Thursday, May 21, 2009

May 2009 Calendar


Hello, Sisters!
The May 2009 calendar was updated from the first printing due to a change in schedule for the Scrapbooking class. It had to be switched to Thursday, May 14th because of a conflict with another church function on Thursday, 5/21. Please make a note of the change to the date. We hope to see you there!
I hope the rest of your Saturday is wonderful.
Love,
Shannon Hutchinson

Gordon B. Hinckley

Janice Kapp Perry took the following excerpt from President Hinckley and put it to music. The song is touching, knowing the timing of the publication early last year. Pres. Hinckley approved the song and lyrics just days before he passed away.

What is this thing called death,
This quiet passing in the night?
'Tis not the end, but genesis
Of better worlds and greater light.
O God, touch thou my aching heart,
And calm my troubled, haunting fears.
Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure,
Give strength and peace beyond my tears.
There is no death, but only change,
With recompense for vict'ry won.
The gift of Him who loved all men,
The Son of God, the Holy One.

May Scrapbooking Night

Scrap-n-Yap was held at Shellie Carter's home on Thursday, May 14th. Shellie had prepared kits with a 2-page Christmas layout, so many ladies signed up, brought their photos and were able to complete their project fairly quickly. Other sisters brought their own projects to work on, and were all able to share ideas with each other. If you have any suggestions as to scrapbook projects you'd like to do in the future, please leave a comment!

The Truth of God Shall Go Forth

This lesson was shared on April 26th by Brittany Lake. It is based on the M. Russell Ballard talk from October 2008's general conference.

The work of the church is unstoppable. It has progressed steadily, and increased exponentially throughout the years. The lesson outlined the church's history and work that has been accomplished, even though challenged every step of the way.

The growth of the church has been great in spite of, and perhaps because of, great challenges faced by the world.

Joseph Smith knew that no enemy then present or in the future would have sufficient power to frustrate or stop the purposes of God.

Nearly 18 decades have passed since the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1830. We have had 178 years to observe the fulfillment of prophecy and to watch "the truth of God" as it goes forth "boldly, nobly, and independent."

Throughout the 1840s, while persecution raged against Joseph Smith and the early church, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ continued to cover the earth through faithful service of 1,454 missionaries.

Soon after the martyrdom, Brigham Young and the church made preparations to move west. Hardship, affliction, death, and apostasy were ever present with the pioneers, still, the work moved forward. In the 1850s, 705 more missionaries were called and served in areas including Scandinavia, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Hawaii.

By the time Brigham Young died in 1877, worldwide membership had grown to more than 115,000.

The work continued in this fast pace throughout much of the next century. None of this was easy, however. Challenges, obstacles and persecution accompanied every attempt to take "the truth of God" into every continent and country so that it could "sound in every ear".

The destiny of this church and its literal fulfillment through the decades is to remind us of this simple truth:

"This is God's work, and God's work will not be frustrated."

The challenges we face today are different, but they are no less demanding. Instead of angry mobs, we face those who constantly try to defame. Instead of extreme exposure and hardship, weface alcohol and drug abuse, pornography, all kinds of filth, sleaze, greed, dishonesty, and spiritual apathy. We see the institution of the family under attack.

The Lord isn't asking us to load up a handcart, he's asking us to fortify our faith. He's not asking us to walk across a continent, only to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He's not asking us to give all our worldly possessions to build a temple, only to give of our means and time, despite the pressures of modern living, to continue to build temples and then to attend regularly the temples already built.

"He isn't asking us to die a martyr's death, he's asking us to live a disciple's life."

April Scrapbooking Night - needing night vision goggles...

We held April's Scrapbooking night on Thursday, April 23rd at Shellie Carter's home. Everyone brought their own individual projects to work on. We even had a couple of new faces come and participate! However, the power was off and on that night (mostly off) so we spent most of our time together chatting and eating brownies in the dark. It was actually a lot of fun!

