For ALL Mothers! These are a Few "other" Favorite Things...(smile)

President Gordon B. Hinckley's Final Emotional Testimony

Missionary Service

Deseret News Highlights Church-Service Missionary Program

25 October 2011 — POSTED by Sammy Hislop
Many recognize the image of young men and women missionaries riding bikes and wearing name tags as a symbol of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). But these are not the only missionaries giving service and spreading the message.

The Deseret News this week tells the story of another group — Latter-day Saint Church-service missionaries — that carries out a different aspect of missionary work.
The 2010 statistical report shows that 20,813 Church-service missionaries (in addition to the Church’s 52,483 full-time missionaries) volunteered during that year. Most serve from home and volunteer for their assignments (whereas full-time missionaries are assigned to certain areas of the world by Church leaders) and serve from six to 24 months. The list of Church-service mission assignments covers a broad spectrum, including addiction recovery programs, inner city projects and facilities management.
Joel S. Moriyama, who directs the Church-service missionary program, provided insight in the Deseret News story into the value of this program to the Church.

At any given time there are 13,000-14,000 Church-service missionaries out in the field serving. During 2010, those 20,813 missionaries donated more than 8.8 million hours of service. How many employees would we have had to hire, and at what cost to the Church, in order to accomplish all that these wonderful missionaries have accomplished during the course of a year?

Young Women - Service Project - October 12, 2011

"Someone has appropriately said, 'We make a living by what we get, but we build a life by what we give.' It is through giving, rather than getting,
that the Spirit of Christ enters our lives." 

Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Feb
2001, 70-73

A few of our Young Women participated in a Service project to help

stack wood at the Smith's home...

Camylle Wood, Tylissa Hemsley, 

Jennifer Oliverson - YW President

Tawna Chery (Back-Left) - YW Presidency

Tylissa Hemsley, Camylle Wood

and Jennifer Oliverson (in Red jacket)

Camylle helping Garvin Smith

The girls/leaders stacked this bunch onto the porch...

There is something "divine" when

we help one another...

THANK YOU to EACH OF YOU for those 

wonderful "extra" pair of hands!

The importance of Personal Revelation...

"There is not a position that we can occupy in life,

either as fathers, mothers, children, masters, servants, or as

Elders of Israel holding the Holy Priesthood in all its ramifications,

but what we need continually wisdom flowing from the Lord

and intelligence communicated by Him, that we may know how to perform

correctly the various duties and avocations of life, 

and to fulfill the various responsibilities that rest upon us.

And hence the necessity all the day long, and every day

and every week, month, and year, and under all circumstances, of men

leaning upon the Lord and being guided by that Spirit that flows

from him, that we may not fall into error---

that we may neither do anything wrong,

say anything wrong,

nor think anything wrong, 

and all the time retain that Spirit, which can only be kept by observing

purity, holiness, and virtue, and living continually in obedience 

to the laws and commandments of God."

President John Taylor

Journal of Discourses, 6, (November 1864): 106

"Are Momons Christian?"

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been 

MUCH in the news of late...

We were recently referred to as a "cult"...

hitting even the mainstream media...

This is a GREAT TALK by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 

answering this question..."Are Mormons Christian?"...

Scriptures Generated through Holy Ghost - They are PURE TRUTH...

A few statement from

Elder Richard G. Scott's talk in this last

October 2011 General Conference:

"THE POWER OF SCRIPTURE"

"Because scriptures are generated from inspired communication 

through the Holy Ghost, 

THEY ARE PURE TRUTH."

"Scriptures....illuminate our minds...give place to GUIDANCE...

and INSPIRATION FROM ON HIGH."

"They (scriptures) become the KEY to open the channel

to COMMUNION with our

FATHER IN HEAVEN and His Beloved Son,

JESUS CHRIST."

"GREAT POWER can come from MEMORIZING SCRIPTURES."

 "PONDERING a scripture...gives GREAT DIRECTION TO LIFE." 

"PONDERING a passage of scripture can be a KEY to UNLOCK

REVELATION and the guidance and inspiriation

of the Holy Ghost.  Scriptures can CALM an

AGITATED SOUL, giving PEACE, HOPE,

and a restoration of confidence in one's abilit

to OVERCOME the CHALLENGES of LIFE.

They have POTENT POWER to HEAL

emotional challenges when there is 

FAITH in the SAVIOR.

