Personal Progress - Faith Value Project

October 21, 2015

For my Faith Value Project I was asked to read Alma 32:28-43.  Then to think of faith as a seed as I help plant, care for, and harvest a vegetable garden.  Then to record in my journal how I can nourish, care for, and strengthen my faith. 

My garden experience: I planted a pumpkin patch earlier this year.  I prepared the ground, nourished the seed and weeded the garden.  I was excited about the garden and looked forward to letting my children pick their own pumpkin around Halloween time.  The plants grew, they flowered, but they didn’t produce fruit.  I think all of the plants were male plants.  Next time I will need to select better seeds.

How to Nourish, Care for, and Strengthen Faith:

v  Give place that a seed may be planted in your heart

v  Seek a good seed

v  Prepare the ground

v  Do not cast the seed out by unbelief

v  Do not resist the Spirit of the Lord

v  Feel

v  Say within yourself it is a good seed

v  Let it enlarge your soul

v  Let it enlighten your understanding

v  Let it be delicious to you

v  Let it swell, sprout, and grow

v  If a seed growth it is good

v  If it growth not, behold it is not good, therefore cast it away

v  Discern the light, whatsoever is light is good

v  Nourish the growing seedling with great care that it may get root

v  Think about the seedling

v  Do not neglect the seedling

v  Protect the seedling from danger

v  Look forward to the fruit thereof

v  Be diligent

v  Have patience

v  Have faith

v  Pluck the fruit

v  Feast upon the fruit

v  Be filled

v  Wait for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you

Church ABC Quiet Book for Sacrament Meeting

So our ward is having a Sabbath Day focus for the whole month of September.  So last night for mutual the laurels in our ward made some Sacrament meeting activity bags for one of our sunbeam classes.  One of the items we put inside was this Church ABC quiet book.

I designed the book based off some ideas I saw online.  Most of the images for the book were taken from LDS Media Library.  I love the beautiful pictures that we are able to freely use on that website.

Download the 4X6 Images HERE.     

The photos are designed to go in a little photo album as pictured below.  I got my albums at Dollar Tree.

Preparing For the Second Coming of Christ and For Life's Storms

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25: 1-13).

Of this parable, Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “This parable contrasts the circumstances of the five foolish and the five wise virgins. All ten were invited to the wedding feast, but only half of them were prepared with oil in their lamps when the bridegroom came.  The arithmetic of this parable is chilling. The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ’s Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came” (Dallin H. Oaks, Preparation for the Second Coming).  The parable of the 10 virgins is about us, members of Christ’s Church.  Christ taught that half of us will be wise enough to be prepared, but half of us will foolishly not prepare.  That is chilling.  I don’t think any of us want to be caught unprepared when the Lord comes again.   

How do we spiritually prepare?  Pres. Packer said of preparing, “Curiosity is not a preparation.  Deep interest itself is not a preparation.  Preparation …includes preliminary steps: faith, repentance, baptism, confirmation, worthiness, … maturity and dignity…” (Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple).  So faith, repentance, baptism, confirmation and worthily enduring are how we spiritually prepare.  That is the doctrine of Christ. 

When should we prepare?  Elder Eyring answers that question for us.  He said, “That preparation must be started far in advance because it takes time. What we will need then can’t be bought. It can’t be borrowed. It doesn’t store well. And it has to have been used regularly and recently.  What we will need in our day of testing is a spiritual preparation. It is to have developed faith in Jesus Christ so powerful that we can pass the test of life upon which everything for us in eternity depends. That test is part of the purpose God had for us in the Creation” (Henry B. Eyring, Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady).  So, the time to prepare is regularly, at all times.  We need to continually be increasing our faith in Jesus Christ by obedience to his commandments.  Elder Eyring goes on to say, “However much faith to obey God we now have, we will need to strengthen it continually and keep it refreshed constantly. We can do that by deciding now to be more quick to obey and more determined to endure. Learning to start early and to be steady are the keys to spiritual preparation. Procrastination and inconsistency are its mortal enemies.”  From that we learn that diligence, steadiness and consistency are the keys to spiritual preparedness.

