the tide of fear and pessimism."(Excerpts from a talk given at Ricks College Devotional Assembly, “Have Faith in America,” October 26, 1973, and printed in two sources: Ye Are the Light of the World: Selected Sermons and Writings of Harold B. Lee, 340, 350-351, and The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, edited by Clyde J. Williams, 365-366.)
Ezra Taft Benson
"The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith there would be an attempt to overthrow the country by destroying the Constitution. Joseph Smith predicted that the time would come when the Constitution would hang, as it were, by a thread, and at that time 'this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction' (Journal of Discourses, 7:15) It is my conviction that the elders of Israel, widely spread over the nation, will at that crucial time successfully rally the righteous of our country and provide the necessary balance of strength to save the institutions of constitutional government". (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 618-619).
Howard W. Hunter
"I am here tonight to tell you that despair, doom, and discouragement are not an acceptable view of life for a Latter-day Saint. However high on the charts they are on the hit parade of contemporary news, we must not walk on our lower lip every time a few difficult moments happen to confront us." (Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, 199).
Gordon B Hinckley
"We came into this life for experience, and that's all we can take out of it. Thank God we have the right to decide personally and individually what we shall do. The future belongs to those who know what to do with it.. We must look forward to the unknown with optimism and confidence; look to tomorrow with happy expectancy, realizing that with God's help we can do all things. We need to constantly build faith in ourselves and those about us. We need to personally make dark days brighter. Isn't it a joy, a lift, a light, to see someone with heavy challenges and burdens moving forward to victory in the only contest that really matters!" (Faith, 49).
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
"The Lord has probably spoken enough comforting words to supply the whole universe, and yet all we see around us are unhappy Latter-day Saints, worried Latter-day Saints, and gloomy Latter-day Saints into whose troubled hearts not one of these innumerable consoling words seems to be allowed to enter...on the night of Gethsemane, the night of the greatest suffering ever to take place on this world, the Savior said, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you..let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid'(John 14:27). I submit to you, that may be one of the Savior's commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-Day Saints, almost universally disobeyed" (CES Young Adult Fireside, Brigham Young University, March 2, 1997).
Thomas S. Monson
"My brothers and sisters, today as we look at the world around us, we are faced with problems which are serious and of great concern to us. The world seems to have slipped from the mooring of safety and drifted from the harbor of peace....My counsel for all of us is to look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon of light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing." (April 4, 2010 General Conference)
The following are some quotes from prophets of the past and today. May these words from true prophets of the Lord give you peace, comfort, hope and courage to stand up for what is right.
Joseph Smith
"With his great faith, and trust in God, Joseph [Smith] had an insurmountable optimism. he knew the truth, and the truth made him free - free from fear, free from doubt, and free from pessimism. He said, 'If I were sunk in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains pile on me, I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I would come out on top.'" (The Prophet and His Work: Essays from General Authorities, 89).
(thanks Jane Thurston for passing this one on)
Joseph Smith
“We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: ‘Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction” (Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City, July 19, 1840) (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 623 - 624).
Harold B. Lee
"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail.
This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the New Jerusalem...This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple.
We are living in a time of great crisis. The Country is torn with scandal and with criticism, with fault finding and condemnation. There are those who have downgraded the image of this nation as probably never before in the history of the country.
I plead with you to not preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world..It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through.
We must be on the optimistic side. This is a great nation; this is a great country; this is the most favored of all the lands. While it is true that there are dangers and difficulties that lie ahead of us, we must not assume that we are going to stand by and watch the country go to ruin. We should not be heard to predict ills and calamities for the nation. On the contrary, we should be providing optimistic support for the nation..
You must remember ..that this church is one of the most powerful agencies for the progress of the world, and we should ...all sound with one voice. We must tell the world how we feel about this land and this nation and should bear our testimonies about the great mission and destiny that it has.
If we do this, we will help turn the tide of this great country and lessen the influence of the pessimists. We must be careful that we do not say or do anything that will further weaken the country. It is the negative, pessimistic comments about the nation that do as much harm as anything to the country today. We who carry these sacred responsibilities must preach the gospel of peace, and peace can only come by overcoming the things of the world. Now, we must be the dynamic force that will help turn the tide of fear and pessimism."(Excerpts from a talk given at Ricks College Devotional Assembly, “Have Faith in America,” October 26, 1973, and printed in two sources: Ye Are the Light of the World: Selected Sermons and Writings of Harold B. Lee, 340, 350-351, and The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, edited by Clyde J. Williams, 365-366.)
Ezra Taft Benson
"The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith there would be an attempt to overthrow the country by destroying the Constitution. Joseph Smith predicted that the time would come when the Constitution would hang, as it were, by a thread, and at that time 'this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction' (Journal of Discourses, 7:15) It is my conviction that the elders of Israel, widely spread over the nation, will at that crucial time successfully rally the righteous of our country and provide the necessary balance of strength to save the institutions of constitutional government". (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 618-619).
