Sunday, April 20, 2014

Week of April 21

Purposes of Relief Society:
Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness
Seek Out and Help Those in Need
Strengthen Families and Homes
FAITH
Lesson Review: Joseph Fielding Smith #7 – “Joseph and Hyrum Smith – Witnesses for Jesus Christ.”
Doctrine: The Lord called Joseph Smith to stand at the head of this glorious dispensation.

Invitation to Action: "Do you believe that Joseph Smith restored the gospel to the Earth in our dispensation?  Then what are you going to do because of that knowledge?"

Promised Blessings: All people can receive a testimony of Joseph Smith. "Every soul upon the face of the earth who has a desire to know it has the privilege, for every soul that will humble himself, and in the depths of humility and faith, with a contrite spirit, go before the Lord, will receive that knowledge just as surely as he lives."

Lesson Schedule:
April 27th – Joseph Fielding Smith #8/ #21 – “The Church and Kingdom of God” and “Proclaiming the Gospel to the World”
  May 4th – Joseph Fielding Smith #9/ #10 – “Witnesses of the Book of Mormon” and “Our Search for Truth”
May 11th – Joseph Fielding Smith #11 – “Honoring the Priesthood Keys Restored through Joseph Smith”
May 18th – Stake Conference            
May 25th – Teachings For Our Time

FAMILY
April Youth curriculum:  The Apostasy and Restoration

April Primary curriculum: The Family is Central to God's Plan

RELIEF
A Visiting Teaching experience from Natalie Powell, one of our Visiting Teaching Supervisors:
My sweet grandmother was very self-sufficient, in fact she had a freezer full of prepared meals for “just in case moments.” These meals were often used to help a friend in need, and ut always brought her joy to help someone else. However, there were times when she became ill and those frozen meals were used to feed her own young family. Her visiting teachers would often offer to step in and help out during these times, but my grandmother would always politely refuse their help and tell them she had everything under control. One day it was brought to her attention that the meals the visiting teachers were offering to assist her with were more for their benefit than hers. She has re-told this valuable lesson to me many times and cautioned me to not turn away the visiting teacher's helping hand because if I did I would be held responsible for denying them their blessings. We have wonderful sisters in our ward yearning for the opportunity to show their love to our Heavenly Father. I know that visiting teaching is divinely inspired and that the Lord wants us to give love through service. Please let your visiting teachers serve you, they need your friendship just as much as you need theirs!
Relief Society Announcements:
We have a couple of new babies in the ward!!  Clarissa Draney and Laura Cutler have both had their baby boys.  Since we probably won't see them at church for awhile, I thought it would be nice to share their new, tiny bundles here on the blog!
And so, without further adieu, we will first introduce Jared James Cutler:

And this is Weston John Draney:

Our thoughts and prayers are also with those in the ward who have recently lost loved ones.  Jennifer Ball's father and Heather Jonson's father have both recently passed away, as has  Lorraine Ferguson's sister.

April 22nd – “Oh the Places You’ll Go"
Stake Meeting for all Laurels and their mothers.  Held at the Burton East Building @ 6:30 p.m.  Sunday Dress.  Refreshments will be served.
 May 18th – Stake Conference
 May 25th – Relief Society Musical Number.
We will be singing “Come Thou Fount” in Sacrament Meeting.

BYU-Idaho's Education Week is scheduled July 31 - August 2, 2014.  In order to keep costs to a minimum, volunteer hosts are being requested once again to help staff the event.  Volunteer hosts will receive a complimentary pass when committing to serve a part-time shirt for three consecutive days (ThursdayFriday, and Saturday).  Interested individuals will be contacted with more information.
Hosting duties may include:

 *Greeting participants *Checking registration tickets as participants enter classes   *Taking attendance counts   *Assisting the faculty   *Hosting table   *Ability to stand for 30 - 45 minutes, walk moderate distances, and climb stairs.


An orientation meeting will be held on the BYU-Idaho CampusSaturday, July 19 from 10 - 12 noon in the Austin Building (Room 105).

If you are interested in participating, please email me (Wendy) with the following information:

Name        Mailing Address        City            State        Zip            Telephone        E-Mail
Handbell Choir Concert:

Featuring 30 Bell-ringers from across the Mountain West and conducted by nationally renowned conductor and composer Cathy Moklebust.

Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Skyline HighSchool Gym - 1767 Blue Sky Drive, Idaho Falls
Admission is free

For questions, please contact BigSky@gmail.com 
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
*Brother Ritchie wanted us to let the Sisters know that they are still looking for volunteers to help do sealings on Wednesday mornings at 7:30 and 8:15

 *Julie Coray helps with a "Teddy Bear Clinic" at the hospital, and she says they are looking for about 50 gently used stuffed animals that they can have on hand to give to the kids who don't have a stuffed animal to bring with them.  Please talk to her if you can help out with this!