We not only need to exercise our faith so we will spiritually prepared for when the Savior comes again, but we also need to exercise our faith so we’ll be prepared for the tests, trials, and storms of life that come our way.  Elder Eyring says we need “many experiences of stretching [our] faith to be obedient. … So [our] faith will be strengthened. … Decisions now to exercise faith and be steady in obedience will in time produce great faith and assurance. That is the spiritual preparedness we all will need.

But we must decide to obey and then do it. We build the faith to pass the tests of obedience over time and through our daily choices. We can decide now to do quickly whatever God asks of us. And we can decide to be steady in the small tests of obedience which build the faith to carry us through the great tests, which will surely come” (Henry B. Eyring, Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady).      

Last Tuesday night we had a big storm.  The morning after the storm as I walked through the neighborhood I made several observations.  There were several trees that fell over in the storm.  Some of the trees were ripped out of the ground clear down to the roots.  Others had strong enough roots but were snapped in half at the trunk and the whole top part of the tree blew away.  However most of the trees stood tall and strong and were fine.  What was the difference?  The trees that had strong roots and that had been pruned were able to weather the storm.

I pondered a lot about those trees.  The ones that were too full and had too many branches were destroyed.  They were not balanced.  Do we have balance?  Do we carry too heavy a load?  Do we not have enough of a load?  Do we have too many things that are unimportant eternally that get our time and attention?  Do we need to lop off a few branches so we are not carrying a dangerously heavy load?   

As we go about pruning our lives it is important that we don’t lop off the things that matter most.  Partaking of the sacrament each week, prayer, scripture study, family home evening, accepting and fulling callings and regular temple attendance are things that should not be lopped off.  They are the main branches that supply our roots with enough nourishment to help us stand strong and to be firmly anchored to Christ.  They are the things that allow us to exercise our faith.  I know that if we go to the Master Gardener, our Heavenly Father, He will direct us to the things that need to be trimmed out of our lives, whether it is sin, or whether we are just trying to decide between what is good, what is better, and what is best.  It is important that we do not judge other people and say, they could do more or they should be doing less.  We cannot see the roots they have.  They may be doing all that their roots can support, or maybe their roots are strong enough to carry the big branches that they carry.

After the storm, one particular tree, the big tree that was uprooted in the blue park, really taught me a lesson.  That tree was one of the biggest trees in the neighborhood.  It had withstood storms for years and years, yet it was uprooted and fell over.  Why couldn’t it withstand this storm?   It couldn’t withstand the storm because it was not prepared during the storm.  It was prepared in the past, but preparedness doesn’t last forever.  It has to be ongoing.  Elder Eyring said, “We can choose to sigh with relief and say to ourselves: ‘I have built a great reservoir of faith by … being steady in obedience. I will store it away against the times when I will be tested in storms.’ There is a better way to prepare, because great faith has a short shelf life. We could decide to persist in studying the words of Christ in the scriptures and the teachings of living prophets” (Henry B. Eyring, Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady).  So because spiritual preparedness has a short shelf life, we can’t “retire” and say I’ve done enough. 

At one point, all of our lamps once burning brightly, are they still burning brightly now?  Do we have a reservoir of oil that we are continually using and replacing?

Another lesson I learned about spiritual preparedness from Tuesday’s storm is the importance of good influences in our life.  Chad and I drove to a church building to play volleyball while the storm was raging.  The winds were blowing so strong when we got to the building, that it took two people pushing with all their might from inside the church building to be able to open the doors to get us safely inside.  I think that image will stay will me for a while.  We have friends, family, and a ward family who can help us stay spiritually secure.  They can safely help us reach shelter from the storm.  Being part of a family and a community of saints is a wonderful blessing.  It gives us the chance to serve and be served, to love and to be loved, to lift burdens and to have our burdens lifted, to be taught and to teach… to have backup.

