¡El final de febrero!

Hello my lovely friends.
Today was a great day, wasn't it?

Here are the announcements for the week and a look at upcoming events:
1. Tomorrow night FHE will be a ward FHE in the sacrament room (C215 ESC) at 7pm.
2. Wednesday is Institute at 7pm in B092 JFSB.
3. Sunday, March 16th is Stake Conference. Get excited!
4. Saturday, March 22nd is a stake service project.
5. Saturday, March 29th is the General Women's meeting from 6-8pm.
6. If you need something posted in the bulletin, please contact Porter Irmston or Kristin Hunsaker before Wednesday evenings.

The lovely Rachel McCracken taught us a beautiful lesson today. She reviewed Elder Bednar's latest conference address with us. Please read over it if you haven't lately. She did a wonderful job, and there is still so much the Spirit has to teach each of us individually.

The Windows of Heaven by Elder Bednar
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/the-windows-of-heaven?lang=eng

Rachel: I know how important the law of tithing is and I’m so grateful for it in my life.
To start off I want to share an experience. Every year we have to sit with the Bishop and declare whether or not we’ve paid a full and honest tithe. One year I told him, “I don’t know if I necessarily have a testimony of the law of tithing, but I follow it and see the blessings.” I do have a testimony of it now and I’m grateful for it.

Oftentimes we read in the scriptures, “if you do this… then this.” So what are the if and then in this scripture?
Malachi 3:10

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

What is the if? What are we supposed to do?
Abby: Pay tithing!
Rachel: Yeah. Bring all your tithes to the storehouse. So what’s the then?
Asia: We’ll get blessings.
Rachel: It will happen. He says “prove me now herewith.” Here’s all these blessings. You won’t have room to receive them.
Ryan: That's always been such an interesting idea for me. Especially dealing with monetary things, money doesn’t abound as a college student. Sometimes it can be easy to think that you’re grateful for what you do have, but there could be more. Elder Bednar talks about how it’s not always the monetary things that we’re blessed with. It may be that my car keeps running and I don’t have to spend thousands of dollars fixing it.
Rachel: We’re going to get a lot more to that.
Brittany: Sometimes we may feel like we do have more room to receive things, but if you think about where your tithing goes, like temples and ward buildings. When we go to the temple we are receiving more spiritual blessings.
Rachel: Looking at the scripture some more, what does it mean that he will open up the windows of heaven?
Kiersten: When I was younger I thought about literally opening windows and things being thrown to me. Windows go two ways. I can see things now that maybe I wouldn't understand if I didn’t have the eternal perspective.
Rachel: I like that you said you can see things.
Sarah: When I think of windows I think of light. When we pay our tithing, not only will we have the things we need but we’ll understand things better, our scripture study will be better and our prayers.
Jo: I just looked at the little letter at the side in the scripture and it says blessings of Israel. I’ve never felt like I wasn’t blessed for paying tithing. I live in a place where like after high school I lived on my own. It was really hard relying on the Lord to take care of you. I know that tithing is the reason that I have the basic needs of life. I know without a doubt that if you pay tithing, whether or not you’re a member of the church, that you will be blessed for it.
Rachel: I feel like I’m learning a lot from you guys. I love what Elder Bednar has to say about it. Malachi uses this imagery of this window. It’s the same kind of perspective that as we are being taken care of by the Lord. What a powerful thing that is - the powers of heaven.
Elder Bednar says, “Often as we teach and testify about the law of tithing, we emphasize the immediate, dramatic, and readily recognizable temporal blessings that we receive. And surely such blessings do occur. Yet some of the diverse blessings we obtain as we are obedient to this commandment are significant but subtle. Such blessings can be discerned only if we are both spiritually attentive and observant (see 1 Corinthians 2:14).”
What are your thoughts on that?
Ashley: I really like this talk because it hits on blessings we receive for other commandments. Something I’ve thought about a lot lately is that it’s interesting that when we keep a commandment we’re blessed in two ways. The blessing and seeing it as the Lord’s hand. If we don’t see it as the Lord’s hand, we’re only getting half of it.
Rachel: The Lord is always giving us blessings and I think we need to be open to it. Please turn to Ether 12:19.

And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.

Looking at this scripture, what was helping them see these things?
 An eye of faith. I love that. Here they’r able to see and recognize all these things. Before Christ even came they were able to see these things and recognize the blessings they have.
Megan: That verse made me think of a book I read called “Drawing on the Powers of Heaven” and how seeing with an eye of faith means envisioning the things you believe in. Then to do that to the point where you control your thoughts and have no more desire to do evil. I think it’s also just about the covenant we made at baptism to always remember Christ. That doesn’t mean just going to church every week. I really like how it said in that verse that by doing that is what led them to not be kept from within the veil. You will eventually see those things and see them come to pass if you’re constantly working to make those things your focus.
Rachel: I love that you said it’s part of our baptismal covenant. Elder Bednar refers back to this phrase throughout his talk. What other ways do you think we can have eyes of faith in our lives?
Ryan: Because money is such a big part of our lives, paying our tithing is part of showing our willingness to consecrate our things to heavenly father. It’s more about me having faith in what heavenly father asks. It build the desire to go forth and build heavenly father’s kingdom.
Ashley: I was just thinking about gratitude a lot. If we look for the blessings, we’ll see them. You think of Nephi and his brothers. They were blessed with many of the same things. Laman and Lemuel were in some pretty hard times. Nephi saw the blessings all the time and I think that’s because he was always grateful for it.
Rachel: Gratitude is definitely something that can open our eyes of faith. Thinking about this I think there are many things we can do to open our eyes of faith, and I think a lot of times we ourselves can be like, “ok Lord, I’m doing all these things, this is the blessing that I want.”
Some of you know that a couple months ago I broke my foot. I remember each month writing out my tithing, saying “here’s this money I don’t really have because my pay check has been cut down.” As I was preparing this lesson I thought about the blessings I received during that time and the lessons I was able to learn. Sometimes the blessings come in ways that we don’t even ask.
A perfect example of this is the stripling warriors. They’re having a really hard time. They don’t have food and here they are in Alma 58:10.

Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for the support of our people.
Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him.
And we did take courage with our small force which we had received, and were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty.

Here they are asking to be delivered. The Lord doesn’t really give it to them. The things they’re given are assurance and peace. Those are the things they needed to get through those trials.
Back to the talk, "often we ask for things but the blessings don’t come that way.
We may need and pray for help to find suitable employment. Eyes and ears of faith (see Ether 12:19) are needed, however, to recognize the spiritual gift of enhanced discernment that can empower us to identify job opportunities that many other people might overlook-"
So there’s one thing. Here’s the eyes and faith to identify what other people might overlook.
"or the blessing of greater personal determination to search harder and longer for a position than other people may be able or willing to do."

This touched home for me. My dad was laid off his job. We had just moved. Looking at it, my parents were so strong through all of that. As I look at them and their determination and faith, I see all these blessings my dad received. Even through that experience we were all able to learn something. Each of us were working through highs school. I learned a lot about my responsibilities. Paying their tithing even though it was so tough. We’re able to still see those blessings. Maybe it wasn’t because of the money, but the little blessings we were able to see. He goes on to say maybe you’re asking for that paycheck. Sometimes it’s a matter of learning to do more with less. Some of you are in college, some are working, learning to do more with less can be a wonderful lesson and blessing.
There’s so many things we can learn from this talk. I wish I could keep going. The other half of his talk is about what the church does with those funds. The church follows the same principles they teach us to do. Living within our means and setting aside a little bit each month.
I want to close with my testimony. I have a testimony of tithing. It wasn’t there, but how grateful I am for it now. That I can recognize the blessings both spiritually and temporally. The Lord is there for us in our need. I can promise you that when you pay your tithing and open your eyes you will see those blessings and will be strengthened.

Valentine's Day and President's Day

Hey friends!
Wasn't this a great week? I hope life is going well for you.

So here are this week's announcements:
1. Bishopric FHE is tomorrow.
2. Wednesday is Institute at 7pm in B092 JFSB.
3. Thursday is our ward temple trip at 7pm. Meet at Club 440 at 6:20pm to carpool. I've been informed that there will be ice cream afterwards.
4. Friday night at 7pm is a combined Relief Society. We'll be having a movie night. :D
5. Sunday the 23rd there will be a stake fireside with Elder and Sister Hafen at the Pioneer Building.

I think that's it for the week. We had a combined Relief Society lesson today and Rachel did a fabulous job. The Spirit was so strong today! I love Relief Society. I hope y'all have a great week and enjoy the extra day.

Rachel: Just a heads up, it’s kind of a joke in my family, we count how long it takes for someone to start crying. They are tender to me. This is my opportunity to brag about my family.
Not all of us are there. My family has grown since this picture.
Our lesson today is on strengthening and preserving the family. What are you guys doing now? We’re all single now and trying to figure out what to do with life, but I think we’re all preparing. As you’re thinking about this, I want you to think about what you can do to strengthen and preserve your own family. The world is attacking the family, so please keep some of these things in your mind.

I asked my sisters what they’re doing to strengthen their families. My sister Katie shared a lot about how each night they sit down with their two boys and ask them what they did that was good or not so good and how they can be better. They have such a desire to be good. It’s ingrained into their mind. Brandon always runs up to me and gives me a huge kiss. They’re always trying to do good.
I had the opportunity to last night to watch my other sister put her children to bed. He was learning to pray. It was the sweetest thing seeing my sisters teaching their children the principles of the gospel.
My brother just had a baby the last couple weeks. Just watching him interact with his daughter is amazing. He has the biggest heart and is so excited to be a dad. You can tell he’s already so cautious of the things he wants to teach this little girl. I think that’s from the example of my parents.
I think about my parents and the example they are. We’re not a perfect family, but I think about what they did and trying to install the principles of the gospel. We’d try to have dinner together. We’d play games for hours and build relationships with one another. Time with family is precious time. I feel like I’m becoming better just by learning from their examples.
I took a family recreation class at BYU-I. There’s the saying that “families that play together, stay together.” It’s true. I think that’s why my brother’s coming back.

Gordon B. Hinckley gave this document during a RS broadcast. It’s not just for the church. It’s a proclamation to the world. I feel like that document and this lesson go hand in hand. Listen carefully as we read it. Then when we go through the lesson, think about the proclamation and help tie it in.

http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation

This is so simple, but so powerful.
Emily S.: I love how it talks about our heavenly parents. It’s a nice thought for me.
Ryan: Brooke and I were studying from PMG and taking turns teaching each other. I was teaching her how the gospel blesses families. The gospel helps the family become a unit you want to spend eternity with.
Rachel: So many people might have this concept, that this is hard. I struggled with that for a while, but family is eternal and we’ll will be together forever. I’m grateful for my brother’s example of getting married and having a child after that. The world he lives in is different from us. The world does attack the family. I feel like JFS said it perfectly.

Family unity and family commitment to the gospel are so important that the adversary has turned much of his attention to the destruction of families in our society. On every side there is an attack on the basic integrity of the family as the foundation of what is good and noble in life. … Liberalization of abortion laws throughout the world suggests the existing disregard for the sacredness of life. Families are torn apart by increasing use of illegal drugs and the abuse of legal drugs. Contempt for authority by more and more young people usually begins with disrespect and disobedience in homes.
As the forces of evil attack the individual by tearing away at his family roots, it becomes critical for Latter-day Saint parents to maintain and strengthen the family. There may possibly be a few very strong individuals who can survive without the support of a family, but more of us need the love, teaching, and acceptance that come from those who care very deeply.

