The Proclamation on the Family, August Ensign, Bruce C. Hafen

 All the articles in the Ensign are great, but this one really hit home to me!!  

"Are we already living in the time of the curse?  Perhaps!!!"

Elder Hafen explains to us (in pretty plain terms) just how the world (that's us!) has gotten ourselves into the situation we are in now. It's the collapse of the family and marriage.
"WHAT are your greatest concerns? a newspaper reporter asked President Gordon B. Hinckley in June 1995, as he turned 85.  "I am concerned about family life in the Church.  We have wonderful people, but we have too many whose families are falling apart...I think this is my most serious concern" 
"There is no other single force causing as much measurable hardship and human misery in this country as the collapse of marriage.  It hurts children, it reduces mothers' financial security, and it has landed with particular devastation on those who can bear it least: the nation's underclass...(Time magazine writer)
Here are some facts he brings out in the article:
Today, 40 percent of U.S. births are to unmarried parents.  In 1960 that number was 5 percent.  About 50 percent of today's teens now consider out-of-wedlock childbearing a "worthwhile lifestyle."  The percentage of children in single-parent families since 1960 has increased fourfold, from 8 percent to 31 percent.  Over half of today's U.S. marriages are preceded by unmarried cohabitation.  What was highly abnormal in the 1960's is the new normal.
Affects: 
*Juvenile crime has increased sixfold.
*Child neglect and all forms of child abuse have quintupled.
*Psychological disorders among children have all worsened, from drug abuse to eating disorders, depression among children has increased 1,000 percent.  And...
*Domestic violence against women has increased, and poverty has shifted increasingly to children.
How serious are these problems?  As President Hinckley said in 1995, these issues were his "most serious concern."  And the trends that troubled him then are now measurably worse!!!
PLEASE, read this article. (Page 50) It is a great one.  It is the first of a two part series.  The next one will be in the September issue.

The "Proclamation to the World" was issued in 1995!!  

Two months after the question was asked of President Hinckley...

Chapter 16, Elderly in the church

We have some of the most lovely elderly sisters in our Relief Society!!  I look to them for their grace, their dedication and their willingness to serve whenever asked.  This lesson gave some great ideas for the elderly but also for all of us.  I'm just going to list a few.
1.  Work in the temple and attend often.  That's great advice for all of us. 
2.  Collect and write family histories.  Same here!!
3.  Become involved in missionary service....Ditto
4.  Provide leadership by building family togetherness.  We all need to work on this. 
5.  Accept and fulfill Church callings...You're NEVER to old to serve!!  You don't retire from the church!!
6.  Plan for your financial future!  EEEK!!
7.  Render Christlike service.  Get out there and serve.  It's amazing what it can do for you!!
8.  Stay physically fit, healthy, and active!!  Yipee!!  I love this one. 

Great advice for all of us!!  

I look to my mother for advice and council everyday.  I'm so blessed to still have her here.  

The elderly have much to offer.  Please take the time to let them give.  Go VISIT!!

Conference on Protecting Children and Families from Pornography

Letter from LDS family Services...Please read!!

Honoring President Packer

I loved President Packer for many reasons but the one that stands out to me is the fact that he told it how it was!!  He was not afraid to speak the truth.  He was not afraid to say what he knew to be right!!  And in today's world we need more of that!!

He was always striving to improve! He spoke of the living Apostles, including himself, as "ordinary people" who might wonder why they should be called to this holy office.  "There are many qualifications that I lack.  There is so much in my effort to serve that is wanting.  There is only one single thing, one qualification that can explain it.  Like Peter and all of those who have since been ordained, I have that witness."  "I know that God is our Father.  He introduced His Son, Jesus Christ, to Joseph Smith.  I declare to you that I know that Jesus is the Christ.  I know that He lives...He made His Atonement.  Of Him I bear witness."

"It had become critically important," he remembered, "to establish this intention between me and the Lord so that I knew that He knew which way I had committed my agency.  I went before Him and said, 'I'm not neutral, and you can do with me what you want.  If you need my vote, it's there.  I don't care what you do with me because I give it to you---everything, all I own, all I am.'"

Those who loved and honored Boyd K. Packer will have every confidence that the Lord has accepted his offering, an offering magnified through a lifetime of sacred service....

Happy Birthday Berenice!! 90 years!!

Berenice's family had a fun birthday party for her on the 1st of August at the church.  She was so excited to have her family here with her.  What a lovely lady she is.  What a great example of dedication and commitment she is for all of us to follow.  You can just tell that she lives what she believes.  And she believes with all her heart.  Thanks Berenice for being such a faithful sister in our ward.  We love you so much!!!

It was a great Stake Conference!!!

I thought that the talks would focus this time on Sabbath Day Observance.  Not so...  I felt that most of them were about encouragement.  President Grimm gave a great talk on not letting Satan tell us that we are no good.  He is the father of all lies.  What a great talk.  I love talks about hanging in there, because we are all in this battle together.  We can do it!!  Tough, yup!!  I know that I felt better after hearing what was said there.  It's always great to get a little shot in the arm.  It's makes us all want to do better!!
Great music.  The choir was awesome.  They sang "Come, come, ye saints" at the beginning of the meeting and I had goosebumps all through the whole thing.  We have such a great Stake with wonderful Stake leaders that work hard at keeping us on the right track!!  I so appreciate their time and effort.  It was a great meeting!!

Cedar City Utah Temple Dedication and Groundbreaking

It was a wonderful day for the groundbreaking.  I really can't believe that we are going to have a temple here in Cedar City.  I was born and raised here and I never dreamed of this.  The grounds where it will sit has a beautiful view of the Enoch Valley.  It already has a peace that dwells there.  I'm also so excited that we will have an opportunity to work inside these sacred walls.  It's going to take lots of us to step up and do the Lord's work here in Cedar City.  It's been said that temples should be the center of our worship and here we get to have one right here for us to dedicate our time and efforts to.  Happy Day--All is well!!

Look forward to the dedication!!!

Another new family!!! YEA!!

We're sad to see the Bradfield's leave, but SOOOOOO happy to have the Po'uha in our ward!!
Aarron and Brisha with their 4 cute kids.  Aiden 9, Ian 8, Owen 5, and Iradessa 3.  They moved into Sunset Ridge #1514.  Please take a minute and drop by.  I'm sure they would love it.  Yea, another great family!!

It's PARTY TIME!!!

It's our annual NEIGHBORHOOD BBQ!!!  

Wednesday, August 12th

6:00 p.m.

Deer Trail Cul-de-sac

(In front of Hartley's and Johnson's)

Please come.  

You can meet all the new people in our ward and also your neighbors!!

Invite everyone

BRING A CHAIR!!

And, if your last name starts with A-J bring a dessert.  

K-Z, bring a salad!!

Burgers will be provided!!

COME!!!!

It's looks yummy, huh?????