Howard W. Hunter
"I am here tonight to tell you that despair, doom, and discouragement are not an acceptable view of life for a Latter-day Saint. However high on the charts they are on the hit parade of contemporary news, we must not walk on our lower lip every time a few difficult moments happen to confront us." (Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, 199).
Gordon B Hinckley
"We came into this life for experience, and that's all we can take out of it. Thank God we have the right to decide personally and individually what we shall do. The future belongs to those who know what to do with it.. We must look forward to the unknown with optimism and confidence; look to tomorrow with happy expectancy, realizing that with God's help we can do all things. We need to constantly build faith in ourselves and those about us. We need to personally make dark days brighter. Isn't it a joy, a lift, a light, to see someone with heavy challenges and burdens moving forward to victory in the only contest that really matters!" (Faith, 49).
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
"The Lord has probably spoken enough comforting words to supply the whole universe, and yet all we see around us are unhappy Latter-day Saints, worried Latter-day Saints, and gloomy Latter-day Saints into whose troubled hearts not one of these innumerable consoling words seems to be allowed to enter...on the night of Gethsemane, the night of the greatest suffering ever to take place on this world, the Savior said, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you..let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid'(John 14:27). I submit to you, that may be one of the Savior's commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-Day Saints, almost universally disobeyed" (CES Young Adult Fireside, Brigham Young University, March 2, 1997).
Thomas S. Monson
"My brothers and sisters, today as we look at the world around us, we are faced with problems which are serious and of great concern to us. The world seems to have slipped from the mooring of safety and drifted from the harbor of peace....My counsel for all of us is to look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon of light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing." (April 4, 2010 General Conference)
Chapter 9 - Prophets of God
Many believe prophets were a thing of the past; a biblical figure that no longer exists. Through the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we were so blessed to have all the keys of the Priesthood restored to the earth. Along with those keys came the real power and proper authority to call one man to be the mouthpiece for the Lord. Today we definitely "Thank Thee oh God for a Prophet". What a tremendous gift and blessing it is to have a living prophet on the earth.
Amos 3:7 states "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Heavenly Father would not leave his children to fend for themselves in this ever increasingly wicked world. There is one man on the earth who holds all the keys of priesthood authority. He is chosen by God and "called through proper priesthood authority." He is assisted by his counselors and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve "who are also prophets, seers, and revelators".
Knowing this man receives revelations and directions from the Lord for our benefit, makes it paramount that we listen to his counsel.
If we follow the prophet the Lord promises, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory " (D&C 21:6).
Amos 3:7 states "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Heavenly Father would not leave his children to fend for themselves in this ever increasingly wicked world. There is one man on the earth who holds all the keys of priesthood authority. He is chosen by God and "called through proper priesthood authority." He is assisted by his counselors and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve "who are also prophets, seers, and revelators".
Knowing this man receives revelations and directions from the Lord for our benefit, makes it paramount that we listen to his counsel.
If we follow the prophet the Lord promises, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory " (D&C 21:6).
Happily Ever After
Aundrea Ristine gave the Presidency lesson in May. She used President Uchtdorf's talk given to the Young Women this past March.
President Uchtdorf states that in almost all the languages of the world there is a magical phrase, "Once Upon a Time". Elder Uchtdorf said, “Once upon a time” promises something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of princesses and princes. It may include tales of courage, hope, and everlasting love. In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines and we see the enchanting words “And they lived happily ever after.”
We are all striving for our own "happily ever after", which ultimately is eternal life. Our lives are the pages between "Once Upon a Time" and "Happily Ever After". We can have the faith and courage to overcome the trials and tribulations that inevitably happen in each chapter of our lives.
President Uchtdorf tells the young women, "Isn't it remarkable to know that our eternal Heavenly Father knows you, hears you, watches over you, and loves you with an infinite love? In fact, His love for you is so great that He has granted you this earthly life as a precious gift of 'once upon a time,' complete with your own true story of adventure, trial, and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage, and love. And, most glorious of all, He offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension. Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own 'happily ever after.'
President Uchtdorf states that in almost all the languages of the world there is a magical phrase, "Once Upon a Time". Elder Uchtdorf said, “Once upon a time” promises something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of princesses and princes. It may include tales of courage, hope, and everlasting love. In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines and we see the enchanting words “And they lived happily ever after.”
We are all striving for our own "happily ever after", which ultimately is eternal life. Our lives are the pages between "Once Upon a Time" and "Happily Ever After". We can have the faith and courage to overcome the trials and tribulations that inevitably happen in each chapter of our lives.
President Uchtdorf tells the young women, "Isn't it remarkable to know that our eternal Heavenly Father knows you, hears you, watches over you, and loves you with an infinite love? In fact, His love for you is so great that He has granted you this earthly life as a precious gift of 'once upon a time,' complete with your own true story of adventure, trial, and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage, and love. And, most glorious of all, He offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension. Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own 'happily ever after.'
