Free Forever, to Act for Themselves - December 28, 2014

Our last lesson of 2014 was given by Tina D. using Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk Free, Forever to Act for Themselves about agency given to man.

"It is God’s will that we be free men and women enabled to rise to our full potential both temporally and spiritually." (Free, Forever to Act for Themselves)

'[from "Henry V"]"Every subject’s duty is the king’s; but every subject’s soul is his own." comes down to "who bears responsibility for what happens in our lives? When things go wrong?' (Free, Forever to Act for Themselves)

As children get older you hope they draw on what you tech them but they have their agency.

"But God intends that His children should act according to the moral agency He has given them" (Free, Forever to Act for Themselves)

"Nor will His prophets accept the role of “puppet master” in God’s place." (Free, Forever to Act for Themselves)

You may feel like a puppet master of your children's lives but sometimes we need to let them make mistakes to learn and use their agency.

'We should (and we do) rejoice in the God-ordained plan that permits us to make choices to act for ourselves and experience the consequences, or as the scriptures express it, to “taste the bitter, that [we] may know to prize the good.” ' (Free, Forever to Act for Themselves)

• Why must we taste the bitter to understand?

Thanks Tina for a great lesson!

The Birth of Jesus Christ: “Good Tidings of Great Joy” - December 21, 2014

Natalie M. taught our Christmas themed lesson using story, song and a sweet spirit.

Her husband told of the story of the WW1 Christmas truce between British and German troops then sang/played the Garth Brooks song "Belleau Wood" written about the event.

• What do you do in your home to remember the Savior at Christmastime?

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Natalie shared a family story of longed-for, store-bought dolls and the Christmas two sisters would have received them but instead learned a more important lesson as they generously gave them to two girls who had suddenly lost their father.

There is also the poignant Parable of the Bicycle which parallels Christ's gift of grace to each of us.

Songs, Stories and Sweets Christmas Party

This year we had an informal Relief Society Christmas Party in the warmth of Nanci T.'s festive home.

 It all began with plenty of chatting.

There were cookies/sweets for eating and exchanging.


Sisters brought their favorite Christmas stories for all to peruse and some gave vignettes of each story, many which were shared with tender memories and a few tears.

 Lanae S. sang for us before we all sang a few Santa songs led by Colette T. (both accompanied by Dan S.).

The Women of Christmas

Thanks Donna P. for putting together a wonderful Christmas program

The Women of Christmas

Pianist – Deanne W.

Chorister – Courtney M.

Table Display – Nanci T.

With Wondering Awe #210

Introduction - Nica M.

Innkeeper’s Wife - Yoko B.

Once in Royal David’s City #205

Shepherd’s Wife - Krystal H.

Away in a Manger #206

Elizabeth - Julia J.

Joseph’s Mother - Andrea M.

Mary’s Mother - Alice M.

When Joseph Went To Bethlehem

Palo Alto Second Ward Young Women

Joseph’s Mother - Andrea M.

Mary - April F.

Mary’s Lullaby

Suzi & Ella J.

Accompanied by Katie S.

Conclusion - Nica M.

 Silent Night #204

Joys of Scripture Study - November 30, 2014

Sue J was our guest speaker from the Palo Alto 1st/Redwood City 2nd ward guiding us through a plan for better scripture study and the blessings of regular personal study.

Take this personal inventory:

• How many times a month do you have personal scripture study?
• How many minutes each time?
• On a scale of 1-10, what is your quality? 10 being that you learning something relevant, connect with the Lord, and feel the Spirit every time.

30 days-60 minutes-10 quality is possible if you want it.
The Lord wants it for us but needs us to want it.

On her mission, Sue met a humble woman who cared for handicapped men in her home. Scripture study meant a lot to her. She would get up an hour early to be in the Book of Mormon.
Her sacrifice allowed the Lord to bless her.  Sue tested this and found the same blessings.
Her commitment not to miss a day brought her a relationship where the Lord is always teaching her.


The process to be open to what the Lord has to teach:

• Have a set time. For Sue it is first thing in the morning. When would you set aside an hour?

At Gethsemane, Jesus Christ found his disciples asleep and said:

"What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" Matthew 26:40

• Pray. For consciousness, to understand- a deeper meaning, to remember, I don't get this, have a conversation "help me" about what we're reading, revelation on concerns, direction/service, what to study, be more "(blank)"
  

Study General Conference talks, don't just read them.
Sue uses a journal and decides on a focus/principle.  Write.

