What role do angels play in our lives today?

At Christmastime, angels are everywhere---from artwork and songs to ornaments, wrapping paper, and many other cultural artifacts, from the sacred to the profane, the classy to the kitschy.  But what do angels really mean to most people?  
Because of the scriptures, modern revelation, and a multitude of witnesses, Latter-day Saints declare that angels are most definitely real, and we understand that their ministry points us to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and can bring the Holy Ghost into our lives.

Why are angels depicted with wings?

Though we know through the Prophet Joseph Smith that "an angel of God never has wings, most depictions of them show them with wings, and some scriptures describe them as having wings.  Why?  Wings represent "power, to move, to act."  Prophets who described angels as having wings (see, for instance, Isaiah 6:2) may have referred to wings in order to communicate these ideas figuratively.

Want to know more???  Read in this month's Ensign

ANGELS We Have Heard

Page 40

By David A. Edwards

CHRISTMAS QUOTE!!

He who has not Christmas in his heart...

will never find it under the tree!!!

Roy L. Smith

DON'T FEEL GRINCHY

Then the Who's, young and old, would sit down to a feast.  And they'd feast! And they'd feast! And they'd FEAST! 

FEAST! 

FEAST!

 FEAST!

 The Holiday season is a special time of the year.  As families, friends, and neighbors gather to celebrate special events and express best wishes for the coming year, food will likely play a major role.  A bout of food-borne illness could easily ruin festivities and travel plans.  The following suggestions will help keep the up-coming holidays memorable for all the right reasons.

Safe food temps...

Poultry-->165 degrees

Fish, Pork, Red Meat-->155 degrees

Hot Food Storage-->135 degrees

Cold Food Storage--<40 degrees

Always make sure you disinfect contaminated areas where you prepare the food.  Wash cutting board and counters using soap and hot water immediately after spills or cutting meats or poultry!!  Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before preparation.  Always wash your hands before preparing food and after handling raw meats, fish or poultry!!

Bacteria can reproduce rapidly when foods are left at room temperature.  Foods should be kept either hot or cold.  Hot foods should stay hot on the stove and cold food should be refrigerated.  

Break up items that are in big bulk.  Smaller containers insure better safety!!

Leaving food out to graze all day is really not safe!!!

BE SAFE THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS AND ALL YEAR LONG!!!

Thought for the day!!

Just a thought!!!

The Answer TO ALL THE Hard Questions...

When faced with hard question, only one ultimately matters!!

The questions life sends our way are not always easy to answer.  Some of the personal challenges we have---a child's death, for example, the betrayal of a friend, or an unfortunate financial reversal---are often not easy to reconcile, and we need the compassionate support of those around us.  Sometime the most difficult struggle in these situations is to recognize that our Heavenly Father loves us and is not punishing us, though the reason for the trial, if there even is a reason, escapes us for now.
What do we do when doubt seeps into our hearts?  Are there really answers to those hard questions?
YES!!  There are.  In fact, all the answers---all the right answers---depend on the answer to just one question: 

Do I Trust God Above Everyone Else?

IF you want the rest of the story...Read in the December Ensign--page 17

How do we doubt our doubts instead of our faith?

Read on...

We have a new sister!!

Shalyce Wilson and her husband, Keith have moved into 1478 S. 625 West where the Christensen's moved out of.  YEA!!!  (Not YEA that the Christensen's moved, but YEA that we have the Wilson's!!!)  We are so glad she is here.  They have 3 cute little kids, Karter who is 6, Mason who is 4 and Elly who is 1.  They are also expecting a new baby in February.  Please, if you would like....take a treat.  It's always hard to move into a new ward.  We've all been there!!!  WELCOME!!

COLD AND FLU Q&A--Susan Peck, RN Southwest Utah Public Health Foundation

What you need to KNOW...  (I think it's always good to be reminded!!)

Every year we see our share of colds and flu in Southwest Utah.  It's difficult to predict how severe cold and flu season will be or which illnesses will circulate, but here is some basic information that should help keep you and your family healthier this year.

1.  When exactly is cold and flu season? 

Flu season typically starts in the fall, peaks in February, then drops off in the spring.

2.  How are these illnesses spread?

Usually through droplets from coughing and sneezing, and germs left on hard surfaces like toys, counter-tops and door handles.  You can get sick if you get caught in the line of fire of a sneeze or touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching an infected surface.