Are You Somebody or Nobody?
Deborah Haynie's lesson came from President Monson's Talk "What Have I Done For Someone Today?"
All President Monson wanted for his birthday was to hear stories of people doing something nice for someone else. He calls them "warm fuzzies". Deborah had on display a huge jar full of fuzzy balls to represent the hundreds of letters President Monson received.
Service is truly President Monson's "theme". It is through us the Lord helps feed the sick, clothe the naked, strengthen the weak, comfort the poor in spirit.
This little poem reminds us to step up to the plate.
This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done
All President Monson wanted for his birthday was to hear stories of people doing something nice for someone else. He calls them "warm fuzzies". Deborah had on display a huge jar full of fuzzy balls to represent the hundreds of letters President Monson received.
Service is truly President Monson's "theme". It is through us the Lord helps feed the sick, clothe the naked, strengthen the weak, comfort the poor in spirit.
This little poem reminds us to step up to the plate.
This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done
Chapter 8 - Praying to our Heavenly Father
One of the greatest blessings we have been given is the ability to communicate with Heavenly Father. We can offer up our heart's sincere desires and if we listen, He will guide us.
Even from the time of Adam and Eve, we have been told to pray. We are to pray to Heavenly Father and no one or nothing else. We pray to the Father in the name of his son Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Advocate with the Father. We are not worthy to be in His presence, except by way of Jesus of Christ. This is why we start our prayers by addressing Heavenly Father and close our prayers in the name of Jesus of Christ.
We should pray for strength to resist the temptations of Satan. Our prayers should not become meaningless repitition of words. We are in a "live chat" and should speak from our hearts and give thanks daily. As parents we know it is a little bit easier to give to those children whom we know are grateful. Before we ask Heavenly Father for blessings, we should thank Him for what we already have. We should be meek and humble, asking for His will to be done.
We have been counseled to pray on our own at least morning and night. We should be gathering our families for prayer morning and night as well.
Our sincere prayers are always answered. The answer may not be what we want but when we exercise our faith in a loving Heavenly Father who knows what is best for us, the best will come.
It is good to remember that sometimes the Father answers our prayers through other people. Sometimes He gives us the power to answer our own prayers through actions we must take.
Jesus taught "Ye must pray unto the Father in my name" (3Ne 18:19). Thankfully we can.
Even from the time of Adam and Eve, we have been told to pray. We are to pray to Heavenly Father and no one or nothing else. We pray to the Father in the name of his son Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Advocate with the Father. We are not worthy to be in His presence, except by way of Jesus of Christ. This is why we start our prayers by addressing Heavenly Father and close our prayers in the name of Jesus of Christ.
We should pray for strength to resist the temptations of Satan. Our prayers should not become meaningless repitition of words. We are in a "live chat" and should speak from our hearts and give thanks daily. As parents we know it is a little bit easier to give to those children whom we know are grateful. Before we ask Heavenly Father for blessings, we should thank Him for what we already have. We should be meek and humble, asking for His will to be done.
We have been counseled to pray on our own at least morning and night. We should be gathering our families for prayer morning and night as well.
Our sincere prayers are always answered. The answer may not be what we want but when we exercise our faith in a loving Heavenly Father who knows what is best for us, the best will come.
It is good to remember that sometimes the Father answers our prayers through other people. Sometimes He gives us the power to answer our own prayers through actions we must take.
Jesus taught "Ye must pray unto the Father in my name" (3Ne 18:19). Thankfully we can.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The Fall of Adam and Eve
When Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden they were not mortal. Even though they had physical bodies, they did not know pleasure or pain, good or evil and were not subject to death.
They had been given a commandment not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil because if they did, they would die. Eve knew that this would be the only way for them to progress. Satan wanted to tempt them to break the law but he did not know how that would fit into God's plan.
Some Bibles refer to the Fall as "shameful". As Latter-Day Saints, we know better. It was necessary. Dallin H. Oaks explains the difference between transgressing a law and committing a sin. Sins are inherently wrong. Murder is a sin. Operating without a license is wrong because it is against the law but it is not a sin. Eve transgressed the law but did not commit sin.
Because Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, they were cast out of the garden and thus their bodies experienced a change. They became mortal. Only then were they capable of procreating. They opened the portal by which all mankind would come into mortality and experience earth life. If it wasn't for their transgression of that one law, none of us would be here.
They had been given a commandment not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil because if they did, they would die. Eve knew that this would be the only way for them to progress. Satan wanted to tempt them to break the law but he did not know how that would fit into God's plan.
Some Bibles refer to the Fall as "shameful". As Latter-Day Saints, we know better. It was necessary. Dallin H. Oaks explains the difference between transgressing a law and committing a sin. Sins are inherently wrong. Murder is a sin. Operating without a license is wrong because it is against the law but it is not a sin. Eve transgressed the law but did not commit sin.
