Burton 4th Ward Relief Society: October 2015

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Weekly Update October 25th - October 31st

FAITH

"Therefore They Hushed Their Fears"

Conference Talk by Elder David A Bednar - April 2015

Doctrine:

Correct knowledge of and faith in the Lord empower us to hush our fears because Jesus Christ is the only source of enduring peace. He declared, “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me” (D&C 19:23).

The peace Christ gives allows us to view mortality through the precious perspective of eternity and supplies a spiritual settledness (see Colossians 1:23) that helps us maintain a consistent focus on our heavenly destination. Thus, we can be blessed to hush our fears because His doctrine provides purpose and direction in all aspects of our lives. His ordinances and covenants fortify and comfort in times both good and bad. And His priesthood authority gives assurance that the things that matter most can endure both in time and in eternity.

Invitation to Action:

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20).

The counsel Alma gave to his son Helaman applies precisely to each of us today: “Yea, see that ye look to God and live” (Alma 37:47). We should look to and have our focus firmly fixed upon the Savior at all times and in all places.

“Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Helaman 5:12).

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20).

Promised Blessings:

Godly fear is loving and trusting in Him. As we fear God more completely, we love Him more perfectly. And “perfect love casteth out all fear” (Moroni 8:16). I promise the bright light of godly fear will chase away the dark shadows of mortal fears (see D&C 50:25) as we look to the Savior, build upon Him as our foundation, and press forward on His covenant path with consecrated commitment.

To listen to or read the lesson click here:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/05/saturday-afternoon-session/therefore-they-hushed-their-fears?lang=eng

Sister Spotlight:

Cassie Jensen

(by Shaunae Green)

Cassie was born in Driggs, Idaho - and lived in 5 different cities in California. She lived in LA most of her young adult life before moving to Rexburg where she met her husband. She loves eating at Arby's and Wendy's. Her favorite treat is Florence's chocolates, she use to make candies with Florence before the store came about - she even had 2 bags in her fridge to share! Three traits that define Cassie are; happy, always having fun and loving to everyone.

Other questions;

What was your favorite tradition as a child? "Once a year when I was little,during the summer our whole extended family would get together at Driggs, Idaho. We would go fishing, play games, and eat lots of food!"

What is your personal philosophy? "Just have fun and be kind!"

What one thing sh couldn't live without, she replied; "The gospel and my husband"

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life and how have you done it? "My youngest son Randall passing away at the age of 4. I was able to overcome it through comfort from the Lord, and to know that I will see him again someday. When I feel sad, I garden and it helps me feel better."

Where is your favorite place to be? "Right Here"

What activities have you loved to do? "I loved to swim, play basketball, snow ski, volleyball, fish, and hunt for deer. Now I just love to visit with people and have them come see me, and go out to eat at places."

What has been the most important innovation you have witnessed in your lifetime? "My husbands beautiful wood carvings"

How do you define a mothers success? "To know that you have taught them to love others, and to be a good person."

What is the best advice you have received?"Go to the temple"

Tell us something that might surprise us about you. "I'm Crazy! My kids always call me crazy crazy Cassie!!" she said with a laugh, then more somber; "I am scared that I will be lonely"

Relief Society Announcements:

Lesson Schedule

November 1st - Ezra Taft Benson Lesson 21
November 8th - Stake Conference

Relief Society Activity - Fall Harvest Share

Thursday, November 5th - 7:00 p.m.

Bring something for the Share Table, either something you have canned, dried, Etc...and if you desire something for the tasting table!

Recipes on the blog:

Have you seen the new recipes on the recipe blog? Help me add to them by sharing your favorite fall recipes!

Please send them to: drbennett1@hotmail.com or call or text them to 208-351-7083.

Visit the ward recipe blog: www.burton4threcipes.blogspot.com

Visit the Relief Society blog: www.burton4thrs.blogspot.com

Preparedness - Week 2

The Church published the pamphlet All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, outlining guides for home preparedness that give Church members a simplified, four-step approach to building their home storage. The 1st step is; Gradually build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet until it is sufficient for three months. The following may help with this first step and as you look at your longterm goal of a years supply of the same. Watching grocery adds and sales are always helpful when trying to stretch a budget.