One more thing that will help us to be spiritually prepared is to keep the standards in the For the Strength of Youth Booklet.  Pres. Uchtdorf says, “Some of the most important guidelines for your life are found in the pamphlet For the Strength of Youth. The physical appearance of this little paper booklet would qualify it for the scriptural description “Out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). The pamphlet itself has little material value, perhaps just a few cents. But the doctrine and principles it presents are an invaluable treasure. You … who are already 18 or older, if you don’t have this booklet anymore, make sure to get one, keep it, and use it. This little booklet is a gem for any age group. It contains standards which are sacred symbols representing our membership in the Church” (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, See the End from the Beginning).  We never graduate from the standards listed in the For the Strength of Youth booklet.  The standards contained in it will help us prepare for the Second coming of the Savior.  If followed, they will help us feel confident and comfortable in His presence.  We know “neither the day nor the hour” when the Savior will return but if we follow the standards the Lord has set in this pamphlet we will be ready.  We will not be watching something inappropriate; we will not be wearing something inappropriate; we will be grateful, repentant, virtuous, honest, and have clean, kind language.

I know that as we spiritually prepare ourselves for the Savior’s return and for the storms of life, the Lord will prepare for us.  “Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father” (Enos 1:27).

Letter- Testimony

Sunday, April 05, 2015

11:14pm

It’s late.  Easter Sunday is coming to a close.  I can’t sleep, probably because I slept in this morning.  I thought I’d get up and write a little bit of my testimony and share it.  I was committed to share my testimony today by the sister missionaries while we were eating at Jennie and Trever’s house this evening.

I know that we have a living prophet that guides us today.  This weekend was general conference.  There were a few talks in conference yesterday and today that addressed some very personal concerns that I have been dealing with.  I have prayed about them, but not really ever voiced them to anyone.  The talks helped me to know what to do and calmed and reassured me.  They helped me to know that I have a Heavenly Father who knows me, and who knows my concern and will help me.  I know that the Lord guides and directs the work of His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I know that President Monson is the Lord’s prophet today and that we have 14 other prophets, seers and revelators in the first presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the head of this church.  I am thankful for their words this weekend.  I know Jesus Christ lives.  I know he loves ME.  He love me even when, probably especially when, I fall short or doubt.  He gives me the tools to build my faith.  To keep going when I feel like nothing I do makes a difference. 

I know that the temple is the House of the Lord.  I know that families can be linked together-- husband to wife, parents to children--so that they might have joy.  I know that Heavenly Father loves each of His children and that He wants each of them to return to Him so he has created temples to allow those children who did not have access to the blessings of temple covenants and the sealing power the SAME blessings of those who did and do have access to the temple.  I love Chad and my children and my extended families.  I am so thankful for the sacred ties of the gospel that bind us together. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,
Mindy

Family History - Miracle of Seagulls, First Temple Ordinance done in the Salt Lake Temple

I have recently been reading a book about my Great-Great Grandfather William Jordan Flake.  I have had this book since the year I was born.  It was a Christmas gift from my Grandma Gerda Flake.  I am kind of ashamed I've waited this long in my life to read it.  It is a great, fun easy read.  It reminded me of the book These is my Words.  I have enjoyed it.  I learned that William J., his wife and his children sacrificed much to build up not only Snowflake but several other towns in north Eastern Arizona--Concho, Nurtrioso, Springrville and Showlow.  He was also called an apostate for a time.

There are a couple of cool stories I'd like to share from the book.