Because Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, they were cast out of the garden and thus their bodies experienced a change. They became mortal. Only then were they capable of procreating. They opened the portal by which all mankind would come into mortality and experience earth life. If it wasn't for their transgression of that one law, none of us would be here.
Monday, March 22, 2010
One Flaw In Women
One Flaw In Women
Women have strengths that amaze men......
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in..
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards..
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH..
Women have strengths that amaze men......
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in..
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards..
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH..
Friday, March 19, 2010
The Creation
Thank you Pamela Campbell for giving us a great lesson on The Creation. Pamela was inspired to have us read the account of the Creation in three different works of scripture.
The account, given by Moses, in the Old Testament had been through many translations and languages and had become quite abridged. With the Heavens opening up to us in this dispensation, we were blessed to receive a more in depth account of that monumental event. In the Books of Moses and Abraham, we gain a better understanding and broader view of how the world we live in, came to be.
Through our additional resources, we learned that Jesus Christ was the main Creator, under the direction of our Father in Heaven. We're taught that all things were created spiritually before they were created physically. We were created in God's image and His creations show His love for us. We have amazing bodies with all these senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell) and all these things created for our benefit, "Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul" (D&C 59:18-19)
We learn from Moses that God knows each and every one of His creations and loves them. It is awesome to think about. When the sun gives us warmth, when the rain refreshes the air and feeds the plants, when we can hear birds sing or a baby giggle, when we can smell fresh flowers or taste a piece of delicious fresh fruit, when we can see a magnificent sunset or sunrise or a fully lit moon in a starry sky, all these things are given to us from a loving Father who knows us. It is truly amazing and it is no wonder we were anxious to come here.
The account, given by Moses, in the Old Testament had been through many translations and languages and had become quite abridged. With the Heavens opening up to us in this dispensation, we were blessed to receive a more in depth account of that monumental event. In the Books of Moses and Abraham, we gain a better understanding and broader view of how the world we live in, came to be.
Through our additional resources, we learned that Jesus Christ was the main Creator, under the direction of our Father in Heaven. We're taught that all things were created spiritually before they were created physically. We were created in God's image and His creations show His love for us. We have amazing bodies with all these senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell) and all these things created for our benefit, "Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul" (D&C 59:18-19)
We learn from Moses that God knows each and every one of His creations and loves them. It is awesome to think about. When the sun gives us warmth, when the rain refreshes the air and feeds the plants, when we can hear birds sing or a baby giggle, when we can smell fresh flowers or taste a piece of delicious fresh fruit, when we can see a magnificent sunset or sunrise or a fully lit moon in a starry sky, all these things are given to us from a loving Father who knows us. It is truly amazing and it is no wonder we were anxious to come here.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
It's Your Choice
Lesson 4 in Gospel Principles opens the discussion of why agency is necessary. Agency is "the right to choose between good and evil and to act for ourselves".
Anyone who has children, or who has taught children, or has been a child, knows that one will never learn how to do something if it is always done for them. We are on this earth to learn and ultimately come back to the presence of the Father. He will not drag us back home. We have to make the choices that put us on the path. Giving us the power to choose allows us to be accountable for our actions and provides the learning experience necessary for our eternal progression.
Satan provides the opposition we need to have a choice. He does not love us and wants to destroy all that is good. To be happy in life, one must choose good over evil. Some would say that choosing to obey God is limiting. For instance, choosing to obey The Word of Wisdom by abstaining from alcohol might appear to limit our ability to have fun and participate in certain social circles. But with every choice there is a consequence that we cannot choose. We know the destructive and enslaving consequences that can abound from drinking alcohol.
If we saw a sign at the beach that warns us of a whirlpool and an admonition to stay out of the water we have several choices. We can ignore the sign and go in the water anyway or we can choose to swim where it is safe, or not swim at all. We are free to make the choice. But if the choice is to ignore the warning we will have limited our other choices when we get caught in the whirlpool's grasp. The right choice opens up many possibilities the wrong choice limits them.
"Heavenly Father will not allow us to be tempted beyond our power to resist." A choice that seems to limit our ability to enjoy life, such as choosing to be morally clean, is actually a choice that gives us more freedom. It is up to us to make the choices that bring us true joy and happiness and put us on the path to eternal progression.
Anyone who has children, or who has taught children, or has been a child, knows that one will never learn how to do something if it is always done for them. We are on this earth to learn and ultimately come back to the presence of the Father. He will not drag us back home. We have to make the choices that put us on the path. Giving us the power to choose allows us to be accountable for our actions and provides the learning experience necessary for our eternal progression.
Satan provides the opposition we need to have a choice. He does not love us and wants to destroy all that is good. To be happy in life, one must choose good over evil. Some would say that choosing to obey God is limiting. For instance, choosing to obey The Word of Wisdom by abstaining from alcohol might appear to limit our ability to have fun and participate in certain social circles. But with every choice there is a consequence that we cannot choose. We know the destructive and enslaving consequences that can abound from drinking alcohol.