That’s powerful. This is satan’s goal. We all have families. Here they are trying to attack the family. He says later that there’s no substitute for a righteous home. What can you do?
Ginger: I had a very strong thought this morning. With all the stuff that’s happening, I feel like satan has been trying really hard to confuse me with what is right and wrong. I’ve been trying and planning really hard to prepare to be a mother, but I feel this recommitment to stand for truth and my faith. If we realize the capacity to be great and go forward with purpose, you’re doing it not just for you, but your husband and children.
Rachel: there’s always someone talking against us, but we do have the capacity to be great. Thank you for sharing that.
Marren: I think it’s inevitable that people are going to mess up in our families, but just loving them, and loving them even more, I’ve seen that’s what’s important. They’re someone you should love no matter what they do.
Ky: This week I was thinking about my relationship with my family. I’ve been away for 5 years now. I’m bad about staying in touch with long distance relationships. I was thinking about how the girls I work with are away from their families in the treatment center. Their families have really strong relationships with most of them. The ones that can rely on those relationships are so motivated and can move forward. I find that when I’m struggling is when I move away from my family. Realizing that made me grateful that I have that.
Rachel: Like Ky was saying, I’ve worked with youth like that before. It’s interesting because we were talking about our relationships with families. A lot of these people have problems because of their relationships with their families. The family is the central place we should be able to turn and safe. Having that support and love from my own family is a wonderful thing. Like Marren said, letting our families that we love them is a huge thing. My relationship with my brother hasn't always been strong, but my parents always love him. He’s always welcome to come home. I think it’s an excellent way to fortify our families.
We’re going to jump ahead here. Think about this:

The plan given in the Gospel for the government of man on this earth is typical of the law governing in the kingdom of God. Is it possible to imagine a greater source of sorrow than to be left in the eternal world without claim on father or mother or children? The thought of a nation without the family unit as its fundamental foundation, where all the citizens are comparatively strangers to each other and where natural affection is not found; where no family ties bind the groups together, is one of horror. Such a condition could lead to but one end—anarchy and dissolution. Is it not reasonable to believe the same thing true in relation to the kingdom of God? If in that kingdom, there were no family ties and all men and women were “angels” without the natural kinships, as many people believe, could it be a place of happiness—a heaven?

Can you guys imagine that? Picture it now. Can you imagine life without your family? Can you imagine life in the eternities without your family? That’s why we have the plan of happiness. We can be with our families forever.
Here’s what the family proclamation says about that.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

Wow! The falling of nations because of the destruction of the family.
Brittany: I think it’s a really dramatic thing. But I think we see that in our own society. I particularly feel this way when I hear about a public shooting. I can’t help but wonder that something was wrong at home for that person. There are others who don’t go out and show their problems as dramatically, but we need a mom and a dad who love us and care for us to help us.
Ginger: I’m studying the Pearl of Great Price. We talked about how god gave Adam and Eve in marriage before they left the garden. From the very beginning god wanted the world and society to be structured around family. The building block of his plan. I don’t know anything about physics, but the very nature of atoms and molecules allows things to function. If you mess with that, it would literally fall apart.
Rachel: I love that comparison.
Abby: I have a lot of thoughts. The church has this culture where everyone comes from perfect families. A mother and father both in the church. Often we have lessons, … a lot of times a lot of conversations in the church with people who have broken families. The proclamation says we each have a divine nature and destiny. Prophets have foretold that families will be broken apart. It shows how important it is to treat everyone like family. We’re all here without families right now. We should treat our roommates like family. Even if you don’t have a mother and father, or if you don’t have what you think should be greater, you can still treat people around you in they way you should be treated.
Rachel: It makes me think about why we call each other brothers and sisters in the church. Maybe our family isn’t the ideal family, none of us are perfect, but that’s why we have the church. Knowing that we have a family here. We are brothers and sisters in the gospel. And we should treat each other like that.
W’re out of time, but please read through the lesson and write down your thoughts. Maybe what you can do to strengthen your family.
One last thought from President Smith.

Do you spend as much time making your family and home successful as you do in pursuing social and professional success? Are you devoting your best creative energy to the most important unit in society—the family? Or is your relationship with your family merely a routine, unrewarding part of life? Parent and child must be willing to put family responsibilities first in order to achieve family exaltation.

What are you doing? What are your priorities? What are you doing to prepare for your family and strengthen your relationship with your family.
I know that these things are true. I know the proclamation was inspired and for the world. All I wanted to do on my internship was share this document. I feel so strongly about my family. I love my family so much. I love all of you because we are family. What a blessing it is to know that we can be together with our families forever.

Good Things Await...

Hey again. I hope y'all had a great week and are enjoying your sabbath.

Great announcements for the week:
1. Institute is Wednesday @ 7pm in B092 JFSB.
2. Thursday night is our ward karaoke/untalent night in 214 Crabtree building. It's the building behind the Wilk, on the South side where the Cougareat doors by Subway let out. The room is on the main floor. As you enter the front of the building, immediately turn right, and it's the only room you can enter.
3. Stake Quick Connect is also on Thursday.
4. Friday is Valentine's Day.
5. Thursday, the 20th, is our Ward Temple trip.
5. Thank you for helping keep the sacrament room more reverent this week as you entered. Let's continue to set an example for the ward and watch the improvement. :)

Brittany was our amazing teacher today, with guest lecturer Christine. They taught from the Joseph Fielding Smith manual, chapter 3, the Plan of Salvation. I tried really hard to keep up with the notes today, but the Spirit was touching people's hearts a lot faster than my fingers could touch the keyboard. Please forgive me if I misquoted anyone, or left something out. Feel free to add your testimony or comments below. This really was a beautiful lesson.
http://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-joseph-fielding-smith/chapter-3-the-plan-of-salvation?lang=eng

On April 29, 1901, Joseph Fielding Smith’s 18-year-old sister Alice died after an extended illness. Joseph was just finishing a full-time mission in England. His response to the news of Alice’s passing revealed his love for his family and his testimony of the plan of salvation. “It is a dreadful blow to us all,” he recorded in his journal. “I did not realize the seriousness of her illness although I knew she was sick. I fully expected to meet her again with the rest of the family within a few weeks, but the will of God be done. It is at such times that the hopes which the gospel present[s] to us are most welcome.

