Some recent projects I completed....
Monday, January 18, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Bee Involved
Is there such thing as toooo involved? Lets see, the month of January, so far....
**CTR 6 teacher
**Student-taking classes two nights a week, plus one online
**Working-full time, at a job I less than like right now....
**Coaching-starting officially in March but sign ups start now...
**Brides Against Breast Cancer- the weekend of the 16th, volunteering for the first time, and excited!
**A Scentsy Party at my house-Date Jan. 30th from 2-4 pm
**Keep in mind all this means, driving, homework, prep work, lack of sleep....and so much more. Am I crazy? I feel like I am! What about you guys?? What tips do you have for someone who is doing wayyyy to much, to help keep them sane? Please share with all of us. We or me...could use it.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
72 Hour Kits-'BEE' Prepared!
I think this is useful information for every house hold! You can visit lds.org for any questions!
ULTIMATE 72-HOUR KIT
If sealed, the contents of this 72-hour kit will last for two years.
3 packs of instant oatmeal
3 packets of hot chocolate
2 granola bars
3 beef jerky sticks
3 apple cider packets
3 packs of Ramen
2 small cans of fruit (lunch size fruit cocktail things)
9 pieces of small hard candy (a pack of life savers would work)
1 small pack of gum
2 fruit snacks (this can be fruit roll-ups, small boxes of raisons, those fruit chew snacks...)
1 plastic spoon
Need 1 gallon of water for cooking these items (+ additional water for drinking 2-2 1/2 quarts per person per day, which is approx. 2 liters)
Meal Planner
(This way you can make it last 72-hours)
DAY ONE
BREAKFAST 1 oatmeal & 1 hot cocoa
LUNCH 1 granola bar, 1 beef jerky, 1 apple cider mix
DINNER 1 Ramen, 1 small can of fruit
SNACK 3 pieces of candy, 1 stick of gum
DAY TWO
BREAKFAST 1 oatmeal & 1 hot cocoa
LUNCH 1 Ramen, 1 small can of fruit
DINNER 1 Beef jerky, 1 fruit snack, 1 apple cider
SNACK 3 pieces of candy, 1 stick of gum
DAY THREE
BREAKFAST 1 oatmeal & 1 hot cocoa
LUNCH 1 Beef jerky, 1 fruit snack, 1 apple cider
DINNER 1 soup and 1 apple cider mix
SNACK 3 pieces of candy, 1 stick of gum
Toiletries, etc.
-toothpaste
-toothbrush
-toilet paper
-matches
-garbage bag- used to carry items, trash, warmth, protection, etc.
-bleach or water purification tablets
-sewing kit
-first-aid kit
-medicines
-cold and warm weather clothing
-cooking utensils
-emergency radio
It's never to late to "BEE-come" prepared!
K.Wright
ULTIMATE 72-HOUR KIT
If sealed, the contents of this 72-hour kit will last for two years.
3 packs of instant oatmeal
3 packets of hot chocolate
2 granola bars
3 beef jerky sticks
3 apple cider packets
3 packs of Ramen
2 small cans of fruit (lunch size fruit cocktail things)
9 pieces of small hard candy (a pack of life savers would work)
1 small pack of gum
2 fruit snacks (this can be fruit roll-ups, small boxes of raisons, those fruit chew snacks...)
1 plastic spoon
Need 1 gallon of water for cooking these items (+ additional water for drinking 2-2 1/2 quarts per person per day, which is approx. 2 liters)
Meal Planner
(This way you can make it last 72-hours)
DAY ONE
BREAKFAST 1 oatmeal & 1 hot cocoa
LUNCH 1 granola bar, 1 beef jerky, 1 apple cider mix
DINNER 1 Ramen, 1 small can of fruit
SNACK 3 pieces of candy, 1 stick of gum
DAY TWO
BREAKFAST 1 oatmeal & 1 hot cocoa
LUNCH 1 Ramen, 1 small can of fruit
DINNER 1 Beef jerky, 1 fruit snack, 1 apple cider
SNACK 3 pieces of candy, 1 stick of gum
DAY THREE
BREAKFAST 1 oatmeal & 1 hot cocoa
LUNCH 1 Beef jerky, 1 fruit snack, 1 apple cider
DINNER 1 soup and 1 apple cider mix
SNACK 3 pieces of candy, 1 stick of gum
Toiletries, etc.
