4th Sunday lesson Summary

Sis. Murdock gave the lesson this Sunday on the conference talk - The first great commandment - by Elder Holland

Sis Murdock asked, "What is the first and greatest commandment? To love the Lord their God with all their hearts." 

Sis Murdock talked about her love of how Elder Holland can explain the scriptures and retell the stories in a way that she understands them. He talks about the 11 disciples left after Jesus was crucified and how they just went back to their normal lives and "jobs". Then we Jesus returned and asked Peter 3 times if he loved him Peter was discouraged and didn't understand. 

From his talk is says, "Whatever his feelings, Peter said for the third time, “Lord, … thou knowest that I love thee.”To which Jesus responded (and here again I acknowledge my nonscriptural elaboration), perhaps saying something like: “Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world."

Sis Murdock asked, "Is it hard to prove our love to Heavenly Father everyday?"

"How much do we love and our loyal to the Lord? 60%?.....90%?....."

It has been said The greater the difficulty the greater the glory. Do you believe that? Would you rather have big trials to prove your love and loyalty than the easy life and hope that's enough?

The 2nd great commandment is to love thy neighbor as thyself. Who is my neighbor?

She shared a humorous poem I am trying to get a copy of. If so, I will post it here.

Why did God put the 1st commandment first?........If you put the Lord first, all other things fall into place or drop out of lives. 

Sis Murdock said she wasn't sure what our experience would be on judgement day but wondered if we would be asked, "Do you love me and what did you do on earth to further my work?

The crowning characteristic of love is loyalty. 

In Stake Conf. the President said, "if you have any gray hair on your head you need to go on a mission." 

Heavenly Father expects your love and loyalty at every stage of your life. 

story of the king

Sis. murdock shared a wonderful story about a king and his well running out of water. I'd like to share it in it's entirety and hopefully can find it get a copy.

When we give our love and loyalty we will receive more than we took. 

A special RS night - not to miss!

The Adams Park ward Relief Society presents...

A night with Emily Watts

(well known author and delightful speaker)

Tuesday December 4th at 6:30 pm

Bring your daughters, mothers and friends for a holiday celebration you will not want to miss! 

**nursery provided**

New spin on the Ensign Challenge!

Now that conference is over and the Nov. Ensign has been delivered it's naturally the time we start promoting the Ensign Challenge. This time we'd like to put a spin on it! 

Instead of reading all the talks and meeting in 6 months to discuss them we are going to spotlighting sisters each month! 

We'd like you to share a favorite quote/ your thoughts from a talk. What act are you taking because of this or what has it inspired you to do? Also, how is helping you in your journey or how does it bring you joy? 

We will be sharing several sisters thoughts each month so get reading! We may be asking you soon!!!

Lesson Summary - Chap. 20

Sis. Amy Pressler gave our lesson today. It was great to hear from her. 

The lesson came from the manual - Chapter 20 - Temporal Salvation for ourselves and others

Pres. Smith described the situation of the people as he became President of the church as WWII was ending. The war had left many nations devastated, and thousands of people were without food and other necessities.People who have been taken away from their homes with the idea that they were going to be allowed to settle elsewhere, and all of a sudden deserted, and then when they returned to their homes, found them pillaged and robbed of what they had—everything—and left helpless, with no place to go.”¹ Because the Church had been in the practice of storing food for many years, it was prepared to help in these circumstances. 

Sis. Pressler asked, " In what ways do we develop as we serve others?"

Pres. Smith in 1946 said, "We are living in perilous times." What could be said of our times today? And what can we do to prepare to increase our food storage and be prepared for our temporal needs? 

The Lord has directed us to work to earn our own livelihood. Sis. Pressler asked, "How can you teach your children to work?" As a teacher herself she said she can tell the difference between kids who have responsibilities as home verses those that don't. 

In the manual is says, "Our Heavenly Father … said long, long ago there were idlers in Zion, … and he said, “He that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer.” [D&C 42:42.] I am assuming that he did not mean those who cannot find employment, and who are legitimately trying to take care of themselves. I am assuming that he referred to the habit some people get into of leaning upon their neighbor. … I feel that there has been no justification given to any man in this world to feel that he can depend on somebody else to provide him a livelihood. I did not feel when I was a child that somebody would be compelled to provide me a means of living. The Lord gave me intelligence. He directed that I should work, and I began to work when I was twelve years of age, and I found joy in it, and have earned my living and helped others during more than fifty years." 

