Lesson on Sunday "Make the Exercise of Faith your first Priority!!" Richard G. Scott

When Adam and Ever were in the Garden of Eden, All that they needed for daily sustenance was abundantly given to them.  They had no difficulties, challenges, or pain.  Because they had never experienced hard times, they did not know they could be happy.  They had never felt turmoil, so they could not feel peace.  Eventually Adam and Eve transgressed the command to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. By so doing they were no longer in a state of innocence.  They began to experience principles of opposition.  They began to encounter sickness that weakened their health.  They began to feel sadness as well as joy.  Their choice made it possible for each of us to come to this earth to be tried and tested.  We are blessed with agency, which is our ability to make decisions and to become accountable for those decisions.  The Fall made possible in our lives feelings of both happiness and sadness.  We are able to understand peace because we feel turmoil. 

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things"  2 Nephi 2:11

Despite all of the negative challenges we have in life, we MUST take time to actively exercise our faith.  

We MUST believe in the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ

Elder Scott gives us 4 things that we need to become really good at!!

1.  Prayer

We need to tell Him everything, EVERYTHING, that concerns us.  He really is interested in the most important as well as the most mundane.  Parents--you need to help safeguard your children by arming them morning and night with the power of family prayer.

2.  Scripture Study

Don't yield to Satan's lie that you don't have time to study the scriptures.  

3.  Family Home Evening

Be cautious not to make family home evening just an afterthought of a busy day.  FHE is a precious time to bear testimony in a safe environment..to learn teaching, planning, and organizational skills; to strengthen family bonds' to develop family traditions, to talk to each other; and more important, to have a marvelous time together!!

4.  Temple Attendance

The templ is one of the best places to come to understand the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Seek HIM there.  

There four tools are fundamental habits for securing your life in the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Remember our Savior is the Prince of Peace.  Peace in this mortal life comes from His atoning sacrifice.  When we are consistently praying, studying, having FHE and attending the temple regularly, we are actively responding to His invitation to "COME UNTO HIM."

Wish you could have been there on Sunday with us.  We had some great comments and inspiring discussion going on.  We missed you.  

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Thanks Carol!!

"What would a Holy Woman do?" Challenge for 2015

I found this amazing book!!  Wendy Watson Nelson--wife of Russell M. Nelson.  

"What would a Holy Woman do???"

In Relief Society this year, we as a presidency are encouraging all sister in our ward to become more HOLY!!

Definition of HOLY--

A work of gradual development, purity or integrity of moral character, freedom from sin, 

purity of heart, moral goodness, BUT NOT PERFECT!!

It is a matter of individual conscience!!

Ask yourselves each day..."What would a holy woman do?"

For example, how would a holy woman start her day?  What would be on her "to do" list?  How would a holy woman approach a difficult assignment or a new overwhelming project?  How would she read to a child, or exercise?  How would she talk with a friend, or shop, or play, pr pray, or do laundry?  How would a holy woman respond to her own success or failure?  How would a holy woman use her time and energy and money?  How would she prepare to partake of the sacrament each Sunday?  What would she read, or say, or listen to, or watch, or wear?

We are asking you to take a 3 day challenge...

We have some little pamphlets available in the roll at church.  And if you can't be there please call one of us and we will get you one.

For 3 days would you be willing to try this:  Choose one thing a day for three days---a different thing each day or the same thing--you can't do this wrong.  Then write what you learned.

Think to yourselves, "What would a Holy Woman do in this situation?"  

It's amazing how it changes your mindset!!  

It's amazing how it changes your list of things to do...

Just try it!!

To become more holy we need help from our Heavenly Father.  We CAN'T do it alone.

Read D&C 46 and decide for yourself what you need to do to gain holiness in your life.  Find a weakness and then ask for the spiritual gift that can change that weakness into a strength.

You will also find those listings of spiritual gifts in Moroni 10 and also in 1 Corinthians 12.

Ye must practice holiness before me, continually...D&C 46:33

But to give us encouragement read D&C 60:7--The Lord clearly lets us know that He can make us holy.  YEA!!  We can do this.  We don't have to be perfect to become holy.  BUt the Lord expects us to practice holiness in our lives.  The spiritual gifs that we sincerely ask for will help us to become more holy.

SINCERELY ASK FOR!!  We need to really want to change!!

The gift (singular) of the Holy Ghost gives you access to the gifts (plural) of the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost can deliver the spiritual gifts to you upon your diligent, even desperate, seeking.

You know your own personal weaknesses.  You know the temptations that keep tripping you uip.  We all do.  Pray for what will counteract those weaknesses.

*If you're negative, pray for hope and optimism.

*If you have a temper, pray for mildness or understanding.

*If you struggle to keep a clean house, pray for self-discipline.

*If you are easily discouraged, pray for persistence.

*IF your anzious, pray for peace.

*If you're easily hurt by others, pray for faith.

PLEASE take the challenge, write down what you learn along the way and then continue to improve on your HOLINESS in 2015.  We encourage you to become more HOLY!!

We love you so much!!  And we pray for your happiness and success...

Deb, Kathy, Carisa and Emily

Another thought for the day...I'm on fire!!

EITHER YOU RUN THE DAY, OR THE DAY RUNS YOU!! 

-Jim Rohn-

Thought for the day...

This is our theme for the year!!

"What would a Holy Woman do??"

I'll explain!!