The first is of William J. being present in Salt Lake when crickets were threatening to devour their badly needed crops and how sea gulls came and ate the crickets, saving the crops.  Here is the account:

"William, now eleven years old had to take the part of a man.  He herded cows down on the Sandy, during the winter of 1849 and 1850.  He well remembered the coming of the crickets.  He, with most every one else, was out fighting them, to try and save the little crop they had.  To lose the crop meant starvation.  They fought until the people began to fall from exhaustion and the crickets came in ever increasing numbers.  They saw it was a losing battle; then the Lord interceded in their behalf.  Although it was a bright day, a shadow fell over the fields, and a noise of wings came nearer; they wondered if it was a new calamity.  They looked up and the sky was full of gulls.  For a moment they stood in wonder.  Then the birds lit right at their feet, paid no attention to the people, but began picking up the crickets.  The people stood in awe, and witnessed the salvation of the Lord.

"The gulls were so tame, that one could reach down and pick them up.  You all know the story, how when they filled their craw, they flew to the stream, drank and disgorged and went back to their work, and never quit until the fields were cleaned.  Then they flew away.  That great manifestation from the Lord has not, nor will it be forgotten.  On Temple Square in Salt Lake is the only monument ever to be built and dedicated to the memory of a bird" (William J. Flake Pioneer - Colonizer, p. 16).  More about this miracle can be found HERE.

The other think I like to share is an account about how William J. and his sons were the first people to have work done in the Salt Lake Temple when it was dedicated.

"On April 8th at 7 A. M. all of the family that were in Salt Lake went to the Temple to do some work; Prudence to be Blessed for her health, and Father and Mother to have two sons, who were not born under the Covenant, sealed to them, James Madison and William Melvin.  After President Joseph F. Smith performed the ceremony he said, 'Brother James your name will go down on the great record as the first work in this new Temple.'  Then turning to Father, he said, "Isn't it nice, Brother Flake, your name will go down on the record as the first work done in this great Temple.  That is a great credit to you, Brother Flake.'  And it was not only a credit but an honor.  Many L.D.S. people would have given much to have had that honor.  To him it came unsolicited.  His great colonization work was bearing fruit."  (William J. Flake Pioneer - Colonizer, p. 131).

Personal Progress

March 19, 2015

I’m working on Choice and Accountability in Personal Progress again this afternoon.  When doing the required reading in value experience #1 I was reminded that The Lord wants us to work out and come up with solutions to our own problems.  When we do he will bless us and help make what we come up with work.  There can often be more than one right solution and/or answer to our problems.

Regular scripture study and prayer help me make correct decisions by helping me stay close to the Holy Spirit so I can be reminded of important matters and so I can have help thinking through possible consequences (positive and negative) of my decisions.  They also help me learn more about Jesus Christ so I can be more like him.  Prayer and scripture study also help me learn about the promises the Lord has made.  When I learn of those promises, I can do what is asked and claim those blessings for myself and my family. 

In value experience #2 I am asked to list each standard of righteous behavior in the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet.  The standards are:

·         Agency and Accountability

·         Dating

·         Dress and Appearance

·         Education

·         Entertainment and Media

·         Family

·         Friends

·         Gratitude

·         Honesty and Integrity

·         Language

·         Music and Dancing

·         Physical and Emotional Health

·         Repentance

·         Sabbath Day Observance

·         Service

·         Sexual Purity

·         Tithes and Offerings

·         Work and Self-Reliance

·         Go Forward with Faith

It is important to live these standards because the First Presidency promised that if I do I “will be blessed with the companionship of the Holy Ghost, [my] faith and testimony will grow stronger, and [I] will enjoy increasing happiness.”

For the next three weeks I am going to work on these three standards:

• Entertainment and Media, I will improve myself by not spending so much time on social media or watching TV or reading books so that I don’t miss out on valuable interaction with my family.
• Gratitude, I will also “be specific in thanking [Father in Heaven] for His goodness, for my family, for friends, for leaders and teachers, for the gospel, and for His Son, Jesus Christ.”
• Service, I will “seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost each day to know whom to serve and how to help meet their needs” so my “capacities will increase”.      

I am so thankful for personal progress.  I am thankful for the personal inspiration and the inspiration from my stake leaders to work on it with my young women.  It has blessed me more than I thought it would.  The Lord is so good to me. 

