Monday, March 30, 2009
General Conference
179th Annual General Conference- -To transact Church Business
- -to Receive reports and Church Statistics and commend true Merit
- -To Approve or Disapprove of Names Proposed4
- -To Proclaim the Gospel to the World
- -To Proclaim the Gospel to the World
- -To Bring About a Spiritual Revival and PersonalRededication.
How To Gain the Most from General Conference
- -Make Personal Spiritual Preparation
- -Listen Carefully to the Speakers and the Spirit
- -Diligently Study the Conference Issue of the Ensign
- -Hearken to the Words of the Prophets
General Conference is the Lord's Conference
A Conference wherein he instructs his people, as he himself stated at one such conference, "by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, It is the same" (D & C 1:38)
A Conference at which the revealed will of the Lord is made manifest "by the voice of the conference"( D& C 73:2; see also 72:7)
179th General Conference
- Saturday April 5, 2009
- Time: 9:00am-11:00a
- Time: 1:00pm-5:00pm
General Priesthood Session
- Time: 5:00pm At the Stake Center
Sunday General Session
- April 6, 2009
- Time: 9:00am-11:00am
- Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Internet Broadcast:
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
A Message from Sheri Dew
By Sheri Dew
"Think about your influence. Think about places where you’ve had influence—big and small. Simply put, it is not possible to not have influence. And perhaps no one has more influence, whether positive or negative, than a woman. Yet, no influence is more powerful than that of “a righteous woman who understands who she is and who can hear the voice of the Spirit.”
Part One
Sharing personal experiences as well as lessons from the scriptures and other historical accounts, Sheri presents the first eight principles that will help you have greater impact in all of your circles of influence. “Less is more.” “Influence Depends on Trust.” “A leader is a learner.” These are just a few of the principles that will help you lead and influence in more meaningful ways.
Part Two
"One of the most significant things a leader can do is to help build other leaders. And perhaps no one has more constant opportunities to do that than women, and particularly mothers. Women have a unique role in building leaders and you’ll come to understand this better with the final eight principles. Though sometimes being a leader and having influence can be a lonely experience, great women (like great leaders) must be devoted to a cause. Discover the cause that needs YOU.
Family Home Evening Lesson Idea
Missionary Work
This Sunday, 3/29/09, is FAST SUNDAY and President Allen has designated a special fast for MISSIONARY WORK.
Here are some links for FHE ideas on Missionary Work.
- A Happy Harvest Including a dot-to-dot picture to color and to lace.
- Be A Friend Ideas and a spinning game (Friendship). Can use with Primary 3, lesson 25.
- Let Your Light Shine Sharing Time and Puzzle
- Using the Articles of Faith (story) Share gospel with others.
- Primary 3, lesson 25: I Can Be a Missionary Includes a pattern of a missionary girl and boy.
- Primary 2, lesson 11: I Can Tell Others about Jesus Christ Including the scripture stories of: the sons of Mosiah and Ammon teaching King Lamoni.
- Missionaries Publish Peace Finger Puppets of: Alma; Ammon; Aaron; Omner; Himni; Abinadi
- fhe4children I Can Be A Missionary Now; I Hope They Call Me On A Misson; I Can Be a Missionary Now; I Hope They Call Me On A Mission; What Missionaries Do...; Every Member A Missionary
Missionary Family Home Evening
Jonah & the Whale (preschool-schoolage)
Lesson: Read the story of Jonah being swallowed by the whale from the children's Old Testament. Ask questions that help your children to understand that Jonah was swallowed up because he did not want to serve a mission/ or was not obedient. You can use this to talk about the importance of missionary work or the importance of obedience.
Missionary-
Talk about what missionaries do
What can your child do to be a missionary
Ways your child can prepare to serve a mission
Obedience-
What are things the Lord has asked us to do
How can we be obedient
Activity: Missionary Activity- make cookies for non member friends, deliver them as a family. Write your families testimonies in a Book of Mormon to give to the full-time Missionaries. For Preschoolers, let them cut/paste a picture of Jonah and the whale.
Treat: Goldfish Crackers or blue jello made with goldfish crackers.