Let us be DO-ers of the work and not just HEAR-ers only. 

The lesson wrapped up with a final topic, - If we are generous with our means, there is a no need for anyone to go without. 

It said, " Let us … look around us in our neighborhood—not leave it to the Bishop and the Relief Society, but let each of us be ministers of loving kindness to those who will need us so much....If we desire to be identified with the kingdom of our Lord, the celestial kingdom, this is our opportunity to prepare,—with love unfeigned, with industry, with thrift, with perseverance, with a desire to do all that is within our power to bless others, to give—not to be always feeling we must receive, but desire to give, for I say to you: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” [Acts 20:35.] The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of giving, not only of our substance but of ourselves, and I thank my Heavenly Father that I belong to such an organization that has been so instructed."

Thank you Sis. Pressler for your energy and relate-able stories. We enjoyed hearing from you! 

  

 

1st Sunday lesson summary - family

Sis. Mark presented a wonderful lesson on Sunday about families. 

She focused on 4 areas. We split into 4 groups and discussed these topics and then shared our thoughts with the rest of the women. Here are the lists the women came up with according to the word

1. Importance:

strength and support, enjoyment, haven from the world, peace, acceptance, unconditional love, unity as a family. 

Sis Mark shared this quote, "Societies at large are strengthened as a families are." 

2. Challenges:

time, illness, schedules, finances, house work, traditions, church callings, work a holic, extended family, difference of opinions. 

Another quote was shared that said, "...the voice of domestic peace is a quiet one." 

3. Relationships:

Be forgiving, tolerant, be quick to listen slow to react, take responsibility, let grudges go, let family be who they are, don't judge, have patience with in laws, establish boundaries with extended family, treat others with respect. 

Pres. Kimball said, "...avoid ceaseless pin pricking." Sis. Mark said that the big things are the little things we do. Encouragement and appreciation are key. 

4. Communication: 

more than talking and listening, reach out, do things together, FHE, serve together, serve each other, dig deeper to what is being said, listen to listen - not to just solve the problem. 

Sis. Mark wrapped up the lesson reminding us all to be thoughtful and kind to others and those we have relationships with in our family.

Lesson Summary 4th Sunday

Sis. Murdock gave our lesson this Sunday compiled from 2 talks - The Power of Deliverance - Elder L. Tom Perry & Thanks Be To God - Elder Russell M. Nelson

She shared a story from Elder Nelson talk about an aquarium: 

Recently, Sister Nelson and I enjoyed the beauty of tropical fish in a small private aquarium. Fish with vivid colors and of a variety of shapes and sizes darted back and forth. I asked the attendant nearby, “Who provides food for these beautiful fish?”

She responded, “I do.”

Then I asked, “Have they ever thanked you?”

She replied, “Not yet!”

I thought of some people I know who are just as oblivious to their Creator and their true “bread of life.”¹ They live from day to day without an awareness of God and His goodness unto them.

How much better it would be if all could be more aware of God’s providence and love and express that gratitude to Him. Ammon taught, “Let us give thanks to [God], for he doth work righteousness forever.”² Our degree of gratitude is a measure of our love for Him.

She focused the remainder of her talk about 3 gifts. 

 1. Physical - She ask Molly and Autumn come in and sing - I am a Child of God. She asked us to think of the words to that song - he sent us here, gave us parents, knows our needs our great, etc. You don't need a perfect body to make it back to heaven with live with our Heavenly Father. 

There was another story shared from Elder L. Tom Perry's talk about his friend Scott. You can read it here but he didn't let his physical limitations stop him from helping the work progress forward. 

2. Spiritual - our gifts are strengthened  as communicate with Heavenly Father. Our return to Him is not based on what we wore and how cute our hairstyle was...It's about love, virtue, integrity, service to others, etc. 