Love,

Mindy

Take Flight: Embark in the Service of God - 2015 New Beginnings

I am excited about our upcoming New Beginnings.  I based several of my ideas from this blog.  Here is what we have planned:

Excerpt about New Beginnings from the handbook: 

“This event helps young women and their parents learn about the Young Women program. It includes an explanation of Personal Progress and a presentation of the Young Women theme, logo, motto, and age-group purpose statements and symbols (see 10.1). It should help young women and their parents plan for events in the coming year.”

“New Beginnings provides opportunities for leaders to express love for the young women, encourage parents to help their daughters in Personal Progress experiences, introduce young women who will reach age 12 in the coming year, and welcome young women who have joined the Church or moved into the ward. It is a time to recognize young women and their accomplishments in Personal Progress. The Young Women presidency invites a member of the bishopric to give concluding remarks.”

Decorations and Set Up:  Have chairs set up like chairs in a large airplane.  Large screen up front with a time lapse video of the sky so it looks more like we’re flying.  Souvenir Photo booth for after the program with pilot hats and aviator sun glasses.  Dessert table with all the values and colors.

Flight Attendant Costumes:  Dark skirts or pants, button up shirts, a scarf/ascot, and name tags

Invitations:

Look like an airline ticket

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

7:00pm at the Maplewood building

For Young Women 11-18 and their parents

“Flight Itinerary” (Program):

Souvenir Photo Booth: Miamaids in charge

Projector and Screen for in-flight movie: Laurels in charge

Desserts and Dessert table decorations: Beehives in charge

YW Procedures Instructional posters:

Beehives Class Presidency: Beehive purpose statement and symbol and Young Women Logo

Mia Maid Class Presidency: Mia Maid purpose statement and symbol and presentation of the Young Women motto

Laurel Class Presidency: Laurel purpose statement and symbol and Young Women Theme

In-flight movie: video that introduces the 2015 mutual theme, time lapse video of the sky playing during the activity

Conductor/Narrator: 

FLIGHT SCRIPT: (# indicates a pause because of a presentation or just a pause for effect):

Good evening passengers. This is your Co-Pilot speaking. On behalf of myself, the captain and the other co-pilots, I’d like to welcome everyone to Embark Airlines, where we will be traveling nonstop to New Beginnings, departing in just a few minutes… 

#

Ladies and gentlemen, it seems that we have a late arrival - a passenger from a connecting flight is running down the fairway, so we’re going to stop for her - and that will mean a short delay in our departure, but we will be getting underway in just a few minutes… 

# pause while late-passenger enters & performs  -  NOT LISTED IN THE PROGRAM that we handed out, we had a surprise (planned) late-arrival of a YW with large amounts of luggage who (comically) kept trying to stow her bags in the (non-existent)overheard compartments or shove them under peoples seats. This was just for fun and was a big hit. 

#

Before we take off, we will begin with an in-flight opening song “Put your Shoulder to the Wheel”. __________________ will be our chorister, followed by a prayer given by _______________. After the song and prayer, please relax and enjoy the rest of the flight. 

#

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the flight crew I ask that you please direct your attention to the flight attendants as they present YW procedures.

Beehives Class Presidency: Beehive purpose statement and symbol and Young Women Logo

Mia Maid Class Presidency: Mia Maid purpose statement and symbol and presentation of the Young Women motto

Laurel Class Presidency: Laurel purpose statement and symbol and Young Women Theme

We ask that you make sure that all carry-on luggage is stowed away safely during the flight. Most importantly, please remember to keep your heart, might, mind and strength in the upright and locked position.

#

At this time, I am turning off the fasten seat belts sign so that everyone may stand and join us in reciting the YW Theme. If you are a first-time flier, please refer to the YW theme poster.  Flight attendants, please lead the passengers in reciting the YW theme.

#

The captain is turning on the fasten seatbelts sign, Please return to your seats and refer to your flight itinerary (program) for the duration of the flight.

Here is our program:

Download a word document copy of the program that you can edit HERE