A Call for Help This Weekend

Sisters,
Several of you have volunteered to help us get ready for the Fourth of July breakfast on Friday night at 8pm. We need more help! There are two areas we need help in, please feel free to help in one or both:

1. Cleaning the building Friday, 8pm--as we are opening our building to the Greek Orthodox Church, we REALLY need to make sure our building is representing the Church well and clean makes a better impression, always! :)

2. The bishopric & High Priests are cooking up pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs. Could you please bring in fresh fruit for the breakfast––this can be sliced oranges, cantaloupe, strawberries, etc. or a fruit salad.

Thank you again for all of your support! ... even if I couldn't get a chair yesterday! ;)
Love you ALL!!!

Elizabeth Latey, Activities Committee Chair

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Sara and Tim Fultz on the birth of Lucy Mae Belle Fultz, June 24, 2009, 9:53pm, 8 lbs 11 oz, 21 inches long. Welcome to the world!

A Favorite Website

This is one of my favorite websites: www.meridianmagazine.com. It comes out of the DC area, and has inspirational and informative articles, plus world news. Check it out.

Owenna Nagy

Lesson Recap: Overcoming Barriers to Feeling God's Love

Sister Joy Warsniak from the Downington Ward, and representing LDS Social Services, guided a discussion among all the sisters of the ward.

She asked, "What are some of the barriers to feeling God's love for us personally and towards others?" and, then followed with a question regarding what does and does not work in overcoming those barriers.

A good, at times emotional, discussion followed, with sisters candidly sharing their feelings and ideas. Most of our lessons are about the ideal, but today we talked about reality.

Here's what we remembered...

Nancy: I thought it went really well and the time went too quickly. I could have stayed another hour continuing with ways to be better. I came away with quite a few things to work on. Not judging others imperfections, get to know sisters and find positive qualities instead of focusing on their negative qualities, write our feelings down in a journal instead of saying things we will later regret, using the atonement to heal our soul.

Ellen: It was good to acknowledge that living what we know, is hard. As Mary Louise said, it's where the rubber hits the road. I liked the ideas of just saying 'stop' to the negative thoughts in our head, writing our feelings and thoughts in a journal where they won't become spoken words that we can't take back, and finding healing for our hurts through the Atonement.

Jill: When we have a desire to talk to someone else about how we have been hurt by them, we should take some time to work through the emotions, when the emotions are running 100% the brain is running at 0%. We must work it out in our minds and approach the other person with the right spirit. Then, we must expect that things may not always go according to our expectations and then we must deal with the residual disappointment, awkwardness, or hurt. The best way to deal with it is by turning it over to the Savior. This is not instantaneous—it takes time, effort, faith, and patience on our part to be able to allow the pure love of Christ to reside in our hearts. The atonement heals all wounds—we have to open up our hearts to it.

Devon: When we've been hurt by someone, we have choices. We can choose to:

1) Be a "stuffer" and stuff everything inside and stew about it (which usually doesn't end well)

2) Be a doormat and let people treat you badly (which doesn't end well and isn't good for us long term)

3) Lash back and vent your emotions to the person when you are feeling 100% emotion, which leaves 0% for your brain to think with (pretty much NEVER ends well)

4) Vent about the situation/person to OTHER people and talk about someone behind their backs (doesn't end well and complicates the problem). This also is a permanent step. You can't take back what you tell other people about someone, even if you change your perspective. (I loved that she pointed that out...that words once said can't be taken back.)

5) Or, try to calm down, step back and try to get some perspective and take a new fresh look at what happened, pray about the situation, and then talk to the person who has hurt us and trying to fix the relationship OUT OF LOVE (might be better to let the other person know ahead of time so they won't feel attacked and also time can be set aside to only talk about this without others around). ***But I know this sometimes might be easier to talk about doing than actually doing!