If we saw a sign at the beach that warns us of a whirlpool and an admonition to stay out of the water we have several choices. We can ignore the sign and go in the water anyway or we can choose to swim where it is safe, or not swim at all. We are free to make the choice. But if the choice is to ignore the warning we will have limited our other choices when we get caught in the whirlpool's grasp. The right choice opens up many possibilities the wrong choice limits them.
"Heavenly Father will not allow us to be tempted beyond our power to resist." A choice that seems to limit our ability to enjoy life, such as choosing to be morally clean, is actually a choice that gives us more freedom. It is up to us to make the choices that bring us true joy and happiness and put us on the path to eternal progression.
Jesus Christ is the Way
Lesson 3 from Gospel Principles opened the discussion as to why we needed a Savior and The War in Heaven.
We knew we would have to leave our Father's presence and come to this earth to receive a mortal body and be tested. We also learned that "all of us would sin and some of us would lose our way". Like a perfect parent, Heavenly Father knows and loves each one of us. He wanted us to return so he provided a plan to redeem us from sin and allow us to be made clean again.
Two plans of redemption were presented. Knowing that we would need to have the experience to choose for ourselves in order to progress, Jesus Christ offered to come to the earth and pay for the sins we would inevitably commit. He would not do this for his glory but he would give all the glory to God, the Father. Satan, who was called Lucifer, came up with a plan that would take away our agency. He would force us to do what he wanted and take all the glory for himself.
Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Satan rebelled. There was an uprising among the spirits of men. The majority chose to follow Jesus, a third chose to follow Satan. There punishment was their eviction from God's presence and the loss of opportunity to receive a mortal body.
All of us born on this earth chose Jesus' plan. God allowed for Satan and his followers to come here as spirits. Their sole purpose is to entice us to make choices that will keep us from our ultimate goal. Satan and his followers are a miserable lot and they want us to be miserable, too. But they also provide the opposition necessary to give us something to choose between. We chose Jesus in the beginning and we have to continually choose. Every day we have to choose to follow Jesus Christ. His is the only way to exaltation.
We knew we would have to leave our Father's presence and come to this earth to receive a mortal body and be tested. We also learned that "all of us would sin and some of us would lose our way". Like a perfect parent, Heavenly Father knows and loves each one of us. He wanted us to return so he provided a plan to redeem us from sin and allow us to be made clean again.
Two plans of redemption were presented. Knowing that we would need to have the experience to choose for ourselves in order to progress, Jesus Christ offered to come to the earth and pay for the sins we would inevitably commit. He would not do this for his glory but he would give all the glory to God, the Father. Satan, who was called Lucifer, came up with a plan that would take away our agency. He would force us to do what he wanted and take all the glory for himself.
Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Satan rebelled. There was an uprising among the spirits of men. The majority chose to follow Jesus, a third chose to follow Satan. There punishment was their eviction from God's presence and the loss of opportunity to receive a mortal body.
All of us born on this earth chose Jesus' plan. God allowed for Satan and his followers to come here as spirits. Their sole purpose is to entice us to make choices that will keep us from our ultimate goal. Satan and his followers are a miserable lot and they want us to be miserable, too. But they also provide the opposition necessary to give us something to choose between. We chose Jesus in the beginning and we have to continually choose. Every day we have to choose to follow Jesus Christ. His is the only way to exaltation.
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Saints in Haiti
The Members Stories
Guerby Pierre is one of those exceptional people in Haiti who actually has a job. He is well-educated and has a job as an accountant with a billboard company. He tells what happened to him when the earthquake hit: “The things I saw during the earthquake are forever engraved on my memory. You see things in disaster movies, but it is nothing like when it happens in real life, and I cannot ever forget it.
“I was inside at my work, working at my computer, at what seemed like a normal day. Then, all of a sudden with a roaring noise, it seemed like a giant beast had taken the building in his arms and was twisting and shaking it back and forth. My screen fell off my desk; bookshelves started falling, and I ran for the door, but could hardly keep my footing with the shaking. As I stood at the door, the wall I had been leaning against before completely collapsed. “It is so different when you experience this in real life. People think of the great earthquakes in 3rd Nephi. People outside thought it was the Second Coming.“My work is destroyed. That was my livelihood. I went to my house and it is completely gone, but I was able to go in and get the things that really mattered to me—my temple recommend, my passport, some clothes and my scriptures.”He held up his battered scriptures at that moment, the gilt-edged pages long ago worn away, and we asked him, “Did that happen to your scriptures during the earthquake?”He just smiled back and said, “No, I really love my scriptures and I use them all the time.”
The day before the earthquake a tune started wafting through Guerby’s mind. Again and again it came and stayed with him through the day. He realized that the words were “The Lord my pasture will prepare, and guard me with a shepherd’s care.” He was so impressed with the message that returned again and again to him, that he wrote down the words to the hymn and sent them in a note to his sweetheart. The next day the meaning was still in his soul as his world was hurled apart, and he knew that no matter what happened, the Lord had already sent him a message of comfort.
