Reflections from Sundays lesson - STAND

Sister Tobias gave the lesson this Sunday from these 2 conference talks:

Dare to Stand Alone and Stand in Holy Places both by President Monson

She started the lesson by having each sister write down the 10 commandments from memory. Some even knew them in the correct order. 

She shared part of this story: "A distinguished Notre Dame sociologist led a research team in conducting in-depth interviews with 230 young adults across America. I believe we can safely assume that the results would be similar in most parts of the world.

I share with you just a portion of this very telling article:

“The interviewers asked open-ended questions about right and wrong, moral dilemmas and the meaning of life. In the rambling answers, … you see the young people groping to say anything sensible on these matters. But they just don’t have the categories or vocabulary to do so.

“When asked to describe a moral dilemma they had faced, two-thirds of the young people either couldn’t answer the question or described problems that are not moral at all, like whether they could afford to rent a certain apartment or whether they had enough quarters to feed the meter at a parking spot.”

The article continues:

“The default position, which most of them came back to again and again, is that moral choices are just a matter of individual taste. ‘It’s personal,’ the respondents typically said. ‘It’s up to the individual. Who am I to say?’

Moral is simply your good or bad choices. It mentioned between the 2 talks that the "moral compass of society is accelerating."  The Ten Commandments have been viewed as The Ten Creative Suggestions but President Monson reminded us that they are just that - Commandments. 

Sister Tobias said that the Ten Commandments are the base, the scriptures are our guide and full of other commandments to follow. We should not be in doubt of what is expected of us. Our faith will be challenged. 

Do you have the moral courage to stand for your beliefs?

President Monson listed out 3 things to help us be strong as we stand:

 1. Testimony 

2. Prayer

3. Inspiration

From the Dare to Stand Alone talk we are reminded of what President Benson said: 

“In all ages, prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. Make no mistake about it—you are a marked generation. …

“For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the second coming of the Lord. Some individuals will fall away, but the kingdom of God will remain intact to welcome the return of its Head—even Jesus Christ."

From the Stand in Holy Places talk:

The Lord invites us, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me.” As we do so, we will feel His Spirit in our lives, providing us the desire and the courage to stand strong and firm in righteousness—to “stand … in holy places, and be not moved."

Sister Tobias asked us what we it meant to us to Stand in Holy Places? 

"may our determination ever be to guard and defend it and to be worthy of its great promises. Brethren, may we follow the Savior’s instruction to us found in the book of 3 Nephi: “Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.”

 

Do you have room?

As the Holiday Season kicks off it is so easy to get overwhelmed, busy and caught up. It's sometimes hard to "make room" for everything on the schedule and the TO DO list. May we all find room for what is truly important this season.

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

I know everyone has probably seen this video because it's a few years old but it's one of my favorites. As Thanksgiving approaches may be truly reflect on all of our blessings

Reflections from Sundays lesson - Signs of the Second Coming

Sis. Kirksey taught todays lesson from chapter 43 of the Gospel Principles manual-
Signs of the Second Coming. 

For thousands of years, followers of Jesus Christ have looked forward to the Second Coming as a time of peace and joy. But before the Savior comes, the people of the earth will experience great trials and calamities. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be prepared for these troubles. He also expects us to be spiritually ready when the Savior comes in His glory. He has given us signs, which are events that will tell us when the Savior's Second Coming is near. 

She listed out 7 different signs (they are also found in the manual)

1. Wickedness, War and Turmoil.  - Many of these signs are being fullfilled. Wickedness is everywhere. Nations are constantly at war. Earthquakes and other calamities are occurring. Many people now suffer from davastating storms, drought, hunger, and disease. We can be certain that these calamities will become more severe before the Lord comes. 

Spencer W. Kimball has said: “To be a righteous woman is a glorious thing in any age. To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution”

2. The Restoration of the Gospel: Sis. Kirksey read a quote that referred to the early Saints and it said, "...they were called to give their lives for the gospel. We are asked to live our lives for the gospel."

3. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon: Sis. Naumann shared her testimony of the this quote (from Pres. Marion G. Romney) and the Book of Mormon with us - " 'I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness'

4. The gospel preached to all the world: Sis. Pressler shared something she heard Elder Nelson share at a Stake Conference in Idaho 2 years ago. He said, "We don't have missionaries in every country but we have members in every country."

Sis Kirksey replied how that goes along with "every member a missionary."

5. Coming of Elijah: The manual tells us that one thing Elijah will do is inspire people to be concerned about their ancestors and descendants. Have you seen that in members of the church and also non members? People all over the world as catching the spirit of Elijah. 

6. Lehi's descendants will become a great people: In D&C 49:24 is says that before the Lord comes the Lamanites shall blossom like a rose. Great numbers of Lehi's descendants are now receiving the blessings of the gospel. 

7. Building of the new Jerusalem: Near the time of the coming of Jesus Christ, the faithful Saints will build a righteous city. 

It's easy to fearful of the events leading up to the Second Coming but the Lord has comfortingly said, I am in your midst. President Hinckley has said, "Peace may be denied for a season. … We may even be called on to suffer in one way or another. … Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to the commandments of God. … This is the crux of the entire matter—obedience to the commandments of God.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks has said regarding the parable of the 10 virgins, "We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming. And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the spiritual. A 72-hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges, but, as the foolish virgins learned to their sorrow, a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value." 

Thank you Sister Kirksey! 

- Megan 

November RS mtg - Brown paper packages

Can I just say how fun it is to have a get together with 40 - 60 of your girlfriends each month?  I love it! 

Thanks to the Lori and the RS Meeting Committee for this months wonderful activity! We gathered for a night of sharing favorite things and gratitude for the smallest simplest things. Each brought and wrapped in a brown paper package.

We hope as the night progressed and the circle of ladies grew larger and larger that you felt the sisterhood of our ward grow as well. It was great to laugh, cry and be silly with all of you! 

One of the handouts the committee provided for everyone was this one. It's such a wonderful quote and it makes you stop and think: 

Next month's activity will be on December 13th! Block our that night so you won't miss celebrating Christmas with us!

Reflections from Sundays lesson - Gratitude

Sis. Snow gave a wonderful lesson on gratitude. 

Gratitude - a path to happiness

She asked - Do the words Gratitude and Thankful have the same meaning to you? 

She covered 3 points:

1. Acknowledge blessings - In the scriptures it says "his hand is in all things" and "live in thanksgiving daily." Bonnie Parkin gave a talk where she shared a story about a Blessing Basket. 

"Let me share a sweet story with you. A family was going through a difficult time. It was hard for them not to focus on their challenges. The mother wrote: "Our world had completely crumpled, so we turned to Heavenly Father for guidance. Almost immediately we realized that we were surrounded by goodness and were being cheered on from every side. We began as a family to express our gratitude to each other as well as to the Lord daily. A close friend pointed out to me that our family's 'blessing basket' was overflowing. From that conversation came a sort of game, which my children and I grew to love. Before family prayer each night we would talk about how our day had gone and then share with each other all of the many blessings that had been added to our 'blessing basket.' The more we expressed gratitude, the more there was to be grateful for. We felt the love of the Lord in a significant way as opportunities for growth presented themselves."

What would a "blessing basket" add to your family?'

LuAnn passed out small jars to each sister with a pack of small papers. She asked us to write out things we were grateful for on the slips of paper and put them into the jar. She helped us see and appreciate our own gratitude for the small, simple things to the ones with deeper meaning. 

Pres. Monson has said: "This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." 

2. Have faith -  LuAnn retold the story of the 10 lepers and reminded us how only 1 man turned back to say thank you. In the scripture it doesn't say thy "gratitude", it says thy faith had made thee whole. 
Do we say thanks for our blessings? 

3. Express Thanks - By loving and serving others we express our thanks for our blessings. 

President Monson said this: "Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” ³ We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."

 

Sister Snow wrapped up the lesson by saying "Don't focus on what's missing in your life. Focus on what is in abundance around you (Pres. Monson). Gratitude is a spirit filled principle. It opens our minds and hearts to all that we have. Take a positive approach and be happy. And lastly, Think to Thank. 

She referred back to the jars she had passed out and read the quote that was placed on the top on each jar:

Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not the task to gain them, they are here: yours is the part of cherishing them. - J. Reuben Clark

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Thank you Sis. Snow the wonderful lesson and the spirit which you brought to the room. 

 - Megan 

Reflections from Sundays lesson - Being Saints

(lesson summary from Sis. Mark)

Sister Carrie Johnson substituted for us this week in our Teaching for our Times lesson.  She talked about being followers and reminded us that who we follow shows in our behavior and our dress.  We need to be 

deliberate in who and what we follow.
 

 
She reminded us of the counsel President Packer gave in his conference address to properly identify ourselves as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  That name more accurately reflects who we are and who we follow.  We talked about the definition of a Saint, the dictionary defines a Saint as a Holy Person.  She asked us to think about the following question, How does knowing you are a Saint make you want to act?
 
As Saints we need to know the word of God; we of course learn the word of God as we study our scriptures...not just read our scriptures but study and ponder them.  Sister Pressler was asked to share how she has incorporated scripture study into her life.  She dedicates time to studying, pondering, and praying in the morning.  She also blessed the lives of her children in reading the Book of Mormon together as they were growing up.  As we read and study, the stories of the scripture become familiar and easier to recall and apply.  She also talked about using other resources; study guides and Sunday School Manuals.  she encouraged all of us to just pick up our scriptures and start reading.
 

 
In 3 Nephi 27:27 we're asked "What manner of men (and women) ought ye to be?  Sister Johnson reminded us of the importance to Be and to Do, they are inseparable.  To Be without Do is hypocrisy, to Do without Be is void of faith.  To Do pertains to temporal matters, to Be pertains to spiritual matters; both are critical.
 
Thanks Sister Johnson for a great lesson!
 
Our teachers all do such a great job.  For those of you serving in callings in Primary and Young Women we miss you and hope these lesson summaries help you fell more a part of our Sunday worship.  For those of you we don't see in Relief Society we miss you, the spirit you contribute to our group on sundays and your beautiful faces; we hope to see you soon!


- Teri

Spotlight - Tiffany Hacker

Occasionally we'd like to spotlight some of the sisters in the ward. It's always fun to find out more about the wonderful sisters we have in our ward. 

This time around - let's get to know Tiffany Hacker! 

Q. - Where were you born? - Everywhere! My Dad was int he military so I have lived in Arizona, New Mexico, Germany, California, Colorado and Utah. 

Q. - Where you fit among your siblings? - Oldest. There are only 2 of us. He is 26. 

Q. - Education? - Bachelor from BYU in Elementary Education. I taught 4th grade for 2 years and then had Ambra so I quit to be her mommy. 

Q. - Employment? - I own Suspended in Time. I preserve wedding bouquets and funeral flowers and encage them in shadow boxes and oval frames. 

Q. - Married? How you met?  - We met when I went to school at Dixie. I remember thinking he was super cute but dressed in green jeans. Who wears green jeans??? We made fun of him the rest of the year and a year later when I was working at Dillards in SLC we met again. He wasn't wearing green jeans and we went out. A few months later my Dixie friends met him and said, 'Wow! that's green jeans boy!" I had no idea!! I ended up marrying green jeans boy.

Q. - Children? - Ambra age 8. Cole age 7. Ariah age 4. Caleb age 3m. 

Q. - Hobbies/Talents? - I love to exercise, bike, hike, camp, vacation, play with my kids - basically anything that is active and fun - count me in! :) 

Q. - Ward calling? - Ward missionary! 

Q. - Anything else you'd like us to know about you? I love this ward and all of you. Thank you for being so wonderful and inspiring me to be a better person.