[My insights] I think it's really important to pray right before having one of these conversations so that your words will be guided by love and the Spirit, and then try to focus on LISTENING to the other person first and let them know you are listening to what they feel. That makes it so much easier to tell them things and hope that they will be willing to also listen to you! I also liked that it was mentioned that this doesn't always fix the problem! But I believe that you have to at least put forth an honest and loving effort to try and fix a problem so that when you go to the Lord for his help, you can honestly say you have done what you can.

I thought it was a beautiful lesson. I think the lessons taught can apply to so many situations in life and the parts about using the Atonement are KEY to almost every situation we encounter when we are hurt. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did, and I thought the comments were just great.


Sisters, we'd love to hear from you. What do you remember? How do you feel about what was taught? Please comment, and I'll post them.

Fewer Calories, Same Great Taste!

So if you're reading this, you've found your way to our new blog URL. Please bookmark or "follow" it. Send the link to a friend!

We join many other faithful Mormons who seek to put uplifting educational content about the church out there on the web. We just didn't want it to appear to be an official LDS Church blog.

I'll still be posting inspirational guest blogger articles, timely church news, and little-known uplifting church content. I will keep the lesson schedule and calendar of events up to date too.

We're still women of faith, virtue, vision and charity in the Valley Forge area. Let's spread our arms wide and include more of our neighbors and friends.

If you have ideas for what I can do to make the blog more useful for us and our community, please let me know.

(Comments will be moderated from now on, and show up within a few hours, so I encourage you to comment on the posts.)

P.S. Links to individual blogs just disappeared when I made the change. Please be patient as I try to find everyone again. Or better yet send a link!

Using the Internet Appropriately

A great presentation for parents from the Net Nanny Blog...

"Thursday, June 18, 2009, 3:58 pm, Cindy Snow, an industry professional and consultant for ContentWatch recently presented at an educational conference. Her thorough and very informative presentation has provided parents with some very helpful and necessary tools to help children use the Internet appropriately. I'd like to share that with you today. Just click on the presentation below to advance the slides (if you don't see anything, be patient it's probably still loading)"

Tools to Help Children Use the Internet Appropriately, by Cindy Snow

Mad Skilz - New.FamilySearch.org

We are meeting at Jill Fairchild's house,
120 Harvard Drive, Collegeville, PA 19426,
(turn right directly across from Trappe Tavern)
At 7:00 pm, this Wednesday, June 24th

1. Plan to register. If you signed up we'll have your membership number and confirmation dates and will help you get started.
2. If you already have registered or have an LDS account, you'll be able to log in.
3. Bring several names and dates of grandparents, or great grandparents, so you can find your family line.
4. Bring your laptop, if you have one. Jill has wireless and several people can work at the same time.
5. Watch a 10-Minuit overview.
6. Learn how to add information, make corrections, transfer information, resolve duplicates, and get names ready for the temple.

Gospel in Action: She Looks Good in Red

Guest blogger: Margie Clark

A lot of thoughts have been racing through my mind, since Ellen asked if I would contribute to the RS blog. The suggested topic was “Gospel in Action”. This topic implies that there is more to be accomplished than simply attending church each week and being passive members.

We are women of covenant and, as such, our church attendance, studying of the scriptures, and listening to lessons given, should be changing us from who we were to who Heavenly Father would like us to be.

I really enjoyed Bro. Duckworth’s talk in Sacrament meeting last Sunday. He shared many of the same thoughts that I have had recently. I love the scripture in Moroni 7:45 that he shared with us. What a great definition of charity and as it pertains to our behavior!

Another of my favorite scriptures are those in Mosiah 18, where Alma teaches those being baptized what it means to “be called His people”:

“that we will bear one another’s burdens, are willing to mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and stand as witnesses of God at all times.

Does our behavior and do the words we say, truly reflect these covenants that we have made?

A story that my mother told me comes to mind. My grandmother grew up in foster homes from the time she was two until she married my grandfather. At the time of her marriage, she was 19 years old and instantly became the stepmother to four children. She went on to have 12 more children.

Doing the best that she could, with the few family and life skills that she had, and very little money, she raised a family of 16 children during the Great Depression.