3.  What's the difference between a cold and the flu?

Both are viruses, but typically the flu is worse, with rapid onset of symptoms that include fever, body aches, headache, sore throat, fatigue, and dry cough.  The flu can keep you bedridden for several days to a couple of weeks.  The common cold is usually milder with congestion, runny nose and wet cough, and it's unlikely to cause more serious complications like the flu can.

4.  What is the stomach flu?

 There really is no "stomach flu".  These are gastrointestinal illnesses that can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites.  Often it's a case of food poisoning and it's not uncommon to see an increase in cases during the holidays when people gather to eat!!!

5.  How can colds and flu be prevented?

Get the annual flu vaccine.  Practice frequent and thorough hand washing.  Keep your hands away from your face and avoid contact with sick people.  If you do get sick, stay home from work or school and cover your coughs and sneezes with your arm.

6.  Can I still get a flu shot?

YES!!

7.  What can I do if I get a cold or the flu?

Same as always---get lots of fluids, proper nutrition and lots of rest.  Treat symptoms.  You don't need to go to the doctor unless symptoms are severe.  The flu can be treated with anti-viral medication at a doctor's discretion, but most people recover at home.  Antibiotics are USELESS against a cold or the flu!!

The Reality of CHRISTMAS!!

Great advice given to us by Bishop Gary E. Stevenson for this Christmas Season. 

December Ensign--The Reality of Christmas, pg 23

This Christmas--mend a quarrel, seek out a forgotten friend, dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust, write a letter, give a soft answer, encourage youth, manifest your loyalty in word and deed, keep a promise, forgo a grudge, forgive an enemy, apologize, try to understand., examine your demands on others, think first of someone else, be kind, be gentle, laugh a little more, express your gratitude, welcome a stranger, gladden the heart of a child, take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth, speak your love and then speak it again.

FInding the Savior...

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency,

(How to see the Christ in Christmas, New Era, Dec. 2013, pg 48)

"Sometimes the most precious and sacred things are right in front of us, in plain sight, but we cannot or will not see them...

"I promise that if we unclutter our lives a little bit and in sincerity and humility seek the pure and gentle Christ with our hearts, we will see Him, we will find Him--on Christmas and throughout the year."

Remember!!!!

This is really great advice...

Keep Christ in your Christmas!!

Great Lesson today by Carisa

Being happy NO MATTER WHAT!!!

Are you ever a little over stressed, overwhelmed, feeling like you can't keep up, feeling like life is out of control?  Well, you should have been in Relief Society with us today.  

Carisa gave a great lesson on being happy not matter what is happening in your life.  

I'll be happy when......

I get a new house,

when I have more more money,

when I get my new or better job,

when I get married,

when I have children,

when I have no more children in the house,

when life calms down,

when I have toys like my neighbors,

when I lose weight,

etc.......

The Lord has given us everything we need to be happy in this life.  

The choice is up to us, whether we choose to be happy and find joy or not!!! 

2 Nephi 2:25

(Men are that they might have joy!!! )

Trying to keep up with the Jones's does no one any good.

October, 2011 Conference Talk by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Forget me NOT!!

He lists 5 things we need to NOT FORGET!!

1.  Patience with ourselves

2.  Good Sacrifice vs foolish sacrifice

3. To be happy now

4.  The why of the gospel

5.  That Heavenly Father LOVES YOU!!!

Please, if you haven't already read this article or haven't read it lately, read it and remind yourself just how important it is to be kind!!! to you.... 

We can't always live for what the future will bring.  You need to enjoy your journey!!!

And, no one is responsible for someone else's happiness.  Your happiness comes from within you!!!

Carisa showed a great Mormon Message!!!

"You Never Know" 

Go to: mormonchannel.org

Yes, I'm still here!!!

Sorry, we all had a busy week last week.  With our fun party on Wednesday and then Brother DeMille's funeral on Thursday, I didn't have much time to sit and write.  I missed it.  So, with that said, I wanted to share with you a few pictures.  Thanks so much to all that helped in any way with our great party.  Food, time, prep, clean-up, etc....  It takes may hands to have success.  As a Relief Society Presidency we hope that you enjoyed being there and enjoyed the food.  We (Carisa, Kathy and I) thought it was very good.  Yea for FOOD!!  The program was so fun and thanks to all that participated.  They were such good sports and did so well!!  Hope you felt the spirit of the evening.  Remembering the birth of Christ, especially this time of year, is a privilege for all of us to experience.  I felt that the music had such meaning,  Great messages to be shared.  Here are a few pictures....

I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked.  I was in the kitchen way too much!!  Ha, ha!!

Thanks so much for coming!!  It was a great time!