They can accelerate 

PHYSICAL HEALING."

"Those who CONSISTENTLY read the BOOK OF MORMON

are blessed with an ADDED MEASURE of the SPIRIT

of the Lord, a greater resolve to 

OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS,

and a STRONGER TESTIMONY of the 

DIVINITY of the SON OF GOD." 

People...blessings....or lessons...

Cherish One Another

President Boyd K. Packer - Half Century - of Service

President Packer is at half-century milestone of service

Special witness, teacher of gospel of Jesus Christ

By Gerry Avant
Church News editor

Published: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011

Early on Saturday morning, Sept. 30, 1961, Boyd K. Packer, then Supervisor of the Church Seminaries and Institutes and a member of the Brigham Young University Administrative Council, was in a meeting with teachers and leaders who had come to Salt Lake City for training in conjunction with the 131st Semiannual General Conference.

Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

With the 181st Semiannual General Conference, President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve has reached his 50th anniversary as a General Authority. He was called as an Assistant to the Twelve on Sept. 30, 1961.

He was summoned from that meeting to take a telephone call from President Hugh B. Brown, a counselor in the First Presidency, who told him he was to go to President David O. McKay's office.
"I was 37 years old. I had no idea what was coming," said the former seminary leader during a recent conversation with the Church News.

Photo from Deseret News archives.

Boyd K. Packer

What was coming was a call as a General Authority, first, as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve and, eight and a half years later, as a member of that Quorum. He served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve from June 5, 1994, to Feb. 3, 2008, when President Thomas S. Monson became President of the Church, at which time President Packer became President of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Photos from Deseret News archives.

This general conference marks President Packer's 50th anniversary as a General Authority, making him the longest-tenured among the Brethren serving today. (President Monson was sustained on Oct. 4, 1963, as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve; at that time, Elder Packer was serving as an Assistant to the Twelve.)

Photo from Deseret News archives.

Elder Packer's call as a General Authority came just minutes before the day's conference sessions began. He did not have time to telephone his wife, Donna, who was at home recovering from an injury sustained in a fall, so she heard the news of his call as she and her mother were listening to conference on the radio.

Photo from Deseret News archives.

"I don't know where the years have gone. There I was — and here I am," said President Packer, who is 87. With a smile that hinted of his warm sense of humor and a wave of his hand, he said, "The time's gone like that."

Photo from Deseret News archives.

In 1985, Elder James E. Faust, left, Elder Boyd K. Packer and Elder Dallin H. Oaks - all of the Quorum of the Twelve - served together on the Missionary Executive Council.

He said of his call as an Assistant to the Twelve that he felt he was "flying with a higher flock than I belonged to."
But members of that flock took him under their collective wing. He knew personally only one member of the Quorum of the Twelve at the time of his call, Elder Spencer W. Kimball, who had visited the Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah, where Brother Packer had been a seminary teacher.

Photo from Deseret News archives.

"I had quite a schooling as I learned from the senior Brethren," President Packer said. "I learned to be taught.
"It's one thing to study the gospel and another to study men who have given their lives to it," he said of the Brethren with whom he served in the early years as a General Authority and who since have passed away. "President McKay had a great influence on me. Elder Marion G. Romney, Elder N. Eldon Tanner and Elder Kimball were my mentors.

Photo from Deseret News archives.

For many years, Elder Boyd K. Packer served on the LDS Servicemen's Committee (now Military Relations Committee). For many years, Elder Boyd K. Packer served on the LDS Servicemen's Committee (now Military Relations Committee).

"Elder LeGrand Richards (born in 1886) was my history book. I learned in those early days to associate with the older Brethren. I would walk back from meetings in the temple with Elder Richards. He walked very slowly because he had a crippled leg. The other Brethren would say, 'Oh, you're so kind.' I thought, 'You don't know how selfish I am.' I would ask Elder Richards questions. He knew everything."
President Packer spoke of his associations with Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, who on Jan. 23, 1970, became the 10th president of the Church. "He was a wonderful man. I liked to be around him and just listen to him and study him." Elder Packer worked closely with Elder Harold B. Lee, who became the 11th Church president on July 7, 1972, and Elder Mark E. Petersen.

Photo from Deseret News archives.