There was a woman in her ward that was, quite frequently, very vocal to my grandmother and to others about my grandmother’s shortcomings. My grandmother was not one to speak unkindly of others, so she did the best she could to find something complimentary about a woman who had hurt her deeply, on many occasions.

Grandma, one day, noticed that the woman looked very good in the color red. Consequently, whenever she felt tempted to say something unkind either to the woman or about the woman, she would remind herself that the woman looked good in red.

This is a lesson that I am trying to learn from my Grandmother. I will try to find the best in the people that I am in contact with and not let those unkind thoughts turn into unkind words.

Lastly, in case you need it…I really DO look good in red! :-)

Gospel in Action: Scripture Study Motivation

Guest blogger: Marin Blandon

Here I am, now 29 years old.

I remember when I was a freshman in high school, all my friends were starting to make decisions that would soon test my moral beliefs. It was tough at times and I thought often that I couldn't wait until I was older and married with kids, it would be so much easier to be a faithful member.

Boy was I wrong.

I have learned that having a strong active testimony at this age is just as important as it was at my younger years. It's so easy for me to get caught up in life and it's activities.


I told my mission president in my last interview with him before I went home that the one thing I did look forward to when I went home was having all the time I wanted to study the scriptures.

I had grown to love the scriptures on my mission but was limited to 1 hour of study in the mornings and 1 hour at night before bed. Which at the time didn't seem like a lot to me.

My mission president responded to my statement by telling me that I will be surprised at how much time I won't find to study the scriptures. I was shocked at his response and a bit disheartened, but I soon came to realize that he was correct.

To keep the gospel an active part of my life, I have to set standards for myself. I am sad to say it does not just happen for me. I have to actively make things happen and it is not always easy for me. Although I do find it takes something as simple as listening to uplifting music throughout the day to help me to be more motivated to read my scriptures, say my prayer or even just be more pleasant in my home.

I have a strong testimony of the Gospel, I know it is true. It is one of the most important things to me. It's a blessing and a treasure I will never let slip away from my life.

“If you have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead.” ~ Neal A. Maxwell

$ave Money on Life!, by Jennie Boyer

Dear Sisters,

Many of you have asked me different tips on how to save money and other things. I have started a blog to share those ideas with others. I have been hesitant to share this since it is tied to my business. However, the blog is free and so I thought I would share it with all of you. The address is www.TheCouponBinder.blogspot.com.

One topic that I am covering is the way we budget. If you don't want to wait for our Seminar for church (it will be a few months) the instructions are posted on this blog—again for free. Also, feel free to comment about any of my topics or give me any tips you might have. I know that we have many fabulously frugal and talented women in our ward.

Loads of Love,
Jennie Boyer

A Note of Thanks from Mary Stephenson

Dear Sisters:

I am writing this from lovely Leola, a small town outside of Lancaster, where Larry and I have recently relocated. Although we love our new home and our new ward is friendly, I miss Valley Forge!

Please know how much you have contributed to our family's life during the seventeen years we lived among you. The hours of service given to our family by faithful Primary, youth, and seminary teachers made such a difference to our children.

I have benefited personally from the extraordinary lessons in R.S. and the talks and testimonies we have heard over the years in Sacrament Meeting. Your examples have lighted the way for Larry and me as we worked on growing up and trying to follow our Savior.

My visiting teachers have been remarkable women, whom I have loved and learned from. I especially remember the difficulties of Lisa's pregnancy and Isaac's birth and the great, great love that was extended to our family. Our home teachers have been fun and faithful.

Both Larry and I have enjoyed the people we have met and loved through our church service, both in the ward and, for the last four years, in the Norristown Spanish branch. The generosity of the Valley Forge members toward the Latino members was remarkable and touched me deeply.

I hope that I have not offended any of you during the time that we lived in the VF 1st ward but, if I did, please tell me and let me make it right.