Visiting Teaching Thought

Learn to be there for your sisters. It is not only the responsibility of the visiting teacher to develop that relationship. It is on YOU as well. Don't be afraid to share your problems with them or ask for help. Heavenly Father has set up the church and the VT program exactly for that purpose, and to help you with what YOU need, specifically, no matter how trivial you may think your need is. Like Christ's atonement, if we're not invested in that VT relationship, or are too proud or afraid to ask for help, then those programs are all for not, and turn out to be a waste.

God Shall Be With You Forever and Ever

Sherri Wright gave this lesson on April 19th based in the story of Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail.

Notes from the lesson:

Joseph's captors knew he and his companions were innocent, yet they still went along with what the mob demanded.

The conditions in Liberty Jail were almost inhumane. The jail cell didn't allow the prisoners any sunlight, nor any room to even stand upright. Joseph and his companions were imprisoned with true criminals, yet their unbearable circumstances never broke their spirits.

Trials can make or break you. Joseph's experience taught them, and it teaches us, to rely on the Lord.

** Difficult circumstances have the ability to bind the hearts of family and friends. **

** Trials can actually strengthen marriages and family relationships. **

The Lord's love is always there. We may not feel it because of OUR choices, or attitude, or actions, but His love is unconditional and always available to us.

We should remember when the Lord tells us things will be hard, or "for a small moment" that it is from His perspective and not ours. 50 years to us may seem an eternity, but truly isn't when COMPARED to eternity.

If we can keep the Lord in sight and know what is on the other side, it becomes easier to let go of the pain and suffering we experience through our trials. It makes Christ's sacrifice pointless if we hold onto our own pain. We need to be able to be "finished" and turn our pain over to him.

For children and those around us who make bad choices and are suffering, we just have to keep in mind that we are ONLY in control of ourselves. Those making poor choices must learn for themselves. All we can do is be good examples.

When we get through adversity, each successive trial becomes easier to handle. "If I got through THAT, then I can certainly handle this."

March Discussion Group: Apocolypse Chow

March's discussion group was held at Eachel Austin's home on Tuesday, March 31st.

They discussed becoming financially self-reliant which included getting out of debt (examples of debt reduction plans reviewed), ideas and tricks to stretching food budgets, discussed different food storage programs from Noah's Ark to Basics, and discussed becoming spiritually prepared to be able to withstand any hardships or to assist with completing goals set towards becoming self-reliant.

March Scrapbooking Class - Lucky Me!

Scrapbook Night was held on March 26th at Shellie Carter's home. We all worked on a little blessings book entitled "Lucky Me". This was a good exercise in journaling, and in gratitude, as people were able to think about and list their top twelve blessings. Everyone gained a few new scrapping techniques as well.Also turned out to be a cute addition to desks and bookshelves!

March Cooking Class - Japanese Cooking

Cooking Class was held on Tuesday, March 24th at Ashley Nillsen's home. We had a great turnout for the Japanese Cooking! After a short intro to Japanese food, the sisters were able to help make some food. We made two types of sushi, inarizushi (a sweet fried tofu stuffed with rice) and makisushi (rolled sushi, like California rolls). We also made gyoza (Japanese potstickers). Everyone enjoyed talking, cooking and especially eating all of our creations!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Living with Others in Peace and Harmony

Sherri Wright gave this lesson from the Joseph Smith manual on March 15th. Joseph obviously experience much persecution. The lesson relates a story about a day when the Prophet was visiting his parents’ home in Far West. A group of armed militiamen came in and announced that they had come to kill him for a supposed crime. After sitting down and conversing with the men about the beliefs of the church and the trials the church members had gone through, they vowed to never again harm Joseph.

Speaking the truth in a kind, forthright way, Joseph Smith overcame prejudice and hostility and made peace with many of those who had been his enemies.

Question: How can we be a peacemaker in our homes?

We see a huge difference as we observe different mothers and how they react in tense situations. We need to possess these qualities in ourselves, and in our homes before we can be a peacemaker in our community.

Questions to ask yourself: Do you look for pride and selfishness? Or do we look for the positive qualities in others?

Focus on the good, and their positive qualities will overshadow the bad ones.