O Holy Night

BELIEVE

We are in the midst of "that time of year"...

...Pondering for all that we are grateful for during the Thanksgiving festivities...

and, now, getting ready for the celebration of our Savior's birth...

For many...it is a very difficult time of year...

and for others...it is the excitement of

family and friends gathering together

and celebrating all that is good...

 

I love this song..."Believe"...

by Josh Groban...

I found a version of it with JUST THE WORDS...

hoping that you will let your own mind drift...

to draw upon the "spirit"

and allowing Him to guide your thoughts...

 

 

 

"12" New Guests at the Robison Family Home

Ollie and her "12" Young'uns

Anyone interested in adding one of these

little ones for Christmas?

I am sure...Susan Robison would LOVE

to be one of Santa's helpers in making

it possible!

(smile)

"Daughters in My Kingdom" - NEW Relief Society Book

 I realize, Sisters, not all of you

have been given a copy of this important gift...

Our ward was only sent "40" copies...

which doesn't even begin to cover the

nearly 260 sisters in our Ward...

We are in the process of ordering MORE...so that EACH of you

will have your very own copy...

In the meantime, here is a wonderful 

interview with the General R.S. Presidency

on this important work...

Tyson Boyes

This article was featured in 

"The Daily Inter Lake"

on Tyson Boyes

Youth with cerebral palsy picks family over football for Montana Hope wish

 

Thanksgiving reunion

The Montana Hope Project is helping the Boyes family make a trip to California so Tyson, left, can visit his great-grandfather's gravesite. Members of the Montana Highway Patrol met at Pizza Hut last week to give the family a gift basket before their trip this.

Tyson with family - Tyler Beagley
and members of the Montana Highway Patrol

Tyson's mother, Gina Boyes, was showing Tyson a picture
she took at Pizza Hut - 15 November 2011

Can find this article:
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_fbe1c85e-15fd-11e1-a5cf-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=image

Stefanie Walter and Baby Hailey Brooke

I am a bit behind in featuring one of our newest 

additions to the Ward:

Hailey Brooke Walter

who was born on the same day as her sister, Olivia...

19 September

(smile)

In her honor, there was a baby shower given by Kara Baisden:

Baby Hailey cuddled up to Mama Stefanie

Fran McCarrel holding Baby Hailey

Our little banquet!

Enjoying our wonderful feast!

Front to Back: Sabrina Dobson - Stefanie Walter - Kara Baisden

Ward Thanksgiving Plates of Love...

To our incredible Ward for all their loving hands

in helping with the Thanksgiving Plates of Love...

Absolutely WONDERFUL amount of goodies made and offered...

and to all those who gave their time...

to make it all happen!

THANK YOU so VERY MUCH!

Amber Olsen - Debbie Perrone - and fun-loving

Robyn Dickson

Annie "Egley" Smith and Bunny Egley

Annie came to show off her beautiful twin

baby girls 

Wendy Storey wrapping up all those 

awesome plates of goodies

 Lynn Billedeaux and Wendy Storey

 Sheryl Ruggles, Amber Spillett, and Mary Lou Hartman

 Shawn Fuller

We made up "79" platefuls...

Bishop Robison - Terri Parker and Sheryl Ruggles

getting ready the final touches - 

Letters to our Ward families and an invitation

to our Christmas Community event

Mindy Smith offering her thoughts...

Wendy Storey and Meridel Barden

adding additional goodies

as more wonderful treats arrived...

Our Youth leaders, like Steve Perrone, here,

and our Youth - plus several other adults

took the youth around to deliver

to many of our Ward families...

A huge THANK YOU to all the UNNAMED

individuals who played a great role in this

wonderful act of "service"...

It takes MANY MANY MANY hands

to make something like this

successful!

Baptism: Laureen and Ciara Rickard

On November 12, 2011

We have the privilege of TWO NEW members 

joining our Family Ward...

Laureen and Ciara Rickard!

Our Elders Mower and Warner
baptized them.

(L to R) Elder Warner - Ciara and Laureen Rickard - Elder Mower

Lifting Burdens: The Atonement of Jesus Christ

The GREAT TEST

• The prophet is not limited by men's reasoning. There will be times when you will have to choose between the revelations of God and the reasoning of men--between the prophet and the politician or professor. Said the Prophet Joseph Smith, "Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof until long after the events transpire." (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], p.134)

• The great test of life is obedience to God. "We will prove them herewith," said the Lord, "to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them" (Abraham 3:25). The great task of life is to learn the will of the Lord and then do it. (Ensign, May 1988, p. 4)

Come...WALK WITH ME...