Now, Guerby is sleeping outside in a tent every night. The way he looks at it is his first job is to take care of his friends and other members of the Church. Even if he doesn’t have a lot of money he can strengthen them. His second job as an accountant is gone, so he has more time for his first job. Some things are really hard. It is hard to think that after working hard to become college-educated that he might be back to shining shoes to get enough money to live on. And it’s hard not to have a home. He misses the feeling of something comfortable and recognizable to come back to at night. He’s holding on. He had saved a little money. He got some food and shoes from the bishop.
Each night as he lays under the stars, it reminds him of what is really important in life. He said, “In one sense I have nothing, but in another, I have everything because I have the gospel, and this earthquake has only augmented my testimony. My life is changed. The earthquake simplified it. Since the earthquake, I could all of a suddenly think clearly.” Gone are certain things he thought were really important. Instead, he is hoping to find a way to take his best friend and sweetheart to the temple to be married.“Life can be hard sometimes,” he says, “but it will be OK.”
Charles Marie Murielle“When the earthquake happened, I was inside my house. I had just come from school because I am studying to be a nurse. There was a professor who was absent, so I came home early. “I was just taking off my uniform when the earthquake started. I heard the noise and felt the earthquake and thought to myself, this is an earthquake. “After it stopped, I found myself, I was yelling, but I had a strong feeling I shouldn’t leave my house. I should just stay there. I went to open my door to go out, and my door was blocked, I couldn’t open it. “I said a sincere prayer. I told the Lord that I was not ready to die. I don’t have a family, yet, and I haven’t been to the temple.
With a lot of strategy I was able to open the door by myself. “Outside, everyone was crying and screaming out to God, ‘What is going on?’ The farther I got out, I saw that churches had fallen and people had been killed. “My school which is four stories tall had collapsed and all the students and teachers had been killed. I would have been there if my teacher had not shown up.“All communications were cut off. No radio. No telephone. No one knew what was going on. We were all trying to find an open space. We kept hearing instructions, “Don’t go inside. Don’t go inside.”“From time to time the earth would shake again. I was continually scared. I was the only member of the Church nearby, and I felt like I was alone. People from other religions were making a lot of noise and were screaming. I found myself in silence because the Spirit told me exactly what to do. I knew it was not the end of the world. “I prayed, ‘Give me strength so that I can hold on.’ I found the strength to help a few people who were injured. I found a lot of people who were in shock.
The next day I met a brother from the church who came to my house to see if I was OK. He told me I needed to come to the church that all of the members were meeting there. That gave me strength.We asked her what the future holds for her without money or a house or a school. She said she is determined to find a way to finish her nursing, but for now, she lives at the church and she’s scared to go back to her house. Maybe she will make cookies to sell
Erick Goimbert had just picked his son up from school and gone home when the house started hurling back and forth with roaring, pounding, confusing noises. A dresser hit the wall and whipped around and hit him in the eye. Then pieces of the roof began crashing down, and he ran into the other room to get his son. They didn’t try to get out, as it was hard to stand, impossible to walk. They just started praying.
He did not know it was an earthquake as he had never experienced anything so overwhelming before. When they finally made their lurching way out of the house, he saw that all the houses around him were completely destroyed and his neighbors had been killed. Now, he and his family are sleeping wherever they can find a spot at night, mostly in the road by their house. He’d like to come and sleep at the church, but his home is too far away. He has no tent, but sleeps under some corrugated tin cover. Every morning he doesn’t know where to get food. He just waits day to day for help. Like most Haitians, he doesn’t have a job, and his wife just sells things in the street. Among his slim possessions are a few Tylenol pills for when his back, hit by the dresser in the quake, hurts too much. He says with some good cheer, “Everybody is praying. There is definitely a feeling of unity and my testimony has been strengthened. You drive through my neighbourhood and mine was the only house that is not completely destroyed. What for the future? He sees no possibilities to rebuild a house. He has no money and can’t see where he could possibly get any.Polycarpe Macking
The day of the earthquake, two of his children had just come home from school and were watching television. He was out in the front yard feeding the chickens, their main source of livelihood. About 4:45, he started to feel the shaking movement. Immediately his children ran outside as the roaring, pitching earth got worse. As soon as they ran outside, the house collapsed. They knelt down and, crying, said a prayer for his wife and other daughter, asking that they would be safe. They found her quickly for which he was grateful.
Now, he doesn’t know what he’s going to do. “God must have a plan for me,” he said, “and I’m just going to have to see what it is.” The scriptures are his life and he loves to read.A vibrant young man, he still hasn’t had a job for seven years, and the few chickens they had were crushed or scattered in the earthquake. For now, they are sleeping in their yard. They have no money to rebuild.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Learning How to Prune Fruit Trees
Saturday, February 27 at 10 a.m. at the Israelsen's home. The men are invited to join us.