-toothpaste
-toothbrush
-toilet paper
-matches
-garbage bag- used to carry items, trash, warmth, protection, etc.
-bleach or water purification tablets
-sewing kit
-first-aid kit
-medicines
-cold and warm weather clothing
-cooking utensils
-emergency radio
It's never to late to "BEE-come" prepared!
K.Wright
Monday, July 20, 2009
Bee Healthy-Going Organic
Chris & I have discussed going organic for the longest time, we've slowly made the switch, a fruit or veggie at a time. We've even switched or pup Apollo to Organic dog foods. I was doing some online research and found this tid bit and just wanted to share it!
"The Five Best Foods for Going Organic"
*KETCHUP!-would you believe it??
*milk- organic milk is pretty delicious (this was an easy switch for me
*potatoes- so easy!
*peanut butter- although i'm now fond of almond butter &&&&
*apples- also very delicious!
Try it! You may never go back again! :)
Stay Healthy!
K.Wright
"The Five Best Foods for Going Organic"
*KETCHUP!-would you believe it??
*milk- organic milk is pretty delicious (this was an easy switch for me
*potatoes- so easy!
*peanut butter- although i'm now fond of almond butter &&&&
*apples- also very delicious!
Try it! You may never go back again! :)
Stay Healthy!
K.Wright
Saturday, March 14, 2009
"Bee Smart"
I wanted to touch base on Food Storage, and I put it under "Bee Smart" because I believe if you listen to the counsel of the higher members of the church and you obey that counsel, you are not only being obedient but you are being very very smart. I've included the "New Approach" the church released about starting up your food storage.
A New Approach
In the spirit of President Hinckley’s remarks, Church leaders decided to closely reexamine their approach to self-reliance, looking for ways to reinforce the concepts of home storage and financial preparedness. As a result, the Church published the pamphlet All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, outlining new guidelines for home preparedness that give Church members a simplified, four-step approach to building their home storage.
They are as follows:
1. Gradually build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet until it is sufficient for three months.
2. Store drinking water.
3. Establish a financial reserve by setting aside a little money each week, and gradually increase it to a reasonable amount.
4. Once families have achieved the first three objectives, they are counseled to expand their efforts, as circumstances allow, into a supply of long-term basic foods such as grains, legumes, and other staples.
Of the new guidelines, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton says, “Our objective was to establish a simple, inexpensive, and achievable program that would help people become self-reliant. We are confident that by introducing these few, simple steps we can, over time, have more success.”
Guideline 1: Build your three-month supply gradually.
Start small and do the best you can. Begin by purchasing a few extra items to add to your storage each week. Strive to build a one-week supply; then expand it to a one-month supply, then a three-month supply. By building your supply slowly, you can avoid financial strain and start down the path toward self-reliance.
The Lugo family of Valencia, Venezuela, learned that this new approach of starting small and being consistent can pay big dividends. After listening to general conference, Brother Omar Lugo, a Church member in the Falcón Venezuela District, felt inspired to begin his own home storage. He discussed the matter with his family, and they agreed to follow the prophet’s counsel.
They began setting aside food, water, and money, a little at a time. At first the difference was hardly noticeable. But after a while the Lugos found that they had accumulated a substantial reserve. Several months after they began building their home storage, a worker’s strike in Venezuela put many local workers’ jobs in jeopardy. Brother Lugo was among those who eventually lost their jobs.
For a time his family lived on savings. Seven months later the Lugo family was relying exclusively on the food they had stored. It took nearly two years for Brother Lugo to find work again, but his family was able to survive the difficult challenges of unemployment. They had built their reserve gradually, and when adversity struck, they were prepared and the Lord blessed them.
Like the Lugo family, Church members will be blessed for their obedience to the First Presidency’s counsel as they gradually build home storage. “We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings,” the First Presidency explains. “Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once.” Rather, they suggest a modest, consistent approach. “With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve.”2
Guideline 2: Store drinking water.
In times of need, having water to drink can be the difference between life and death—or at least between peace and anxiety. Just ask the Kawai family, members of the São Paulo Brazil Stake. They have been storing food and water for 20 years. Although their small apartment doesn’t have much room to spare, the Kawais decided to make home storage a priority.
Sister Kawai tells of one experience when that decision paid off. “I was in the hospital having just given birth when I learned that there was a problem with the city’s water pipes,” Sister Kawai explains. “Hundreds of thousands of people were without water. But I wasn’t concerned about going home. I had peace of mind knowing that my family would have water to drink.”
