Service = Love, Love = Service

"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good edification".
(Romans 15:1-2)

President Heber J. Grant once said, “The real secret of happiness in life . . . is service” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant, 15).

Happiness, really is a by-product of helping others. We have been taught that no one ever finds happiness by thinking of his or herself.
A woman came to Elder S. Dilworth Young at a time he was caring for his invalid wife. The woman said, “I am coming to your house every Friday night from six until ten. You can count on it, so plan to . . . find relief for those four hours.” She didn’t say, “What can I do to help you?” because she knew President Young would say, “I’m handling everything just fine.” But rather, she decided what would be helpful and took action. President Young later commented about this experience: “How blessed she was to me. How good! She blessed both me and my wife with new cheer, new smiles, and new ideas”
(The Love That Never Faileth, Barbara B. Smith,p. 21).
Lastly, Shakespeare wrote: “He does not love, who does not show his love”. Let us look after and love one another.

July Visiting Teaching Message Idea

Just saw this idea for Visiting Teaching next month, and thought I'd share it's cuteness with you, it's courtesy of Mish Mash Mom:

This month's message is a great reminder visit the temple.
There is no other place on earth that can compare with the beautiful spirit that is there. Let us all resolve to make temple service a priority in our lives.

For the message this month, find some cute heavier paper {like cardstock} and cut some strips,
one 8"x4"
one7"x4" and
one 6"x4"
stack them and sew or staple them together.

next, print out this file:
{which includes the entire message, scriptures and history, as well as a yummy recipe}
onto heavier paper and trim down to 3 1/4ish" x 7 1/4".

Insert into pockets and embellish.

Happy July Visiting Teaching!

Comparison

"Comparison is the thief of joy! "

- Dwight Edwards

Couresty of Sugardoodle.

The Book of Mormon Musical - Some Thoughts

I'm sure you've heard of the Book of Mormon musical through TV, I don't know what your thoughts on it are, but the best article I've read on 'The Book of Mormon' musical is this one, it's worth a read. It's written by a non-Mormon, and I think because of that it gives a unique persepctive.

The Church's reposnse to it is: “The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people’s lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ.”
Amen to that!

It Is Easy To Let Prayer Slip

"In the hectic, pressure-filled schedules you face, I . . . know how easy it is to let prayer slip. Some of you hit the snooze button on your alarm clocks, thinking you can eke out just another minute or two of sleep, then jerk awake realizing that you are going to be late for school or work. On such mornings, prayer gets pushed aside, perhaps with a feeble promise to yourself that you will do better tomorrow. Put the alarm clock where you can't reach it from bed; that will solve this problem. Sometimes you return home late at night, exhausted and eager to collapse into bed. You may go through the motions of prayer in a perfunctory and superficial manner, but that is not the kind of prayer that helps us conquer Satan.

"I know many of you live in apartments where you have four or five roommates. The television or stereo may be on day and night. People talk loudly enough that even in your bedroom you can hear them clearly. There is laughter, noise, interruptions. In such circumstances it is a challenge to find a time and a place where you can be alone with your Heavenly Father. The Savior spoke of entering our closets to pray (see Matthew 6:6), suggesting the importance of privacy and quiet when we talk with God. For most of you, your closets will not allow this to happen, so you need to find a time and place where you can be alone with the Lord and pour out your heart to Him, that you might add strength and power to your spiritual lives."
M. Russell Ballard, "Be Strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His Might" (CES fireside for young adults, March 3, 2002), 2–3

Firm Hope

"Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of Hope", Ensign, Nov. 2008, 22

Moments that Matter Most

Rise Up and Be Thankful

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful".
- Buddha

Sung-Bong Choi, Korea's Got Talent - A Must Watch!

Inspiring, beautiful, touching.

If I Had My Child To Raise Again

"If I had my child to raise over again

I'd build self-esteem first and the house later

I'd finger paint more and point the finger less

I would do less correcting and more connecting

I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes

I would care to know less and know to care more

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites

I'd stop playing serious and seriously play

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars

I'd do more hugging and less tugging

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often

I would be firm less often and affirm much more

I'd model less about the love of power

And more about the power of love."

-Diane Loomans-

(taken from here)

Fire of your Faith

"Keep the fire of your testimony of the restored gospel and your witness of our Redeemer burning so brightly that our children can warm their hands by the fire of your faith."

--President Boyd K. Packer Ensign, May 2003, 84

Our Attitude

"Remember, a good attitude produces good results, a fair attitude fair results, a poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude."

--M. Russell Ballard, "Providing for Our Needs", Ensign May 1981, 85

Downright Solid Faith

"We're not going to survive in this world, temporally or spiritually, without increased faith in the Lord-and I don't mean a positive mental attitude-I mean downright solid faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the one thing that gives vitality and power to otherwise rather weak individuals."

--A. Theodore Tuttle, "Developing Faith", Ensign, Nov. 1986, 72

Behavior & Doctrine

"True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior."

--Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 2004, 79

Ain't that the truth!

Do Something Appropriate

"When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate —and do it." 

— Edgar Watson Howe