Scripture Journals

Do you have a scripture journal?  

--a journal to record all of your favorite scripture references and special insights you have gained while reading them?

Shannon from theredheadedhostess.com shares how to get started and the importance of reading and studying the scriptures.

This video is 41 minutes ...and well worth yout time.....ENJOY!!

Writing to a Missionary

Are you writing to a missionary?  Do you wonder what to say or write about?

 Here are some ideas.  The most important thing to remember is to keep your letters light and  positive.  Your missionary needs encouraging, uplifting, even spiritual letters that make him or her better after having read them.

Things to ask about The work Their schedule The culture Their experiences Who are the teaching? When they tell you about an investigator, follow up and ask about them	Things to share Insights you’ve gained in the scriptures, seminary or Church lessons Testimony building experiences you’ve had News about mutual friends who are also serving missions	Things to avoid Asking how many baptisms they have had Don’t complain or criticize them if they haven’t written back to you Mentioning problems that arise at home. There are some problems they should know about, but many that would only distract or worry them unnecessarily
Good Things in small packages Missionaries love receiving thoughtful packages but make sure to honor the guidelines of their mission Remember to keep your gifts simple. Include an extra item for their companion Check before sending off a box to a missionary abroad-due to custom fees	Messages from Family and Friends Tell them the important things that are happening in your life with school, family, and the gospel. Encouraging, friendly, non-romantic letters You can help them focus on the work of the Lord with uplifting letters and reassurance that they are where they need to be.	Avoid gossip stories or what party you went to last week Do not write “I love you” “I miss you” “I can’t wait to see you again..this is very distracting. Avoid romantic allusions

What the Atonement Feels Like

When I think of the Atonement, I think of a blanket that covers me.

Do you have a favorite warm blanket that you love?  Why do you love it?  Does it soothe you just having it close to you? 

 

By nature I am almost always cold. I hate to be cold more than anything else. If I am cold, I cannot sleep at night, and cannot concentrate during the day. My mind just wants comfort and warmth.

Turning to the Lord, and having the Atonement applied in my life and letting it cover my pains, heart-aches, struggles, and sins...feels like the perfect warm blanket on a cold night warming, soothing, comforting, loving, and bringing healing to a needing body.

 

How does the Atonement of Jesus Christ make you feel?

Dare to Stand Alone

Scared to Death

This picture is me at the challenge course at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah... and I was as scared as I have ever been. 

I am petrified of heights and if you could see my face... you would know that.  My daughters remind me often, while laughing, that "you should have seen your face mom!"  No doubt, it was a scary thing.

I knew I was safe.  I had a harness, and I was connected to a cable. I had these loving guides all around me, including an audience of young women and leaders below encouraging me along and cheering for me to keep going and not give up. 

 I knew if I happened to slip and fall (heaven forbid), I would just swing and dangle around.  I wouldnt' really fall and get hurt.

 For me, I just had to keep talking myself through every step forward.  I could feel every step.  Each one felt like the greatest performance. 

I was reminded how completely dependent I am upon others and the Lord.  And with faith and the support of others, weak things in our lives, are possible. We can accomplish anything we set our mind to accomplish.

Check out this must read talk from  the October 2011 General Conference! 

President Thomas S. Monson

{Dare to Stand Alone} 

I encourage you to have the strength to try hard things, to be the first, or the only one if necessary to stand for what you know to be true. 

Standing as Witnesses: YW in Excellence

This one is from the archives, but a good one to remember and share. 

 Could also be used for Standing as Witnesses, the Worth of Soles, Standing for Truth and Righteousness, etc. 

Young Womens in Excellence 2010  

“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9).

We designed our program around shoes and being strong and courageous.

We asked each young women to bring a pair of shoes that represented when they feel they stand their strongest.  We gave them a paper to fill out that described their shoes and why they feel courageous in them.

Examples: Track shoes, dance shoes, Sunday shoes, "sneakers" basketball shoes, etc.

We displayed these shoes as neat and organized as possible along with one thing they worked on or passed off in Personal Progress that year.

We typed up their shoe description on a nice folded card


We had a wonderful program which included a short talk about a time I felt strong and courageous as I hiked the Grand Canyon with my husband.

We also asked the parents to write about a time their daughter was strong and courageous.  We read each an everyone of those short experiences.  There were many tears as we talked about their daughters.

For our handout we handed out socks: Colorful socks with an iron-on logo "Stand Strong and Courageous"  that the young women loved wearing.  Many of them put them on right then and there.

It was a wonderful night and I wanted to share this with anyone that could use it. It is easily adaptable and had a great message.