Thanksgiving week is here and then the Christmas Season will begin.  I know it will all zoom by as the days have a way of doing!  Remember to take the time to be with friends and family.  I mean to be with them, not just be there but to give them your attention and love.  Life moves so fast.  It really is short as I am realizing lately as I will never get it all done unless I live to be a 120 years old! (without disability)

We don't have to get it all done, just give it our best with no regrets!  Enjoy your Thanksgiving, count your many blessings and have a fun and joyous Christmas Season.

November review of October Conference Talks

November is here, actually we are in five days so far.  Many times at the end of October I have heard women say, "This month has gone by so fast."  It wasn't just "older"women saying this but young ones and even children! It has been a common theme in conversations I have had or overheard in the last few weeks.
     Is the clock moving faster?  I have not seen this visually but....I wonder?   Time is a precious gift.  I am grateful for each day that I get, each hour, each minute.  I spent many minutes/hours today reviewing all the October Conference talks and pulled out words and quotes from each one.  I will list them here.  Look at the words, remember the talks, the feelings and each lesson we were given by the Lord's Apostles.  I have set some new goals this week and weeks to come.  I will take the time for the essential things in my life. The necessary things, well, they are necessary and will be part of my life.  The nice-to-do things I then look forward to enjoying.
     Read, ponder, pray and know that we are blessed.  We have these words as a gift from Our Heavenly Father.  They help us to remember Him and His Son.

Scriptures are generated from inspired communication 
through the Holy Ghost, they are pure truth

open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

great direction to life

precious jewels of truth spread throughout its pages.

blessings that result from scripture study

personal revelation

divine help that comes through the Holy Spirit

desire to receive revelation

Holy Ghost ‘satisfies and fills up every longing of the human heart, and fills up every vacuum.

Daughters in My Kingdom

nourish and strengthen

need to ask in faith, truly believe that we will receive an answer, and then diligently keep the commandments of God

3,000 stakes in the worldwide Church today

fulfillment of a Book of Mormon prophecy

one heart and one family at a time,

His was a life of service.

go “to the rescue” and serve others.

“the great plan of happiness

If

watched over and protected

“the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

you matter to Him!

true eternal worth and potential

family history

build temples

do something

believe in families

 we believe in children.

“Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling.

“Where is your faith?”

“Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth … him that sent me.”

service of their fellowmen.

What time we have we must use wisely.

sincere prayer to a loving Father in Heaven

devote our time to the things that matter most

hings of God matter most.

Today would be a good day,

It is better to look up!

Savior.

Redeemer

the power of Christ’s Atonement.

Repentance

striving to change.

committing to obedience

persevere, even through pain.

joy of forgiveness.

we believe

Book of Mormon gives us a second witness

steadfastness in Christ

example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

share your beliefs and feelings about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ,

charitable. witnesses of God, endure

The Book of Mormon is a precious witness.

wait upon the Lord. hope, to anticipate, and to trust.

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done

you are waiting upon the Lord and doing your Heavenly Father’s will.

tribulation worketh patience

word of God—every sentence, every verse, every page.

Love her mother

guardians of virtue

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”

“Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;

He is our Creator. He is the Light of the World. He is our Savior from sin and death.

Choice

prayer is a sweet privilege

Agency is essential for individual spiritual growth and development

And Jesus listening can hear the songs I cannot sing.

I say and offer these words in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer-Amen

An orphanage in Haiti are in the process of collecting items for Christmas presents for these orphans, and they would LOVE for you to collect some of these items.  They are making them large stockings and filling them.  Some items wanted are:  

• black baby dolls
• action figures
• large legos (not the tiny ones as they will get lost)
• wooden puzzles
• hot wheels
• baseball caps (child sized)
• English/creole workbooks
• hair accessories
• mystery rings (i don't know what that is, but they asked for them?)
• craft supplies (beads, craft projects for girls age 8-14) 

They need these by the first week in December.  And we will be SO grateful for any of them that you can gather up!  I need to mail them to TN so I would need them dropped off at my house by November 20th so I can mail the package on Monday the 21st.  Let's help them out.  A nurse that was with me when I went to Haiti is part of this group.  They are doing great things for the sweet people of Haiti.

SUPER SATURDAY

More pictures of Super Saturday projects.  See below for a link to request more information and or to sign up via email.

More Projects...

Super Saturday! Again it is time for a day of fun, crafts and hanging out with the ladies. Oh, do we have some wonderful projects for you to create. Won't your family and friends think you are such a "Martha Stewart" with all the homemade gifts you will give out this year. Or just keep 'em for your self, nothing wrong with that! Check out the pictures and if you have any more questions or want to sign up for the class CLICK HERE further instructions on how.

