Caring for Church Property

Having had the opportunity to clean the church recently I thought of this article by Orson Scott Card in the Mormon Times, Caring for Church Property.

My wife and I were both raised in families where the ethos was that when we used property that didn't belong to us, we returned it in better condition than we received it. Before making permanent alterations, we got permission. This seemed to us to be the minimum condition for civilized sharing of property.

The idea of property is a social convention. Every human society that advanced and thrived had the social contract that a person's property remained his even when he wasn't actually using it. Part of civilizing our children is teaching them to respect the property of others.

It's easy to think that what belongs to the ward belongs to nobody. He scolds us a bit and asks us to remember to respect the property of others and of the church.

I think we do this well in our ward.

Thank you to all who take such good care of our church building every week, who go the extra mile to clean the kitchen, who mop floors which have become sticky from meals and basketball, who care for tablecloths and always return them ready to go for the next event, who donate to the kitchen supplies and who clean the church every week.

Keep up the good work and keep teaching your children too.

I am pleased to add my small efforts to yours in the cleaning and care for the Lord's house in Valley Forge.

(And big thanks to Kellen Wentzel for keeping us all organized.)

e

Lesson: The Gift of Gratitude

Teachings for Our Time, The Gift of Divine Gratitude, Thomas S. Monson
Taught by Jill Fairchild

An attitude of gratitude
President Monson recounts the story of the 10 lepers who after being healed by Jesus went away, except one who returned to give him glory and thanks.

"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love."

Today in Relief Society we focused on President Monson's admonition to remember to give thanks for our blessings. 

My beloved friend President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.”

A new kernal of truth

In the story of our Savior feeding 4,000 with seven loaves and a few fishes, the key truth is that he gave thanks for the meager meal before the miracle took place that multiplied the food, enough for many with extra leftover.

Take note of this truth and ponder your own approach to God in your prayers. Perhaps more thanksgiving will precede the miracles you long for in your life.

Once you turn to the Savior and give your thanks he will make you "whole", a spiritual blessing the other nine lepers did not receive.

There is much to be thankful for in this world.

Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.

This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways.

We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”

How can we have more gratitude?

If gratitude is the parent of all other virtues. We want to cultivate it. So, what can we do to have more gratitude?

Marie suggested more humility. Joseph F. Smith said, “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.”

Ellen and others point to journaling about your blessings or the ways God has touched your life, especially during dark times. This focuses us on God and his goodness, it gives perspective to our problems, and it fixes in time your gratitude so it can be revisited later.

Cheryl even suggested making more effort to be thankful for our trials and what they teach us.

Amanda testified that the antidote to depression and despair is to count our blessings.

As we do, we spiral up to seeing more blessings and then up to receiving more blessings...perhaps being made "whole" as Christ did with the 10th leper...and that ingratitude can lead down to feeling unheard by God, then feeling unloved and unlovable, and so on downward, as Jill, Owenna and Bethany reminded us.

Margie suggested that we find inspiration from other's stories such as Corrie Ten Boom whose sister found something good in every day during their awful stay in a WWII concentration camp.

And last, more prayer...President Monson reminds us "that a prayerful life is the key to possessing gratitude."

Give the gift

A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude.

Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

Do as President Coe counseled us a few weeks ago: If you feel the inspiration or gratitude, act on it right away; don't wait.

Of Christ, President Monson urged, "Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His words. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude."

e

 

The Divine Gift of Gratitude

This is a good week to review President Monson's talk from General Conference...The Divine Gift of Gratitude.

Why not focus on it tonight for FHE?



e

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Random people on the streets of New York City share a variety of grateful responses to one simple question: What are you thankful for?

To find more ways to discover how to feel and share Gratitude with others, please visit: http://lds.org/topic/gratitude/

e

Guest Blogger: On Unity in RS, from Our Prophet

The October theme for the blog is Prophets, A Sign of the Living Church. And September's theme was on unity and supporting one another in our righteous choices. 

Mary Hood speaks to both themes, in response to the question of "What recent words of our prophets have struck home with you?"

My thoughts will tie in with last month's topic, that of building unity within the Relief Society. 

How can we do this?

In answering this question, I refer to two separate talks recently given by President Monson.

The first is President Monson's talk on charity for the Women's Conference on September 26th, 2010. 

He spoke specifically to us to not back-bite, criticize, or speak ill of one another. 

Can we all work on that? How about focusing on this topic in a Family Home Evening where we, as a family, can work on this together? If we were to slip, our spouse or child can kindly remind us of this goal we should work toward. Wouldn't this be a great way towards building unity in the Relief Society where sisters can feel safe?

Second, in last week's General Conference, President Monson also spoke of being thankful and the Divine Gift of Gratitude. 

While his talk was more focused on giving thanks to the Lord, might I suggest that we show thanks to one another.

Can we acknowledge a good deed? Can we compliment a talent? How hard is it to say, "thank you" or "good job!"? We all have different strengths, abilities, and talents. Can we appreciate each other's gifts? Wouldn't this promote unity among the sisters in the Relief Society? 