Brittany: I want to take a step back and go over the elementary things of the Plan of Salvation.
When I was investigating the Church, I don’t know if the Sisters had ever heard the lesson, but for me it changed the entire beginning and end of the universe.
They asked me how I felt and I had no idea. It’s huge. I want us all to appreciate how profound the Plan of Salvation is.
I feel like I’ve been close to people who have gone through these trials before, but it’s so much more comforting to know that not only does God have a plan, but that we have a part in it.
The hope he has when his sister dies, is in the Plan of Salvation.
Ryan: I kind of had an epiphany a couple weeks ago. I went to a Baptist church with my friend. My understanding was if you accept Christ, you go to heaven and chum around all day. I was grateful for this plan because not only does He have a plan for me here on earth and I have a part in this plan, but I can become a goddess and have a part to be there.

We shall all meet again on the other side to enjoy the pleasures and blessings of each other’s presence, where family ties will no more be broken, but where we shall all live to receive the blessings, and realize the tender mercies of our Father in heaven. May I always walk in the path of truth, and honor the name I bear, that the meetings with my kindred may be to me indeed most sweet and everlasting, is my humble prayer.”
Serving as an Apostle and later as President of the Church, President Joseph Fielding Smith repeatedly testified of the hope that comes through an understanding of the gospel. He taught, “We have the plan of salvation; we administer the gospel; and the gospel is the sole hope of the world, the one way that will bring peace on earth and right the wrongs that exist in all nations.”

Brittany: I hope that we’ll take time to ponder this lesson afterwards. “We have the plan of salvation; we administer the gospel; and the gospel is the sole hope of the world, the one way that will bring peace on earth and right the wrongs that exist in all nations.” That is really cool and important to understand. I was thinking at this point we’d have a guest lecturer. So for this next minute, I want you all to think about someone you love who doesn’t have the Plan of Salvation in their life. Think about the issues that might be confusing to them, what questions they might have, and how you would teach them.

Christine is going to draw the Plan of Salvation and teach us.

Christine: The Plan of Salvation meant a lot to me on my mission. Every time I taught it, I felt like I was learning. This is going to be fast, and really simple, but think about it as that person and ask some questions like they would.

The Plan of Salvation is one of the greatest things we can know. One of my favorite scriptures is in 2 Nephi 2:25.

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

Think about that. Men are here on this earth right now to have joy. That’s why God sent us down here. He wants us to be happy. We learned about this before we had bodies.
In the Pre-Earth Life we were with God and Jesus Christ. We were all together. They taught us. That’s great to me because he knew us. He doesn’t only know us here, but he knew us there.
We came to earth to become like him. We came to earth to experience joy and sorrow. Moses 1:39. I know that seems like a lot, but not so we can just stay here, but so we can progress and become more like our Heavenly Father.
Everyone dies right, but one of the most amazing things is that we don’t have to be afraid of that. We keep moving on. That’s because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that’s a big word. It has to do with Jesus Christ living a perfect life and dying for us. One question I had was why is it important that Jesus Christ died 2000 years ago for me. But it’s so we can be perfect.
After we die we go to a place called the Spirit World. There is paradise and prison. Paradise is when we’ve learned the gospel and we rest. Prison is when we don’t understand the gospel. We’re scared because we still don't understand the gospel. But we can still learn it.
Then there’s the Celestial Kingdom. That’s where God lives. There are other places where we can go if we haven’t accepted the gospel. The Terrestrial Kingdom is where we go if we lived a good life but don’t accept the gospel. The Telestial Kingdom is where we go if we didn’t live a good life and don’t accept the gospel.

What are questions that you have as that person you’re thinking about?