Preparedness week 2

Saving money through grocery sale cycles:

January

Post Christmas: Look for regular baking items packaged in Holiday packaging
Super Bowl: Cheese, Sandwich items, Condiments, Crackers, Snack foods...
National Oatmeal Month: Most Quaker brand items will be on sale
Winter Health: Cold Medicines and Vitamins
Seasonal Items: Canned soups & Chili, Household Cleaners

February

National Canned Food Month: Canned Fruit & Veggies, Pie Fillings, meats...
American Heart Month: Aspirin, Cholesterol Meds, Low Cholesterol foods
Chinese New Year: Soy & oriental sauces, Ramen, stir fry veggies, water chestnuts...
National Hot Breakfast Month: Malt O Meal, Oatmeal, Waffles, Syrup, frozen potatoes
Valentines: Chocolate, Hershey’s,
Other: Dog Foods, Push on store brands

March

Frozen Food Month: All frozen foods
Seasonal Items: Household Cleaners; Gardening supplies
National Peanut Month: Peanut Butter, Peanuts
St Patrick’s Day: Potatoes, Corned Beef
Easter / Passover (sometimes not until April): Eggs, Ham, Horseradish, Spices, Sugar, Chocolate Chips, Coconut, Butter, Baking mixes, Marshmallows

April

Easter / Passover " "
Daylight Savings: Batteries, Smoke / Carbon Monoxide detectors, Light Bulbs
Earth Day: Organic Foods, Energy Saver items, Eco-friendly items, Natural Cleaners
Post Easter: food items
Other: Olive Oil, Popsicles (they change inventory), Kelloggs Cereal, ConAgra Products

May

Memorial Day (Most will be on sale again in late June / Early July): Charcoal, Grilling Meats, Salad Dressing, picnic and camping foods and items, and Juice Drinks
Allergy Meds: Alavert, Zyrtec, Claritin etc (and generics)
Paper Products: Plates, Utensils, Insect Repellant, Sunscreen
Cinco De Mayo: Salsa & sauces, tortillas, Taco seasonings...
Other: General Mills Cereal

June Full priced summer items early this month wait until next month

National Dairy Month: Eggs, cheese, Milk, Cream, butter, cream cheese, yogurt... (all dairy products can be frozen)
Father’s Day & July 4th (end of June): BBQ items & meat
National Headache Month: Aspirin, Sinus meds, Other Painkillers

July

More 4th of July BBQ Sales

August

Back to School (may continue into September through Labor Day): Lunch meat, Bread, Cold Cereal, Granola bars, fruit snacks and school supplies
Clorox Cleanup: Sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizers
Seasonal Clearances: Insect Repellant, Sunscreen, charcoal

September

Diabetes Products: Bayer Glucose Meters, Glucerna Cereal
Tomato Products: Canned tomatoes, sauce, paste, juice, spaghetti sauce, soup
Other: Honey, Oral care, condensed soups

October

Daylight Savings: Batteries, Smoke / Carbon Monoxide detectors, Light Bulbs
Other: National seafood month

November

Post Halloween: Candy and regular food items packaged in Holiday packaging clearance
Peanut Butter Month: Peanuts, Peanut Butter
Holiday Baking Sales: Nuts, Chocolate Chips, Evaporated Milk, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Coconut, Cake Mixes
Thanksgiving Items: Turkey, Canned Pumpkin, soup, broth, Stovetop Stuffing, Boxed Potatoes, Gravy Mixes, Frozen Pies, Cranberry Sauce, Jello, Marshmallows

December

Post Thanksgiving sale
Christmas: Gravy Mixes, Frozen Pies, Egg Nog, Deli items, Instant Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, Jello, Marshmallows, Sour Cream Dips, Crackers, Chips, Soda, Ham, Turkey
Baking: Flour, Sugar, Butter, Cream, Chocolate Chips, Cake Mix, Brownie Mix, Muffin Mix, Breads, Pie Crust, Marshmallow, Whipped cream

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Prepare Ye Every Needful Thing - Family Home Storage

First Presidency Message

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

We encourage Church members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.

We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve.