Read till you find something to focus on.

For example, Sue was studying Elder Christofferson's talk from the most recent conference and wrote this passage in her journal:

It is God’s will that we be free men and women enabled to rise to our full potential both temporally and spiritually, that we be free from the humiliating limitations of poverty and the bondage of sin, that we enjoy self-respect and independence, that we be prepared in all things to join Him in His celestial kingdom.

I am under no illusion that this can be achieved by our own efforts alone without His very substantial and constant help. “We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”²⁴ And we do not need to achieve some minimum level of capacity or goodness before God will help—divine aid can be ours every hour of every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience. But I know that beyond desiring His help, we must exert ourselves, repent, and choose God for Him to be able to act in our lives consistent with justice and moral agency. My plea is simply to take responsibility and go to work so that there is something for God to help us with. 

I bear witness that God the Father lives, that His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Redeemer, and that the Holy Spirit is present with us. Their desire to help us is undoubted, and Their capacity to do so is infinite. -Free Forever, to Act for Themselves By Elder D. Todd Christofferson

She chose "help" to be her study focus with thoughts of a couple she wanted to help.

• Begin in the Topical Guide or a scripture from memory.
• Write those scriptures in your journal.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Be still, and know that I am God Psalms 46:1-5, 10 

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:13-16 

This scripture made her feel comforted in worrying about how to help this couple.

• Write the words that come to you.
  

I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. 1 Nephi 3:7

Reading this scripture, she felt inspired. If she was commanded then He will help her.

Revelation - November 23, 2014

Natalie M. instigated discussion based on the two conference talks: "Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth" by President Uchtorf and "Continuing Revelation" by President Eyring.

• How we can we receive personal revelation?

Turn to the scriptures, develop a habit of prayer, let the spirit guide your prayers, limit distractions, be still, do your part/work, humble yourself before, set appropriate/righteous expectations.

Imagine Heavenly Father's joy when we choose the righteous path.

When Lehi heard Nephi speak..., the scripture says that “he was exceedingly glad.”¹ He was glad because he knew that Nephi had been blessed with confirming revelation that his father’s dream was a true communication from God. Nephi did not say, “I will go and do what my father told me to do.” Rather he said, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.” "Continuing Revelation" by President Eyring

Our children are also capable of making decisions from revelation.

President Boyd K. Packer described that identifying mark of the true Church this way: “Revelation continues in the Church: the prophet receiving it for the Church; the president for his stake, his mission, or his quorum; the bishop for his ward; the father for his family; the individual for himself.”² "Continuing Revelation" by President Eyring

We can receive revelation for those we love and have stewardship over.
It takes courage, as you act you can get more. We can be given revelation as we teach in our callings.

Preparing for the Coming of Our Lord - November 16, 2014

Tina D. presented thoughts from Chapter 26: Preparing for the Coming of Our Lord from the Joseph Fielding Smith manual.

President Joseph Fielding Smith once told a group of Latter-day Saints that he was “praying for the end of the world.” He said, “If it came tomorrow I would be glad.” In response to that declaration, a woman spoke out, loudly enough for others to hear. “Oh, I hope not,” she said.

Sharing this experience some time later, President Smith taught:

“Do you not want the end of the world to come?

“Most people have the wrong idea of what is meant by the end of the world. …

“… When Christ comes there will be an end to the world. … There will not be any war, any turmoil, envying, lying; there will be no wickedness. Men will learn then to love the Lord and keep His commandments, and if they don’t they will not stay here. That’s the end of the world, and that is what the Savior prayed for when His disciples came to Him and said, ‘Teach us to pray.’ What did He do? He taught them, ‘Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.’ [See Luke 11:1–2.]

“That’s what I’m praying for. The Lord was praying for the end of the world, and so am I.”  Chapter 26: Preparing for the Coming of Our Lord

This perspective can be very different than that of the world.

• How does this account from the life of Joseph Fielding Smith influence your feelings about the end of the world?

A song about preparing for the Saviors coming

“As thou knowest, O our God, we are living in the last days when the signs of the times are being shown forth; when thou art hastening thy work in its time; and when we have already heard the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths straight …

“O, our Father, we long for the day when the Prince of Peace shall come, when the earth shall rest and righteousness be found again upon her face; and it is our prayer, spoken out of humble and contrite hearts, that we shall abide the day and be found worthy to live with him whom thou hast appointed to stand as King of kings and Lord of lords, to whom be glory and honor and power and might both now and forever.” (from the dedicatory prayer of the Ogden Utah Temple) Chapter 26: Preparing for the Coming of Our Lord

• How can the prophecies help us prepare for the coming of the Lord?

