Conference tips and tricks

It's Conference time again! 

Whether you have kids still at home, the grandkids over or have an "empty nest" - what are your tips and tricks to getting the most out of conference? 

Here's a few that have worked for my family and our young children:

1. Words lists - I create at least 4 different word lists with 6-8 words on each list. I print it out and hang it right by the TV when we watch conference. The words are key words I want them to listen for - choose the right, baptism, temple marriage, etc. 

Then I make up a bowl of  "treats" - small candies/snacks. When they hear a word - they say it and get to take 1 thing from the bowl. So if they want more than 1 Skittle they better be listening! 

2. Have paper and pen handy. I always listen to conference with pen in hand. There are so many great tid bits that strike me personally that I like to write down. Sometimes it's an answer to a prayer or inspiration to do something. I quickly jot it down so I won't forget it. 

3. Bingo - There are several printables available around the web of Conference Packets with lots of coloring sheets, games, bingo cards, etc to help keep your little ones entertained and engaged. 

4. Getting out - Once a session of conference is done I love to get moving outside before the next session begins. It's such a beautiful time of year and helps get everyone's wiggles out before we need to sit and be reverent again. 

Megan

If you have an idea to add, please leave it in the comments for everyone to read!

Reflections from Sundays lesson - The Sacrament

Sis. Kirksey gave the Teaching for our Times lesson yesterday. She centered her talk from L. Tom Perrys - The Sabbath and the Sacrament

She brought out 3 important points:

1. Keep yourself unspotted from the world - What does that mean to you? Think about your dress, thoughts and actions. 

"People do watch and hold us to a higher standard. I am grateful for that." - Sis. Kirksey

2. Rest from your labors - Heavenly father asks for 1 day a week to cleave unto Him and worship with Him. She quoted a talk that said, "you can't hear the whisperings of the Spirit of you don't keep the Sabbath day holy.". 

Look for activities that uplift, inspire and turn your thoughts toward Him. 

3. Offer sacraments - In bible times they offered up animals - what do offer up today? Elder L. Tom Perry says - "What does it mean to offer up our sacraments to the Lord? We acknowledge that all of us make mistakes. Each of us has a need to confess and forsake our sins and errors to our Heavenly Father and to others we may have offended. The Sabbath provides us with a precious opportunity to offer up these—our sacraments—to the Lord. He said, “Remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.” Elder Melvin J. Ballard has suggested, “We want every Latter-day Saint to come to the sacrament table because it is the place for self-investigation, for self-inspection, where we may learn to rectify our course and to make right our own lives, bringing ourselves into harmony with the teachings of the Church and with our brethren and sisters."

One of the sister's brought up this MormonAD

 

Thank you Sis. Kirksey for your lesson on the sacrament and for all the comments, stories and thoughts that were shared by those in attendance. Each of you truly adds to the spirit of R.S. 

- Megan

RS Secretary

 

Forget me Knot - the R.S. broadcast

I think the message of the night that got through to everyone was Pres. Uchtdorf's story of the Forget me knot flower and the 5 things to "forget not".

I found this image here that a sister has made to print out and hang on her fridge to continually remember...

It was wonderful to see so many of you at the dinner and the broadcast. I hope everyone in attendance enjoyed their night of being fed physically and spiritually.

- Megan

R.S. Secretary

Making the Proclamation more personal.....

A few weeks ago in Sis. Kirksey's lesson she shared and showed how she is making the Proclamation to the Family more personal to her. 

She has framed her proclamation with photos of her children all around it.

She said it is her daily reminder of her responsibility to Heavenly Father. That she needs to bring them up in a pleasing way to return them to him (D&C 68:28)

In her lesson she also quoted this from the Gospel Principles manual (pg 213):

"It is important to remember that each member of the family is a child of God. Parents should treat their children with love and respect, being firm but kind to them."

Thank you Brandi for your heartfelt lesson that week.

- Megan

R.S. Secretary

It's worth 3 minutes of your time....

I just love the Mormon Messages. It's so much uplifting inspiration packed into a few short minutes.
 This newer one - Flecks of Gold - is wonderful! I hope you take time to watch.

-Megan
R.S. Secretary

Reflections from Sundays lessson - Temple Work & Family History

This Sundays lesson was Chapter 40 - Temple Work & Family History in the Gospel Principles manual (pg 233)

Sis Mc Cormack did a wonderful job of bringing in the spirit and reminding us about the importance of family and being bound or sealed together in an eternal perspective.