Agree to disagree

Pastor, we are going to have to agree to disagree. The only thing I was sorry to see in your letter was at the end when you said Mormonism is a cult.

Cult: A system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object. (Catholics with the saints,scapular,Tabernacle, Eucharistic adoration?)
2. A relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister is a cult.
The word cult pejoratively (contempt or disapproval) refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre.

As one observer explained why people use the term:  “Because it’s a neat, shorthand and rather lazy way of putting a whole group into a box.”   

“cult” – a harsh, cold, four-letter word used to summarily dismiss religious competitors and avoid civil discourse.  If a group is a cult, as 26% actually believe about Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), then obviously an open-minded investigation of such inferiors is out of the question."

This word seems to be used in a derogatory sense, like the cults associated with, Jones town, Manson Family.   Most sociologists and scholars of religion also began to reject the word "cult" altogether because of its negative connotations in mass culture.

     I do not think the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is sinister, small, bizarre or a cult.   (There are 14 million members in 132 countries.  In America, there are more Mormons than there are Presbyterians or Jews.)
      I hope people do not show me contempt just because of my beliefs.
Jesus was persecuted, the Christians, the Jews. Why do "men" continue to judge.  I try to understand others in their beliefs.  Good "Christian" people have not wanted to live next to blacks,  Jews or "Mormons".  I can not understand theses feelings.  I just can not.  My mind can not "get" it.  I see people, God's children.  I know He loves them as His children and His Son was the one who came to earth and did what He did for us!  Others might not believe this.  Others will have their spirituality, their beliefs different from mine and Christianity and yet be the most "Christian" people I know.  How can a loving father throw them by the wayside?  How can He not love all His children.



I have been blessed by the Lord.  You too are blessed and again I am glad to have met you and our paths have crossed for a reason.  Yours in Christ, Laurie

Reply from the Pastor

Hi Laurie,

Mormonism and Historic Christianity are very different. I hope I can be respectful to your beliefs and from this e-mail your concerns revolve around our different view of God in regards to the Trinity and in particular Jesus Christ as God the Son co-equal with the Father. Here is a my attempt to explain the difference to show that we are worshipping a totally different God.
Scripture teaches monotheism (Only one God).
The Theme of one God is carried on throughout the Bible (Deut. 32:39, Ps 86:10, Isa 43:10, 44:6, 45:21).
The Bible teaches that ALL other gods are a product of human imagination.
Mormons will argue correctly that these are idols. However, the Mormon church paints pictures of the First Vision of Joseph Smith with two human-gods appearing in light, these are no less images. Thus, both the Romans and Mormons have exchanged God’s heavenly likeness for an earthly likeness. No Man can be compared to the likeness of God, not Adam – no one.
The Bible teaches that God is Spirit then, he cannot be made of material substance. God is a personal, infinite, self-existent, immaterial, transcendent being who drives no attribute from another source. God does not have a Spirit – He is pure Spirit
Jesus has Always pre-existed as God. (John 1:1; Micah 5:2;Col. 1:17-19; Heb. 1:8;13:8 and 1John 1:1) He was not Jehovah one of the many god’s.
The Bible teaches explicitly the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.
Jesus is God come in human form to reconcile the world to himself (2 Cor. 5:18; Phil. 2:6-8)
This is accomplished through the shed blood of Jesus (Rom. 5:10).
The atonement was accomplished on the cross – not the Garden – Christ bore our sin on the cross.

Laurie I hope this helps clarify some of the doctrinal difference. The Mormon God and Jesus are not the same as the Christian God and Jesus – So we do not worship the same God.

I am confident after years of study and the reliability of the only true Scriptures (the Bible) that the Historic view is the correct one and the Mormon religion is a Cult.
Pastor

A Letter to the Pastor

Dear Pastor, I wanted to comment on a statement you made when you speaking at the end of class. I am so respectful of all religions and try to get to know beliefs and understand where people are coming from in their faith especially when I am helping others or in different countries. You mentioned tonight the Jesus of other faiths and brought up Mormonism and how they believe in a "different" Jesus, a Jesus who is one of many Gods. I am "Mormon" and I thought I believed in the same Jesus everyone else does. Taken from Mormon.org site:
But what do we mean when we say He is the Savior of the world? The Redeemer? Each of these titles point to the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. Jesus suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, giving each of God’s children the gift of repentance and forgiveness. Only by His mercy and grace can anyone be saved. His subsequent resurrection prepared the way for every person to overcome physical death as well. These events are called the Atonement. In short, Jesus Christ saves us from sin and death. For that, he is very literally our Savior and Redeemer. In the future Jesus Christ will return to reign on earth in peace for a thousand years. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He will be our Lord forever.