Guideline 3: Set aside a little money.
From the First Presidency comes this counsel: “We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures. … Save a little money regularly to gradually build a financial reserve.”3
In the April 2007 general conference Bishop Keith B. McMullin, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, reinforced this principle, exhorting Church members to “save some money, if only a few coins each week. This modest approach will soon enable them to have several months’ reserve.”4
By gradually building a financial reserve, we will be prepared for unforeseen trials and have an added measure of security and peace in our hearts.
Guideline 4: Where possible, gradually establish a longer-term supply.
“For longer-term needs,” explains the All Is Safely Gathered In pamphlet, “gradually build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice, and beans.”5
Establishing long-term storage is easier than some might think. Dr. Oscar Pike and his colleagues in the Brigham Young University Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science have done several in-depth studies on long-term food storage. They discovered something surprising: properly packaged and stored low-moisture food retains much of its sensory (taste) quality and nutritional value for 20 to 30 or more years after being placed in storage—much longer than previously supposed.
This means Church members can store certain foods long-term without the worry of regularly rotating the food. They can be confident that their supply will be there to keep them alive if they have nothing else to eat.
The Time to Begin Is Now
“Perhaps in the past accumulating a year’s supply of food may have been a little intimidating and even illegal in some places,” says Dennis Lifferth, managing director of Church Welfare Services. “But this new approach asks us to do the best we can, even if all we can do is to set aside a can or two each week. If the prophet asks us to do something, we can find a way to fulfill the commandment and receive the blessings.”
“This new program is within everyone’s grasp,” explains Bishop Burton. “The first step is to begin. The second is to continue. It doesn’t matter how fast we get there so much as that we begin and continue according to our abilities.”
Prophetic Counsel about Home Storage
“Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their … supply of food … and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year’s supply of debt and are food-free.”
President Thomas S. Monson, “That Noble Gift—Love at Home,” Church News, May 12, 2001, 7.
“Everyone who owns a home recognizes the need for fire insurance. We hope and pray that there will never be a fire. Nevertheless, we pay for insurance to cover such a catastrophe, should it occur. We ought to do the same with reference to family welfare.”
President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008), “To Men of the Priesthood,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2002, 58.
“In the day of plenty, prepare for the day of scarcity.”
First Presidency, “Message of the First Presidency,” in Conference Report, Apr. 1942, 89.
“Learn to sustain yourselves; lay up grain and flour, and save it against a day of scarcity.”
President Brigham Young (1801–77), Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1954), 293.
In the spirit of President Hinckley’s remarks, Church leaders decided to closely reexamine their approach to self-reliance, looking for ways to reinforce the concepts of home storage and financial preparedness. As a result, the Church published the pamphlet All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, outlining new guidelines for home preparedness that give Church members a simplified, four-step approach to building their home storage.
They are as follows:
1. Gradually build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet until it is sufficient for three months.
2. Store drinking water.
3. Establish a financial reserve by setting aside a little money each week, and gradually increase it to a reasonable amount.
4. Once families have achieved the first three objectives, they are counseled to expand their efforts, as circumstances allow, into a supply of long-term basic foods such as grains, legumes, and other staples.
Of the new guidelines, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton says, “Our objective was to establish a simple, inexpensive, and achievable program that would help people become self-reliant. We are confident that by introducing these few, simple steps we can, over time, have more success.”
Guideline 1: Build your three-month supply gradually.
Start small and do the best you can. Begin by purchasing a few extra items to add to your storage each week. Strive to build a one-week supply; then expand it to a one-month supply, then a three-month supply. By building your supply slowly, you can avoid financial strain and start down the path toward self-reliance.
The Lugo family of Valencia, Venezuela, learned that this new approach of starting small and being consistent can pay big dividends. After listening to general conference, Brother Omar Lugo, a Church member in the Falcón Venezuela District, felt inspired to begin his own home storage. He discussed the matter with his family, and they agreed to follow the prophet’s counsel.
They began setting aside food, water, and money, a little at a time. At first the difference was hardly noticeable. But after a while the Lugos found that they had accumulated a substantial reserve. Several months after they began building their home storage, a worker’s strike in Venezuela put many local workers’ jobs in jeopardy. Brother Lugo was among those who eventually lost their jobs.
For a time his family lived on savings. Seven months later the Lugo family was relying exclusively on the food they had stored. It took nearly two years for Brother Lugo to find work again, but his family was able to survive the difficult challenges of unemployment. They had built their reserve gradually, and when adversity struck, they were prepared and the Lord blessed them.
Like the Lugo family, Church members will be blessed for their obedience to the First Presidency’s counsel as they gradually build home storage. “We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings,” the First Presidency explains. “Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once.” Rather, they suggest a modest, consistent approach. “With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve.”2
Guideline 2: Store drinking water.
In times of need, having water to drink can be the difference between life and death—or at least between peace and anxiety. Just ask the Kawai family, members of the São Paulo Brazil Stake. They have been storing food and water for 20 years. Although their small apartment doesn’t have much room to spare, the Kawais decided to make home storage a priority.
Sister Kawai tells of one experience when that decision paid off. “I was in the hospital having just given birth when I learned that there was a problem with the city’s water pipes,” Sister Kawai explains. “Hundreds of thousands of people were without water. But I wasn’t concerned about going home. I had peace of mind knowing that my family would have water to drink.”
Guideline 3: Set aside a little money.
From the First Presidency comes this counsel: “We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures. … Save a little money regularly to gradually build a financial reserve.”3
In the April 2007 general conference Bishop Keith B. McMullin, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, reinforced this principle, exhorting Church members to “save some money, if only a few coins each week. This modest approach will soon enable them to have several months’ reserve.”4
By gradually building a financial reserve, we will be prepared for unforeseen trials and have an added measure of security and peace in our hearts.
Guideline 4: Where possible, gradually establish a longer-term supply.
“For longer-term needs,” explains the All Is Safely Gathered In pamphlet, “gradually build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice, and beans.”5
Establishing long-term storage is easier than some might think. Dr. Oscar Pike and his colleagues in the Brigham Young University Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science have done several in-depth studies on long-term food storage. They discovered something surprising: properly packaged and stored low-moisture food retains much of its sensory (taste) quality and nutritional value for 20 to 30 or more years after being placed in storage—much longer than previously supposed.
This means Church members can store certain foods long-term without the worry of regularly rotating the food. They can be confident that their supply will be there to keep them alive if they have nothing else to eat.
The Time to Begin Is Now
“Perhaps in the past accumulating a year’s supply of food may have been a little intimidating and even illegal in some places,” says Dennis Lifferth, managing director of Church Welfare Services. “But this new approach asks us to do the best we can, even if all we can do is to set aside a can or two each week. If the prophet asks us to do something, we can find a way to fulfill the commandment and receive the blessings.”
“This new program is within everyone’s grasp,” explains Bishop Burton. “The first step is to begin. The second is to continue. It doesn’t matter how fast we get there so much as that we begin and continue according to our abilities.”
Prophetic Counsel about Home Storage
“Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their … supply of food … and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year’s supply of debt and are food-free.”
President Thomas S. Monson, “That Noble Gift—Love at Home,” Church News, May 12, 2001, 7.
“Everyone who owns a home recognizes the need for fire insurance. We hope and pray that there will never be a fire. Nevertheless, we pay for insurance to cover such a catastrophe, should it occur. We ought to do the same with reference to family welfare.”
President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008), “To Men of the Priesthood,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2002, 58.
“In the day of plenty, prepare for the day of scarcity.”
First Presidency, “Message of the First Presidency,” in Conference Report, Apr. 1942, 89.
“Learn to sustain yourselves; lay up grain and flour, and save it against a day of scarcity.”
President Brigham Young (1801–77), Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1954), 293.
It seems so hard, yet it's really so simple. I pray you will begin to prepare now, for your future and that you will be prepared in the wake of a disaster.
Friday, March 13, 2009
"Bee Involved"
Latter-day Saints who contribute in their community simply to better it frequently find unexpected blessings of both greater capacity and increased opportunity to serve. Almost every ward or branch has members like the following who have tasted the joy that comes through service, acting alone or in cooperation with others.
Here's A Story of Someone Who Got Involved
Helping Youth Make a Difference
Jeff Walker of the Green Valley Ward, Las Vegas Nevada Green Valley Stake, found that it only takes one concerned individual to make a difference but that continual motivating efforts are needed to help a program succeed.
In spring 1997, 15-year-old Jeff Walker represented Green Valley High School in Henderson, Nevada, at a press conference featuring members of the class of 2000. The purpose was to discuss what it meant to be a member of this class and what students projected their world would be like in the next century.
Jeff, who had been elected Green Valley’s sophomore class president for the 1997–98 year, realized that the class of 2000 might well receive more media and public attention than any previous group of graduates, saying, “I felt very uncomfortable with the idea of our class being takers of attention without having made a significant contribution to society.”
Consequently, he developed a training program for community involvement to take to other sophomore class leaders in southern Nevada. The purpose of his program, “2000 Tomorrows,” was to unite all participating classes in an effort to make positive changes in their communities.
The training program showed youth leaders step by step how to assess community needs, develop service projects, and involve as many classmates as possible. A banquet was scheduled for the end of the school year, when a panel of civic and business leaders presented a trophy to one of the schools.
Throughout the year, Jeff called participating class presidents monthly to encourage and assist them with their projects. “I’ve learned that it’s really hard to motivate people,” he says. Of the 15 schools that agreed to participate, 7 followed through, and 6,000 students took part. Cimarron High School in Las Vegas won the trophy for involvement. Students there volunteered at local junior high schools throughout the year, making presentations about teen pregnancy, peer pressure, and related issues, as well as helping younger students prepare for high school.
For 1998–99, the Nevada state student council became involved, and schools throughout the state were invited to participate. A primary requirement for a service project is that at least one member of the class of 2000 be involved in spearheading the project.
“Community service is a hard thing for many people to fit into their schedules, but they’ve got to ask themselves if they really are ‘too busy,’ ” Jeff says. “Service does affect people’s lives, and I saw our project really help some people and change them for the better.”
Jeff Walker of the Green Valley Ward, Las Vegas Nevada Green Valley Stake, found that it only takes one concerned individual to make a difference but that continual motivating efforts are needed to help a program succeed.
In spring 1997, 15-year-old Jeff Walker represented Green Valley High School in Henderson, Nevada, at a press conference featuring members of the class of 2000. The purpose was to discuss what it meant to be a member of this class and what students projected their world would be like in the next century.
Jeff, who had been elected Green Valley’s sophomore class president for the 1997–98 year, realized that the class of 2000 might well receive more media and public attention than any previous group of graduates, saying, “I felt very uncomfortable with the idea of our class being takers of attention without having made a significant contribution to society.”
Consequently, he developed a training program for community involvement to take to other sophomore class leaders in southern Nevada. The purpose of his program, “2000 Tomorrows,” was to unite all participating classes in an effort to make positive changes in their communities.
The training program showed youth leaders step by step how to assess community needs, develop service projects, and involve as many classmates as possible. A banquet was scheduled for the end of the school year, when a panel of civic and business leaders presented a trophy to one of the schools.
Throughout the year, Jeff called participating class presidents monthly to encourage and assist them with their projects. “I’ve learned that it’s really hard to motivate people,” he says. Of the 15 schools that agreed to participate, 7 followed through, and 6,000 students took part. Cimarron High School in Las Vegas won the trophy for involvement. Students there volunteered at local junior high schools throughout the year, making presentations about teen pregnancy, peer pressure, and related issues, as well as helping younger students prepare for high school.
For 1998–99, the Nevada state student council became involved, and schools throughout the state were invited to participate. A primary requirement for a service project is that at least one member of the class of 2000 be involved in spearheading the project.
“Community service is a hard thing for many people to fit into their schedules, but they’ve got to ask themselves if they really are ‘too busy,’ ” Jeff says. “Service does affect people’s lives, and I saw our project really help some people and change them for the better.”
Community Service: Teachings of the Prophets and Apostles
The First Presidency
“We wish to reiterate the divine counsel that members ‘should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness’ (D&C 58:27) while using gospel principles as a guide and while cooperating with other like-minded individuals.
“Through such wise participation as citizens, we are then in better compliance with this scripture: ‘Governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and … he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them’ (D&C 134:1).
“Therefore, as in the past, we urge members of the Church to be full participants in political, governmental, and community affairs. Members of the Church are under special obligations to seek out and then uphold those leaders who are wise, good, and honest (see D&C 98:10).
“Thus, we strongly urge men and women to be willing to serve on school boards, city and county councils and commissions, state legislatures, and other high offices of either election or appointment, including involvement in the political party of their choice” (First Presidency letter, 15 Jan. 1998).
The Prophet Joseph Smith
“A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 174).
President Brigham Young
“Let every man and woman be industrious, prudent, and economical in their acts and feelings, and while gathering to themselves, let each one strive to identify his or her interests with the interests of this community, with those of their neighbor and neighborhood, let them seek their happiness and welfare in that of all” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 303).
Elder James E. Talmage
“The Master associated love for God with love for fellowman; and surely love comprises duty, and duty means effort and action. See Matt. 22:35–40. A very large part of the course of education provided in the school of mortality is attained through association with our kind and the righteous observance of duty in community life. We are not here to be recluses nor to hold ourselves aloof from public service, but to live in a state of mutual helpfulness and effective cooperation” (Articles of Faith, 12th ed. [1924], 525).
Elder John A. Widtsoe
“No man can selfishly stand aside and say, ‘I am sufficient unto myself; in the community I have no interest; though I obey its laws, I do not serve it.’ A man must obey the laws of and vigorously serve the community. Every act of man’s life must relate itself to the good of other men” (A Rational Theology as Taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [1965], 160).
President Harold B. Lee
“We must urge all members as individuals to become involved in public issues within and without political parties. … One of the things that is wrong with politics [is that we] have been staying away from our district meetings where the delegates to conventions are made. When, too late, we see the wrong people on the ticket, then we get in and do some foolish things that cause enemies to the Church. …
If we were in it at the beginning and were studying the issues and the people, active in our own parties, we would be far more influential” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1996], 363).
“We ought to teach our people now to come out and exercise their franchise. Whatever the country they live in, be sure they become active in politics as individuals but not as a Church group” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 366).
“The reason why we get into the hands of autocrats in politics is because many of us criticize and stay home and don’t go to our district meetings. And we don’t allow ourselves to become candidates, or representatives to vote for those who will represent us in the nation, or the county, or the state” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 367).
President Ezra Taft Benson
“Let us seek to take an active part in our local, state, and national affairs. We are commanded by the Lord to do so. It is as binding on us as any of the Lord’s commandments” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 675).
“We must become involved in civic affairs. As citizens … we cannot do our duty and be idle spectators. It is vital that we follow this counsel from the Lord: ‘Honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil’ ” (D&C 98:10) (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 683).
“The most dangerous threat of all comes from the disinterested—that great group of otherwise intelligent people who shrug off any responsibility for public affairs” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 628).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
“To worship the Lord is to stand valiantly in the cause of truth and righteousness, to let our influence for good be felt in civic, cultural, educational, and governmental fields, and to support those laws and principles which further the Lord’s interests on earth” (Doctrines of the Restoration, ed. Mark L. McConkie [1989], 372).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
“A person could get so caught up in making civic contributions to his community that he could lose his family. By the same token, one cannot readily save his family in an environment in decay. Thus we have obligations to contribute to the civic betterment of the communities in which we live” (The Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book, ed. Cory H. Maxwell [1997], 59).
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
“Citizens … should be practitioners of civic virtue in their conduct toward government. They should be ever willing to fulfill the duties of citizenship. This includes compulsory duties like military service and the numerous voluntary actions they must take if they are to preserve the principle of limited government through citizen self-reliance” (“The Divinely Inspired Constitution,” Ensign, Feb. 1992, 74).
President Gordon B. Hinckley
“Now, I want to say to you, and I say it with a plea in my heart, get involved. Get involved on the side of righteousness and truth and decency and sobriety and virtue. You, and others like you, are the great hope of this world. …
“The problem with most of us is that we are afraid. We want to do the right thing, but we are troubled by fears and the world drifts about us. …
“ ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’ I commend to you these wonderful words of the Lord as you think of your responsibilities and opportunities” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 128–29).
“Let us not forget that we believe in being benevolent and in doing good to all men. I am convinced that we can teach our children effectively enough that we need not fear that they will lose their faith while being friendly and considerate with those who do not subscribe to the doctrine of this Church. Let us reach out to those in our community who are not of our faith. Let us be good neighbors, kind and generous and gracious. Let us be involved in good community causes. There may be situations where, with serious moral issues involved, we cannot bend on matters of principle. But in such instances we can politely disagree without being disagreeable. We can acknowledge the sincerity of those whose positions we cannot accept. We can speak of principles rather than personalities.
“In those causes which enhance the environment of the community, and which are designed for the blessing of all of its citizens, let us step forward and be helpful. An attitude of self-righteousness is unbecoming a Latter-day Saint.
