Years ago, Stake Conference used to have a whole different meaning for me…no early meetings, and if I were tired, I could skip it completely because I didn't ever have a personal assignment.  When the kids were little, we would go to the Sunday session, but not the Saturday night meeting.  Somewhere along the way, I started trying to get to both.  Then I became Relief Society President and I actually wanted to go, besides the fact that my presence might be missed by the sisters in my ward.  But this time was a little different.  Our Stake President, President Pugmire, had asked that we attend the temple in preparation for our Stake Conference meetings, which I did.  He had also challenged us to a daily devotional, which I have accomplished about 4 days out of 7 during the week…something I will continue to work on.  With just this little bit of added preparation, I was looking forward to the messages that would be shared.  Next time, I will take paper and pen to take notes.  My brain is getting old (as well as the before shared other body parts) and my recall isn't what it used to be.  But there were several things that I do remember, and I think that perhaps these are the messages that the Spirit wants me to work on, and maybe help others to understand more

This year, our course of study for the 2nd and 3rd weeks of the month in Relief Society comes from the lesson manual titled Gospel Principles.  It is a very basic lesson plan.  At first glance, it is easy to say, "I already know this."  But as much as we know the basics, it is wise to be reminded so that those plain and simple truths are fresh and foremost in our minds.  It is the basics that are given to us so that we have a clear map on how to return to our Heavenly Father.  We must come to understand the Nature of God.  Here are some of the things we believe: We are told in the scriptures that we are created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27; Moses 2:26)  This tells us that He has a body and that ours is alike in form.  Ours are subject to mortality, or death.  Our Heavenly Father's body is perfected and glorified.  God is perfect.  He has the qualities of righteousness that we need to emulate, like charity, love, patience, faith, knowledge, mercy and goodness.  He has all power, all knowledge – He is the one that can judge us with a perfect judgement, because He knows the intent of our hearts.  All good things come from God.  This earth and our lives are for us to prove ourselves, that we

It has arrived…the first Sunday in 2010.  Twenty ten.  A time for resolutions, New Year's resolutions.  Isn't it amazing how simply entering into a new year can inspire us to make changes in our life?  Not that it's the ONLY time we make changes, but just the fact that it's a new year gives us a fresh chance to resolve to change and hopefully for the better. Sometimes resolutions involve the shedding of bad habits, like "I resolve not to drink diet soda with caffeine, stay up too late or eat chocolate".  I have actually known a few people to make those stick!  I have personally resolved to never order the "I Declair" eclair at Claim Jumpers with any less than 10 people to share it with!  I believe that there was at least a half gallon of ice cream on the bottom and at least a half gallon of whipped cream covering the bigger-than-a-football-sized eclair that was filled with Bavarian cream custard and topped with hot fudge.  Holy Heart Attack, Batman!  Three measly mortals should never attempt this feat on their own!  Megan, mesmerized by the enormity of the task ahead!    But perhaps a better way is to focus on the positive change, like "I will have my personal devotional time, to study scriptures, to exercise more and eat healthy".  I, like a friend, would like to be more organized.  My workroom is still a disaster!  But I also

I always find that I am totally exhausted the few days following Christmas.  My visitors aren't gone yet…which makes me happy…but cooking for my troops seems to be an all day (after day, after day…) project.  I don't know if I could handle working professionally in a kitchen for 8 to 10 hours a day – I'd be too grumpy when I was done!  My meals have consistently gotten easier the older I get.  Tomorrow's meal will probably consist of a hearty, yet simple soup and bread.  Coming to the end of a long holiday weekend, I am tired enough to reflect on the moments that I wouldn't trade and those that I might do differently.  There is always room for improvement.  Sometimes we just need to be reminded of the path we should follow. For Christmas, my talented son Jake fixed my computer and now it works faster!  I didn't realize this until I was able to actually get to my computer today!  I have had so much company and spent so much time visiting and cooking that I really haven't been able to see how wonderful it was.  But I am determined to get back to blogging and needed a little something to get me going so I went to www.lds.org and watched some Mormon Messages.  They always inspire me with their simple truths and encourage me to be more