We would absolutely love to feed, visit with, lend you our guestroom, point out the good fruit stands, etc. if any of you are out this way. Our new address is 32 Blaine Ave., Leola, PA 17540. My cell phone number is: 610-564-6762.

Sincerely,
Mary Stephenson

Thanks Mary. We miss you and your family's steady influence for good in the ward over the years. I'm sure you will bless the lives of the new ward family where you are.

Lesson Recap: The Power of Forgiving

JS Lesson 34 The Power of Forgiving
Taught by Marie Tiller

The Saints should be armed with mercy
notwithstanding the iniquity among us.

“A man who had stood high in the Church while in Far West [Missouri], was taken down with chills or ague and fever. While his mind as well as body was weak, disaffected parties soured his mind and persuaded him to leave the Saints and go with them. He gave some testimony against the Prophet. While the Saints were settling in Commerce, having recovered from his illness, he removed from Missouri to Quincy, Illinois. There he went to work chopping cordwood to obtain means to take himself and family to Nauvoo, and [give] a present to the injured man of God if, peradventure, he would forgive and permit him to return to the fold. … He felt that there was salvation nowhere else for him and if that was denied him all was lost as far as he was concerned. He started with a sorrowful heart and downcast look.

“While [the man was] on the way the Lord told Brother Joseph he was coming. The Prophet looked out of the window and saw him coming up the street. As soon as he turned to open the gate the Prophet sprang up from his chair and ran and met him in the yard, exclaiming, ‘O Brother—–, how glad I am to see you!’ He caught him around the neck and both wept like children.

“Suffice it to say that proper restitution was made and the fallen man again entered the Church by the door, received his Priesthood again, went upon several important missions, gathered with the Saints in Zion and died in full faith.”

This man could have used his illness to excuse his behavior, but his heart was changed and he did all he could to seek out all injured parties and make restitution.

Joseph freely forgave him and welcomed him back.

Forgiveness involves mercy, long-suffering, patience, sorrow, joy, justice, restitution, strength, tenderness, loss, and unity.

The natural woman in us makes this principle challenging to live, sometimes. We judge, we misunderstand and we are ever trying to balance mercy with the desire for justice.

This is where the Atonement comes in to soften our hearts that we may have mercy towards one another.

It is necessary in our families, and in a ward family, where we know so much about each other and our weaknesses.

Forgiving can restore unity of feeling, trust, and peace in our lives.

Let us emulate Joseph Smith's example, "And I will now covenant with you before God, that I will not listen to or credit any derogatory report against any of you, nor condemn you upon any testimony beneath the heavens, ... until I can see you face to face, and know of a surety; and I do place unremitted confidence in your word, for I believe you to be [wo]men of truth."

Check Out the Gospel Topics Section of LDS.org

If you're like me you've tried to search for something on LDS.org, but with little success. Recently I stumbled on this topical arrangement of gospel principles and have found it handy. It's great for FHE preparation, preparing a talk or lesson, or just for personal study.

First you go to LDS.org. In the top menu mouse over Gospel Library and find Gospel Topics, the 3rd item from the top.



Then you use the alphabet to find your topic. For example tomorrow's lesson is on Forgiveness. Let's see what's there.



Click on Forgiveness and see a simple definition and several expandable sections beneath...Additional Information, Scripture References, Church Magazine Articles, and Additional Online Materials.



Click on a section to open it. You'll find a wealth of information, but not a "glut". They know that you have limited time and want the best resources and quotes. So, they've made it easy to get right to the most focused material.



Don't spend a lot of time hunting for the best talks, scriptures, or quotes on a gospel topic. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with this great resource. It will come in handy.

Ellen

See the Hill Cumorah Pageant This Year!

Come feel the Savior's love - July 10, 11, 14-18, 2009

Experience one of the world's great outdoor theatrical productions. Each July, seven evening performances are presented on the beautiful Cumorah hillside next to the Visitors' Center. A beautiful story on an enormous 10 level stage, twelve-tower lighting, state-of-the-art sound system, Hollywood special effects, and a costumed cast of over 650 provide a truly spectacular show.