Mary Hood

Compassion

Guest Blogger Charity Wolf

Compassion is one of the most influencing gifts we have when it comes to turning our hearts towards the Lord. I have experienced the Lords compassion in my life many times through the hands of his servants on the earth. A few years ago it was never more evident to me in my life.

Alan and I lived in Fresno, California right by family and friends. Alan came home and told me we were being transferred to Seattle, WA in four weeks. The next few weeks were a blur of learning new areas, picking a new school district, mountains of transfer paper work, and I'll confess ward shopping. The week came, we were to move. Everything was planned out the best it could be. Tuesday morning of that week, I was pulling out clothes and essentials before the movers came on Friday morning. The phone rang and I was told my younger Sister had passed away in the night. Chelsie had been in a coma for just over 9 years from a car accident. There really was not time to think; we could not change any of the moving schedule. We planned and set the funeral for Saturday of that week.

The time came and went so fast. The next thing I really remember is sitting in a rental house outside of Seattle. Most of our worldly things were put in place except for some things in the garage that I need to unpack. The move had worked out well. But, I was never more sad and alone and my spirit was never more broken. One morning I was sitting in my house crying, trying to unpack, feeling like no one knows what just happened to me. Chelsie was just gone and the world just went on, no one even knew she was missing. To say the least my heart was aching. I was arguing in my heart with the Lord why this had to be and that he could not have really cared about me. We had not been to church yet and we didn't know anyone. I remember that morning saying to the Lord if you really love me why am I all alone?

About a hour later there was a knock on the front door. The Relief Society President and my new visiting teachers were there with flowers and a meal and had an hour or two to help me in any way they could. I was very embarrassed (be careful what you and your house looks like when you tell the Lord you feel alone) and grateful for the compassion that these Sisters were able to show me.

I know the Lord sent these Sisters on His errand that day. To me compassion will always be remembered as a work of the Lord. It takes each of us Sisters to work together. We are leaders in our area, in our homes, and in the Lord's church, if we choose to take the time to find out where we can serve.

Spring Inspiration

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

Robert Frost

Photo Credit

Tender Mercies

The March Theme for the blog is Feeling Lucky.

For me that translates into feeling blessed.

 

That thought is inspired by Elder Bednar’s recent conference talk, The Tender Mercies of the Lord.

One way God blesses each of us is through tender mercies, those blessings of strength, protection, assurance, guidance, loving-kindness, consolation, support or a spiritual gift that come to us and are often very personal.

They are available to ALL of us.

“The Lord's tender mercies do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence...they are powerful, sweet and simple. They do much to fortify and protect us.”


A few of you shared a recent tender mercy in your life:

Devon: After watching that video and reviewing the talk, it seems I’m seeing tender mercies everywhere! But I love how Elder Bednar actually refers to General Conference as a “tender mercy” because that’s exactly what it is in my life.  I am so excited that we get to listen to the general authorities in just a few weeks!

Sarah: I took my boys to the doctor on Thursday to be told that they both had viruses but nothing else. On Friday I was still concerned about James but was hesitant to call again (what if there was nothing wrong, didn’t want to look like a paranoid mother, etc. etc.) I felt like I should make another appointment so I did. When I took him in it turned out that he was wheezing and not getting enough oxygen. They gave him a couple of breathing treatments and a liquid steroid.  I am so grateful for the tender mercy of guidance in caring for my child that day. More on Sarah's blog.

Emily: Amidst lots of craziness around these parts of late, my son has really stepped up to the plate. He’s started surprising me with his empathy, thoughtfulness, and capacity for self-containment. He's still thoroughly a preschooler and a boy, and that’s just as it should be, but I’m getting glimpses at the person he can become, and it makes me swell up inside with pride. (good pride) He’s taken to coloring with fervor, tucking his stuffed animals in at night, and taking a keen interest in keeping his brother pacified. He’s been making me feel like my job is do-able, and that there are short-term rewards for me while I’m in the trenches. They’re just moments, but they’re wonderful! Don't miss Em's pics.

Ellen: Persistence and fortitude are tender mercies God gives me. Each morning prayer is filled with my desire for His help through my work day. And every day he strengthens me, gives me thoughts, helps my words, and clarifies my perceptions. When the pressures mount I can handle them. And at the end of the day I can always see where He stepped in. I acknowledge His hand in all things. His tender mercies enable me to press forward with cheerfulness often.

Please share one of your recent tender mercies with us, in the comments.

e

Lesson: The Creation

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

When we lived as spirit children with our heavenly parents, our Heavenly Father told us about His plan for us to become more like Him. We shouted for joy when we heard His plan (see Job 38:7).
We were eager for new experiences.

In order for these things to happen, we needed to leave our Father’s presence and receive mortal bodies. We needed another place to live where we could prepare to become like Him.

Our new home was called earth.

Jesus Christ created this world and everything in it.

He also created many other worlds. He did so through the power of the priesthood, under the direction of our Heavenly Father. God the Father said, “Worlds without number have I created; … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:33). We have other testimonies of this truth.

Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw Jesus Christ in a vision. They testified “that by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:24).

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,

Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

The earth and everything on it were created spiritually before they were created physically (see Moses 3:5).