Our Favorite Things
"G Group"
Tuesday, February 16 at 7 p.m.
Bring TWO of your favorite things (can be anything from a copy of your favorite song, to your favorite nail polish! Doesn’t have to cost anything, but has to be tangible)
Upon arriving, we will draw names out of a hat to share (give) your favorite things with another sister. Be ready to explain where to get the items you brought, why you love them, and how much they cost. Come for a night filled with laughs, love, and fun! Dessert will be provided at Chanel's Home
Tuesday, February 16 at 7 p.m.
Bring TWO of your favorite things (can be anything from a copy of your favorite song, to your favorite nail polish! Doesn’t have to cost anything, but has to be tangible)
Upon arriving, we will draw names out of a hat to share (give) your favorite things with another sister. Be ready to explain where to get the items you brought, why you love them, and how much they cost. Come for a night filled with laughs, love, and fun! Dessert will be provided at Chanel's Home
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
It's About Time
It's something we spend and sometimes waste but we cannot save or borrow it nor do we really know how much we have. Time is a gift from our Heavenly Father as well as agency. It is up to us to use both wisely. We are commanded to be "anxiously engaged" in good causes but also we are not required to "run faster than [we have] strength" (Mosiah 4:27). We are told “Thou shalt not idle away thy time” (D&C 60:13), and “Cease to be idle” (D&C 88:124), yet with modern conveniences we have far more discretionary time than our predecessors.
What do we do with our free time? We are either being leisurely or idle. Leisure activities renew the soul, invigorate, refresh, invite us to be mentally, physically or creatively involved. Idleness is merely passing the time. Boredom, unhappiness and feelings of low self esteem are the results of idling our time away. Idleness is the devil's workshop. When we are being idle, we rely on outside sources to entertain us. Leisure activities require us to look within ourselves. Although what may be considered idleness, (i.e. watching sports, reading a book, "doodling" on paper) to one person may be leisure to another. It is an individual choice but no matter what the activity, if the end result affects us positively then it is time well spent.
In this day, many spend their free time on the Internet. There is a vast library of knowledge out there in cyberspace. It is up to us to use our agency to determine if time spent on the Internet is of any value. We could use the leisure vs idle filter and apply it to our Internet use. Are we increasing our knowledge of useful things? If we are merely just "taking a break", are we "breaking" too long? We would do well to ask ourselves the two questions Elder Bednar recently asked BYU students,
“Does the use of various technologies and media Invite or Impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?
Does the time you spend using various technologies and media Enlarge or Restrict your capacity to live to love and to serve in meaningful ways?
You don't know how much you have, so use your time well.
What do we do with our free time? We are either being leisurely or idle. Leisure activities renew the soul, invigorate, refresh, invite us to be mentally, physically or creatively involved. Idleness is merely passing the time. Boredom, unhappiness and feelings of low self esteem are the results of idling our time away. Idleness is the devil's workshop. When we are being idle, we rely on outside sources to entertain us. Leisure activities require us to look within ourselves. Although what may be considered idleness, (i.e. watching sports, reading a book, "doodling" on paper) to one person may be leisure to another. It is an individual choice but no matter what the activity, if the end result affects us positively then it is time well spent.
In this day, many spend their free time on the Internet. There is a vast library of knowledge out there in cyberspace. It is up to us to use our agency to determine if time spent on the Internet is of any value. We could use the leisure vs idle filter and apply it to our Internet use. Are we increasing our knowledge of useful things? If we are merely just "taking a break", are we "breaking" too long? We would do well to ask ourselves the two questions Elder Bednar recently asked BYU students,
“Does the use of various technologies and media Invite or Impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?
Does the time you spend using various technologies and media Enlarge or Restrict your capacity to live to love and to serve in meaningful ways?
You don't know how much you have, so use your time well.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Have I done any good in the world?
Bishop Knowlton's message to us on Sunday was that we need to reach out and serve those around us, in our families, the church, and in our communities.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Food Storage Site
Website for bulk food that is really cool and reasonably priced.
www.bulkfoods.com
www.bulkfoods.com
Monday, January 18, 2010
Andrea Bocelli & The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
I think you will enjoy this. It's beautiful. "The Lord's Prayer"
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
It's a new year and we have a new theme......
"WELCOME ABOARD FELICITA FLIGHT 2010"
DEPARTING: Now
FLIGHT TIME: 11 months, 3 weeks (counting down to end of the year)
DESTINATION: Some place closer to God than you are today.. Now that we have reached our cruising altitude, we invite you sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.
As your "flight crew" our goal this year is to help you use your flight time to EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS through service, increased knowledge, and spiritual growth.
"WELCOME ABOARD FELICITA FLIGHT 2010"
DEPARTING: Now
FLIGHT TIME: 11 months, 3 weeks (counting down to end of the year)
DESTINATION: Some place closer to God than you are today.. Now that we have reached our cruising altitude, we invite you sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.
