Saturday, September 29, 2012

Financial Blessings.....Tithing and Finance




Posted by at No comments:

Home Is Where Your Story Begins....Moms and Missionaries









12 Days of Missionary Service

On behalf of the entire Wright family, we invite you to participate in your own way, on your own time and in your own hometown in the 12 Days of Service. We'll begin on Dec. 13 and end on Christmas Eve. But, as with any holiday tradition, there isn't a wrong way or a right way, there's only your way.
On the first day of service, do something unexpected for a family member. Complete their chores without fanfare or offer to do the one thing you know they most dread each day.
On the second day of service, do something nice for someone you don't know. Open a door or pay for a breakfast in the drive-thru. Be creative, but be safe.
On the third day of service, do something in your community. Visit a nursing home or hospital for a few minutes. Volunteer at a shelter or food bank. Be sure to call ahead and ensure the timing is right for them to put you to work.
On the fourth day of service, call or email someone you haven't communicated with in a long time. What friend or family needs to hear from you? Who needs to be reminded you care?
On the fifth day of service, read to a child. Consider calling the nearest elementary school, whether you have children there or not, and offer to read a picture book to a younger class. The looks on their faces will stay with you long after the holidays slide past.
On the sixth day of service, take extra time to pray for someone with a specific need. Is your neighbor ill? Is someone from church out of work? Ask God to bless them and make their burdens light, and never underestimate the power of prayer.
On the seventh day of service, share your talents. Put on a talent show at home. Call your grandmother and sing over the phone. Write a poem for your teacher. Offer to take Christmas photos of those special friends you know can't afford to have them taken.
On the eighth day of service, do something nice for someone in your church family. Prayerfully identify the need and perform the service as a family, if possible.
On the ninth day of service, thank someone for the unnoticed, unheralded things they do. Thank a Sunday School teacher for her lesson. Thank the crosswalk attendant for keeping your children safe. Thank your mother for getting up early and helping you prepare for school.
On the 10th day of service, pay a specific compliment to someone for a smile, an attitude or a sense of humor. Look someone in the eye and give him a moment to shine. Then repeat as many times as possible throughout the day.
On the 11th day of service, share your testimony with someone about the true meaning of Christmas. Express your love of the Savior and invite someone to share what Christmas means to them too.
On the 12th day of service, sit with your family, no matter how large or small, and review the 11 days. Ask, what do you remember? What would you do differently? Who benefited most from your service: you, your family or the people you served?
Finally, if you choose to tackle the 12 Days of Service, consider challenging another family to participate with you. If each of us dedicated ourselves to 12 days of service, just imagine how much service might perform on the other 353 days.
Merry Christmas, and happy service!


Missionary 12 Days of Christmas
(Print up the poem for each day, then include the gift with it using your own ideas
for what will look nice and appropriate for your missionary's personality, etc.)

December is the time of year the days are getting cold.
A nice hot cup of cocoa is like an ounce of gold.
So find some nice hot water, and open the popcorn -- no fuss!
And once in awhile as you treat yourself, try to think of us!
(Gift: cocoa mix and bag of popcorn)

On the second day of Christmas we are steeped in tradition.
And so, to you serving there, we are making this addition.
Joyful Christmas carols we've sent along your way.
We hope these songs will brighten each coming day.
(Gift: approved music tape, Tabernacle choir Christmas tape)

On the third day of Christmas we send a little tree
And the special decorations which you will plainly see
Remind us of your service to your Father up above,
We think of you so often, and we're sending you our love.
(Gift: small tree and simple decorations)

On the fourth day of Christmas, you're always on our list.
Here's something fun to eat, so you'll know that you are missed.
Sit down -- take off your shoes -- here's something you can burn,
Kris "Pringle" will give you energy to go all out and learn.
(Gift: Pringles potato chips)

On the fifth day of Christmas, we know you have your tree.
These special little ornaments will add a touch of glee.
When placed upon the branches they remind you of our love,
And all the special blessings Father grants us from above.
(Gift: small tree ornaments)

On the sixth day of Christmas, the days go by so fast,
We wanted to provide you with something that would last.
A helpful little something that will make your kitchen cheery,
So that the task tomorrow will not seem quite so dreary.
(Gift: hot pads, dish towels, kitchen tools, recipes, or whatever)

On the seventh day of Christmas, a very special night,
We wish we could be with you, the spirit is just right.
"Love one another" was the Lord's admonition,
Sharing with each other will help fulfill our mission.
(Gift: Christmas story/stories)