Jesus IS the Son of God. Jesus lived, was born to a virgin, Mary ,was crucified, died and rose on the third day. Is that not the Jesus others believe in? I know in the Catholic church that the God head consists of God, His Son and the Holy Spirit. One God. Growing up I never understood how this could be. How can three be one.

The Nicene Creed was first adopted in A.D. 325 at the Council of Nicea. The Roman Emperor Constantine had convened the Council of Nicea in an attempt to unify the Christian church with one doctrine, especially on the issues of the Trinity and the deity / humanity of Jesus Christ. The Nicene Creed reads as follows:

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by theHoly Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us underPontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
This I have said so many times in church (born and raised Catholic) From this, to me they were separate beings. How could you sit at the right hand of the father and you are the father. It just did not make sense to me. I see Heavenly Father as a person, Jesus His Son as a person and the Holy Spirit as a spirit separate from the Father and the Son. Because I see them as separate, am I believing in more than one God? I grew up in my spirituality knowing that there was my Heavenly Father, a father who loved me as His child, Jesus his Son, who was the ultimate sacrifice for me, for my sins, and the Holy Spirit who helps me and protects me through my life. I have known these to be three separate entities my whole life no matter what church I attended. To say in the Mormon beliefs that we, they, believe in one of many gods, Jesus, a different Jesus, I do not understand. I know He is the same one you know about, who came to earth and through His ministry here, did many marvelous works. He prayed to His father. The Holy Spirit came to Him.
I guess you made me think, "what, a different Jesus?" "How can that be?" I wanted to let you know how I see my Savior and my Heavenly Father in my life. I am grateful for all that I have, for meeting you and attending the class. Thank you for reading my thoughts. Thank you for leading the class. I hope our paths will cross again.
Warmest and most sincere regards,
Laurie

A Time To Remember..

April Showers and Easter Blessings!

Do you know that April Showers is a term used to describe spring rain in parts of the northern hemisphere, particularly the United Kingdom? It is a popular song, a 2006 romantic film. and used in a poem.

Did you know that the most rain falls in Southern California in the month of December?

Did you also know that , Gov. Jerry Brown has declared the statewide drought officially over after three years?
Brown made the declaration March 30 following state crew findings that the mountain snowpack is at 165 percent of normal for this time of year. Major reservoirs in California and federal water systems all have more water than usual according to officials.

The poem says April showers bring May flowers. The accepted meaning of the poem “April showers bring May flowers” is a simple one: April, usually a rainy month, will eventually give way to the month of May, a month where flowers typically bloom thanks to the water April provided it. By extension, it means “bad” things can sometimes provide the basis for “good” things.
I found this on another blog..it makes sense

Here’s the real meaning behind the poem:

If you take showers during the month of April, you will smell nice and people will give you flowers during the month of May.

By extension, if you fail to shower during the month of April, no one will want to be within fifty feet of you due to your horrible, horrible smell.

I just love, love spring. Flowers are blooming and we have had much rain so everything in the garden is so happy. This time of year makes me feel so great!

Easter is on it's way as well, a time that means so much to me. Easter is the most important, and joy-filled, day of the year, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

There are many symbols associated with this celebration as well and here are the origins of some Easter symbols and traditions, gathered from various online history sites:

Easter bunny
Known as prolific procreators, rabbits are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. German and Dutch immigrants brought their stories of a white egg-laying hare, called Osterhase, with them when they settled in the Eastern U.S. in the 1700s. Young children made grass nests in their bonnets and caps for the hare to lay eggs in. That custom transformed over generations into the ubiquitous Easter bunny toting his decorated basket filled with artificial "grass," delivering treats and eggs.

Colorful Easter baskets might have their origins in an old Catholic custom of using baskets to carry Easter foods to Mass for blessing.
That custom itself harkens to the baskets of seedlings offered to the goddess Eostre in ancient temples to ensure a successful harvest.

Eggs
The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs often represent Jesus' emergence from the tomb and resurrection. The tradition of decorating eggs for Easter dates back to at least the 13th century, according to some sources, likely because eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season. So people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of that period of penance and fasting, then eat the eggs on Easter as a celebration.

Easter lilies
The beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolize purity, virtue, innocence, hope and life -- the spiritual essence of Easter.
History, mythology, literature, poetry and the world of art are full of stories and images heralding the beauty and majesty of the elegant white flowers.
Called the "white-robed apostles of hope," lilies were said to be found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ's agony, springing up where drops of Christ's sweat and blood fell to the ground in his final hours of sorrow and deep distress. Churches continue this tradition by banking their Easter Sunday altars with Easter lilies to commemorate Christ's resurrection.