We realize that some of you may not have financial resources or space for such storage. Some of you may be prohibited by law from storing large amounts of food. We encourage you to store as much as circumstances allow.

May the Lord bless you in your home storage efforts.

The Basics of Family Home Storage

Three-Month Supply

Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage.

Drinking Water

Store drinking water for circumstances in which the water supply may be polluted or disrupted.

If water comes directly from a good, pretreated source then no additional purification is needed; otherwise, pretreat water before use. Store water in sturdy, leak-proof, breakage-resistant containers. Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for juices and soda.

Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight.

Financial Reserve

Establish a financial reserve by saving a little money each week and gradually increasing it to a reasonable amount (see Prepare Every Needful Thing: Family Finances guide).

Longer-Term Supply

For longer-term needs, and where permitted, gradually build a supply with food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice, and beans.

These items can last 30 years or more when properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. A portion of these items may be rotated in your three-month supply.

“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 109:8).

Visit www.providentliving.org for more information about home storage.

Weekly Update October 18th - October 24th

FAITH

"Feed My Sheep"

Ezra Taft Benson lesson 20

Doctrine:

“We must all learn to be true shepherds. We must manifest the same love to others that the Good Shepherd has for all of us. Each soul is precious to Him."

The purpose of the Lord’s church is to further the progress of every son and daughter of God toward the ultimate blessings of eternal life. …

Invitation to Action:

Our mission to perfect the Saints, particularly the challenge of activating those who have separated themselves from full activity in the Church. These members, who are our brothers and sisters, at present live apart from the Church and the influence of the gospel.

In this group of less-active members are many non-attenders who may be indifferent and non-caring. Also included are those who are temporarily lost because we do not know their whereabouts. Some of these are new converts who apparently did not receive the nurturing attention and teachings that would have caused them to be “fellow citizens with the Saints.” (See Eph. 2:19.) Many are single adults.

To all such individuals, we, as members of the Church and followers of the Lord, must extend and renew our love and heartfelt invitation to come back. “Come back. Come back and feast at the table of the Lord, and taste again the sweet and satisfying fruits of fellowship with the Saints.” (Ensign, March 1986, p. 88.)

The challenge before us is great. … We must exercise great faith, energy, and commitment if we are to reach these brothers and sisters. But we must do it. The Lord expects us to do it. And we will!

This challenge will never be met until stake, ward, quorum, and auxiliary leaders and faithful members everywhere exercise their will and faith to bring the less active back into full activity in the Church.

As you earnestly strive to accomplish this worthy goal, we urge you to give renewed emphasis to effective priesthood home teaching and effective Relief Society visiting teaching. Home teaching and visiting teaching are inspired programs. They are designed to reach each member of the Church each month, both the active and the less active. Please give home teaching and visiting teaching an increased emphasis.

Promised Blessings:

Let us be united in our efforts to bring the less active back into full activity in the Church. In doing so, we will all be more fitly joined together in accomplishing the mission of the Church—to bring the gospel, with all of its blessings and ordinances, more fully into the lives of all Church members. The Church “hath need of every member” (D&C 84:110), and every member has need of the gospel, the Church, and all its ordinances.

May we all seek the blessings of the Lord to strengthen us and give us the necessary power and influence we will need as we work together in this great labor of love.

To listen to or read the lesson click here:

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/chapter-20-feed-my-sheep?lang=eng

If you are the one that is needing to be found: (or good information to share)

"To receive the blessings promised from true conversion, make the changes that you know are needed in your life now. The Savior said: “Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? … If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life.”¹¹

I bear testimony that as you pray for guidance, the Holy Ghost will help identify the personal changes you need to make for full conversion. The Lord can then bless you more abundantly. Your faith in Him will be fortified, your capacity to repent will increase, and your power to consistently obey will be reinforced. The Savior lives. He loves you. As you do your best, He will help you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." - Richard G Scott conference talk April 2002 - "Full Conversion Brings Happiness."

A link to the talk is here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/04/full-conversion-brings-happiness?lang=eng

Relief Society Announcements:

Lesson Schedule

October 18th - Ezra Taft Benson Lesson 20
October 25th - Teaching for our Time
November 1st - Ezra Taft Benson Lesson 21
November 8th - Stake Conference

Relief Society Activity - Fall Harvest Share

Thursday, November 5th - 7:00 p.m.