Parking and admission are free. No tickets needed.

The Hill Cumorah is located on Highway 21 between the villages of Palmyra and Manchester, NY, two miles north of Interstate 90, Exit 43. Seating for 9,000. Spanish translation and ASL interpretation provided. Starts at 9:15pm.

It's a 5 hour drive from here.

More information on their website


View Larger Map

Book Club Movie Night This Saturday!

Adapted from the classic novel of 19th century novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, it tells of the impossible love between Margaret Hale, a middle class young woman from the south of England and of John Thornton, a hard, brooding, often misunderstood industrialist from the unforgiving, northern town of Milton. Thornton befriends Margaret and both feels attached and attracted to each other but fight their attraction for a while due to misinterpretations and misunderstandings.

Hey ladies,
I'm getting so excited for Saturday night... I hope you are too! Here's some info to help you determine if you want to come or not.

1. Start time is 6:30 sharp as the movie is 4 (amazing) hours long... (or is that SHORT?)
2. Bring a couple bucks and we'll order pizza for dinner
3. I'll supply fruit and water bottles
4. Come even if you haven't read the book - you won't be sorry!
5. Consider this a bonding opportunity as it will give us all something in common to talk about on Sunday! :)

Hope to see lot's of you here. Call me if you have any questions!

Ally

Directions

The Gospel in Action: Be An Indexing Volunteer

Guest blogger: Edie Gavin

The Church has an interesting volunteer opportunity that takes only small amounts of time and is perfect for stay-at-home moms. You can contribute to the Family History effort by indexing records using your computer with an internet connection.

The work is relatively easy and you can work at your own pace. You will get a digitized record to index and you just fill in the blanks on the form provided. There is no commitment required, so you can stop and start at any time. You have 8 days to finish an assignment that you have downloaded. If you don't finish it, the work you have done is passed on to someone else to finish. You don't have to worry about making mistakes, since two people are working on each assignment and discrepancies are resolved by a third person.

Go to www.familysearch.org and click on the Index Records tab at the top of the homepage. A general description of the work is found on the right side of the page. To volunteer, click on Volunteer. The site will ask some questions and place a small piece of software on your computer. After this, you can begin indexing.

I find the work interesting and stimulating. Please give it a try.
Edie Gavin

Lesson Recap: Strengthening Marriages, Families, Homes

Taught by Ellen King

Our lives have meaning, purpose and direction

Ponder the RS Declaration

We have had the guiding influence of the Relief Society Declaration for 10 years now. It is an inspiring document that stands up to the test of good mission statements.

A good mission statement is short, memorable, and contains emotion. Ours is not short but it is easy to hold certain phrases in your mind for a time to ponder them.

Meaning, purpose, and direction...we know who we are, we know why we are here, we know where we are going. Not many women in this world can say that.

Worldwide sisterhood, united in devotion...6 million women, in 170 countries believe this and join with us, women we don’t even know, but share this belief in common.

Our devotion to Jesus Christ...at the center of it all, the very heart. We covenant to keep Him there, to always remember Him.

Faith, virtue, vision and charity...that’s the title of our blog! That faith, virtue, vision, and charity are manifest in 9 ways. They are our faith in action. Beautiful!

Focus on this phrase

We are dedicated to strengthening marriages,
families, and homes.

We - together, as sisterhood. We are not alone, we have each other for support.

Dedicate - give ourselves entirely, give our talent to a good cause, consecrate our time, set apart for sacred use, with whole-hearted fidelity, be devoted to a cause.

Ourselves - in our many roles: daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, student, coworker, or visiting teacher.

Strengthening - to make strong or stronger, reinforce, give added support to, fortify, toughen, bolster, boost, step up, substantiate, confirm.

Sister Julie Beck, the General Relief Society president reminded us,

Our homes need to be strong, secure, and safe havens that protect our families from the storms of life. They must serve as a refuge from the struggles and trials that surround us. We cannot let our homes be weakened or destroyed because of our neglect, indifference, or oversight.