Ginger: I’m happy doing the things I’m doing now, but I don’t think I’d be doing those things if I was in God’s presence. Why should I want those things if it’s as good as you say it is?
Christine: If you have that eternal; perspective, and show them this, then they can internalize it. Plant those seeds so they can think about it.
Brittany: I had the same thought before I was baptized. I believed that in the end my happiness would expire. Even accepting the gospel and not having that goal realized, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Just invite someone to experiment with more happiness.
Ashley: I just went through trial x.y.z and it doesn’t seem like God wants me to be happy.
Christine: That’s part of what the Atonement does. It doesn’t right all our wrongs, but just like Adam and Eve, they fell, but they fell forward. With the Atonement, we are raised back up past our trials. We’re not raised back up to be even, but better. Those trials won’t be big enough to do anything to us anymore. God makes us stronger.
Ginger: We’ve talked before about God not always caring about our comfort in the moment, but what’s in our future. With Christ, he had a hard life, and how excruciating it was, God allowed him to suffer, but right now he is glorified and doing so much more. Even though it’s hard right now, when we see the eternal perspective, we’ll learn from our trials and be so much stronger.
Amber: along that same idea, there is opposition in all things. In the Pearl of Great Price, Eve talks about how we need to have opposition to have joy. Our trials are helping us learn so we can have joy.
Ashley: So you’re saying I’ll be miserable my whole life until I die?
Christine: My sister had the same question that I didn’t know how to answer until my mission. I taught someone with a difficult trial, and I told them that if they learned this and followed the gospel the way we taught them, that they wouldn’t trade those trials for anything. It’s made them who they are. I know this plan does something for us. The Atonement does something for us. Christ understands us.
Brittany: You will benefit from the Atonement. I don’t know who among us are feeling those blessings. I feel blessed by association with you people. I know you have my best interaction at heart when you interact with me. I’m not just doing anything with you just for a good time, or to jeopardize your happiness, and I don’t think you’re doing that for me. We really care about each other.
Christine: This isn’t just to be happy there, but now. The gospel gives us happiness in our trials. The PoS is the shell for talking about the gospel. People have concerns, but they can be answered through this.
Lacey: Misery is a state of mind. You can be in miserable circumstances, but it’s a choice. The gospel gives us that peace and allows us to not get caught up into that drama.
Brittany: The point is, starting today, we can start feeling the blessings. We’ll start realizing them when we have eternal families. I don’t think I always understood why an eternal family would be so great, but Elder Oaks said: The kind of family required for exaltation is enduring and godlike in quality. That’s what the Plan of Salvation offers.
Ryan: One thing that rally helped me understand the Plan of Salvation was my relationship with my Heavenly Father. If we don’t even understand who God is, we’re not going to want this.
Brittany: How do we understand who God is?
Ashley: The most important part of the Plan of Salvation for me is the family. That’s also how you get to know God better. We’ll be creating families for all eternity. It’s so unique in our theology that we’re going to be like God someday. When we realize that we’re in a practice run.
Christine: I love to read 2 Nephi 4 when Nephi really gives himself to God. When we seek him, we get to know him, because he’s always there.
Brittany: How you feel the Spirit is indicative of who he is.
Arianne: I was talking to Kiersten the other day about Christ, Gd and our relationship with them. I feel like I have a different relationship with them. With Christ it feels so huge and encompassing. I feel closer with God because it seems simpler. I can picture my Dad. I have a good relationship with my dad. We’ve all been given a relationship like that where we can look to and understand better. It’s that and more. And another thing that’s helped me, is when I pray, I used just pray and not picture anything. Once I was in a fireside and they said, when you pray, picture something like you’re kneeling down in front of a throne. Or something like that. Being able to picture that has really helped me understand how caring and loving God is. And still tough, like “you’re going to get through this”.
Brittany: Arianne is right. Heavenly Father is our father. Just like someday we’ll be mothers and they’ll trip and fall. We’ll nurture them and hopefully they’ll grow up and be like us or better than us. I think that’s how Heavenly Father sees us. We’re infants, but he wants us to become like him. The Plan of Salvation helps us become that. I have a testimony that Heavenly Father loves us. That he loves us so much. He wants us to come live with him again, understand who he is, and receive the blessings he has. I know that’s all possible because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
I encourage us to all ponder that this week. We’re in the middle of the Plan of Salvation right now.

Ashley: I’m really grateful for that lesson. That was a unique lesson, because I’ve never thought about how difficult that would be to teach that. I want to add my testimony, I have a very strong testimony that everything we’re going through right now, this is it as far as tests goes. Everything that we’re going through is for our good. Heavenly Father has a plan a d he wants even more than we do that we return to him. He’s doing every single things to bring us back to him. If you look for those tender mercies during those hard times, you’ll see them and be able to endure them.

Happy February!

Hello again.

This week, I'd like to reemphasize the ward goals. They are beautiful and I think it would help everyone to reread and ponder them.
1. Build upon the Rock of Christ (or come unto Christ) through daily meaningful prayer and scripture study.
2. Build upon the Rock of Christ through daily service.
3. Build upon the Rock of Christ through regular temple attendance.

Okay, here are the announcements coming up. There's some good stuff coming up this month.
1. Bishop has asked that we all increase the reverence when we come to Church on Sundays. Yes, we meet in a classroom, but it has been dedicated as a chapel. Please strive to be more reverent with everyone you need to communicate with when you come in. It will really help invite the Spirit and enhance the opportunity to receive revelation for everyone.
2. If you haven't received your ecclesiastical endorsement, it's better to do it sooner rather than later.
3. Monday Feb 3rd is FHE and @ 9pm Basketball/Track at the RB.
4. Wednesday Feb 5th @ 7pm is Institute @ B092 JFSB
5. Saturday Feb 8th @ 12:15pm is our ward women's basketball team's game.
6. Saturday Feb 8th from 9-11:30pm is the Stake "Break the Ice" activity at Seven Peaks Ice Arena.
7. Thursday Feb 13th is our ward music night. Talk to Cassandra if you want to participate. It's more like a talent or un-talent night. There will be karaoke.
8. Sunday Feb 16th is a Stake Fireside. More details to come.

Ashley was our fabulous teacher today. She taught from Daughters in My Kingdom.

“Guardians of the Hearth”

I have had this topic on my mind lately. As you know, I go to BYU law school. A lot of women tend to confide in me. I had one friend in particular recently confide in me that she wants to have a baby, but she’s afraid of telling her friends because she’s not focusing as hoard on her school.
What is the role of women? Why are we here? What’s the most important thing about this?
Our Church’s way, is not the way of the world. Please consider these questions as we go through this.
This is a very broad concept and I would like a lot of discussion.

Satan and the World
Satan is working overtime to attack the family. He tells us that marriage is not important, that children do not need a father and a mother, and that strong families are not important. He tells us that moral values are old-fashioned and silly. When challenges come,...

