Lesson Highlights 3/20/2011

"Chapter 28: Service", Gospel Principles

Given by Emihlie Wells

Jesus said, "I am among you as he that serveth" (Luke 22:27). As true followers of Jesus, we also must serve others.

Service is helping others who need assistance. Christlike service grows out of genuine love for the Savior and of love and concern for those whom He gives us opportunities and direction to help. Love is more than a feeling; when we love others, we want to help them.

Through the service of men and women and boys and girls, God's work is done. President Spencer W. Kimball explained: "God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 82).

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God…

"And if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?" (Mosiah 2:17–18).

When we serve others we gain important blessings. Through service we increase our ability to love. We become less selfish. As we think of the problems of others, our own problems seem less serious. We must serve others to gain eternal life. God has said that those who live with Him must love and serve His children (see Matthew 25:34–40).

President Spencer W. Kimball said, "We become more substantive as we serve others—indeed, it is easier to 'find' ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, 85–86).

We can serve members of our families.

We have many opportunities to serve our neighbors, our friends, and even strangers.

We have opportunities to serve in the Church.

Jesus Christ loves all of us more than we can understand. When He was on earth He served the poor, the ignorant, the sinner, the despised.

When we willingly serve others in the spirit of love, we become more like Christ.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A little St. Patty's Day treat to add to your pot of gold :)

CHOCOLATE MINT BROWNIES

~Lori Hexberg~

1 1/2 c. melted butter

3/4 c. cocoa

3 c. sugar

6 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

3/4 tsp salt

2 1/4 c. sifted flour

Frosting:

3/4 c. butter, softened

3 T. milk

3 c. powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

green food coloring optional

Chocolate layer:

2 1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 c. butter

Whisk together melted butter and cocoa. Add sugar, eggs, vanilla and salt. Mix well, then stir in flour by hand. Do not over mix. Spread in greased 12x17-inch cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 25-30 min. Cool and then put in the freezer for 20 min. For frosting, mix butter, milk, powdered sugar and extract. Can color with green (or red) food coloring if desired. Frost brownies and then put in freezer for another 20 min. Melt chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler and spread on top of the frosting layer. Freeze another 20 min to set.

March 1st Relief Society Birthday Dinner Celebration

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On March 1st, we enjoyed a lovely evening commemorating the organization of the Relief Society. We had a delicious old-fashioned homemade chicken pot-pie dinner with homemade biscuits and yummy fruit, topped off with homemade ice cream.

We honored the past (and present) Relief Society Presidents of the church and of our FV2nd Ward. We enjoyed hearing some of the experiences and the testimonies of several of our past Relief Society Presidents and listened to the words of our Relief Society General President, Julie B. Beck from her talk, “Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society”.

We thank Paige Waldron, Hillary Haynie and the R.S. Committee for the beautiful job they did in organizing, decorating and preparing the meal for this wonderful evening.

Enjoy some excerpts from Sister Beck’s address:

"The purpose of Relief Society is to prepare daughters of God for the blessings of eternal life as they increase in faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need.

We study our history because it unites faithful women. The history of Relief Society is a Spirit-filled story of strong, faithful, purposeful women. As a part of the Lord’s restored Church, Relief Society can now be found in nearly 170 nations. Everywhere in the world adult women in the Lord’s Church can be given serious and important responsibilities.

The history of Relief Society teaches us that our Heavenly Father knows His daughters. He loves them, He has given them specific responsibilities, and He has spoken to and guided them during their mortal missions. Additionally, the history of Relief Society elevates and validates the standing of women and demonstrates how they work in companionship with faithful priesthood leaders."

Deep-Dish Chicken Pot Pie (lazy man version)(if anyone would like the real pie version they can email me)

Paige Waldron

[6 servings]

1 cup chopped leek (3 medium) or onion (1 large)

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

¾ cup sliced celery (1 ½ stalks)

½ cup chopped red sweet pepper (1 small)

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 ½ cups chicken broth

1 cup half-and-half, light cream, or milk

2 ½ cups chopped cooked chicken

1 cup frozen peas and carrots

In a large saucepan cook leek, mushrooms, celery, and sweet pepper in hot butter over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the flour, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper. Add broth and half-and-half all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in chicken and peas and carrots. Serve with Baking Powder Drop Biscuits.

Drop Biscuits Supreme (recipe can be found in FV 2 Relief Society Cookbook)

[12 Biscuits]

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

¾ teaspoon cream of tartar

¾ cup butter or ½ cup butter and ¼ cup shortening

1 ¼ cup milk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and cream of tartar. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add milk all at once. Using a fork, stir just until mixture is moistened. Using a large spoon, drop dough into 12 mounds onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until golden. Remove from baking sheet and serve warm.

The Shamrock Shake is Back!

McDonald's shamrock shake it back! Find it at your Huntington Beach McDonalds.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Lesson Highlights 3/6/11

Given by Tiara Dominguez

Elder Dallin H. Oaks:
Consider the power of the idea taught in our beloved song “I Am a Child of God” (Hymns, 1985, no. 301), sung so impressively by the choir at the beginning of this session. Here is the answer to one of life’s great questions, “Who am I?” I am a child of God with a spirit lineage to heavenly parents. That parentage defines our eternal potential. That powerful idea is a potent antidepressant. It can strengthen each of us to make righteous choices and to seek the best that is within us. Establish in the mind of a young person the powerful idea that he or she is a child of God and you have given self-respect and motivation to move against the problems of life.

Consider the powerful ideas taught in these Primary songs:

“I Am a Child of God” p. 2-3
I am a child of God, And he has sent me here, Has given me an earthly home With parents kind and dear.
I am a child of God, And so my needs are great; Help me to understand his words Before it grows too late.
I am a child of God. Rich blessings are in store; If I but learn to do his will, I’ll live with him once more.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, Help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do, to live with him someday.

“My Heavenly Father Loves Me” p. 228
Whenever I hear the song of a bird or look at the blue,blue sky. Whenever I feel the rain on my face or the wind as it rushes by. Whenever I touch a velvet rose or walk by our lilac tree, I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see the color of butterfly wings. He gave me my ears that I might hear the magical sound of things. He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: I thank him reverently. For all his creations, of which I’m a part. Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.

“A Child’s Prayer” p. 12-13
Heavenly Father, are you really there? And do you hear and answer every child’s prayer? Some say that heaven is far away, But I feel it close around me as I pray. Heavenly Father, I remember now something that Jesus told disciples long ago: “Suffer the children to come to me.” Father, in prayer I’m coming now to thee.

Pray, he is there; Speak, he is listening. You are His child; His love now surrounds you. He hears your prayer; He loves the children. Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heaven.

“I Love to See the Temple” p. 95
I love to see the temple. I’m going there someday. To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray. For the temple is a house of God, a place of love and beauty. I’ll prepare myself while I am young; this is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple. I’ll go inside someday. I’ll covenant with my Father; I’ll promise to obey. For the temple is a holy place where we are sealed together. As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth: A family is forever.

ARE YOU HAPPY?

My daughter posted this on her blog recently. I like it. Simple, and true. Just like anything worthwhile, it is up to us to “be happy”. It’s a choice. Not always easy, but definitely within our power. We sometimes think that happiness just happens to us if we are lucky. But in reality, we have to be proactive…which is in itself an action word and indicates that we can’t expect something out of nothing. I also think it is interesting that even though we seek to find happiness for ourselves, we most often are able to achieve that happiness through using our personal strengths to go outside of ourselves and help others. I have heard it said that a definition of insanity is when a person expects different results but continues doing the exact same things…now that’s INSANITY!

“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.”

----Benjamin Disraeli

Love,

Miralee Hartley,

FV 2nd Ward RS Presidenthttp://ubersuper.com/are-you-happy/">

graphic by Alex Koplin