Upcoming Relief Society Meeting

May Weekday Meeting

A Home of Reverence

Tuesday, May 3 at 7:00 pm

Classes:

Love Who You Choose -- keeping love in your marriage

Taught by: Kelley Gubernick

There's No Place Like Home - making your home a holy place

Taught by: Kim Hoke

Heavenly Kitchen - attitude, behavior, togetherness, and food

Taught by: Paige Waldron

Craft Corner(or chit-chat):

Visual Inspirations – Living Christ and/or Family proclamation

Family Picture

Taught by: Melanie Tingey

Munchies Served

Lesson Highlights April 24th.

Conference Talk by David A Bednar of the 12 2010 General Conf:

Given by Amy Miller

"These Four words-'Receive the Holy Ghost'- are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction-an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon." Bednar

Remembering your baptism and when you received the Holy ghost, by those holding authority,how have you used that gift since then?
"The HG is the 3rd member of the Godhead; He is a personage of spirit and bears witness of all truth. In the scrips the HG is referred to as the Comforter, a teacher, and a revelator."
D&C 33:11,15
"Yeah repent..."

What should we do to seek the continual companionship of the HG?
1) Sincerely Desire:
Do we become too distracted w the cares of the world or the routine of daily living?

2) Appropriately Invite:
Search the scrip
strengthen family relationships
seek virtuous thoughts, actions, language
worship in home, church, temple

3)Faithfully Obey:
"All gospel teachings and activities are centered on coming unto
Christ by receiving the HG in our lives." Bednar
When we feel prompted do we act? ie: Testimony or sharing BofM

The prophet Joseph Smith said to the Brigham Young:
"Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction so that when the HG comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. It will whisper joy to their souls and it will take malice, hatred, envying, strife,and all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good...."

Lesson Highlights April 17th

Lesson Highlights 4/17/11

Given by Emihlie Wells

"Chapter 30: Charity", Gospel Principles

The life of the Savior reflects His pure love for all people. He even gave His life for us. Charity is that pure love which our Savior Jesus Christ has. He has commanded us to love one another as He loves us. The scriptures tell us that charity comes from a pure heart (see 1 Timothy 1:5). We have pure love when, from the heart, we show genuine concern and compassion for all our brothers and sisters.

The prophet Mormon tells us, "Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—but charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever" (Moroni 7:46–47; see also 1 Corinthians 13; 2 Nephi 26:30; Moroni 7:44–45, 48).

We should not try to decide whether someone really deserves our help or not (see Mosiah 4:16–24). If we have taken care of our own family's needs first, then we should help all who need help. In this way we will be like our Father in Heaven, who causes rain to fall on the just and on the unjust alike (see Matthew 5:44–45).

One way we can become charitable is by studying the life of Jesus Christ and keeping His commandments.

Second, when we have uncharitable feelings, we can pray to have greater charity.

Third, we can learn to love ourselves, which means that we understand our true worth as children of our Heavenly Father.

Fourth, we can avoid thinking we are better than other people. We can have patience with their faults. Joseph Smith said, "The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith[2007], 428–29).

Presidency Message

Have I Done Any Good Today?

Tiara Dominguez

What a wonderful and inspiring General Conference weekend! We are so blessed to have the guidance and direction of our prophet and apostles in these latter days. As I listened to the talks, it seemed that service was a common theme throughout the conference. Elder M. Russell Ballard gave a great talk about service. Here are a few of his comments:

"What are the precious, simple things of the gospel that bring clarity and purpose to our lives? What are the flecks of gospel gold whose patient accumulation over the course of our lifetime will reward us with the ultimate treasure—the precious gift of eternal life?

I believe there is one simple but profound—even sublime—principle that encompasses the entirety of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we wholeheartedly embrace this principle and make it the focus of our lives, it will purify and sanctify us so we can live once again in the presence of God.

It is only when we love God and Christ with all of our hearts, souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbors through acts of kindness and service—the way that the Savior would love and serve all of us if He were among us today.

The love the Savior described is an active love. It is not manifested through large and heroic deeds but rather through simple acts of kindness and service."

http://lds.org/general-conference/print/2011/04/finding-joy-through-loving-service/?lang=eng

With the recent natural disasters, my thoughts have turned to those suffering and affected. We had a great Humanitarian Aid Relief Society meeting last week where we were able to create some much needed items for those in need. Sometimes it is hard to know what we can do to serve when we have so much going on in our own lives and with our families. With a new baby, I have not been able to get out and serve in the community the same way I was able to when I was single. But I have been reminded lately of a quote my mom had on the wall in our house growing up. It is one of my favorites and a good reminder of the influence that we can have within our own homes. President Harold B. Lee said, "The most important of the Lord's work that you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home."

I challenge all of us to find a new way to serve in our own homes this week, and let our families know of our love for them. “… Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives”.

Here are a few fun suggestions of ways to show love and service to our families and others:

http://www.brightfutures.org/mentalhealth/pdf/families/mc/love_your_child.pdf

http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/paul_remde/50_ways.pdf

http://www.christysclipart.com/wwwroot/50ways.html

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN

Here are some events this week at the OC Parks to get your kids outside.

Taken from Just-Spotted

peter & mary muth interpretive center {springtime soiree’}

Wednesday, April 13th (from 10:30am – 11:30pm) celebrate spring at the Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Discover how our local Orange County plants & animals celebrate this season of renewal through activities, habitat restoration planting and a nature walk. Then, create a special spring themed craft to take home.

This program is specially geared towards children ages 2-8, but everyone is welcome. The cost is $5 per student (parking is free). To register, call (949)923-2275 or email: unbic@ocparks.com.

heritage hill historical park {art in the park}

Saturday, April 16th (from 10am – 2pm), bring your children to watch artists paint scenes throughout Heritage Hill Historical Park. Then, help them get started on a masterpiece of their own! Artists from the Saddleback College Emeritus Institute will be on hand offering FREE art lessons and demonstrating beginning art concepts for children of all ages. Plus, Heritage Hill will provide the art supplies! The event is FREE, parking is FREE – everything is FREE!

caspers wilderness park {adventure day}

Saturday, April 16th (from 10am – 3pm) is a family-oriented, fun-filled event happening at Caspers Wilderness Park. Musical entertainment, natural history tours, arts and crafts, wildlife exhibits, games & food. There will be wildlife-inspired games of ring-toss, cowboy lasso, a scavenger hunt & storytelling. The event & parking are both FREE.

General Conference Recipes

Looking for something to make on General Conference Sunday?

Check out these recipes. Enjoy Conference!