I feel like Satan is kind of sliding in on this one. I thought of a million ways that Satan gets us to forget our divine roles. What are some ways he trips us up?
Brittany: One of the biggest ways is that quality is sameness. Both people have to work and half time parents and that’s the only way to equally do things. That and I think the world has passed value judgements on those two things. I think they did it wrong. I think if anything should be aspired to, it’s not the career. Our husbands will have careers, but he will support and provide for us in the home. The fact that the world A says if you’re in the home than you’re not doing more important things. B. the only way to be equal is to be the same. It’s been a perspective shift, but I think it’s really important.
Aahley: I’m glad you said that. There’s another talk by elder Christofferson talks about that. I went to a talk the other day that was very powerful for me. It’s interesting because I think we see men as getting to go after their career while we’re defined by motherhood. It’s not intended for us to be defined by our careers. The most important thing our husbands will do is also be a father. Sometimes we’re so focused on career vs. staying home, but once there’s imbalance we’ll see what’s really important.
Arianne: My aunt just had a daughter and quit her great job as a lawyer. My Grandmother gave her some great advice: being a mother is very important. You’ll feel like you’re helping more than all the good things you did in your career. Keep yourself feeling like this is as important as your professional life and you’ll realize this is one of the most important things you could be doing. You just need to make it feel like it’s important.
Ashley: I think that’s what was making me feel the most sad in the last month. I’m not making any judgement on career paths, but no matter what you choose we have to appreciate motherhood.
Arianne: Our church leaders don’t frown on education, they’re just saying don’t let that become more important than motherhood.
Ryan: It’s kind of like we’re focused to get a career until we’re married. Everything we do is to help us prepare for becoming mothers.
Ashley: I’ve thought that forever. I’ll share a quick story. Oftentimes when I go on blind dates, I’ve been asked a couple times by guys right after telling them I’m in law school. “So you’re a lawyer?” they’re kind of passing judgement and trying to figure out if I want it to be my everything. For me law school is something I’m passionate about, but it will definitely help me be a better mother. I’m trying to gear everything I’m doing toward being a mother. Someday your kids going to come to you with a challenge, and you’ve been there. All these things really give us experience in ways we don’t realize. You can still dream as long as you keep God in the forefront.
Christine: I feel like I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I grew up with a single mom. I feel like my eyes are so wide open to this topic. I want to pursue my career and be a mother. My last companion on my mission is from Orem. I get to see them all the time. Her mom does everything. There’s a partnership she has with her husband. It’s amazing how it is. She created this little business of her own. I think that’s what we can do. There’s definitely room for other passions, but she has shown me that you can do it.
Ashley: You, Arianne, touched on how the most important thing you’ll do is be a mother. I have some similar passions where I want to help people who are wrongfully convicted. I was listening to a TED talk the other day. This one was completely non-controversial. We need to fix the murderers. Almost every single person he knew on death row, came from a bad family. Especially problems with their mothers. Instead of pouring more money into prisons and creating jobs for women to work more, if we could focus on family it would solve a tone of social problems. Everyone knows a mother’s influence in the home is huge, but as a society as a whole it’s also important.
Pres. Hinckley said “You are the guardians of the hearth. Your are the bearers…
One of you a few weeks ago said something that really hit me. We watched that video about fathers. In respect to that last quote, you said, of all of his roles he still wants to be known as father. So what does that say about women as mothers? Why is it our most important role and god’s most important role?
Adrianne: Someone said her most important duty is taking care of God’s children on earth. Obviously we’re not gods here, but you’re playing the role as close as you can be here.
Ashley: My mom is funny. She was very protective of us as kids. She wouldn’t let anyone but my grandma babysit us until we were about 5. Heavenly Father trusts us to raise his children and shape their very lives. He knows what it will do for us. The family is about everyone growing.
Rachel: I like what you were saying, how we all need everyone to grow. This week I have a new niece. But I was talking to my mom about it and asked her how she feels about it. She said, I think they’ll do great. They were born to be parents. The principles of the Family proclamation is for the world. It brings me so much joy. It can be terrifying, but what a wonderful blessing that is that we’re born to be parents.
“however mothers need not fear. When mothers know who God is and have confidence in him, …” we are his children, he’s not going to let us fail.
Ashley: Read Ch. 9, then go read “the moral force of women” by Elder Christofferson.
We have so much power in the world, even before we’re mothers.
“In all events, a mother can exert …
I love that. We vie for jobs that help society, but they will end eventually. This is one thing that will never end. I have a testimony of this already, but I know that more joy and happiness comes from this eternal career than any other thing.
Now what? That’s what I want to end this lesson with today.
“The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. …” Sis. Beck
I love that quote because it has been applicable to so many areas of my life. I know that will continue as well. I remember being in a fireside with her once. Someone asked her what it is that we could be doing now, what the most important skill is. She answered in this same way. It’s all about revelation. That’s how we grow. This is something I think we can and should focus on right now.
What else can we do to prepare for motherhood?
A boy yesterday mentioned that God has a special place for women. There’s nothing more motivating than a good girl who likes you. Right now in our little sphere, how can we exert motherhood and moral influence?
Ky: I think right now as young single adults, we should be focusing on getting that skill to receive and act on personal revelation. We should also be worthy. We should be in places where we can acquire that skill. It is very much a skill to listen to the Spirit and what Heavenly Father has for us. When you develop that skill now, you’ll be prepare for your family.
Ashley: I was contemplating that this week. With all that's going on in my life, I need the Lord. I’m completely useless without his help. I’ve totally learned that the hard way. If you’re not completely worthy, it’s all out the window. Anything you can do to increase that worthiness is going to help that relationship.
Ky: the last couple weeks this has hit home for me. I’ve graduated and feel like a bum. After being at home for 2 weeks and not doing anything, is not good not only was I not doing anything, I was just stuck. I was talking with Brooke because she was in the same place a few months ago. You need to read your scriptures and pray. When you do those little things you put yourself in the place to receive revelation. You need that. Without the Lord, you can’t do anything. Since then I feel like I’m doing more good things and I have that peace and quiet that just makes me happy.
Ashley: The lord wants to help you. I’ve been there after pretty rough times when it felt like I was very far away. But he’s there with open arms.
Kiersten: with the moral influence question, it’s kind of hard to be excellent. When you try all the time to be your best, sometimes when people ask you to do something and you say no, you’re worried they’ll judge you, but they normally end up respecting you. If we’re to become the best now, and not everyone understands it, then we’ll be better for it and help others.
Ashley: We love/hate to compare ourselves to others. When we cut that out, we’ll see ourselves how Heavenly Father sees us. He wants us to be queens.
Ginger: It’s so important to be so firm that our children will always trust that we’ll do the right thing. It’s so important to be strong and steadfast because the world isn’t going to teach our children true things. If we begin now, they will be that much more ingrained in us. If we go forward with purpose, we’ll get there and we’ll be prepared.
Ashley: The last year I decided to stop worrying so much about getting married and being a good wife. It’s been more fun and fulfilling for me to think about what I’m doing right now to think about how what I’m doing will help me be a good mother. I challenge you to think about what you’re doing and think about the meaning of the things you’re doing and how they will help you be a mother.
I have a firm testimony that if you put the things of the gospel first in your life, than Heavenly Father will help you. I have a strong testimony of our divine role. At the end of the day, the most important thing I can share with you is that Heavenly Father really loves you and trusts you to raise his children. Make the most of your talents and skills.