Sis. Murdock shared a neat comparison of cell phones to our scriptures: 

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Scriptures like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried them around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to get them if we forgot them?
What if we flipped through them several times a day?
What if we used them to receive messages?
What if we treated them like we couldn't live without them?
What if we gave them to kids as gifts?
What if we used them as we traveled?
What if we used them in case of an emergency?
This is something to make you go hmm... where are my Scriptures?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't ever have to worry about our Scriptures being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill! 

     3. Gospel - Many of the stories in the Book of Mormon are about deliverance. Can we only find deliverance in the scriptures? What about church magazines and music too? 

She shared a story of the pioneers who crossed the plains and a particular food shortage situation. The saints didn't pray for their circumstances to change or for a different type of food to cross their path. They prayed that their stomachs would adapt to the food they had. They prayed for strength in their circumstance. 

Elder Nelson summed up the lesson perfectly: 

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but we are not. Each day, ours is the challenge to access the power of the Atonement so that we can truly change, become more Christlike, and qualify for the gift of exaltation and live eternally with God, Jesus Christ, and our families. For these powers, privileges, and gospel gifts, thanks be to God! 

- Sis. Pyrah 

 

SOUPER Service Night

Novembers RS activity Night - Nov 6th - 6:30pm at the church. 

SOUPER Service Night!

Join us for a warm and yummy soup dinner and YOU bring the service! Please bring an item you enjoy like lotion, crossword, fruit, sweets, etc. We will be creating some small baskets as a "pick me up/thinking of you" gift for some sisters in the ward. Then we will deliver them that night as well! 

Nursery provided. 

It's not an activity unless you are there! 

Lesson Summary - Chapter 19

Sis. Nolan gave our lesson today on Chapter 19 - Temporal and Spiritual Blessings from the Word of Wisdom.

The manual says, "Daniel was a prophet of God, and he was a prophet because he kept the commandments of God. I would like you … to take this message with you. Daniel observed the teachings of God with his companions, with reference to the kind of food and drink they should have, and refused to accept the food that was served upon the king’s table."

Sis Nolan asked, "How do you politely refuse items that are against the Word of Wisdom?"

The manual goes on to say, "The gospel of Jesus Christ is to preserve souls, of which the body is the tabernacle, for eternal happiness....Our Heavenly Father in his kindness and love [warned]: “In consequence of the evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you and forewarn you by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation.” (D&C 89:4.) … The purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to prepare us to understand the beauty of life as the Lord has indicated it should be lived, by telling us how we may avoid the things that are destroying the world.^"

^{"I pause to ask....are we worthy to be called Saint?"}

^{Sis. Nolan reiterate this question. If you think about your week, are you doing things that qualify you to be worthy to be called among the Saints?"} 

^{Sis. Nolan related a few stories from Pres. Monson's talk from the recent Priesthood session. She encouraged us all to read it if we haven't already. From that talk...Are we seeing people for who they can become? Or are we judging them on who they are now? Christ loves them just as much as anyone else. What if our sins smelled of cigarette smoke? or we all came to church with our biggest sin written across our backs....How many would feel comfortable to attend?}  

^{The lesson rounded out talking about how to teach our families the obey the Word of Wisdom...the best way is to obey it ourselves.} 

^{"...the best evidence of our faith in that law, that we believe it came from God, is a consistent observance of it in our lives. We may preach it all day long, but if we transgress it in practice, our example may be disastrous to those we love better than life, for they will feel that they can safely follow where we lead. Let me plead with you, search the Word of Wisdom prayerfully. Do not just read it; search it prayerfully. Discover what our Heavenly Father gave it for. He gave it to us with a promise of longer life and happiness, not if we fail to observe it, but if we observe it. Read the Word of Wisdom in the presence of your families and set the example. If we will do that Zion will continue to grow. If we will do that the Church of the Lamb of God will continue to become a power for good in the world."}  

^{Thank you Sis Nolan!} 

^{- Sis Pyrah}  

Lesson Summary - chapter 18

Sis. Roueche taught our lesson this Sunday. It was on Chapter 18 of the manual - Stay on the Lords Side of the line.

The Lord has given us commandments so that we can resist evil and find happiness. 

She asked us - "What can we do to stay on the Lord's side?"