In planning to create the physical earth, Christ said to those who were with Him, “We will go down, for there is space there, … and we will make an earth whereon these [the spirit children of our Father in Heaven] may dwell” (Abraham 3:24).

Under the direction of the Father, Christ formed and organized the earth.

He divided light from darkness to make day and night. He formed the sun, moon, and stars. He divided the waters from the dry land to make seas, rivers, and lakes. He made the earth beautiful and productive. He made grass, trees, flowers, and other plants of all kinds. These plants contained seeds from which new plants could grow. Then He created the animals—fish, cattle, insects, and birds of all kinds. These animals had the ability to reproduce their own kind.

Now the earth was ready for the greatest creation of all—mankind. Our spirits would be given bodies of flesh and blood so they could live on earth. “And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so” (Moses 2:26).

And so the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, were formed and given bodies that resembled those of our heavenly parents. “In the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). When the Lord finished His creations, He was pleased and knew that His work was good, and He rested for a time.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,

Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

We are now living in this beautiful world.

Think of the sun, which gives us warmth and light. Think of the rain, which makes plants grow and makes the world feel clean and fresh. Think of how good it is to hear a bird singing or a friend laughing. Think of how wonderful our bodies are—how we can work and play and rest.

When we consider all of these creations, we begin to understand what wise, powerful, and loving beings Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father are.

They have shown great love for us by providing for all of our needs.

Plant life and animal life were also made to give us joy.

The Lord said, “Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul” (D&C 59:18–19).

Even though God’s creations are many, He knows and loves them all. He said, “All things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them” (Moses 1:35).

Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

Marie Tiller

Do You Feel Lucky?

Our March theme for the blog is Feeling Lucky or Blessed.

I feel that what we may call luck is truly the tender mercies of the Lord.



How do you feel lucky or blessed?

Here is how a few of you responded to that question.

Elizabeth Latey says, “I feel soooo blessed because...”

1. I live in a time where so many ideas and thoughts are so readily available to share (libraries and internet).
2. My sweetheart—Heavenly Father blessed me with a man so much more than I could have wished for.
3. My children—They inspire me to be a better woman b/c they are each so absolutely amazing!

Emily Flinders writes:

1. I feel lucky to live in a time and place where I am free to have opinions and make choices based on my preferences and prayers.
2. I feel lucky to have access to living scriptures and an abundance of teachings from living prophets and apostles.
3. I feel lucky that I can go to Sister Muldowney's institute class (Tuesdays @ 10am in the RS room!).  She is like a living oracle.

Shellie Blake is counting her many blessings. “I feel lucky...”

1. ...that a few days ago when there was a fire at the apartment complex where Boston and Jess live, the only thing damaged was their car and it was not totally engulfed, mostly just cosmetic damage and tires. They are safe and unharmed.  
2. ...that I am able to be with my husband while our family faces this incredible trial of unemployment and financial hardship with the house.  
3. ...that I know the Lord knows our situation and He has a plan for us, and all will be well. He has given me some good friends that love and care about me as well.

Thanks for sharing with us, Elizabeth, Emily, and Shellie.

You too can share with us, in the comments, how you feel lucky today.

Photo credit

The Lord's Earthquake Warning in Chile

The Lord warns and prepares His people!

This morning I read this article The Lord's Earthquake Warning in Chile, in the Meridian Magazine.

It is actually a letter written by the wife of the mission president of the Santiago Chile East Mission regarding the earthquake.

She wrote that two weeks before the earthquake she woke in the middle of the night to a prompting that they should prepare the missionaries for an earthquake. The office staff kicked into gear, visited each apartment...

President Larry Laycock and his wife, Sister Lisa Laycock head the Santiago Chile East Mission and had spent the two weeks prior to the 8.8 earthquake visiting each missionary apartment and preparing them for an earthquake. They brought specific instructions on what to do, supplied water purification bottles for the missionaries, told them how to create a 36-hour kit for emergencies and how to stay in communication should an earthquake strike. They prayed with each missionary and dedicated their apartments. Why?  Because of a special experience that alerted them to what was coming. They told their missionaries, “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.”

Read it with a box of tissues nearby. It is powerful.

There is much food for thought here. Very basic lessons can be learned, and faith can be strengthened:

He is watching over us. He warns us. He prepares us. Prophets lead and guide us. We should heed them. Faith overcomes fear. Dreams are a form of revelation. Perhaps He speaks to us and maybe we are not still enough to hear Him. Gratitude for those good servants of the Lord who are listening and obeying. And on and on, the lessons and thoughts come.

See what you learn from this experience. Share your thoughts in the comments section.

e

Gratitude

What is gratitude?

How will developing a deeper level of gratitude affect my life?

How did Jesus Christ show gratitude?

Gratitude

Love these LDS Topics pages! Could be great as a FHE resource! Check out the coloring pages and puzzles for kids. Watch a few videos, listen to some talks, read some articles. Share your gratitude.

It's just the right amount of content so you won't be overwhelmed. Check it out1

Ellen

What Are You Thankful For?

Random people on the streets of New York City share a variety of grateful responses to one simple question: What are you thankful for?



What are YOU thankful for?

Tell us in the comments below.

Ellen

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.