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Week of April 13

Purposes of Relief Society:
Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness
Seek Out and Help Those in Need
Strengthen Families and Homes

FAITH
We had a fabulous ward conference today, and for the last hour we were trained by the Stake Sunday School Presidency.  Following is a quick review of their lesson.

Key Doctrine:
It is important to learn and teach doctrine and principles rather than applications.

Invitation to action:
Elder Oakes has said, "Teachers who are commanded to teach 'the principles of the gospel' and 'the doctrine of the kingdom' (D&C 88:77) should generally forgo teaching specific rules or applications.  For example, they would not teach any rules for determining what is a full tithing, and they would not provide a list of dos and don'ts for keeping the Sabbath day holy.  Once a teacher has taught the doctrine and the associated principles from the scriptures and the living prophets, such specific applications or rules are generally the responsibility of individuals and families.

Promised Blessings:
"Well-taught doctrines and principles have a more powerful influence on behavior than rules.  When we teach gospel doctrine and principles, we can qualify for the witness and guidance of the Spirit to reinforce our teaching, and we enlist the faith of our students in seeking the guidance of that same Spirit in applying those teachings in their personal lives."   Elder Oakes

 Revised Lesson Schedule:
April 20th – Joseph Fielding Smith #7 – “Joseph and Hyrum Smith – Witnesses for Jesus Christ.”
April 27th – Joseph Fielding Smith #8/ #21 – “The Church and Kingdom of God” and “Proclaiming the Gospel to the World”
  May 4th – Joseph Fielding Smith #9/ #10 – “Witnesses of the Book of Mormon” and “Our Search for Truth”
May 11th – Joseph Fielding Smith #11 – “Honoring the Priesthood Keys Restored through Joseph Smith”
May 18th – Stake Conference            
May 25th – Teachings For Our Time

FAMILY

April Youth curriculum:  The Apostasy and Restoration

April Primary curriculum: The Family is Central to God's Plan

RELIEF

Following is a whole slew of pictures from our Relief Society Birthday celebration. It was a great evening!:


DanaRae and Lynn
Amy, Belinda, Jolana
Cindy and Becca
Gretha, Lorraine, Barbara
Kira and Ranae
Sandy and Susan
Laura and Holly
Abby and Stacy
Shandel
Edna, Shantel, Bambie, ?, LeAnn
Angie, Renae, Morgan
Jennifer and Mindy

Our guest speaker
Lynn and April
l-r: Becca, Cindy, Amy, Melinda, Andrea
around the table starting at front left: Bambie, Diane, Wendy, Shandel, Amber, Sarah, Debbie
Cheri and Wendy
Chree' and Amber
Cheri and Wendy
Visiting Teaching:
A Visiting Teaching experience from our Visiting Teaching Supervisor Barbara Waters:

Barbara relates that years ago, (as in perhaps 20 years ago) she and her husband were asked to visit a woman each month for her visiting teaching.  She said that when they started visiting her, the woman would open her door just wide enough to hurry and take whatever they had brought for her, and then she would close the door as quickly as she could.  Years went by with this same response, but gradually she warmed up and started visiting with them and even began inviting them into her home.  Finally, after many, many years, she comments when it is time for them to leave that she wishes that they could stay longer!  Barbara knows that this result came about because they showed that they really cared about her and were consistent in their visits and showing of friendship.

Relief Society Announcements:
April 22nd – “Oh the Places You’ll Go"
Stake Meeting for all Laurels and their mothers.  Held at the Burton East Building @ 6:30 p.m.  Sunday Dress.  Refreshments will be served.
 May 18th – Stake Conference
 May 25th – Relief Society Musical Number.
We will be singing “Come Thou Fount” in Sacrament Meeting.

BYU-Idaho's Education Week is scheduled July 31 - August 2, 2014.  In order to keep costs to a minimum, volunteer hosts are being requested once again to help staff the event.  Volunteer hosts will receive a complimentary pass when committing to serve a part-time shirt for three consecutive days (ThursdayFriday, and Saturday).  Interested individuals will be contacted with more information.


Hosting duties may include:

  *Greeting participants *Checking registration tickets as participants enter classes   *Taking attendance counts   *Assisting the faculty   *Hosting table   *Ability to stand for 30 - 45 minutes, walk moderate distances, and climb stairs.


An orientation meeting will be held on the BYU-Idaho CampusSaturday, July 19 from 10 - 12 noon in the Austin Building (Room 105).