As your "flight crew" our goal this year is to help you use your flight time to EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS through service, increased knowledge, and spiritual growth.
Aundrea (your Flight Attendant) spoke to us about service.
We are a service oriented people, dutifully answering the "call buttons" that are constantly being pushed. However, as we are instructed during the inflight safety presentation, we need to attach our own oxygen masks before assisting others. We all need to engage in service, but unless we take care of ourselves, we won't be very useful in the Lord's hands. It's not selfish to take time for yourself when it makes you better able to serve others. Attach your own "oxygen" first, then take care of your family and then reach out to your ward and community. Even the smallest acts of service make a tremendous impact for good in the lives of others. The service to which all of us have been called is the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. Take care of yourself so you can take care of others.
We are a service oriented people, dutifully answering the "call buttons" that are constantly being pushed. However, as we are instructed during the inflight safety presentation, we need to attach our own oxygen masks before assisting others. We all need to engage in service, but unless we take care of ourselves, we won't be very useful in the Lord's hands. It's not selfish to take time for yourself when it makes you better able to serve others. Attach your own "oxygen" first, then take care of your family and then reach out to your ward and community. Even the smallest acts of service make a tremendous impact for good in the lives of others. The service to which all of us have been called is the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. Take care of yourself so you can take care of others. Angela (your First Officer) spoke about using time well and increasing knowledge. Once aboard a flight you are encouraged to take time to review the safety card.
If there was an emergency, clearly those who studied the safety card would have a better understanding of what they should do. Joseph Smith said "knowledge does away with darkness, anxiety and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is." He also taught that knowledge was a necessary part of our mortal journey, for "a man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge" and "whatever principle of intelligence we attain in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection" (Doctrine & Covenants 130:18). We also learn from verse 19, that the more knowledge we have the greater our advantage will be in the life to come. What are we doing with our time? How many of us could swap some time spent idly on the computer or in front of the TV, with time spent learning something new? In a recent conference address, President Uchtdorf said "For the members of the Church, education is not merely a good idea, it's a commandment." We are not just to increase our knowledge of spiritual matters, but also of temporal and secular. This year, make it a goal to become more knowledgeable about anything that is "virtuous, lovely" or of "good report".
Ginger (our Captain) spoke to us about spiritual growth.
We cannot guarantee that you will not have some turbulence during your flight this year. And just as the seat belt will keep anchored down so will your personal spiritual strength. You might be able to loosen it for short periods of time but only during the smoothest part of the flight. Your spiritual excellence will grow as you gain an even greater understanding and knowledge of God, our Heavenly Father and your relationship to him as a daughter of God. The urge to rise above yourself is a recognition of your need for the Atonement to work in your life, and your need to be sure that it is working. When that change of heart comes to us, when we are cleansed and blameless before God, it will be because we have been made pure by the blood of Christ. You will have put yourself so often in the Master's service, bringing the cleansing, companionship of the Holy Ghost, that you will be on the front row, early, whenever and wherever the Master calls.
If there was an emergency, clearly those who studied the safety card would have a better understanding of what they should do. Joseph Smith said "knowledge does away with darkness, anxiety and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is." He also taught that knowledge was a necessary part of our mortal journey, for "a man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge" and "whatever principle of intelligence we attain in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection" (Doctrine & Covenants 130:18). We also learn from verse 19, that the more knowledge we have the greater our advantage will be in the life to come. What are we doing with our time? How many of us could swap some time spent idly on the computer or in front of the TV, with time spent learning something new? In a recent conference address, President Uchtdorf said "For the members of the Church, education is not merely a good idea, it's a commandment." We are not just to increase our knowledge of spiritual matters, but also of temporal and secular. This year, make it a goal to become more knowledgeable about anything that is "virtuous, lovely" or of "good report".Ginger (our Captain) spoke to us about spiritual growth.
We cannot guarantee that you will not have some turbulence during your flight this year. And just as the seat belt will keep anchored down so will your personal spiritual strength. You might be able to loosen it for short periods of time but only during the smoothest part of the flight. Your spiritual excellence will grow as you gain an even greater understanding and knowledge of God, our Heavenly Father and your relationship to him as a daughter of God. The urge to rise above yourself is a recognition of your need for the Atonement to work in your life, and your need to be sure that it is working. When that change of heart comes to us, when we are cleansed and blameless before God, it will be because we have been made pure by the blood of Christ. You will have put yourself so often in the Master's service, bringing the cleansing, companionship of the Holy Ghost, that you will be on the front row, early, whenever and wherever the Master calls.Have you ever flown on a cloudy day? As the plane ascends above the clouds, the horizon becomes an endless expanse of bright light. The goal for the Felicita Ward Relief Society in 2010 is to rise above the obstacles that obstruct our view and expand our horizons through service, increased knowledge and most importantly, growing spiritually. When this flight lands, we hope to be some place closer to Heavenly Father than we are today.
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