Bring something for the Share Table, either something you have canned, dried, Etc...and if you desire something for the tasting table!

Recipes on the blog:

Have you seen the new recipes on the recipe blog? Help me add to them by sharing your favorite fall recipes!

Please send them to: drbennett1@hotmail.com or call or text them to 208-351-7083.

Visit the ward recipe blog: www.burton4threcipes.blogspot.com

Visit the Relief Society blog: www.burton4thrs.blogspot.com

Remember to do your Visiting Teaching!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Weekly Update October 11th - October 17th

FAITH

"Leadership"

Ezra Taft Benson lesson 19

Doctrine:

If you are to provide future leadership for the Church, [your] country, and your own homes, you must stand firm in the faith, unwavering in the face of evil, and as Paul said, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:11–12.)

Our young people need fewer critics and more models. You are the models to which they will look for a pattern in life to which they can follow and adhere. They will need the inspiration which can come from you as you square your lives fully with the teachings of the gospel.

What Makes a Good Leader?

People respond to effective leadership.

Humility

One of the marks of great leadership always has been and ever will be the humble spirit.

Spiritual strength

Spiritual strength promotes positive thinking, positive ideals, positive habits, positive attitudes, and positive efforts. These are the qualities which promote wisdom, physical and mental well-being, and enthusiastic acceptance and response by others.

Knowledge

A genuine leader tries to stay well informed. He is a person who acts on principle rather than expediency. He tries to learn from all human experience measured against revealed principles of divine wisdom.

Loyalty

A good leader expects loyalty. He in turn gives his loyalty. He backs up those to whom he has given a job. The loyalty extends to matters beyond the call of duty. He is loyal when honors come to those with whom he serves. He takes pride in their successes. He does not overrule unless he first confers with him whose decision he overrules. He does not embarrass an associate before others. He is frank and open with him.

Unity

There is a “union required by the law of the celestial kingdom; And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom.”

Love and expressions of confidence

A love of people is essential to effective leadership. Do you love those whom you work with? Do you realize the worth of souls is great in the sight of God (see D&C 18:10)? Do you have faith in youth? Do you find yourself praising their virtues, commending them for their accomplishments? Or do you have a critical attitude toward them because of their mistakes?

Invitation to Action:

Church leaders are instruments in God’s hands and should seek the Spirit in leading and building others.

In the Church today a leader generally gets in performance what he truly expects. He needs to think tall. He should assure those to whom he gives assignments that in the service of the Lord they have even greater powers than in ordinary responsibilities.

God’s work must be done by faith, prayer, and by the Spirit, “and if it be by some other way it is not of God” (D&C 50:18).

Promised Blessings:

We are but instruments; this is the Lord’s work. This is His church, His gospel plan. These are His children we are working with. He will not permit us to fail if we do our part. He will magnify us even beyond our own talents and abilities when necessary.

To listen to or read the lesson click here:

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/chapter-19-leadership?lang=eng

Relief Society Announcements:

Lesson Schedule

October 11th - Ezra Taft Benson Lesson 19
October 18th - Ezra Taft Benson Lesson 20
October 25th - Teaching for our Time

Save the date:

Relief Society Activity - November 5th. More information to come.

Recipes on the blog:

Have you seen the new recipes on the recipe blog? Help me add to them by sharing your favorite fall recipes!

Please send them to: drbennett1@hotmail.com or call or text them to 208-351-7083.

Visit the ward recipe blog: www.burton4threcipes.blogspot.com

Visit the Relief Society blog: www.burton4thrs.blogspot.com

Thursday, October 1, 2015

My favorite weekends are conference weekends!

October is one of my favorite months! I love the changing colors of the leaves and I love that the month always starts off with a conference weekend.

Are you ready for conference? Have you and your family been preparing? I found this information on LDS.org and thought I would share.

Why does preparing for general conference matter? It is a special opportunity we have to learn from living prophets and apostles and to receive personal revelation. What questions and challenges do you need direction and guidance on?