If you are interested in participating, please email me (Wendy) with the following information:

Name        Mailing Address        City            State        Zip            Telephone        E-Mail
SERVICE OPPORTUNITY AND GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
Julie Coray helps with a "Teddy Bear Clinic" at the hospital, and she says they are looking for about 50 gently used stuffed animals that they can have on hand to give to the kids who don't have a stuffed animal to bring with them.  Please talk to her if you can help out with this!

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Week of April 6th

Purposes of Relief Society:
Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness
Seek Out and Help Those in Need
Strengthen Families and Homes

We've got A LOT of announcements this week, so grab your calendars and here we go:



Relief Society Announcements:
April 10 – Ward Temple Night
  Meet in the Chapel at 7:30 p.m.
 April 13th – Ward Conference @ 9:00 a.m.
  We will have Sacrament Meeting for 1.5 hours and Sunday School for 1 hour.
 April 13th – Stake Musical Fireside @ 6:00 p.m.
  Held at the Stake Center.  All women 12 years and older are invited to attend. Sunday Dress.  Refreshments will be served.
 April 22nd – “Oh the Places You’ll Go"
Stake Meeting for all Laurels and their mothers.  Held at the Burton East Building @ 6:30 p.m.  Sunday Dress.  Refreshments will be served.
 May 18th – Stake Conference
 May 25th – Relief Society Musical Number.
We will be singing “Come Thou Fount” in Sacrament Meeting.

BYU-Idaho's Education Week is scheduled July 31 - August 2, 2014.  In order to keep costs to a minimum, volunteer hosts are being requested once again to help staff the event.  Volunteer hosts will receive a complimentary pass when committing to serve a part-time shirt for three consecutive days (ThursdayFriday, and Saturday).  Interested individuals will be contacted with more information.


Hosting duties may include:



   *Greeting participants
   *Checking registration tickets as participants enter classes
   *Taking attendance counts
   *Assisting the faculty
   *Hosting table
   *Ability to stand for 30 - 45 minutes, walk moderate distances, and climb stairs



An orientation meeting will be held on the BYU-Idaho CampusSaturday, July 19 from 10 - 12 noon in the Austin Building (Room 105).



If you are interested in participating, please email me (Wendy) with the following information:



Name        Mailing Address        City            State        Zip            Telephone        E-Mail

SERVICE OPPORTUNITY AND GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Julie Coray helps with a "Teddy Bear Clinic" at the hospital, and she says they are looking for about 50 gently used stuffed animals that they can have on hand to give to the kids who don't have a stuffed animal to bring with them.  Please talk to her if you can help out with this!

 Revised Lesson Schedule:
April 20th – Joseph Fielding Smith #7 – “Joseph and Hyrum Smith – Witnesses for Jesus Christ.”
April 27th – Joseph Fielding Smith #8/ #21 – “The Church and Kingdom of God” and “Proclaiming the Gospel to the World”
  May 4th – Joseph Fielding Smith #9/ #10 – “Witnesses of the Book of Mormon” and “Our Search for Truth”
May 11th – Joseph Fielding Smith #11 – “Honoring the Priesthood Keys Restored through Joseph Smith”
May 18th – Stake Conference            
May 25th – Teachings For Our Time

New Family:

The Barricks have built a new home in the Petersen subdivision!! (next to the Rick's and across the street from the Roberts).  John and Jeanette Barrick have 4 children - two sons and two daughters.  All of their children are either married or attending college.  Jeanette is related to Barbara Smith!

I happen to know Jeanette personally, and thought it would be fitting for me to tell you how I came to know and love her.  When I was expecting my oldest child, I was assigned to be Visiting Teaching companions with Jeanette.  I had been visiting teaching a little bit in college, and had had one partner since I had been married.  I thought I had been a pretty good Visiting Teacher. That was before I started going with Jeanette!  I have always felt -and have frequently told my family - that she trained me on how to do Visiting Teaching right. I still don't feel like I do it as well as she did!

First of all, Jeanette LOVED the ladies that we visited and didn't have enough good things to say about them.  I initially thought that this was because she had been in the ward for a long time and knew all of these ladies and had a history with them...but then we were assigned a new sister in the ward that neither of us really knew.  Jeanette worked hard to get to know her and treated her the same way!  

I could always count on a call from Jeanette towards the very beginning of the month - we would go over who would be teaching the lesson and who would be scheduling appointments, and we would always do our visits early on in the month.  I know this was all her, because going early in the month is still not a strong point of mine to this day:) Then, throughout the month Jeanette would keep me abreast of what was happening in the lives of the sisters we visited, and remind me of birthdays, etc.  We never missed a month of visits, and somewhere along the way I developed a strong testimony of visiting teaching.  Jeanette was such a good example and wonderful friend to me!

I can't wait for all of you to meet Jeanette and get to know her.  She is such an amazing person!

RS

RS