Some of the comments that were made were:

"Temples keep us eternally minded."

"They are  symbol of His presence here on earth. A light shining in this world."

"How wonderful it is to be able to do work for those who cannot and have passed on."

Not only do we make covenants at the temple but the manual reminds us: " We also go the temple to learn more about Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We gain a better understanding of our purpose in life and our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We are taught about our premortal existence, the meaning of earth life, and life after death." (pg. 235 top of the page)

Thank you Sis. Mc Cormack for your prepartion and sensitivity to the spirit and also all those who shared their thoughts, feelings and experiences. You all make R.S. a wonderful place!

- Megan
R.S. Secretary

Stork Watch!

Kassie Jones gave me permission to share the news! She is pregnant and expecting a BOY due in February! 

Congrats to the Jones Family!!!!!

We look forward to his arrival!

Twas a Sheep poem

Sis. Rollins shared this poem when she spoke in sacrament meeting a few weeks ago and then it was echoed again by Bro. Tholen this week as well. I wanted to share it here again: 

’Twas a sheep not a lamb

That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong,

It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when the sheep are lost

What a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay.

poem was from this talk at general conference

A small correction.....

We need to correct an announcement that was made last week.

We were planning to meet for dessert as Sisters after the R.S. Broadcast on the 24th. It turns out that Skylar Kearls wedding reception is that night and we want to make that time after the broadcast available for those that have been invited to attend. It's important to support that event. 

PLEASE join us before that for dinner that the Stake is putting on at 5pm with the Broadcast to follow from 6pm - 7:30pm.

Thank you! Thank you!

We wanted to say THANK YOU for the meals that have been provided this past week. It makes such a difference to those that this service has been provided for. 

Also, a big thank you to the sisters who offered to help with some sewing needs we had come up in the ward this week and also for the upcoming Stake Activity. 

Our hearts are full at the quickness and willingness in which these needs were met by YOU the wonderful ladies of our ward!

Reflections from Sundays lesson - Chastity

Sis. Crouch did a wonderful job with the task of tackling and teaching "The Law of Chastity" lesson from chapter 39 (pg 225) in the gospel principles manual. 

She really wanted to make clear the importance of teaching our children this principle. In the lesson it says, "Parents can begin by teaching children to have proper attitudes toward their bodies....Talking to children frankly but reverently and using the correct names for the parts and functions of their bodies will help them grow up without unnecessary embarrassment about their bodies. Children are naturally curious. If parents answer questions immediately and clearly so children can understand, children will continue to take their questions to their parents."

She also handed out the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet for each sister. Sis Pressler commented that they should be called For the Strength of "YOU". These principles are not only for our youth to live and understand but for us as well. 

I know we are all at different stages of our lives - young children in the home, children gone and married, grandchildren, etc. I believe it's an extra blessing when grandma's, aunts, etc believe and reinforce the values they children are taught at home. I believe it makes my kids realize that it's not "just what mom thinks." They say it takes a village - how about a ward of righteous, virtuous women that are examples of truth and light to all the children and youth? :) That's another blessing

Thank you Sis. Crouch for your lesson for all the comments and insights that were shared from those in attendance. 

- Megan

(R.S. Secretary)

They were our guest.....

We sent off the former R.S. presidency in signing and dancing style! At the August R.S. meeting these ladies we asked to "prop their feet up" and "be our guest" for the night!

If you weren't able to make it that night, Lori put together a cute song and dance to Be our Guest from Beauty and the Beast that the "lucky" new Presidency got to perform! There were lots of giggles from all!

Thank you ladies for your years of service!The Primary is lucky to have ALL of you in there now!

Daughters in my Kingdom books

From Sister Julie B. Beck - “Our presidency has prayed, fasted, pondered, and counseled with prophets, seers, and revelators to learn what God would have us do to help His daughters be strong in the face of 'the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth.' An answer has come that the sisters of the Church should know and learn from the history of Relief Society. Understanding the history of Relief Society strengthens the foundational identity and worth of faithful women” (Julie B. Beck, “ 'Daughters in My Kingdom': The History and Work of Relief Society,”Liahona, Nov. 2010, 114).

We are excited to have these books in our possession and will be handing out to EACH of you your own personal copy.