Nice, warm, January

Hey Sisters. Sorry this took me so long to get up. But, at least it's here.

Natalie taught a very beautiful lesson from President Monson's Conference address.
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/i-will-not-fail-thee-nor-forsake-thee?lang=eng#5-10791_000_46monson

Natalie: I think this is a topic we can all relate to on varying degrees.
He starts by talking about losing his wife. He’s talking about getting through that.
Of utmost comfort to me during this tender time of parting have been my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the knowledge I have that my dear Frances lives still. I know that our separation is temporary. We were sealed in the house of God by one having authority to bind on earth and in heaven. I know that we will be reunited one day and will never again be separated. This is the knowledge that sustains me.
When the pathway of life takes a cruel turn, there is the temptation to ask the question “Why me?” At times there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel, no sunrise to end the night’s darkness. We feel encompassed by the disappointment of shattered dreams and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We become impatient for a solution to our problems, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.
Why do you think in time of trial it’s so hard to see our blessings?
Kelsey: It’s more human nature to focus on the negative. It’s hard to focus on the positive when things are going badly. You have to make a conscious decision. We all need a pity party, but you can’t let yourself spiral downward.
Natalie: My mom used to say “Natalie, bad days happen, that’s why we lick the bowl.” How are you going to get through this.
Brittany: Sometimes when you’re blessed you feel very grateful, but as it goes on sometimes it’s hard to remember because you’re used to it being so nice. We can lose the perspective because we’re used to it.
Ashley: From the BYU devotional the guy said, “god cares more about our growth than our comfort.” My parents have done that a lot to me. They could have picked me up and put me on my feet, but they let me learn the consequences. The reason we forget is because we don’t see the big picture. It’s part of our growth and progression. HF doesn’t want us to suffer, but we need to learn.
[http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2162]
Natalie: He talks about patience and I know I’ve felt like that. Sometimes the answers don’t come right away. I have great visiting teachers. They’ve helped me see that. That was something I needed to grow and exercise my faith.
Pres. Monson says: Why me?
That’s normally the first thing I ask. It think it’s hard to ask the why question. I know that looking back, it would have been impossible to connect the dots looking forward. We need to rely on faith.
Matt 11: 28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you crest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

It’s in my personality to want to control my trials. I love that scripture that we really can get on our knees and give that job back to the Lord. Can anyone think of someone that has remained faithful through a trial?
Jo: Something you don’t get to feel, but you can’t feel the Atonement in their life. You don’t know how God helps them through it.
Ashley: My mom went through one of the roughest trials in her life when I was a baby. There was a Conference talk that helped her through it.
Ryan: My sister is a good example to me. Time and time again she falls back on prayer and fasting. It’s also encouraging to watch her take no for an answer. A lot of things became easier because she allowed things to work out.
Natalie: Where do you turn? What scriptures help you?
Christine: D&C 6. This is Oliver Cowdery. He’s questioning some things and Christ tells him “haven’t I told you? Haven’t you felt the spirit? Lean on those things;” the savior has helped me. I just have to keep going.
Natalie: I had a priesthood blessing and that’s one of the things mentioned to remember those experiences.
Kate: John 14:27 I find that most often when I’m struggling it’s because I’m afraid. Even when we’re struggling, we don’t have to fear. We can go through it.
Adrienne: 61: 36-39 I thought it was interesting how he calls us his children. He tells us to be humble and enter not into temptation. It’s tempting to doubt our situation.
Arianne: D&C 78:19-19 He knows the trials we have. He says don’t worry, be happy, I’m going to be there leading you along the entire way. I love knowing that he’s there every step of the way.
Natalie: I love that that scripture talks about tour potential. I love to read my patriarchal blessing. As women we’re hard on ourselves. But my patriarchal blessing helps me see myself through his eyes.
I used to hate the story of Job as a kid, but I've come to learn a lot about him.
As we ponder the events that can befall all of us, we can say with Job of old, “Man is born unto trouble.” Job was a “perfect and upright” man who “feared God, and eschewed evil.” Pious in his conduct, prosperous in his fortune, Job was to face a test which could have destroyed anyone. Shorn of his possessions, scorned by his friends, afflicted by his suffering, shattered by the loss of his family, he was urged to “curse God, and die.” He resisted this temptation and declared from the depths of his noble soul:
“Behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.”
“I know that my redeemer liveth.”
Job kept the faith. Will we do likewise as we face those challenges which will be ours?
Adrienne: The other week at work some people brought up Job. One guy said there’s never a purpose. Look at Job. God and Satan laughed at him. I said, what did we learn from that? We can learn to deal with trials. You can learn how to use faith. We can say we’re learning from it ourselves.
Ryan: We were watching the Emma Smith movie and she posed the question “why do bad things happen to good people?” Sometimes we don’t understand why trials come, but that’s when we need to lean on the Savior. He was perfect and should have had a perfect life.
Jo: Writing in your journal can give you strength to show you that you’ve endured other trials. Enduring it well is the real test. You never want to go through it again, but you’re grateful for it.
Kiersten: When I go through trials twice, I wonder what I did wrong, but for Job it was just a test. He didn’t do anything wrong.
Natalie: He will push you to your breaking point and beyond. Adrienne said What did we learn from Job? Pres. Monson talks about how we’re not alone in this. "From the beginning of the church the saints have had trials. Talking about those who survived patiently, his is what will pull us through whatever comes our way. We will still experience difficult challenges, but we will be able to face them, to meet them head-on, and to emerge victorious.
From the bed of pain, from the pillow wet with tears, we are lifted heavenward by that divine assurance and precious promise: “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Such comfort is priceless.
I love that. How many times have you received that divine assurance that he hasn’t forgotten you.
As I have traveled far and wide throughout the world fulfilling the responsibilities of my calling, I have come to know many things—not the least of which is that sadness and suffering are universal."