"Come...WALK WITH ME"

Parenting Tricks or Simply BEING WISE...

Our Family - 1989

(Before Hyrum was born - 3 years later)

Our daughter wrote this up for a major blog, today...and I thought I would share it with you...In raising our children, we had to find "wise" methods to handle 7-8 young children in church...Here is our daughter's side of it:

The Three Scoop Method ~ My Parenting Trick!

 

 After reading my lovely post about our fist fighting in church experience on my blog, my mom commented that I should start instigating the "three scoop" method.  What does that mean?

Well, here's the scoop. (Ha! "Scoop".... clever, I know)

Sugar was an oh-so-very-rare and highly precious commodity in our house when we were young kids. There were only two nights a week when after dinner treats were given.

Sunday and Monday nights. And honestly, half the time the "treat" was popcorn.

But Sundays seemed to be ice cream day. Now the "three scoops" refers to the three scoops of ice cream you got when my dad would dish up the bowls. We never got more than three. Three was the ultimate magic number one could aspire to.

 So this is how my parents used the magic number as a torture device...


If we started acting up in church, all my dad had to do, was lean towards us, and hold up three fingers.

Oh, believe me, we knew EXACTLY what that meant.

If that first warning was not enough and we continued to act up, he would then hold up three fingers and ever so torturously slow, so we didn't miss one horrible moment of it, he would lower one finger, indicating that we had just lost one of our coveted scoops of ice cream.

I can't even begin to explain the total devastation, as well as perfect behavior it got out of us.

I do remember just once, having lost all three of my scoops. I'm pretty sure I still have nightmares from that. For my parents never backed down, they never gave in with one of those weak, "okay fine, but next time, you really won't get them" things that you hope you're parents will say after you've been bad. Oh no! They were hard core and VERY consistent. We fully understood that my parents stuck by this rule.

I promise you I never lost all three of my scoops again, ever.

I'm a fast learner.

So if anyone in our congregation had the notion that we were just naturally reverent children, they would be sorely mistaken.

We were just trying hard to get our ice cream!~ Serene



The FINAL INNING...

 

Many of you have heard this line quoted several times:

"For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to 

make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming."

I would like to add the REST of the of the commentary

by Elder Marvin J. Ashton (Quorum of the Twelve)

who quoted President Ezra Taft Benson in the

October 1989 General Conference...

You will find this quote on Pages 36-37 - November "Ensign" 1989

"Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, 

but ours will not...

God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children,

who will help bear off the kingdom TRIUMPHANTLY.

And that is where you come in, for you are THE GENERATION

that must be prepared to meet your God...MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT---

YOU ARE A MARKED GENERATION.

There has never been more expected of the faithful 

in such a short period of time as there is of us...Each day we personally

make many decisions that show where our SUPPORT will go.

The FINAL outcome is certain-the forces of righteousness will

FINALLY WIN.

What remains to be seen is where EACH OF US PERSONALLY,

now and in the future,

will stand in this fight and how tall we will stand.

Will we be TRUE to our last-days,

FOREORDAINED MISSION?"

 

No Stronger Weapon

"The adversary has no stronger weapon in his possession

for the downfall of our Heavenly Father's 

children than murmuring."

 

Elder Marvin J. Ashton

Address, Brigham Young University

December 9, 1969

Page 7

God Bless The U.S.A.

One of my homeschooled students put together this video...as her final project at the end of our Early American class...

Remembering our Veterans and Current Military Men and Women

Captain Moroni and the TITLE OF LIBERTY

One of my absolute favorite lines in the scriptures was

declared by Captain Moroni:

"In memory of our God, our religion,

and freedom, and our peace,

our wives, and our children!"

We have fought for our "RIGHT to CHOOSE"

long before we came here...

Many a man/woman pledged their 

"Sacred Honor"

like our Founding Fathers when they declared their

their "Independence":

"...and for the support of this Declaration, 

with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence,

we mutually pledge to each other

OUR LIVES, OUR FORTUNES, and our

SACRED HONOR."

Declaration of Independence

4 July 1776

However, FREEDOM, unfortunately, comes with a price and often, the choicest blood from each generation...is given...