Belonging to a Family (preschool age children)
Lesson: Show pictures of various families, yours included. Help your child to understand that families are made up of all sorts of people but usually include a Mommy & a Daddy. Talk about the roles that each members of your family play. Ask questions to help your child to understand that each family member is needed, that the family would not be whole without each individual. For older children you may use this opportunity to talk about children being sealed eternally with their parents.
Activity: Make paper chains, each chain representing a member of the family. Close the chain so it makes a full circle- which illustrates that the family would not be whole with out each member.
Treat: Sugar cookie cut outs of children (or gingerbread men). With young children you can let each child decorate their own person.
For the Strength of Youth (preteen- adult children)
Lesson: Read the pamphlet as a family, discussing what the standards are. List each righteous behavior the pamphlet outlines, talk as a family about why the standards are important. Make goals as a family to make the changes necessary so that you are living by the standards the Lord has set. (For Young Women- this counts as a Personal Progress value experience: Choice & Accountability #2)
Follow the Prophet (all ages)
Song: Follow the Prophet, Primary Song Book, Page 120
To help each child remember the prophets in the song, and what each one did, have a "Follow the Prophets" parade. One child is designated as the "prophet." Tape a nametag on their shirt and have them walk around the room holding up a picture/object that represents the prophet. Take turns being the prophet and have the rest of the family follow the person who is prophet while you sing their verse.
Where available, pictures were selected from the Gospel Art Kit, available on lds.org
Adam = Gospel Art Picture 101 or flower
Enoch = Gospel Art Picture 120 or city
Noah = Gospel Art Picture 103 or ark
Abraham = Gospel Art Picture 105 or ram
Moses = Gospel Art Picture 107 or 10 commandments
Samuel = Gospel Art Picture 111 or ear
Jonah = whale
Daniel = Gospel Art Picture 117 or lion
Scripture:
Younger Children:
D&C 1:4 "And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen."
Scripture Story, "Watchmen on the Tower", Friend, August 2001, 39
Older Children:
D&C 21:4-7 "Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all the words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. For by doing these the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory. For thus saith the Lord God: Him have I inspired to move the cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know, and his prayers I have heard."
Read the scripture references listed with the Primary Song "Follow the Prophet" for each of the prophets listed in the song. Discuss what they accomplished during their lifetime and what we can learn from their lives.
Activity:
Activity #1, for children who can read:
Print off a copy of page 38 "Things I can Do to Follow the Apostles" from the August 2001 Friend Magazine for each member of your family. From the same issue, print pages 24-25 "Feat of Prophets". Read through the teachings, experiences, or revelations from prophets ancient and modern. Read each quote and talk about them. On your "things I can do to follow the prophet, list things you can do individually or as a family to follow the prophet.
Activity #2, for young children:
Print off pages 18-19 "Prophets Teach and Warn" from the August 2001 Friend Magazine. As preparation for FHE read through the story about King Benjamin on page 18 and identify the five things he told his people. Also, collect crayons, markers or colored pencils in the colors indicated on the bottom right of page 18 so you can color in the poster on page 19. While you help your children color in the poster, talk to them about who King Benjamin was, and what he taught his people.
Treat: Jacob's Dessert aka Chocolate and Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats.
JACOB'S DESSERT
1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo syrup
1 cup peanut butter
~3 cups rice crispies
1 cup each, butterscotch and chocolate chips
Heat and stir one cup sugar and one cup Karo until just boiling.
Remove from heat and add one cup peanut butter. Stir until peanut
butter is melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over rice crispies to
desired consistency (start with 3 cups and add more if you need it.)
Smash into buttered 9x13 pan.
Melt one cup butterscotch chips and one cup milk chocolate chips together. Stir together until smooth and spread over the top of the rice crispies.
RC Note: When our test cook made this recipe she used 6 cups of rice crispies and said she could have easily used more. We suggest you start with 6 and add more if you'd like.
Another name for this recipe is "Peanut Butter Balls." The difference - instead of smashing the mixture into a 9x13 pan, you shape the mixture into balls. Once balls have set up, dip them in the chocolate topping - if you wish.