The manual says staying on the Lord's side of the line requires strict obedience to the commandments. 

It goes on to say, "All safety, all righteousness, all happiness are on the Lord’s side of the line. If you are keeping the commandments of God by observing the Sabbath day, you are on the Lord’s side of the line. If you attend to your secret prayers and your family prayers, you are on the Lord’s side of the line. If you are grateful for food and express that gratitude to God, you are on the Lord’s side of the line. If you love your neighbor as yourself, you are on the Lord’s side of the line. If you are honest in your dealing with your fellow men, you are on the Lord’s side of the line. If you observe the Word of Wisdom, you are on the Lord’s side of the line. And so I might go on through the Ten Commandments and the other commandments that God has given for our guidance and say again, all that enriches our lives and makes us happy and prepares us for eternal joy is on the Lord’s side of the line. Finding fault with the things that God has given to us for our guidance is not on the Lord’s side of the line."

"If we will follow the advice and counsel that the Lord has given, our pathway will be one of happiness. It will be a pathway, perhaps not of ease and comfort always, but in the end it will terminate in the presence of our Heavenly Father, and glory, immortality and eternal lives will be our portion."

The adversary tries to lead us astray with his deceptions and subtleties.

"There are two influences in the world today and have been from the beginning. One is an influence that is constructive, that radiates happiness and that builds character. The other influence is one that destroys, turns men into demons, tears down and discourages. We are all susceptible to both. The one comes from our Heavenly Father and the other comes from the source of evil that has been in the world from the beginning seeking to bring about the destruction of the human family."

Sis. Roueche asked, "How can we help young people recognize the temptations and trappings of Satan? 

We can resist evil by choosing to subject ourselves to the influence of the Lord.

She asked again, "What are places/circumstances you have no desire to do evil? 

A quote from the manual rounded out the lesson, " See that your feet are planted upon the rock. See that you learn the desires of the Master toward you, and, knowing those desires, see to it that you keep His laws and commands. See to it that the purity of your lives shall entitle you to the companionship of the Holy Spirit, because if you are pure and virtuous and upright, the evil one will have no power to destroy you.

I pray that we examine ourselves and find out which side of the line we are on; and if we are on the Lord’s side, stay there, because that means eternal happiness in the companionship of the best men and women that have lived upon the earth.

If we have slipped in any way, if we have been careless; if we have listened to the tempter and gone across the line to partake of those things that the world thinks are so desirable and the Lord has said are not good for us, let us as quickly as possible get back on the other side, ask the Lord to forgive us our foolishness, and then with his help go on living the life that means eternal happiness."

Thank you Sis. Roueche for your lesson and insight. And thank you to all the sisters who attended and also gave offered up their comments.

Breakfast Recipes from Activity

THANK YOU thank you to the RS Activity Committee for all their hard work! They have shared the recipes with us!~ Here they are!

 

Breakfast Quiche

4 cups frozen hash browns, thawed

2/3 cups butter or margarine, melted

2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

2 cups Swiss cheese, grated

2 cups bacon or ham, cooked & diced (opt)

1 can evaporated milk

6 eggs

½ tsp. salt

Make crust with hash browns in a 9 X 13” pan. Pour melted butter over hash browns and pat down. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over the crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

 

Breakfast Casserole

1 ½ lbs pork sausage

1 tsp salt

9 eggs slightly beaten

3 cups milk

1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese

5-6 slices of bread, cubed

1 ½ tps dry mustard

Cook sausage, drain and cool. Grease a 9X13 pan. In a large bowl mix eggs, milk, mustard and salt. Fold in bread, cheese and sausage. Pour in prepared pan and cover. Refrigerate overnight. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let stand 15 minutes.

 

Oven French Toast

½ cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 Tblsp corn syrup

1 loaf of Texas Toast bread

5 eggs

1 ½ cup half & half milk

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

Combine butter, brown sugar, & corn syrup in a sauce pan over medium heat. Pour the mixture into a large greased jellyroll pan, spread to cover whole surface.

Lay 12 slices of Texas Toast bread over that layer of mixture. Mix together eggs, cream, salt & vanilla. Spoon that mixture over each piece of bread cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake uncovered @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes.