Missionary Letters

We've had some responses for our letters to missionaries serving from our stake!

From Sister Naomi Longhurst in Michigan:

From Sister Hallie Hillner in Oregon:

We want to hear your feedback!

Please take a moment to complete the poll to the right! And we'd love to hear what topics you'd like to learn about at next year's Stake Women's Conference, so please comment on this post with your suggested topic (click on the "comments" link below). Thank you for your feedback!

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Welcome to our Stake Women's Conference, By Linda Pinkerton, Stake RS President

Our theme for this conference was taken from Elder Richard G. Scott’s April 2013 conference address, “For Peace at Home”.  He states, “One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is the power of a Christ-centered home where the gospel is taught, covenants are kept, and love abounds.”

I love that phrase, the power of a Christ-centered home.

We understand the importance of a Christ-centered home but do we recognize the power that can come from centering our lives, our homes on Christ?  Power sounds great but what does it mean - really?

"We Believe in Being Chaste: Chastity in the Home," By Shana Brown

●        “For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women.”   Jacob 2:28 

●        “that which [is] most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue—” Moroni 9:9
●        “I this day am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls than I have hitherto been.”  Jacob 2:3

How are we able to inspire chastity in the home?    

1. Minister much in word 
2. Labor diligently Jacob 4:1-3

“Teaching and learning should occur often. Learning is a process rather than a single event. When it comes to teaching children about sexual intimacy or other related matters, people often refer to it as “the talk.” Whether intended or not, this term implies that parents teach this topic in a single conversation. That is not the most effective way for a child to learn. The Savior taught that we learn “line upon line, precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30). We will have more success teaching as we revisit the topic with our children as they age and mature. Parents who understand this principle prepare themselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to teach their children about sexually related topics during their children’s childhood and adolescence.”   -Matthew O. Richardson; ”Teaching Chastity and Virtue”, Ensign, October 2012

"Home: The Original MTC", By President and Sister Thomas Hale, Counselor, Gilbert AZ Mission and Full Time Missionaries

Last fall, Pres. Monson’s announced the lowering of the full-time missionary age (Fall 2013 General Conference)

Because of the change of age, many young men are entering the mission field upon graduation of high school.  There is no opportunity for them to attend a College Institute Missionary Preparation class as in the past.  Therefore it is important that we so organize our homes so we can appropriately teach & train up our children so they can be effective missionaries.

We chose as the theme for today’s class,  Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go:  and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

The Every Day Atonement: "Christ Doesn't Make the Difference- He Makes All the Difference" By Jeni McOmber

The key to unlocking the power of His covenant daughters is covenant daughters learning to unlock the power of Jesus Christ – Sheri Dew

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ATONEMENT

    Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that, “... the Atonement of Christ is the most basic and fundamental doctrine of the gospel, and it is the least understood of all our revealed truths.” (“The Purifying Power of Gethsemane”, Apr. 1985)

    Elder Bednar added “I suspect that you and I are much more familiar with the nature of the redeeming power of the Atonement than we are with the enabling power of the Atonement.  It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us.  That is fundamental and foundational to the doctrine of Christ.  But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to live in us – not only to direct us but also to empower us.” (“In the Strength of the Lord, Speeches, Oct. 2001)

"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Reflections of Self-Worth", By Rainie Collins

Mirrors.  We use them every day. We use rear-view Mirrors in our vehicles to alert us of potential dangers and cautions behind us. We position Mirrors at corners of buildings and hallways to "see" what is around the corner. And, of course, we spend a fair amount of time every day standing before our personal Mirrors while we prepare ourselves to leave the house.  Mirrors definitely have a use and purpose in our world.  Today I want to talk about three different types of mirrors as a metaphor for how we view ourselves and our feelings of self worth.

Concave Mirrors.  Science is amazing.  This type of mirror makes it possible so that from far away, objects seem small and upside down, but as you get closer, the image flips and magnifies.  

As I thought about this concept in relation to self worth, I wondered how many times we view ourselves- our lives through magnification mirror eyes.   Are we ever so “zoomed in” or focused on our flaws, faults or weaknesses that they become magnified in our minds and we lose sight of the big picture.

"The Temple: Covenants and Blessings" By Stacie Crawford

The blessings from attending the temple are limitless! Whether you’ve been going to the temple for years or preparing to go for the very first time there is something special waiting just for YOU. 

Take the challenge from Boyd K. Packer when he says, “ “Come to the temple.” If not now, come soon. Pray fervently, set your lives in order, save whatever you can in hopes that that day may come. 

Start now that sometimes very difficult and discouraging journey of repentance. The temple transforms the individual and makes abundantly worthwhile any efforts made to get there.

"The 15 Minute Scriptorian: Quality over Quantity", By Whitney Hemsath

“Perhaps what is more important than the hour of the day is that a regular time be set aside for study. It would be ideal if an hour could be spent each day; but if that much cannot be had, a half hour on a regular basis would result in substantial accomplishment. A quarter of an hour is little time, but it is surprising how much enlightenment and knowledge can be acquired in a subject so meaningful. The important thing is to allow nothing else to ever interfere with our study. … It is better to have a set amount of time to give scriptural study each day than to have a set amount of chapters to read. Sometimes we find that the study of a single verse will occupy the whole time” (Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Nov. 1979, 64. Emphasis added).

“I don’t have time for _____________”  =   “___________ is not a priority to me”.

The Importance of Family Home Evening: Ideas for All Ages & Stages, By Stephanie Weight

Please click on the following links to view/print Stephanie's excellent FHE documents!

Class Outline

FHE Resources

FHE Articles

Method to the Madness: Managing and Responding to Media at Home, By Cheryl Felt

10 Rules for Social media

from the Mesa Citrus Heights Stake Youth

1. God didn't give you your body to live virtually. Limit your time spent "living" on Facebook.
2. NO FISHING: Resist the urge to use social media to fish for compliments, flirts, sympathy, empty attention, and meaningless advice.
3. KNOW YOUR ACRONYMS: In your mind, you may substitute certain words for those letters, but to others, they may not read the same way.
4. "Friend" one of the following: your bishop, his wife, your mom or dad, or a respected leader. Post and act accordingly.
5. If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't type it online.
6. Repeating an unkind truth is as bad as inventing a lie. Don't do either.
7. Is that your real face? Make sure your pictures and posts reflect your true self, not what you think others want you to be.
8. DON'T FEED THE ANIMALS. Don't post information that will help others track, stalk, defame, or embarrass you.
9. If you're using social media to build your self-esteem, re-evaluate.
10. You give 10% of your increase to God. Social media can serve his purposes. You can give 10% of your posts to lift another, inspire, testify, and love others.

"Bearing One Another's Burdens: What Happens to One Happens to All", By Christie Gillman

A couple of years ago a humor columnist for a local Utah newspaper wrote on a serious and thought-provoking subject. I quote from this article:  

“Being a go-to-church Mormon in Utah means living so close to fellow ward members that not much happens that the entire congregation doesn’t know about in five minutes tops.”

He continues: 

“This kind of cheek-to-jowl (very close together) living can be intrusive. … It also happens to be one of our greatest strengths.”