We have new sisters!!!

Sorry to say..but we have lost a few of our sisters in our ward.  Lost as they have moved, not lost as they are missing and can't be found!!   Cheryl Walser, Melissa Adams, Sandy Brown, Kaylyn Thompson and Lori Wille't.  SO hate to see them go.  We get quite attached and then they move on.  BUT...we have some new sisters and they are awesome!!
Raydean Whipple and her husband Kevin have moved into 1512 South 625 West.  We are so happy they're in our ward.  They have 4 children  Thomas--14, Kambree--8, Kathryn--6, and Eli--18 months.  Welcome!!
Mandee Black and her husband Jared have moved into 1476 South 625 West.  YEAH!!!  They are happy to be here and we are happy to have them.  They have 3 children.  Shaylee--12, Terin--9, and Rindon--4.  Please take the time to go by and welcome them to our ward.  They are GREAT additions!!
We also have a sister--Lisa Nielson that has lived in our ward for several months.  Just didn't know she was there.  She is single and works at Smith's.  She is really trying to get to know us and fit in.  Her address is 453 Bristlecone.  Please let her know we need her and are excited to have her here.
Also in Sunset Ridge we have Kiley Trapnell and her husband Brett.  Their addres is 1547 South 625 West.  They have 2 cute little girls.  Brylie--3, and Oakley--1.  They have been attending the college married stake but are now ready to graduate to a home ward.  PLEASE welcome them and let them know we are so glad they have decided to come be with us.

WE LOVE NEW MEMBERS!!    

How to be totaly miserable--John Bytheway!!

Don't Laugh!!

Miserable people don't laugh.  It might break their concentration!  They have important world issues to worry about.  Happy people giggle, guffaw, chortle, snicket, and even snort.  (Snorters cover their mouths in surprise and embarrassment, and then laugh even harder.)  If laughter is the best medicine, these people have free refills at the funny pharmacy.  Have you ever laughed so hard that your stomach was sore the next day?  There's an exercise program idea in there somewhere; "Laugh Your Way to Washboard Abs!!"  Laughing and smiling are related, and laughing is just smiling out loud.  Miserable people think life is too serious to laugh about, while happy people know that life's so serious they have to laugh to survive.

LAUGHTER IS SUNSHINE; IT CHASES WINTER FROM THE HUMAN FACE!!

Before Our Journey's Through..

If you want to read an inspirational article in the Ensign this month, it's on page 60.  Maybe I'm extra sensitive to elderly people because I have parents that are getting there and I'm not getting any younger myself.  But this article really hit me.  I so admire these wonderful people that are such great examples to us all.  I only pray that I can be just like them when I grow up!!!

This article is written by Richard Romney talking about his dad.  That's Mr. Romney in the picture above.  He says:  I never have to worry about where to find my 92-year-old father, Paul Romney, on a Sunday afternoon.  He's in his ward in Salt Lake City, Utah, tidying up the chapel.  It takes him a little over an hour. 

He leans on his walker as he goes up the aisle.  Then he leans on the benches as he moves from row to row, picking up stray papers, arranging hymnbooks, and gathering cereal or breadcrumbs that have fallen on the carpet.  It is a task he has been doing EVERY SUNDAY, with few exceptions, SINCE HE WAS ORDAINED A DEACON IN 1934.  1934 ladies--how many years???

 81 years!!! 

Talk about an example.  He's 92 years old.  As old as our very own Alice Tuckett!!  

And what is his comment about why he does it...

"I do it to show that I love the Lord.  Having a clean chapel helps us to worship Him."

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!!

As a deacon, Mr. Romney learned that his duties included caring for the temporal needs of the ward.  "I figured one way to do that was to tidy up after meetings.  So I just started doing it, and I've been doing it ever since."  

It has never been an official assignment or calling, although occasionally he has come on Saturdays to help others assigned to clean the meetinghouse.  

Richard's comments:  My father's example has shown me that no matter our circumstances, we can always find a way to serve.  It has taught me about reverence and preparing to worship  And it has helped me to see that there is much we all can learn from those who are ahead of us on their journey through this life.

Meet Larry and Elizabeth Morgan.  Neighbors of Richard.  They are 97 and 94 years old.  

When Larry was 72 years old he was called as a counselor in the bishopric.  At that time there were 79 widows in their neighborhood and by assignment from the bishop, Larry and Elizabeth visited every one of them. AMAZING!!!

For more than 40 years, on fast Sundays, all of their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren have gathered in the evening to end their fast.  "We wanted our family to enjoy being together, and everyone likes to eat," he says.  Today...Elizabeth has dementia but knows the family is near.  To each person present, she repeats over and over again, "I love you."  About two years ago, Larry fell and damaged his spine.  As a result, he can not longer walk.  "I don't waste time asking, Why me?" he says.  "I received a priesthood belssing.  I was told I will walk again, even though it will not be in this life.  Because of the Atonement and the Resurrection, I know that it will happen.  I've learned that our Father in Heaven is in charge.  When we accept His will, then we can count on His help."

I love these people.  They give me such hope and determination to finish out this life doing what the Lord would want us to do.

I know that there are many that say in their aging years:  I've done it all.  I have paid my dues.  I don't need to serve anymore.  Let someone else do it.  

Not these great people.  I LOVE THIS ARTICLE!!

Please read it.  It's inspiring!!