On the eighth day of Christmas, we know you're feeling beat,
So set aside your books and put up your feet.
We thought of an idea that would be real neat.
Tape a long, deep breath and share this Christmas treat.
(Gift: cookies or treat)

On the ninth day of Christmas our hearts began to swell
The love we felt inside for you, we could never tell.
Please wear this token of our love throughout the day today,
If others ask just what it means -- this is what you'll say --
I AM LOVED!
(Gift: tie clip, ring, barrette, necklace, pin)

On the tenth day of Christmas we send you "Peace on Earth"
As people all around the world celebrate His birth.
To help us gain eternal life was our Lord's endeavor.
Give away this book to show "Families Can Be Forever".
(Gift: Book of Mormon)

'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse.
This stocking was stuffed by your mother with care
With hopes that your Christmas is more than just fair.
So open your goodies -- your sock's full to the top
With family voices, presents, and blessings that won't stop!
(Gift: stocking filled with goodies, tapes, letters from family)

Christmas Day is special even though you're miles from home.
Whisperings of the spirit tell us you are not alone.
This gift you'll enjoy at all times of the year
So keep our thoughts close and help us feel near.




Posted by at No comments:

The Power of Scripture





THE POWER OF SCRIPTURE
“I urge you to recommit yourselves to a study of the scriptures. Immerse yourselves in them daily so you will have the power of the Spirit to attend you in your callings. Read them in your families and teach your children to love and treasure them”
-President Ezra Taft Benson

Scripture Study Suggestions

  • Choose a time each day to read your scriptures and commit to that time. Set reminders for yourself (i.e. Post-Its, an alarm on your cell phone) if needed.
  • Choose a specific place in your home where you will read the scriptures each day. A place as free from distraction as possible.
  • Always start your scripture study time with a prayer. You can also pray for help to remember what you read.
  • Keep a scripture study journal and record your thoughts and scriptures that impress you. Then go back and re-read the things you wrote down often.
  • If your mind wonders while you read, read the chapter and then review what you read. Or maybe even read the chapter more than once.
  • Before you close your scriptures, remind yourself of a few of the key points or principles to keep in mind throughout your day.


Conference Talks and Ensign Articles
Regarding Scripture Study


Other Church Resources

Online Scripture Study Ideas
for Yourself and Your Family

The Redheaded Hostess
            Select the “Scripture Study Tips” tab
·         “Understanding the House of Israel” online book
·         Alma 1 Marking and Journal Guide
·         Pride vs Charity Journal Entry
·         Scripture Study Tip: Make Scripture Tabs
·         Book of Mormon Paper Dolls
·         10 Ideas on How to Use the Scripture Readers
·         Doctrinal Spouse Study Topics

Teach LDS Children
·         This website has a lot of great family activities, attention activities, and ways to           incorporate the scriptures and scripture stories into games and activities, including        35 different Book of Mormon lessons.
·         Teaching LDS Children: Book of Mormon Scripture Stickers
·         Activities and lessons on chapters in Alma and 1 Nephi

The Good Part
·         Select the Study tab at the top of the page-tons of ideas for color coding, cross referencing, scripture chains, compare and contrast and more!

Scripture Journal Ideas by Dana Cockrum
·         Why Have a Scripture Journal?
·         Scripture Journal Page Collection



Posted by at No comments:

Believe In Yourself.....Doing Hard Things



3 Links to 3 Ensign Articles:

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1995/11/trust-in-the-lord?lang=eng&query=%22trust+in+the+lord%22
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/01/living-the-abundant-life?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/08/one-step-at-a-time?lang=eng&query=one+step+time

The Great Success Formula:
http://ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/archive/2012/sharing_stations/pdf/63g.pdf