In Declaring our Independence

John Adams had this to say:

I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means. This is our day of deliverance. --- John Adams (1735–1826) 

This Nation's DIVINE MANDATE:

“America was discovered, colonized, and made into a great nation so that the Lord would have a proper place both to restore the gospel and from which to send it forth to all other nations.  As a prelude to his coming, and so the promised work of restoration would roll forward, the foundations of the American nation were laid. --- Bruce R. McConkie

The spirit of patriotism were often engulfed in songs like this:

"Over There" - Written by: George M. Cohan

"Over There" - Yankee Doodle Dandy

THANK YOU to all those family members who

sacrificed TIME with their loved ones...

My oldest son's family - awaiting the arrival

of our son, Joshua, from Iraq

Seeing and being with their daddy after months away from home...

Long awaited and safe arrival...

One of the twins - not quite certain...

May we REMEMBER all our Veterans, today...

and especially PRAY EVERY DAY

for their safety and DAILY express our

GRATITUDE...

VocalPoint...

I began to follow "Sing Off" this year...because one of my dearest friend's daughter, Amy Whitcomb, and her group "Delilah" were competing...They took 6th place...However, our "BYU" boys - "Vocal Point" - is still in the competition...The Church News did a piece on them...and I thought I would share it with you...It is another way...for a POSITIVE enforcement of WHO WE ARE...and that our talents are to be used for the building up of HIS KINGDOM...to serve the Lord...in the best manner we can...

Great interview...of these "wholesome" "talented" young men!

Contrast Between Nephi and his Brothers Laman and Lemuel

Nephi - At the command of God - 

rebuking his brothers, Laman and Lemuel, and showing the power of God - 

Laman:

• Not consistent in righteousness (1 Nephi 2:9)
• Stiffneckedness: "murmured" in many things again their "prophet" (father) (1 Nephi 2:11)
• Attached to "worldly things" (1 Nephi 2:11)
• Murmured BECAUSE he "knew not the dealings of that God who had created" him (1 Nephi 2:12)

Lemuel:

• Was not firm, steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of God (1 Nephi 2:10)
• Stiffneckedness: "murmured" in many things again their "prophet" (father) (1 Nephi 2:11)
• Attached to "worldly things" (1 Nephi 2:11)
• Murmured BECAUSE he "knew not the dealings of that God who had created" him (1 Nephi 2:12)

Nephi:

• Had great desire to know the mysteries of God (1 Nephi 2:16)
• Prayed to the Lord to KNOW with diligence and lowliness of heart! (1 Nephi 2:16, 19))
• Spirit testified that the Prophet Lehi (father) was telling the truth (1 Nephi 2:16)
• Had FAITH (1 Nephi 2:19)

Our National Anthem

Friday, November 11th, will be 

Veteran's Day...

I for one, cry... when we sing any song about our country...

I am a puddle of tears when I see our military...

and my red, white, and blue blood

pumps through my veins

on a daily basis...

Today, I listened to this "5" year old

belt out our National Anthem...

and was in AWE...

absolutely in AWE...

of her rendering

of our anthem...

Sit back...and take it all in...She is incredible...

Remember...she is "5" years old...

The Book of Mormon is a great Sifter...

"Members of the Church everywhere should know the Book of Mormon better than any other book.  Not only should we know what history and faith-promoting stories it contains, but we should understand its teachings...

I have noted within the church the difference in discernment, in insight, conviction, and spirit between those who know and love the Book of Mormon and those who do not.  That book is a great sifter."

President Ezra Taft Benson

"Jesus Christ---Gifts and Expectations"

New Era, May 1975, page 19

"...No member of this Church can stand approved in the presence of God

who has not seriously and carefully read the Book of Mormon."

President Joseph Fielding Smith

Conference Report

October 1961, page 18

We Will Try and Reach Every Living Soul...

  President Boyd K. Packer has said, "We accept the responsibility to preach the gospel to every person on earth.  And if the question is asked, 'You mean you are out to convert the entire world?' the answer is, 'Yes.  We will try to reach every living soul.'"

(Conference Report, October 1975, 145.)

Joseph Smith's Wentworth Letter:

"No unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing...

Armies may combine, mobs may assemble,...

but the truth of God will go forth nobly until

every ear shall hear, every nation shall be visited, until the Great Jehovah shall say, 'It is done.'"

(Joseph Smith, "History of The Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-day Saints, ed. B.H. Roberts, 2d ed. rev., 

7 vols. - Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-day Saints, 1932-51, 4:540)

One of the Tools Provided to be Successful in Our Mortal Probation

"Our Father in Heaven understood that for us

to make desired progress during our

MORTAL PROBATION,

we would need to face difficult challenges.

Some of these would be almost OVERPOWERING.