Elder Boyd K. Packer converses with children outside one of the 11 chapels he dedicated in Guatemala in 1979.Elder Boyd K. Packer converses with children outside one of the 11 chapels he dedicated in Guatemala in 1979.

He spoke with admiration of Elder Bruce R. McConkie, who "was regarded as very rigid and staid, but he had more humor than many of the others. He was very pleasant to be around."
President Packer said, "If we look at the past, we can know where we're going. The footprints are there, marching in a line. We need to take a thought for where we've been and where we're heading."
President Packer was preparing his address for this conference at the time of his conversation with the Church News. Asked how he goes about preparing a talk, he commented that making an early start helps, and that his early start "begins as soon as the last conference has ended."

Photo from Deseret News archives.

In 1985, during a visit to Asia, Elder Boyd K. Packer evokes laughter from Chinese workmen in Canton as he hoists buckets with one of their yokes. In 1985, during a visit to Asia, Elder Boyd K. Packer evokes laughter from Chinese workmen in Canton as he hoists buckets with one of their yokes.

Ever a special witness and teacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ — he is the author of the widely used Teach Ye Diligently — he said that the Brethren have different ways of preparing talks, but all rely on the Spirit.

Photo courtesy President Boyd K. Packer

While presiding over the New England Mission, Pres. Boyd K. Packer and Sister Donna Packer share a meal with their children and guests.

"It's just that simple. I also work at it. I would much rather get up and just talk," President Packer said. However, a prepared text is needed for purposes such as translation of talks into more than 93 languages. Typically, President Packer said, he goes through 20-25 drafts of his talks, with the Spirit moving him as he sits with scriptures open on his desk and paper and pen at the ready.

Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

President Boyd K. Packer on his 85th birthday. He and his wife, Donna pose in their back yard. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009.

This will mark the 100th time he has given an address in general conference since he was set apart as a General Authority.

Thoughts...to Ponder...

I saw these TWO thought provoking messages 

and thought they were worth posting:

Some Highlights from Saturday's General Conference Sessions

I went to the Church's web site and they have up the Saturday General Conference sessions posted to be WATCHED...But, on the YOUTH portion of the church's web site are clips from some of the talks...and a brief highlighted statement:

https://lds.org/youth/from-leaders?lang=eng

·  Finding Those Who Are Lost

• By Jose L. Alonso
• 1 October 2011

Brothers and sisters, there may be many who, for some reason, are lost from our sight and who do not know that they are lost.

·   Courage to Stand Alone

• By Thomas S. Monson
• 1 October 2011

Do we have the moral courage to stand firm for our beliefs, even if by so doing we must stand alone?

·   Look Forward to Your Future

• By Boyd K. Packer
• 1 October 2011

You might be tempted to think as I did from time to time in my youth: “The way things are going, the world’s going to be over with. The end of the world is going to come before I get to where I should be.” Not so!

Perhaps the single greatest thing I learned from reading the Book of Mormon is that the voice of the Spirit comes as a feeling rather than a sound.

·   You Bless the Church

• By Keith B. McMullin
• 01 October 2011

It has been my experience that you who serve as deacons, teachers, and priests are as willing, reliable, and capable in doing your duty as we expect you to be.

·   The Power of the Scriptures

• By Richard G. Scott
• 01 October 2011

Pondering a passage of scripture can be the key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost.

·   Reach Out and Share

• By L. Tom Perry
• 01 October 2011

We must be bold in our declaration of Jesus Christ. We want others to know that we believe He is the central figure in all human history.

·  Tune in to the Lord

• By Ian S. Ardern
• 01 October 2011

How sad it would be if the phone and computer, with all of their sophistication, drowned out the simplicity of sincere prayer to a loving Father in Heaven.

·   You Are Not Forgotten

• By Dieter F. Uchtdorf
• 01 October 2011

You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe!

·  The Gift of Repentance

• By D. Todd Christofferson
• 01 October 2011

The gift of repentance is the true cause for celebration.

·   Stay Active and Worthy

• By Jeffrey R. Holland
• 01 October 2011

I am asking you young men to be active in the Church and to be clean. If required, I am asking you to get active and get clean.

·   Family History: An Invitation

• By David A. Bednar
• 01 October 2011

I encourage you to study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead.

·   We Believe in Families

• By Neil A. Andersen
• 01 October 2011

The family is ordained of God. Families are central to our Heavenly Father’s plan here on earth and through the eternities.