Things as They Really Are

Yesterday, Teryn taught a great lesson from Elder Bednar's address to a CES group entitled "Things as They Really Are".

It was an interesting lesson/discussion about how our bodies truly are a great gift from our Father in Heaven. And that having a physical body allows us to have power over Satan, and only when we give up our power through our choices do we allow him to have influence in our lives.

It also made some interesting points about how we ought to treat our bodies. And that by mistreating our bodies, we are in fact minimizing their importance - not to mention a severe lack of gratitude...

Read the talk here. It would make a great FHE, especially if you have older children.

Swap Meet - Tues, Apr. 6

Wasn't Conference amazing?? So many talks about strengthening our homes and families. Obviously a very important message for us right now.

And I hope you all enjoyed your Easter celebrations. Ours was extremely low key this year, but very nice to listen to our apostles testify of our Savior.


Anyways, on to business.

Our April Activity is this coming Tuesday the 6! Yes, it's here already. I will have 2 blocks of time to have you drop off your items at the church. I will be there from 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. and then from 4:30 until 6.

If these times do not work, please, call me or email me and I can arrange to be there to get your stuff in. I will be home all day, and can meet you at any time.

Another option is for you to drop items off at my home on Monday - but I will only be home early morning and later afternoon that day.

Please, spread the word, it is always difficult to have these meetings right after a week off of church.

Thanks! We'll see you on Tuesday at 7!

Fixed It!

I was told on Sunday that the 2nd link on the Crisis of Unbelief post was not working, and that I had inadvertently typed "buy" instead of "byu" in the link... whoops! Sorry.

But it is fixed now, and you can link from there - remember that once you get there, the talk is under the Marjorie Pay Hinckley lecture.

So. Enjoy!

Sidebar Additions

Please take a moment and look at the Upcoming Events on the right hand sidebar. There are a ton of them, and I will be doing my best to keep up with them all.

Also, please note the birthday list for the month. I didn't want to put full names on the blog, because this is not a private blog, and I want to maintain a feeling of security, so - if you don't know the birthday girl by her first name and last initial, go to the ward directory and see if you can figure it out. Otherwise, comment or email me and I can clarify.

But where possible, make an effort to spread a little birthday love to those celebrating their lives each month!

I am constantly amazed by you sisters - thank you for your examples!

Crisis of Unbelief

Yesterday we had a wonderful lesson by Pat Garrett on parenting in Zion. She referenced a couple of talks/lectures by psychologists that discussed this topic.

The first talk was by A. Lynn Scoresby, a professor of psychology at BYU. "The Crisis of Unbelief: How to Ensure Faith and Testimony in Our Children"

The second was by William Doherty, a world renowned psychologist from the University of Minnesota (?) "Parenting Wisely in a Too Much of Everything World" (listed under "Marjorie Pay Hinckley Lecture")

I know that this is a sensitive subject, and we all want to do our best for our children. But as was pointed out to us yesterday, all we can do IS our best, and the rest is up to our children and the Lord.

Prayerfully consider Pat's challenge to reach out to our Young Women (or Young Men) to see if we can't be another source of strength for them and help to avert this crisis of unbelief.

April Activity

Many of you have asked about what types of items you should be setting aside to bring to the Swap Meet in April.

Really, anything that you think could be used by someone else is appropriate to bring.

Home dec items such as pictures, lamps, pillows, seasonal decorations, etc.

Kitchen items such as dishes, small appliances (working), silverware, etc.

Clothing & shoes: adult, children, etc...

Baby items.

Kids toys.

So, really. Anything that you can think of that you are going to be getting rid of, but that someone else might be able to use, bring it!

And if you don't have anything to part with, still come and see if there is anything that you need.

I am hoping to have the building open and available all day for you to bring your items so that it is set up before 7. Will keep you posted on that. And like I said on the side-bar, if you have any items that are too large to bring to the church, please email me (with a description and photo is possible), and I will post it directly onto the blog.

Super Service

Ladies, thank you so much for all of you who came to our Birthday Service Activity! I must remember to put my camera on my list of things to bring each month so I can post some fun pics.

We accomplished much.

We tied 2 quilts for the humanitarian center.

We made over 60 card kits for Primary Children's Medical Center.

And we completed all 18 folders that Porter Sorenson brought as part of his Eagle Project.

Nicely done, sisters.

In the next few days, I will be trying to add some links to the sidebar for more service projects that you can do with your families or on your own.

If we look outside ourselves, we will find many opportunities to make a difference. Whether we help one person or many, we are doing the Lord's work, and we will be blessed.

In this life it is easy to feel insignificant and like we don't matter at all; but I know that simply by being a good friend, a diligent mother, a kind person, we can influence more lives than we will ever know.

May we look around us to see {and act upon} opportunities to serve those around us.

"... inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt. 25:40