President Monson counseled,

...we should not let [the stress of our lives] get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know.… We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Mary Ellen Smoot said in a speech to the World Congress of Families in 1999,

Our homes need to be strong, secure, and safe havens that protect our families from the storms of life. They must serve as a refuge from the struggles and trials that surround us. We cannot let our homes be weakened or destroyed because of our neglect, indifference, or oversight.

The full extent of your influence

President Faust said in 1999 - when the declaration was presented...

You sisters do not know the full extent of your influence. You sisters enrich all of humanity. All human life begins with you. Each woman brings her own separate, unique strengths to the family and the Church. Being a daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity. You will know who you are. This will make you free—not free from restraints, but free from doubts, anxieties, or peer pressure. ... It means that you can find strength in the balm of Christ. It will help you meet the heartaches and challenges with faith and serenity.

Sisters, choose one thing to work on this month in this area. Say to yourself every morning, "I am dedicated to strengthening marriages, families, and homes." Hold that thought in your mind and ponder what you can do.

I know you are out there doing your best everyday. And I commend you.

I know that if you turn to Heavenly Father every day he will help you dedicate yourself to strengthening marriages, families, and homes in whatever role and capacity you may have.

I know that the church is true and I'm grateful that our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction.

Sister Ellen King

How Can I Strengthen Families?

[from LDS.org]

"A study of the scriptures will help our testimonies and the testimonies of our family members. Our children today are growing up surrounded by voices urging them to abandon that which is right and to pursue, instead, the pleasures of the world. Unless they have a firm foundation in the gospel of Jesus Christ, a testimony of the truth, and a determination to live righteously, they are susceptible to these influences. It is our responsibility to fortify and protect them" (Thomas S. Monson, “Three Goals to Guide You,” Ensign, Nov. 2007, 118–21).

• Understanding and defending the divine roles of women.
• Embracing the blessings of the priesthood.
• Forming eternal families.
• Maintaining strong marriages.
• Bearing and rearing children.
• Expressing love for and nurturing family members.
• Accepting responsibility to prepare a righteous rising generation (missionaries, etc.).
• Knowing, living, and defending the doctrine of the family.
• Searching out and performing temple ordinances for extended family.
• "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."
• "The Sacred Responsibilities of Parenthood," M. Russell Ballard, August 2003.
• Home and Family on LDS.org.

Video clips:

• Finding Joy in the Journey; President Thomas S. Monson VIDEO
• Our Hearts Knit as One; President Henry B. Eyring VIDEO
• Fulfilling the Purpose of Relief Society; Julie B. Beck VIDEO

O Remember O Remember

Watch this new Mormon Messages video, "O Remember, Remember," in which President Henry B. Eyring shares his daily practice of recognizing the Lord's hand in his life and invites us to do the same.

This is such a good way to focus on the positive and acknowledge God's hand in all things. It's worked for me. Try it.

Ellen

My Media Fast

Guest blogger: Sarah Kinghorn

As part of May's Mentoring Moms I chose the goal of a media fast: no television, radio, and internet for 21 days.



What I Learned

Television

Since I do not usually watch a lot of TV, giving it up wasn’t too difficult for me. It was hard, however, for me for the kids to go without TV.

Radio

I learned that the first thing I do right after I start the car is turn on the radio. This really surprised me because it had become so automatic I didn't even know I was doing it. There was a lot less "noise" in the car. It wasn't quiet though, because I talked, sang, and laughed more with my kids.

Internet

This was probably the hardest thing for me to go without since it was my main form of communication and social interaction with people, over the age of 4. 



Satan has a powerful tool to use against
good people.It is distraction. He would have
good people fill life with "good things"
so there is no room for the essential ones.

~Richard G. Scott, First Things First,
Ensign, 2001 May, 6



I found this to be true for me with the internet. The internet allows us to connect with family and friends, which is a good thing, but for me it was becoming a distraction–taking time away from my family and the essentials. I didn't realize how much time I was spending on the internet until I stopped.