Elder Oaks teaches the importance of preparing for the Second Coming

The Savior's parable of the fig tree (Doctrine and Covenants 45:16-39) teaches that we need not be frightened or troubled by the calamities that will come in the last days.

Be Not Troubled video about the parable of the fig tree

The Work of Latter-day Women: "Unselfish Devotion to This Glorious Cause" - November 9, 2014

Tori G. led the discussion of women's roles in the Church and our place in the gospel.

• What is our role as women?

A role is defined as actors part in a play, or a position in a in a situation

• What do we learn about the role women play in the scriptures?

"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19

“The song of the righteous is a prayer unto me” (D&C 25:12)

Moses 5:1-12

"We may read in the Pearl of Great Price that after the consequences brought upon Adam and Eve by the fall, Eve preached the discourse." Chapter 24: The Work of Latter-day Saint Women: “Unselfish Devotion to This Glorious Cause”

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42

Women play a key role

"These patterns have been restored in the latter days through the organization of the Relief Society. The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “The Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized.”¹⁵ Sister Eliza R. Snow, the second Relief Society general president, reiterated this teaching. She said: “Although the name may be of modern date, the institution is of ancient origin. We were told by our martyred prophet that the same organization existed in the church anciently.”¹⁶

Besides Joseph Smith, other latter-day prophets have testified that the organization of Relief Society is an inspired part of the Restoration, whereby women in the Church are called in ecclesiastical positions to serve one another and to bless the entire Church."  Daughters in My Kingdom

'The “Female Relief Society of Nauvoo” was organized by the Prophet Joseph Smith assisted by Elder John Taylor. The Lord had revealed that the women of the Church should be organized into a society, for there was important work for them to do in aiding to “bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.” [D&C 6:6.] This labor of the sisters was primarily to be for the benefit, encouragement, and advancement of the women of the Church that they might be prepared in all things for a place in the celestial kingdom. The responsibility was also given them to aid in the work of mercy and relief from distress and suffering of the poor, the sick, and afflicted throughout the Church. All through the years since that organization, the sisters of this society have been true to their calling and have magnified themselves in their faithfulness in that work. No task assigned has been too hard; no responsibility neglected, and through their ministrations thousands have been blessed. Chapter 24: The Work of Latter-day Saint Women: “Unselfish Devotion to This Glorious Cause”

The 3 missions of Relief Society are:
- Increase in faith and personal righteousness
- Strengthen home and family
 - Service/help those in need

Every woman baptized into the Church has the hands of the elders laid on her head for the gift of the Holy Ghost that she may have the guidance of that Spirit in all truth. It is the will of the Lord that none may be without divine guidance which will reveal to them the truth and enable them to discern the light from the darkness and, thus, be fortified and given power to resist all false doctrines, theories, and notions, which are so prevalent in the world today.

Our sisters are entitled just as much to the inspiration for their needs of the Holy Spirit as are the men, every bit. They are entitled to the gift of prophecy concerning matters that would be essential for them to know. … When they pray they should pray earnestly, expecting to have an answer to their prayers. The Lord will hear them, if they are earnest, true, just as well as he will the brethren.

The Lord has promised to all, males and females alike, the gift of the Holy Ghost on conditions of faithfulness, humility, and true repentance. They are required to study and to know the truths of the gospel and to prepare themselves by study, faith, and obedience to all commandments to seek for light and truth that they may be entitled to celestial glory.

Chapter 24: The Work of Latter-day Saint Women: “Unselfish Devotion to This Glorious Cause”

Emma Smith said:

“I desire the Spirit of God to know and understand myself, that I might be able to overcome whatever of tradition or nature that would not tend to my exaltation in the eternal worlds. I desire a fruitful, active mind, that I may be able to comprehend the designs of God, when revealed through His servants without doubting.”

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father and that should guide our actions!

French Toast recipe

Those lucky enough to attend Hot Chocolate Morning this month at Mary Ellen's got to taste Apple Toffee French Toast.  Here's the recipe as published in the Costco Connection magazine November 2010.  It was Tree Top's America's Secret Ingredient recipe contest winner, Sweet catagory by Nadine Mesch of Mount Healthy, Ohio.

