Weekly Family History Activities

https://thefhguide.com/cfm-schedule-2022.html

The Family History Guide has this amazing resource. Each week there are family history activities that correlate to Come Follow Me study!! I can’t believe I haven’t used this resource.

Max and Serena Watt at Idaho Falls Temple

This picture of parents conveys the sealing power of covenants made in the temple. My parents even in their 80s still attend the temple on a weekly basis. Their example is a precious gift in my life.

Grandma Parkin sharing stories about Christmas ornaments from the past

I picked some pictures from my library that for me show the power of family and traditions. The power of stories is so great. Isaiah 50 through 57 tells the story of the coming Messiah and what He will do for me and all people.

Nicole making a Thanksgiving Cherry Pie

It has taken effort to develop the family tradition for making pies for Thanksgiving on the day before Thanksgiving. But, like so many traditions it has drawn my family closer to one another. I use my Grandma Baldwin’s Never Fail Pie crust recipe. My mother-in-law comes over and we use her family pumpkin pie recipe.

I am going to put together a book of recipes that I treasure from my parents and grandparents as well as Gil’s family recipes. Maybe that will be my Christmas gift this year.

Our Earthly Stewardship

Our Earthly Stewardship https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/31causse?lang=eng

Bishop Causse the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave this memorable message in the Saturday evening session.

I am so excited to read and study his talk in depth. I have been a member of the group LDS Earth Stewardship for a couple of years. So many of the concepts spoken of by Bishop Causse are founding principles of LDS Earth Stewardship.

Check out the website for the group and consider joining. There is no fee for membership and your contribution of time and energy can be greatly magnified through participation in our service and learning activities.

WOW!

“The answer to the simplest questions, and to the most complex problems, is always the same. The answer is Jesus Christ. Every solution is found in Him.

Elder Ryan Olsen, October 2022 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
statue of a man with long hair and beard
Photo by Mario Wallner on Pexels.com

This year I made the effort to listen to each conference session sitting down and focused on listening. Well, almost each session.. I missed a lot of the evening session on Saturday and I was working on Sunday dinner on Sunday afternoon session but, this year more than any other year I really tried to concentrate.  The Sunday morning session was the best session for me as I was in the Conference Center with my sister, Krista, and a newly baptized member of my ward, Rebecca.

The Sunday morning session was truly a revelatory session for me and I am so grateful for that experience. I had been trying to write down Gospel principles and concepts, characteristics of the Savior, and other themes as I listened to each talk. I tried to mark each time I heard a specific characteristic like meekness, humility or a concept like forgiveness, repentance, enduring to the end used in a talk. As I was concentrating and listening intently on Sunday morning, the impression came to me to make a list of the words/phrases I was tracking and in coming days and weeks as I study each Conference talk I will use that list to note the words and phrases for that talk. I am not sure that is a very good explanation but, I will start working on it and I am sure the Holy Ghost will help me refine it and gain greater understanding and revelation for my life.

“My plea to you this morning is to find rest from the intensity, uncertainty and anguish of this world by overcoming the world through your covenants with God. … Cherish and honor your covenants above all other commitments. As you let God prevail in your life, I promise you greater peace, confidence, joy and, yes, rest.”

President Russell M. Nelson, October 2022 General Conference, Sunday Morning Session

My Heavenly Father truly answers my prayers. He has heard my pleas for help in meeting the demands of my daily life. He has heard my cries for stronger shoulders and greater strength and compassion to help and uphold my family, loved ones and my ‘neighbors.’  I want to help and I am able to do many things to help others but the needs are so great and so varied and complex that it feels overwhelming on many days. President Nelson’s talk was a direct answer to my prayers for strength and guidance and increased love. Many of the talks also addressed other questions and problems I have been struggling with and not only gave advice and counsel but, offered comfort and encouragement.

I am so grateful to know that there is a living prophet of the earth today, President Russell M. Nelson. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer and He truly is the answer to every problem.

Sunday Morning Session Conference Center