Easter outfits (and bonnets)
An old superstition was to wear something new on Easter. A new garment worn then would bring good luck through the coming year.
It was said the birds would punish those who wore old attire by dropping decorations on them from the air.
The Easter Parade grew out of this tradition, starting in New York City in the 1800s. This grand event, which continues today, provides a chance to be seen wearing the latest fashions and fads. The elegant ritual reinforced social hierarchies through conspicuous displays of wealth and taste.

Sunrise services
These up-before-the-sun outdoor worship services were more popular when people awoke at the crack of dawn. In pre-Christian times, they were a celebration to welcome the light after a long, dark winter. Now they commemorate Christ's early-morning resurrection.

Lambs
The lamb is a symbol associated with Christ. He is often referred to in the Bible as the "Lamb of God." John the Baptist described Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

Candles, fires and lights of all kinds
A popular early European pagan custom to signify the victory of spring over winter was to light fires on mountain tops.
The Old Testament is full of examples of sacred fires. Christian bishops tried to squash the pagan tradition, but eventually incorporated it into Easter liturgical ceremonies.
The new fire, the paschal candle lit in darkened churches during the Holy Saturday night Easter Vigil, symbolizes the risen Christ, the Light of the World

All the "extra" at Easter time is wonderful and fun, especially for the children, but let us not forget about our Savior Jesus Christ who on the third day when the stone was rolled back from a great earthquake, the women came and found, not the body of the Lord Jesus. Angels appeared and simply said." Why seek the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen" (Luke 24: 3-6)

What a powerful sentence, "He is not here, but is risen."

Our Savior, our Lord, is risen, he is a resurrected being. I testify that He lives today and will come again. Our lives will not end at death. Our Savior said," because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14:19)

What a glorious time. Let us celebrate and remember what this means. What blessings we have now and blessings that are in store for us! I say this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

March Madness

Again, time is on a race with me to "get it all done." As I read (late as it is already a week into March) this month's Visiting Teaching article I feel grateful to be a member of Relief Society. I have not been at Sacrament Meeting or Relief Society much this year and I miss that. I really do. How amazing are the women in RS, standing strong and firm. I am blessed by their examples and continue to strive to what is right.
Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, explained: “We operate in the manner of the priesthood—which means that we seek, receive, and act on revelation; make decisions in councils; and concern ourselves with caring for individuals one by one. Ours is the priesthood purpose to prepare ourselves for the blessings of eternal life by making and keeping covenants. Therefore, like our brethren who hold the priesthood, ours is a work of salvation, service, and becoming a holy people.”
I know that there are "things" that can get in the way of my plans, my goals and my dreams. I also know that I can make priorities for the "things" that are going to grant me an eternal life with our Heavenly Father. I can do the best I can, really do the best I can and do what I should. Stand strong and firm in my beliefs while serving others and be in a place to receive revelation and act on this revelation. I am grateful for the strong women I know and how they teach me with help and example.

Food Storage and Survival

This is a great site CLICK HERE
With all that is going on in Egypt and from what I learned when I was in Haiti again it is time to review what you have for survival. I still believe that we should have the means to take care of our family for at least a week. We need to be self sufficient with all our needs. Look at the weather back east and though we are not going to get "snowed in" we could very well get locked in if there was a catastrophic earthquake. Being prepared is what we need to be. I am still working on my supplies and it is a slow process for sure. So slow and steady, that is what I will be. The key word is steady. Keep up with getting organized for those "just in case" times. We never know and we will be grateful we did have the resources if we ever do need to use our food and survival stash!

Thoughts

I want to write down some thoughts. The visiting teaching message for this month is, The History and Heritage of Relief Society. Click on the title to go to LDS.org and the complete message.
The organization of the Church was not complete until the sisters were organized. How grateful I am to the women of the MV 1st Ward. I remember when I attended a RS dinner before I joined the church. I was so impressed by the tables, the food, the talent of these women. I thought, "Wow, how can there be so many talented women in one place? I was overwhelmed by everyone's kindness and smiling faces. I even thought, "How can I ever measure up to all these women?" "Relief Society is the Lord's organization for women.' What an organization it is! I now know a lot of those talented, smiling women that were at that dinner I attended so long ago. They are so amazing and I am blessed to have joined Relief Society within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have missed a lot of Sacrament Meetings because of work and taking care of my mother. I usually give my testimony in December because that is my baptismal month but missed it this year. It has been nine years since I joined the church. My how time flies.
I was meant to be here, this I know. I was meant to meet these sisters. I was meant to be in this church. I think that I was lead to this path slowly though out my life. As I think of how I ended up here, I have many, "Ah ha" moments. I know that there is so much more to learn. I have many goals for this new year and one is to be the woman of God I am meant to be.