Happy Easter and Happy General Conference this weekend!!

Hope you have a great Easter weekend and be sure and listen to our Prophet and Apostles on Saturday and Sunday too!!

Gifts of the Spirit--Lesson on Sunday--Kathy

What are gifts of the Spirit?
For what purpose do we need them?
How do we receive them?

Gifts of the spirit come from God.  They are the gifts of God, they originate with Him and are special blessings that He bestows upon those who love and keep His commandments.  Bruce R. McConkie

For what purpose--Found in 1 Corinthians 12:12-30.  They are given for the benefit of the church.  When we receive gifts from God we can then bless the lives of others with those gifts. 

How do we receive them?  Spiritual gifts are given to all who have the gift of the Holy Ghost.  All followers of Jesus Christ who are baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and seek to keep the commandments receive one or more spiritual gifts. 
Orson Pratt---"Whenever the Holy Ghost takes up its residence in a person, it not only cleanses, sanctifies, and purifies him in proportion as he yields himself to its influence, but also imparts to him some gifts, intended for the benefit of himself and others.  No one who has been born of the Spirit, and who remains sufficiently faithful, is left destitute of a spiritual gift."

Any weakness we have can be strengthen by Spiritual Gifts.  We must want to change.  We must ask in earnest for the blessings of spiritual gifts.  We must have a change of heart and really want to make our weaknesses become strengths.

WE MUST ASK!!!  EARNESTLY ASK!!

Just a few examples--

From Wendy Watson Nelson--What would a Holy Women do?
IF you're too negative, pray for the gift of hop, of optimism.
IF you lost your temper, pray for mildnes or understanding.
IF you are easily discouraged, pray for persistence or endurance.
IF you find that you are increasingly anxious about many things, pray for peace.
IF you are easily hurt by others, pray for faith.  Faith in Jesus Christ.
IF life has been pretty easy for you, and you've always been the best and the brightest, pray for the gift of humility and for the ability to learn from others.
Others you can ask for:
A gift of cheerful countenance, a gift of true conversion, a gift of selflessness, of forgiveness, of healing, of wisdom.

President George Q. Cannon--"If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect.  No man ought to say--Oh, I cannot help this, it is my nature.  He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them."
Great lesson Kathy.  Thanks so much. 
Lots of things to think about....

Egg Recipe from our Birthday Party!!

Baked Egg Casserole

6 eggs, beaten

2 cups milk

12 oz. hash browns, thawed

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cup diced ham

1 green onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Mix eggs, milk, onion, salt, pepper and cheese.  Place hash browns in buttered 9x13 pan.  Put ham on top of potatoes.  Pour egg mixture over all.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes.

New sisters...losing others!!

We are sad to say that we are losing Casten and Cari Fischer this month.  Did I say we were sad!!  We are.  They are moving back to Manti for now.  He may be going off to Medical School soon.  They are not sure of their plans right now.  We wish them the best and hope things work out the way they want them to. 

  But, we do have a couple of new sisters to welcome!!

Heather Maughn has moved into the ward with her 3 kids into an apartment on Mountain View.  327 is their house number.  We are so excited to have them.  Dyllan is 15, Kelsey is 11, and Logan is 6.  Heather works out at Kolob Canyon RTC in New Harmony.  Please take the time to welcome them.  A plate of cookies would be great.  It's always hard to move into a new place and feel excepted.  I know from experience and the more that can make the effort, the easier it is!!!

Angie Shields is also going to be coming our ward now.  Although she lives on 700 West in Sunset Ridge she is our newest sister on the block.  We are so glad to have her.  She has a little girl, Mckenna who is 4.  Her apartment number is 1545.  Again, a plate of cookies would be great.

WELCOME LADIES!!   

Things the Atonement is NOT.

The Atonement is not just about receiving but also giving.

Great perspective awaits those who are willing to see that as we choose to accept and use this gift, we also bring joy and glory to God.  Sometimes we mistakenly believe God and Jesus already have everything, but They don't have you or me until we consciously give ourselves to Them.

As we freely offer our hearts and wills, we can bring Them great joy.  I find purpose and satisfaction in knowing that in this small and simple way, I have something to give Them.

Without us, the blessed emblems of the sacrament would simply sit in tray each Sunday.  It is up to us to pick them up and internalize them.  As we do so, we are not just receiving, we are also giving.

By Brad Wilcox

Yes, we had a great time!!