Recipe from Sharon, Bridgerland Park 1st Ward, Logan, Utah, USA.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Lingering Longer
Monday, March 16, 2009
Family Home Evening Lesson Idea
FHE: Fasting
by Shauna Gibby
Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read "God Loves and Helps All of His Children," by Keith B. McMullin, Ensign, Nov 2008, 75-78.
Thought:
A few years ago a high-ranking official from China visited Salt Lake City. . . . Fasting and giving the value of the meals not eaten to help the poor captured his attention. . . . He said, "If we all loved each other like this, the world would be a more peaceful place."
(Keith B. McMullin, "God Loves and Helps All of His Children," Ensign, Nov 2008, 75-78.)
Song:
"Because I Have Been Given Much," Hymns, # 219.
Scripture:
Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.
(Doctrine and Covenants 59:14)
Lesson:
Do an activity with your family that involves things that go together, or pairs. As you say the first word or show the first item, have your family fill in the blank with the name of the second item.
"Salt and ________" (pepper)
"Table and _________" (chairs)
"Husband and ________" (wife)
"Shoes and _______" (socks)
Tell your family that Jesus demonstrated the power of "pairing" two important principles. Have your family look for the important pair as they read the story in Mark 9:14-29. Ask:
After Jesus had cast out the evil spirit, what did His disciples ask privately?
What was Jesus' response?
How does prayer make fasting more meaningful?
How does fasting make prayer more meaningful?
Ask family members if they have had an experience with fasting and prayer they would be willing to share. Invite the family to unite in fasting and prayer next fast Sunday.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 69.)
Story:
"He Fasted, and He Prayed"
Matthew Cowley
Two boys in New Zealand graduated from a high school down there. The principal came to me and told me this story about one of them.
"This young man came to me one day. He was living in the dormitory. He was what they called the monitor. It wasn't a native high school, but he was a native. He came to me one day, and he said, 'Mr. Hogan, I want to go home for three days.' I said, 'Why, you can't go home, you have a job here. What do you want to go home for?' He said, 'Well, I am preparing to take my matric,' [as they call it down there, matriculation examination for entrance into a university]. He said, 'I want to go home for three days and fast and pray.'
"I was astonished. I excused myself and went to my office and called up one of your members, one of our native members, and I said, 'Listen to me, do you people have in your Church something you call fasting?' He said, 'Yes.' I said, 'What do you do it for?' 'When we want a blessing, we fast and pray.' I said, 'Well, I have read about it in the Bible, but I have never heard of anybody doing it.' I went back to the young man and said, 'You go home for three days.' He went home, and he fasted, and he prayed, and he was the top man in passing his matric examination."
(Jay A. Parry, Jack M. Lyon, Linda Ririe Gundry, editors, Best-Loved Stories of the LDS People, Vol.2, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999], 63-64.)
Activity:
Divide your family into two teams. Give each team a paper and pencil. Set a timer for a predetermined amount of time (2 or 3 minutes) and have each team write down as many "pairs" as they can think of (like the examples in the lesson). Give one point to each team for items on the list that the other team didn’t think of.
Refreshment:
Chewy Chex Mix
This treat is a hit with all ages.
- 8 cups Rice Chex (or the Chex cereal of your choice)
- 1 cup coconut
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup chow mein noodles
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 6 cups miniature marshmallows
Combine Chex, coconut, almonds, and noodles in a large bowl. Melt butter over medium heat; blend in marshmallows and stir until melted. Pour over cereal mixture; spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container or individual plastic bags. Makes about 10 cups.
(Julie Badger Jensen, The Essential Mormon Cookbook, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 130.)
Print this LESSON
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Family Home Evening Lesson Idea
FHE Lesson: PrayersFor more information on this topic read “Pray Always,” by David A. Bednar, Ensign, Nov 2008, 41–44
Song:
“Children All Over the World” Children’s Songbook, p. 16
Scripture:
But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.
(2 Nephi 32:9)
Lesson:
Materials needed: A hand eggbeater (or whisk) and an electric mixer.