Some of the things I did during my “extra” time:


• Spent quality time with my kids. As a stay-at-home mom I am almost always with my kids but I am not always present. Instead of telling the kids to go play (so I could blog about them ;) I was playing with them.

• Read my scriptures on a more regular basis.
• Wrote in my journal 4 times (first time since August 2008)
.
• Scheduled and went to some overdue appointments (dentist, OBGYN)
.
• Completed some of the buggers on my to-do list.

Our society is fast-paced and everything needs to be done NOW.


Forms of communication that used to be the latest and greatest are not fast enough–mail to email to texting, tweeting, blogging, etc. 

There are some things that just take time and relationships are one of them.

• You can't text the sound of your baby's first laugh.
• You can't email the picnic in the backyard with your family.
• You can't post the feel of hugs and drool-y kisses.

Without the television or radio or computer on, life was much quieter even with a baby, a toddler, and a preschooler. The noise was gone and I was alone with my thoughts.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.
Proverbs 23:7

Sometimes the noise from the media can crowd out our own thoughts.

Now that I’ve completed my goal, does this mean that I’ve given up these things forever? Of course not. Will I be setting limits for myself and my kids?

Definitely.

Mormon Organist Featured at Macy's

Friends of the Wanamaker Organ invites you to WANAMAKER ORGAN DAY, Saturday, June 6, 2009:

Come to Philadelphia Macy's for our free daylong musical extravaganza. We’re celebrating the 105th birthday of the world’s largest playing pipe organ, and we are pulling out all the
stops—all 461 of them!

Special concerts and displays in the Grand Court are combined with tours of the cavernous pipe chambers and video presentations between events. If you have ever wanted to hear the full majesty and power of this famous pipe organ, then don’t miss this opportunity.

10 am: Wanamaker Organ Grand Opening Concert with special guest artist Richard Elliott
of the Mormon Tabernacle, a former assistant Wanamaker Organist. Elliott is one of the most
electrifying virtuosos performing today!

Elliott plans an exciting program that includes a Toccata by Georgi Mushel, the Concerto in F Major by Handel, Sehnsuchtig (“Longing”) by Felix Mendelssohn; the Choral by Joseph Jongen; “As the Dew from Heaven” (the Tabernacle Choir broadcast sign-off theme) by Alexander Schreiner, “Come, Come, Ye Saints” (the LDS hymn; arr. Elliott); “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” Debussy’s “The Engulfed Cathedral” and two movements from Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”: “The Hut of Baba Yaga” and “The Great Gate of Kiev.” It promises to be an awesome recital.

11:30 am: Peter Richard Conte and his guests rattle the rafters in stunning arrangements in a program heard live on WRTI-FM radio and streamcast live at WRTI.org. Jill Pasternak hosts.

2:30 pm: By popular demand: Walt Strony makes the Wanamaker Organ sizzle in a tuneful Revue of lyrical pops favorites and light airs, including Richard Rogers’ Victory at Sea.

Organ Chamber Tours

5 pm: Wanamaker Grand Closing Concert Our annual spectacular showcases Peter Richard Conte with Rudy Lucente and The Friends of the Wanamaker Organ Festival Chorus and Brass Ensemble.

You won’t want to miss a minute! There will be free seating in the Grand Court for this store-hours event. Macy’s respectfully asks that patrons not bring their own folding chairs.

More details at wanamakerorgan.com.

Criticize Your Spouse Tactfully--And Never in Public

"They're at a party or dinner. The husband starts to tell a joke. The wife immediately snaps, 'Oh, don't tell them that old story.' The husband falls silent with an embarrassed grin.

Or the wife has just made a comment in Sunday School, and the husband says, 'What she meant to say was ... ' and corrects her. She looks abashed ... or angry."

We've all met a married couple like this or have been the one.

Learn 4 important rules of marital manners in this Mormon Times article.