Party, party, party.  It was so fun and we missed you if you couldn't make it.  Just to let you know it was

International Waffle Day 

on the 25th.  Did we plan it that way...Well maybe not, but it sure turned out great.  We really did have fun visiting...and the program was great.  The food was amazing.  Recipes to follow.  We made our very own Mormon Message,  Thanks to all that helped.  Our committee went above and beyond.  Thank you to Carisa, to Mandee and Katie.  They worked really hard.  Shari, JayLynn and Crystal are on the board too.  Corrine is always helping too. Thanks to the 19th ward too.  It's always so fun to have them on board and so willing to help with everything.  We love you too!!  Thanks to their board!!

Happy Birthday Relief Society...2015 

 Now, look at those cute smiles.  Such sweet sisters.  Rochelle, Stephanie and Sandi!!

 Cute mom's and babies!!  Denise and Shalyce

 Sandy was adding what she was thankful for! 

 Yea, Holli and Amy!!

 I know I got some great picture.  So cute...Lavona!!

 Cute smiles!!

 Such a cute picture!!  Love you Carma Lee

 Thank you Carisa..so much!!

 We tried to get them doing their dance.  Close!!

 Thanks Lynn for bringing our newest member of the ward..Well..not quite yet, but soon. Ashley Lambeth!!

 Such great friends.  That's what it's all about!!  Relief Society!!

 It's our very own Mildred!! She's not much for having breakfast for dinner we got her there!  So grateful for you, Mildred!!

 She didn't want her picture taken...but I got one anyway.  Cute Teresa!!

 Cute decorations!!  Thanks to Mandee and Katie!!

 Cute tables..

 She said it was the first time in a long time that she actually got to EAT without inhaling it.  With 5 kids you have to eat on the run!!

 Yes, it was an attitude problem.  NO PICTURE!!  But I got one anyway!!  Go Kelly!

 Lynelle and Mom, Lynette!!  Love those smiles!!  SO glad you were there!!

 

Looks like their having fun!!  Good visit...

Story I didn't know about...

Pioneers in wagons and handcarts were not the only Latter-day Saints who made the difficult journey to Zion. Australian Saints aboard the Julia Ann faced their own unique test of faith when they were shipwrecked--an experience of tragedy and testimony that the survivors would never forget nor regret.

At the time of departure, there were a total of 56 aboard the Juli Ann, half of whom were Latter-day Saints, including three Mormon crew-members. As the Saints left the Sydney docks, they were singing "The Gallant Ship Is Under Weigh," a hymn written by the famous LDS poet and hymn writer W.W. Phelps.
Captain Benjamin F. Pond--"The first two weeks at sea were altogether exceedingly unpleasant; head winds, accompanied with much rain.  We however entered the south-east trades, and everything again brightened, promising a speedy and pleasant voyage."
Indeed, the voyage began pleasantly enough, but on October 4th, nearly a month into their travels, the ship began picking up speed while passing between Mopea and the Scilly Isles.

DISASTER STRIKES

Accounts were given by 2 Latter-day Saint passengers, John McCarthy and Andrew Anderson.  Andrew Anderson was a missionary in Australia in the early 1840's.  

About half-past eight o'clock the Julia Ann struck on a reef.  Word came out from someone for the passengers to go to the cabin, and by the time I got the four children out of bed, the water was knocking about the boxes.  I got mu leg very much bruised with a large box, with difficulty we gained the cabin, and about ten minutes after we left, house, gally, and box were all overboard, preparations were made to go on the rocks to ascertain whether we could get any footing, as there was no land in sight, the ship was breaking up fast.

Some of the passengers drowned, but some made it to the reef.  They were stranded on that reef for several days until the captain made a makeshift boat to sail to a near-by island.  (More than 8 miles away)

They survived on Turtle eggs and coconuts.

After being on that island for almost two months the weather suddenly changed its course and blew toward Samoa, which the captain recognized as "Divine Providence."  They carried the makeshift boat across land about 200 years and launched it with a crew of 10 brave men who would need to row continuously for several days, both day and night.

With very few provisions, (some salted pork and a little turtle, along with two casks of water) they set out.

John McCarthy claimed to have had two dreams, which ultimately led to the rescuce.  One of his dreams made know that if the 10-man crew voyaged to Samoa, they would drown, but the other revealed that if they rowed toward the Society Islands (Bora Bora), they would be saved. 

In late November, the crew was so exhausted they did not have the strength to walk after natives helped them from their makeshift boat.  

On December 3, the remaining castaways on Scully Island were saved.

This is quite a story!!  

There is a book--"Divine Providence" with the whole story of accounts of the survivors.

These pioneers wanted something better.  They wanted to live where they could worship without persecutions.  They wanted to come to Zion.

We are so BLESSED!! 

AMAZING STORY!!  Who knew?