 I don't always get around to blogging the same days, every other day or even a certain number of times a week.  Life has some busier days than others.  Right now, I should be downstairs, peeling potatoes so that I can mash them and get the rest of dinner ready.  In two hours I will be at an Eagle Court of Honor for one of the boys in our troop, who rather than waiting to have his court of honor with a few of the other boys, is having it early so that his brother, who is being deployed to Iraq shortly, can attend with his family.  Immediately after that, Tom and the new Eagle are rushing off to sing in our Stake's Christmas choral program, which our family will be attending.  By the time we get home from that, it will be busy again and I don't want to want to miss a Scripture Sunday.  So this will be brief, but the plain and simple truths of the gospel do not need a great deal of expounding upon.  Fortunately for me, my Gospel Doctrine's class is full of great scriptures, right from our lessons! Our course of study this year is the Doctrine and Covenants.  I am always aware of the adversary and his plan to make us miserable, even as he is.  The counsel to Joseph Smith, as it is to us, is found

 I love the musical "Scrooge" with Albert Finney in the lead role, based on Charles Dickens's, A Christmas Carol.  Stories told with music and lyrics can bring to mind many lines that I most likely would otherwise forget.  After an especially long night, with visits from his old partner Marley and Christmases Past, Present and Future, Scrooge awakes to find himself alive and with a new outlook on life -"I've got a chance to change and I will not be the man I was!"  Nothing helps repentance like a near death experience!  Faced with a wasted life and a future of endless COLD and misery, Scrooge does not accept his doom, but rather takes this second chance to make the changes in his life that will bring him to a much more pleasant existence.  A little excerpt from the visit by Jacob Marley: "Oh! captive, bound, and double-ironed,” cried the phantom, “not to know, that ages of incessant labour by immortal creatures, for this earth must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed. Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness. Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused! Yet such was I! Oh! such was I!” “But you were

It has been a really long weekend.  Holidays usually are.  But when there is a designated period of time (Thanksgiving weekend – 4 whole days) it seems like we are required to keep busy during this time.  It's okay…I prefer to be busy, but sometimes that leaves me just a little tired and wishing that I could get that Sunday afternoon nap.  It occasionally happens, but not often enough.  I kind of feel guilty when I do, but always more rested, so I have to weigh that guilt against my sense of well-being!  I guess it isn't something to waste a lot of sleep over!  But that brings me to the scripture for today.  Our lessons in Gospel Doctrine are always so timely.  One of the scriptures we talked about was in Doctrine and Covenants 58:26 -  For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Our Heavenly Father doesn't want to have to always tell us every little or big thing that we should become involved in.  Sometimes we do things because we are commanded, but isn't it better to take initiative and do good ourselves?  I know that that if I ask someone to do the dishes, that it will get done.  But what a delight

The countdown to Turkey Day is on…now, what are you thankful for?  Please share!

I'm getting a late start today, at least as far as blogging goes!  Even a crock pot Sunday dinner has to start early and takes a little time.  From when our morning meeting gets started until our Sacrament block is over, it is a minimum of 5 1/2 hours.  It's not a complaint, just commentary on the day.  Add in things like Mike talking in Sacrament meeting and Tom having an ASL program performance tonight and it just adds up to be a long Sunday.  But I love going to church!  I always gain so much insight from the members of the ward – the speakers in Sacrament meeting, our Sunday School and Relief Society teachers…all the comments made during class – all help to buoy me up and prepare me to face another week with renewed dedication.  Which is a good thing because by this time next Saturday, I will need the same spiritual renewal.  I think that is one of the main reasons that we meet together often – that and taking the Sacrament. Among all the good things I heard today, two things were shared that I thought were particularly interesting.  One brother shared a conversation he had with his mission president.  This is not verbatem, but my understanding of his comments.  After sharing his concerns that he wasn't being as good a missionary as he wanted to be, and that perhaps

I traveled this week to Salt Lake City, Utah, to attend the wedding of my charming and talented nephew Matt and his sweet and wonderful bride, Rachelle.  I almost didn't come because I am so busy at home!  But after examining the things that I was busy with, I determined that my kind of busy could wait a few days, while spending this special time with my family could and should not be missed.  So off to Utah I drove with my daughter Megan.  What a fun time we have had.  We went different directions, but got together for all the family gatherings.  I am so happy to be in SLC with my family and have even been able to include friends in the rounds.  Friday afternoon, after running a few errands, Megan and I decided to go downtown to plaza down by temple square.  It is freezing here!  We loaded the parking meter and gave ourselves about an hour and a half limit.  It was fun to take pictures of the beautiful Salt Lake Temple where Scott and I were married, then Christie and Matt two years ago, and then Matt (my nephew) and Rachelle on Thursday.  It was nice not to be too rushed.  We walked around the plaza and came to a building familiar to me.  When I was nineteen and working downtown, I remember standing in front of the big world map