He provided tools to help us be SUCCESSFUL

in our mortal probation.

One set of those tools is the 

SCRIPTURES."

Elder Richard G. Scott

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"Ensign", November, 2011)

Upholding and Defending the Constitution of the United States

Harold B. Lee said:

"We would hope that we might be instrumental in developing statesmen—men not only with unsurpassed excellence of training in the law, but also with an unwavering faith that the Constitution of the United States was divinely inspired and written by men whom God raised up for this very purpose [D&C 101:80].

"Teachers, hold up before your students the prophetic statement of the Prophet Joseph Smith—that if and when our inspired Constitution should hang as by a thread, there would be prepared, well-qualified defenders of the faith of our fathers, the elders of this church, who would step forth and save the Constitution from destruction."

(Harold B Lee, Ye Are the Light of the World 118; Provo, UT, 12 Nov 1971)

David O. McKay said:

"Next to being one in worshiping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this Church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States!

"May the appeal of our Lord in His intercessory prayer for unity be realized in our homes, our wards, and stakes, and in our support of the basic principles of our Republic."

(David O. McKay, "The Enemy Within” 34 )

The Prayer

I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know

Let this be our prayer
As we go our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe
La luce che to dai

I pray we’ll find your light
Nel cuore restero
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarchi che
When stars go out each night
L’eterna stella sei
Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer
Quanta fede c’e
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we’ll be safe.
Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza

Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace e di fraternita

La forza che ci dai
We ask that life be kind
E’il desiderio che
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amore
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro a se
Another soul to love

Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child

Needs to find a place,
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
E la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salvera

Greatest of all Knowledge

"The ultimate and greatest of all knowledge...

is to know God and His program

for our exaltation."

Spencer W. Kimball

1968 - General Conference

October - page 130

The Price of Freedom

Ezra Taft Benson said:

"The Founding Fathers understood the principle that “righteousness exalteth a nation” (Prov 14:34), and helped to bring about one of the greatest systems ever used to govern men. But unless we continue to seek righteousness and preserve the liberties entrusted to us, we shall lose the blessings of heaven. Thomas Jefferson said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” The price of freedom is also to live in accordance with the commandments of God. The early Founding Fathers thanked the Lord for His intervention in their behalf. They saw His hand in their victories in battle and believed strongly that He watched over them.
"The battles are not over yet, and there will yet be times when this great nation will need the overshadowing help of Deity. Will we as a nation be worthy to call upon Him for help?"
(Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pg. 601; from an address given at the Provo Freedom Festival, Provo, UT, 29 Jun 1986)

Jesus Was No Ordinary Man

Perfect Love - A Safeguard Against Falling from Grace

"Until we have perfect love 

we are liable to fall

and when we have a testimony that our names

are sealed in the Lamb's book of life

we have PERFECT LOVE

and then it is IMPOSSIBLE for FALSE CHRISTS to DECEIVE us..."

("Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith")

Pg. 9

"Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity,

and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God.

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")

Pg. 174

Our Personal Influence

"There is one responsibility which no man can evade; that responsibility is his personal influence.  Man's unconscious influence is the silent, subtle radiation of personality---the effect of his words and his actions on others.  This radiation is tremendous.  Every moment of life man is changing, to a degree, the life of the whole world.

Every man has an atmosphere which is affecting every other man.  He cannot escape for one moment from this radiation of his character, this constant weakening or strengthening of others.  Man cannot evade the responsibility by merely saying it is an unconscious influence.

Man can select the qualities he would permit to be radiated, he can cultivate sweetness, calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility, and make them vitally active in his character.  And by these qualities he will constantly affect the world.

This radiation, to which I refer, comes from what a person really is, not from what he pretends to be.  Every man by his mere living is radiating either sympathy, sorrow, morbidness, cynicism, or happiness and hope or any one of a hundred other qualities.

Life is a state of radiation and absorption.  To exist is to radiate; to exist is to be the recipient of radiation."

President David O. McKay

(Given at BYU, April 27, 1948)

Perfecting Process of the Saints

"Receiving Us Through the Veil"

The Prophet Joseph Smith said:

When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom,

and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top;

and so it is with the principles of the Gospel---

you must begin with the first, and go on

until you learn all the principles of exaltation.

but it will be a great while AFTER you 

have passed through the veil before you will have learned them.

It is not all to be comprehended in THIS WORLD;

it will be a great work to learn our salvation 

and exaltation even BEYOND the grave."

"Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith"

Section Six 1843-44

p. 348