“… Teach those for whom you are responsible the importance of good civic manners. Encourage them to become involved, remembering in public deliberations that the quiet voice of substantive reasoning is more persuasive than the noisy, screaming voice of protest. In accepting such responsibilities our people will bless their communities, their families, and the Church” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 131).
The First Presidency
“We wish to reiterate the divine counsel that members ‘should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness’ (D&C 58:27) while using gospel principles as a guide and while cooperating with other like-minded individuals.
“Through such wise participation as citizens, we are then in better compliance with this scripture: ‘Governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and … he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them’ (D&C 134:1).
“Therefore, as in the past, we urge members of the Church to be full participants in political, governmental, and community affairs. Members of the Church are under special obligations to seek out and then uphold those leaders who are wise, good, and honest (see D&C 98:10).
“Thus, we strongly urge men and women to be willing to serve on school boards, city and county councils and commissions, state legislatures, and other high offices of either election or appointment, including involvement in the political party of their choice” (First Presidency letter, 15 Jan. 1998).
The Prophet Joseph Smith
“A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 174).
President Brigham Young
“Let every man and woman be industrious, prudent, and economical in their acts and feelings, and while gathering to themselves, let each one strive to identify his or her interests with the interests of this community, with those of their neighbor and neighborhood, let them seek their happiness and welfare in that of all” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 303).
Elder James E. Talmage
“The Master associated love for God with love for fellowman; and surely love comprises duty, and duty means effort and action. See Matt. 22:35–40. A very large part of the course of education provided in the school of mortality is attained through association with our kind and the righteous observance of duty in community life. We are not here to be recluses nor to hold ourselves aloof from public service, but to live in a state of mutual helpfulness and effective cooperation” (Articles of Faith, 12th ed. [1924], 525).
Elder John A. Widtsoe
“No man can selfishly stand aside and say, ‘I am sufficient unto myself; in the community I have no interest; though I obey its laws, I do not serve it.’ A man must obey the laws of and vigorously serve the community. Every act of man’s life must relate itself to the good of other men” (A Rational Theology as Taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [1965], 160).
President Harold B. Lee
“We must urge all members as individuals to become involved in public issues within and without political parties. … One of the things that is wrong with politics [is that we] have been staying away from our district meetings where the delegates to conventions are made. When, too late, we see the wrong people on the ticket, then we get in and do some foolish things that cause enemies to the Church. …
If we were in it at the beginning and were studying the issues and the people, active in our own parties, we would be far more influential” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1996], 363).
“We ought to teach our people now to come out and exercise their franchise. Whatever the country they live in, be sure they become active in politics as individuals but not as a Church group” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 366).
“The reason why we get into the hands of autocrats in politics is because many of us criticize and stay home and don’t go to our district meetings. And we don’t allow ourselves to become candidates, or representatives to vote for those who will represent us in the nation, or the county, or the state” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 367).
President Ezra Taft Benson
“Let us seek to take an active part in our local, state, and national affairs. We are commanded by the Lord to do so. It is as binding on us as any of the Lord’s commandments” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 675).
“We must become involved in civic affairs. As citizens … we cannot do our duty and be idle spectators. It is vital that we follow this counsel from the Lord: ‘Honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil’ ” (D&C 98:10) (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 683).
“The most dangerous threat of all comes from the disinterested—that great group of otherwise intelligent people who shrug off any responsibility for public affairs” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 628).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
“To worship the Lord is to stand valiantly in the cause of truth and righteousness, to let our influence for good be felt in civic, cultural, educational, and governmental fields, and to support those laws and principles which further the Lord’s interests on earth” (Doctrines of the Restoration, ed. Mark L. McConkie [1989], 372).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
“A person could get so caught up in making civic contributions to his community that he could lose his family. By the same token, one cannot readily save his family in an environment in decay. Thus we have obligations to contribute to the civic betterment of the communities in which we live” (The Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book, ed. Cory H. Maxwell [1997], 59).
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
“Citizens … should be practitioners of civic virtue in their conduct toward government. They should be ever willing to fulfill the duties of citizenship. This includes compulsory duties like military service and the numerous voluntary actions they must take if they are to preserve the principle of limited government through citizen self-reliance” (“The Divinely Inspired Constitution,” Ensign, Feb. 1992, 74).