Last summer I spent in Africa with school. One Sunday in RS they were talking about trials. They started sharing personal stories of the babies they had lost. It was touching to me to see how they relied on each other for strength and comfort. We're all sent to this earth to learn and grow. To see them turn to each other and their HF and know they didn’t have to go through it alone was really touching to me.

Whenever I think of challenges, my thoughts turn to Brother Brems, one of my boyhood Sunday School teachers. He was a faithful member of the Church, a man with a heart of gold. He and his wife, Sadie, had eight children, many of whom were the same ages as those in our family.
After Frances and I were married and moved from the ward, we saw Brother and Sister Brems and members of their family at weddings and funerals, as well as at ward reunions.
In 1968, Brother Brems lost his wife, Sadie. Two of his eight children also passed away as the years went by.
One day nearly 13 years ago, Brother Brems’s oldest granddaughter telephoned me. She explained that her grandfather had reached his 105th birthday. She said, “He lives in a small care center but meets with his entire family each Sunday, where he delivers a gospel lesson.” She continued, “This past Sunday, Grandpa announced to us, ‘My dears, I am going to die this week. Will you please call Tommy Monson. He will know what to do.’”
I visited Brother Brems the very next evening. I had not seen him for a while. I could not speak to him, for he had lost his hearing. I could not write a message for him to read, because he had lost his sight. I was told that the family communicated with him by taking the finger of his right hand and then tracing on the palm of his left hand the name of the person visiting. Any message had to be conveyed in this same way. I followed the procedure by taking his finger and spelling T-O-M-M-Y M-O-N-S-O-N, the name by which he had always known me. Brother Brems became excited and, taking my hands, placed them on his head. I knew his desire was to receive a priesthood blessing. The driver who had taken me to the care center joined me as we placed our hands on the head of Brother Brems and provided the desired blessing. Afterward, tears streamed from his sightless eyes. He grasped our hands in gratitude. Although he had not heard the blessing we had given him, the Spirit was strong, and I believe he was inspired to know we had provided the blessing which he needed. This sweet man could no longer see. He could no longer hear. He was confined night and day to a small room in a care center. And yet the smile on his face and the words he spoke touched my heart. “Thank you,” he said. “My Heavenly Father has been so good to me.”
Within a week, just as Brother Brems had predicted, he passed away. Never did he dwell on what he was lacking; rather, he was always deeply grateful for his many blessings.

Natalie: I love that example because this man had lost essentially all his physical senses, but he still feels the Spirit.
I work in an emergency room. I’ve been able to see those trauma bays turn into sacred ground. I’ve seen the gospel of JEsus Christ and the power of the Atonement give people the strength to get up off the ground. I don’t think that’s a way we get to see the Atonement used very often.

This should be our purpose—to persevere and endure, yes, but also to become more spiritually refined as we make our way through sunshine and sorrow. Were it not for challenges to overcome and problems to solve, we would remain much as we are, with little or no progress toward our goal of eternal life. The poet expressed much the same thought in these words:
Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees.
The further sky, the greater length.
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.
Only the Master knows the depths of our trials, our pain, and our suffering. He alone offers us eternal peace in times of adversity. He alone touches our tortured souls with His comforting words:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, He is with us. He has promised that this will never change.

Natalie: Think back to those trials that you’ve had and how you’ve grown.
Amber: Looking back I realize how much they’ve taught me. Then new trials, every blessing, a recurring thought comes to mind, “be at peace.”
Natalie: He concludes by saying:

My brothers and sisters, may we have a commitment to our Heavenly Father that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. We should not need to experience difficulties for us to remember Him, and we should not be driven to humility before giving Him our faith and trust.
May His promise ever be our watchword: “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Natalie: As we turn to the lord in our times of trial I know that time and time again, I’ve been blessed for it. I testify of our saviors atonement and the ability to give us the strength to over come it.
Ashley: This is something I have a strong testimony of. I still don’t understand why people do things and why we have to suffer, but I am very very sure that they do love us and they are there with us through all of our trials. A scripture came to mind D&C 122:7. I know looking back on my own trials and of others is that I’m grateful for all I’ve learned through my experiences and how I can help others. Whenever I get broken up with I’m like, “this will be a great YW lesson!” I challenge us to look at our struggles a little less selfishly.