Procedure: Ask the family if they were to mix up a cake batter, which tool they would rather use. Suggest that they could get the job done with the hand mixer, but it would take a lot more time to get the batter smooth. It would also prove to be very tiring. The electric mixer would be much easier to use. This is because they would be using an additional power source to help with the work.
Point out that oftentimes we try to do things on our own without enlisting the help from our Heavenly Father. He is there for us anytime we are willing to plug into the power source. We will find the burden to be lighter when we seek the guidance and strength of the Lord.
Story:
“Pray for Her”
Anita R. Canfield
I had to fly to Mexico City one Thursday evening to inspect a project site under my design direction. The clients were leaving on Saturday for a two-month tour of their factories in Europe and the Orient, and there were dozens of questions to be resolved with them and the contractors that Friday. It had been a last-minute request on their part, and my trip was going to be an overnight but very intense visit.
I arrived at the hotel around midnight and went immediately to sleep. Around 3:00 in the morning, I was awakened by an excruciating, stabbing pain in my mouth with what would be classified as an extreme dental emergency.
My husband had done some dental work on me earlier in the week in preparation for further work the next week. I was in excruciating pain. I didn’t know what to do. A million dollars’ worth of decisions was resting on me the next day. I had to be clearminded and alert, especially with the language barrier; my Spanish is only adequate and requires great concentration on my part.
My first thought was to call my husband and get the name of a drug that would stop the pain. Then I worried that it wouldn’t be the same dosage or type in Mexico. Then I wondered if the concierge would be able to find someone at 3:00 in the morning to even obtain it. And then, with complete realization, it occurred to me that any drug strong enough to knock out this pain would completely knock me out, and I would be useless the next day. I didn’t know what to do.
Then came the distinct and clear message: “You have faith. You know what to do.”
I climbed out of bed, knelt in prayer, and told the Lord of my situation and all that concerned me, and I asked him to please take away the pain long enough for me to complete my work the next day. Before I said “in the name of Jesus Christ, amen,” the pain vanished. Instantly, in a moment, it was gone. I thanked him and went back to sleep.
The next day I was able to answer the questions, make urgent and very critical decisions, and finish on time to catch my flight home. By the time I was in customs in Los Angeles, the pain was returning. When I landed in Las Vegas several hours later, I had another full-blown dental emergency!
But that is not the whole story. Two days later was fast Sunday. In our monthly family testimony meeting, I told of my experience and my witness of the power of faith and prayer.
My fifteen-year-old son grew amazed. I could see his countenance change. When I finished speaking he asked, “Mom, was this Thursday night?”
“Yes,” I said.
“And was it about 2:00 in the morning?”
I thought about that. It was 3:00 in Mexico, but with the hour time change, I told him it was 2:00 in Las Vegas.
Suddenly he was filled with emotion and told me the beginning of the story. He had been awakened at 2:00 in the morning that night with a voice that said, “Your mother is in trouble; pray for her.” He had slipped out of bed, and on his knees, with real intent, had said, “Heavenly Father, my mom has faith. Tell her what to do.”
The Lord heard his prayer and reminded his mother of her faith and that she knew what to do
Activity:
Play “Listen.”
One player is blindfolded and seated near one end of the room. The other players line up and one at a time attempt to pass “it,” without being discovered. Players whom “it” hears passing him drop out. The last player left in the game wins. First player caught is “it” for the new game.
Remind your family that they have to listen, or we may not know the answers to our prayers.
"There has come to you as your birthright something beautiful and sacred and divine. Never forget that. Your Eternal Father is the great Master of the universe. He rules over all, but He also will listen to your prayers as His daughter and hear you as you speak with Him. He will answer your prayers. He will not leave you alone."
Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stay on the High Road," Ensign, May 2004
Refreshment:
Blueberry Pizza
Crust:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup flour
Filling:
1 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups whipped topping
8 ounces blueberry jam
Mix crust ingredients and pat into a well-greased round pizza pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 325 degrees. Let cool.
Beat powdered sugar and cream cheese; fold in whipped topping and spread over crust. Top with jam and chill.