President Gordon B. Hinckley
“Now, I want to say to you, and I say it with a plea in my heart, get involved. Get involved on the side of righteousness and truth and decency and sobriety and virtue. You, and others like you, are the great hope of this world. …
“The problem with most of us is that we are afraid. We want to do the right thing, but we are troubled by fears and the world drifts about us. …
“ ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’ I commend to you these wonderful words of the Lord as you think of your responsibilities and opportunities” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 128–29).
“Let us not forget that we believe in being benevolent and in doing good to all men. I am convinced that we can teach our children effectively enough that we need not fear that they will lose their faith while being friendly and considerate with those who do not subscribe to the doctrine of this Church. Let us reach out to those in our community who are not of our faith. Let us be good neighbors, kind and generous and gracious. Let us be involved in good community causes. There may be situations where, with serious moral issues involved, we cannot bend on matters of principle. But in such instances we can politely disagree without being disagreeable. We can acknowledge the sincerity of those whose positions we cannot accept. We can speak of principles rather than personalities.
“In those causes which enhance the environment of the community, and which are designed for the blessing of all of its citizens, let us step forward and be helpful. An attitude of self-righteousness is unbecoming a Latter-day Saint.
“… Teach those for whom you are responsible the importance of good civic manners. Encourage them to become involved, remembering in public deliberations that the quiet voice of substantive reasoning is more persuasive than the noisy, screaming voice of protest. In accepting such responsibilities our people will bless their communities, their families, and the Church” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 131).
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Bee Positive
Alright, so for this "Bee Positive" Subject I decided to add this section of a talk from Russel M. Ballard. You may wonder after reading it what it has to do with "Bee-ing Positive", well my husband is leaving tomorrow to return to his seasonal job and I won't get to see him for 6 weeks, so I myself am trying to "Bee Positive" and remember to focus on the blessings of this opportunity. I thought this talk was beautiful because it reminds us to be constantly working on our marriage and to continue to work on ways to we can communicate better. So enjoy! and please leave me comments letting me know what you think!
"My suggestions use three action verbs: to appreciate, to communicate, and to contemplate.
To appreciate—to say “I love you” and “thank you”—is not difficult. But these expressions of love and appreciation do more than acknowledge a kind thought or deed. They are signs of sweet civility. As grateful partners look for the good in each other and sincerely pay compliments to one another, wives and husbands will strive to become the persons described in those compliments.
Suggestion number two—to communicate well with your spouse—is also important. Good communication includes taking time to plan together. Couples need private time to observe, to talk, and really listen to each other. They need to cooperate—helping each other as equal partners. They need to nurture their spiritual as well as physical intimacy. They should strive to elevate and motivate each other. Marital unity is sustained when goals are mutually understood. Good communication is also enhanced by prayer. To pray with specific mention of a spouse’s good deed (or need) nurtures a marriage.
My third suggestion is to contemplate. This word has deep meaning. It comes from Latin roots: con, meaning “with,” and templum, meaning “a space or place to meditate.” It is the root from which the word temple comes. If couples contemplate often—with each other in the temple—sacred covenants will be better remembered and kept. Frequent participation in temple service and regular family scripture study nourish a marriage and strengthen faith within a family. Contemplation allows one to anticipate and to resonate (or be in tune) with each other and with the Lord. Contemplation will nurture both a marriage and God’s kingdom. The Master said, “Seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
I invite each marital partner to consider these suggestions and then determine specific goals to nurture your own relationship. Begin with sincere desire. Identify those actions needed to bless your spiritual unity and purpose. Above all, do not be selfish! Generate a spirit of selflessness and generosity. Celebrate and commemorate each day together as a treasured gift from heaven.
President Harold B. Lee said “that the most important of the Lord’s work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.” And President David O. McKay declared, “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.”
When you as husband and wife recognize the divine design in your union—when you feel deeply that God has brought you to each other—your vision will be expanded and your understanding enhanced. Such feelings are expressed in words of a song that has long been a favorite of mine:
Because you come to me with naught save love,
And hold my hand and lift mine eyes above,
A wider world of hope and joy I see,
Because you come to me.
Because you speak to me in accents sweet,
I find the roses waking round my feet,
And I am led through tears and joy to thee,
Because you speak to me.
Because God made thee mine, I’ll cherish thee
Through light and darkness, through all time to be,
And pray His love may make our love divine,
Because God made thee mine.
That each marriage may be so nurtured is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
The simplest things can take the most work, so work hard and see the pay off."Bee Positive, Bee Involved, Bee Smart, Bee Happy"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