Ingredients Servings: 8

French Toast: 8 cups French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes 3 tart apples, peeled, chopped 1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened ¾ cup  brown sugar ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup Tree Top Apple Juice ¾ cup milk 2 tsp vanilla, divided ½ cup English toffee bits 5 eggs   Apple Syrup: 1 cup sugar 2 TBSP cornstarch ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg 2 cups* Tree Top Apple Juice 2 TBSP lemon juice 5 TBSP butter * For thicker syrup, try reducing Apple Juice to 1 cup.

Directions

Place half the bread cubes in a greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan; top with apples. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugars, Tree Top apple juice and 1 tsp vanilla until smooth; stir in toffee bits. Spread over apples. Top with remaining bread cubes. In another large bowl, beat the eggs, milk and vanilla until well blended; pour over bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. While baking French toast prepare syrup. Apple Syrup: In a medium size saucepan whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, Tree Top apple juice and lemon juice; heat to a boil; whisk constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Add butter. Serve over warm Apple Toffee French toast to 8 VERY lucky people.

Serving Suggestions

Spoon warm syrup over French toast. For real decadence, dollop a spoonful of whipped cream on top.

The gift of our bodies - November 2, 2014

Nettie lead us in a brief lesson about how we are blessed with having a physical body.
She recalled many events her body taken her through, getting high heels at 16 and hearing of the attack on Pearl Harbor, going on a train alone at 21, getting married at 23, and dressing her mother for burial at 61 - the body that gave her a body.

Brown and white Spectator pumps, circa 1940

• Why do we have a body?

To cover our spirits, to learn. Our bodies are connected to our spirits, so taking care of one can also improve the other.  We can feel life more fully with our bodies.

Our bodies are an amazing gift and it is incredible what people do with it, even if not every part works perfectly.

We closed with time for a few beautiful testimonies.

Tantrum Remedy - Alison H.

Year: 1984, Baby #2. Scene: Toddler #1, a beautiful angel of a child up till then, had become  the instant proverbial Two Year Old (TM) now that she had competition for my attention. These screaming fists-pounding-the-floor temper tantrums? Where on earth had they come from? And of course when she cried the baby cried in sympathy and pretty quickly we were all miserable while I tried to reason with her, hug her, scold her, time her out, anything, please make something work.

I heard from one mom much later that what she had done was to get down on the floor alongside her little kid and throw a no-holds-barred tantrum act herself, fists and feet flailing, making her kid stop and look at her like, Are you crazy? Why are you making this scene? In public!

But that was years in the future.

In tired new-mother desperation one day, I called my Mom.

Mom said, Offer to pour cold water on her head.

Me: Say what?

Mom: Offer to pour cold water on her head. A little cold water does wonders on tantrums. Trust me.

Note that she didn’t say to just pour it, she said to make it the child’s decision.

So then I was just waiting for my chance, curious to try it, and hoped it would come at a time at home where I had instant access to the tap. It was. She did.

I smiled sweetly, totally knowing I could do this, and in my best loving-Mom voice asked, Sam? Would you like me to pour some cold water on your head?

NO! MILK!

Given who the clean-up crew would have been on that one, thanks, we’ll let that suggestion pass, and I quickly half-filled a cup at the sink. She screamed away and I poured out just a few drops into the top of her blonde curls–just enough to get her attention.

Instant end of tantrum while she assessed this new outcome. (Me: Wow! Magic!)

The next time she threw a tantrum we were again, thankfully, at home, and I smiled and happily reiterated the offer.

End of screaming fit. Like flipping a switch.

After that I only had to offer I think once more ever.

She learned at the ripe old age of 27 months that she didn’t have to be controlled by rage but could stop. That she could respond instead to my being loving to her. It required I be at my best for it to work, and I wasn’t going to risk losing a foolproof method by fooling with it with a bad mood, but it let her be her best, too.

And I felt like the best Mom ever.

So, with a thousand thanks to my Mom and her wisdom, I pass the idea along.


Thank you Alison for the wisdom!

RS Hiking

Over the last several months, some of our Relief Society sisters have been spotted on the beautiful hills of the Peninsula... come rain or shine!

We'll be announcing our next hike soon.  All are welcome!

Hike on,

Alyson H. & Taylor W.

Rancho San Antonio Open Space

Russian Ridge

Thornewood Open Space

Russian Ridge again, but this time under not-as-lovely weather circumstances!