I CAN DO HARD THINGS!
In order for us to grow and become fit for our Father’s kingdom we must do hard things.  Life’s journey is all about learning, growing, and becoming.   We will all have challenges, hardships, and experience difficult things.   ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.’  Doing hard things can mean something completely different for each one of us.
·         Does it mean learning to play a musical instrument?
·         Does it mean cleaning or organizing your home?
·         Does it mean serving someone that has offended you?
·         Does it mean raising a difficult teenager?
·         Does it mean losing a job and finding new one?
·         Does it mean fighting a serious illness or disease?
·         Does it mean grieving the loss of a loved one?
·         Does it mean going through a divorce?
·         Does it mean sending a son or daughter on a mission?
·         Does it mean serving a mission yourself?
·         Does it mean losing your home because of financial difficulties?
·         Does it mean living with a disability?
·         Does it mean overcoming an addiction or weakness?
·         Does it mean being kind to someone who is unkind to you?
·         Does it mean ‘living in the world but not of the world’?
·         Does it mean seeking an education?
·         Does it mean accepting a church calling in which you feel very inadequate?
·         Does it mean sending a family member off to serve our country?
·         Does it mean learning how to sew, quilt, or another new skill?
·         Does it mean forgiving someone who has wronged you?
·         Does it mean keeping the commandments?
·         Does it mean praying, reading, and studying the scriptures daily?
·         Does it mean standing up for what you believe in?
·         Does it mean taking care of a child with a disability, illness, or disease?
·         Does it mean going on a pioneer trek?
·         Does it mean paying a full tithe or a generous fast offering?
·         Does it mean starting a regular exercise routine?
·         Does it mean admitting you did something wrong?
·         Does it mean sharing your testimony with someone?
·         Does it mean asking for help?
·         Does it mean diligently seeking for inspiration?

      What does the phrase “I can do hard things” mean to you?
Adapted from 2012 BYU Women’s Conference Sharing Station by Suzanne Reynolds, Colleen Kirby, & Kris Jolley


Powerful Possibility Thinking

The thoughts you feed your mind are just as important as the food you feed your body!  Thoughts shape our actions, our habits, & our character.  Below you will find enough quotes to get you started on a healthy diet of positive thoughts.  Cut out the quotes then place them in a jar.  Pick out a quote to read every morning for the next 8 weeks, & power up on “possibility thinking”.   Continue to fill your mind a healthy diet by adding more thoughts to the jar as you find additional inspiring quotes or scriptures.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”  
                                                                                                                                     ~ Henry Stanley Haskins
“It ain’t what they call you; it’s what you answer to!”    ~ W.C. Fields
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t – you are right.”   ~ Henry Ford
“Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.”    ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Success comes in cans not can’ts.”     ~ Unknown
“If you really put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.”  ~ Unknown
“If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”  ~Thomas Alva Edison     
“Just as much as we see in others we have in ourselves.”   ~ William Hazlitt
                                                                 
“We are like the little branch that quivers during a storm, doubting our strength & forgetting we are the tree – deeply rooted to withstand all of life’s upheavals.”          ~ Dodinsky

“At times many of us let that enemy of achievement, even the culprit “self-defeat”, dwarf our aspirations, smother our dreams, cloud our vision, & impair our lives.  The enemy’s voice whispers in our ears, “You can’t do it”, “You’re too young”, “You’re too old”, “You’re nobody”.  This is when we remember that we are created in the image of God.  Reflection on this truth provides a profound sense of strength & power.”     ~ Thomas S. Monson

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”  ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.”                                                                                                                                                  ~ David Brinkley

“It’s not who you are that holds you back.  It’s who you think you’re not.”     ~attributed to Hanoch McCarty

 “Don’t limit yourself & don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do.   Believe in yourself & then live so as to reach your possibilities.  You can achieve what you believe you can.  Trust & believe & have faith.”                        ~Thomas S. Monson

“We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies.”            ~Roderick Thorp

“Subconscious mind does exactly what the conscious mind tells it to.” ~Anderson (3 Magic Words)

“You act out who you think you are.”         ~Ruth Fishel

“Spend time thinking of what you want rather than what you don’t want.”      ~ S. Roman

“Give me a task too big, too hard for human hands, then I shall come at length to lean on Thee & in leaning I will find my strength.”          ~ Anonymous

“Our ordinary mind always tries to persuade us that we are nothing but acorns & that our greatest happiness will be to become bigger, fatter, shinier acorns…Our faith gives us knowledge of something better -- that we can become oak trees.”         ~ E.F. Schumacher

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light not out darkness that frightens us.  We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?’  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine…We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”                                                                                                                                                     ~ Marianne Williamson

“Believe in yourself, my brothers & sisters.  You are a child of God.  You do have something of divinity within you.  Believe in your capacity to do great & good things.”   ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

“Believe in yourself and all that you are.  Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.”                                  ~ Christian D. Larson

“Whatever you do, you need courage.  Whatever course you decide on, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.  There are always difficulties arising to tempt you to believe that your critics are right.  To map out a course of action & follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs.  Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men & women to win them.”                        ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Believe in yourselves.  Believe that you are never alone.  Believe that you will be guided.”     ~Elaine S. Dalton

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed.  The fact that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration; most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.  Life is like an old time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke,  dust cinders, and jolts—interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.  The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”         ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

“Faith in God includes Faith in His timing.”    ~ Neal A. Maxwell

“We can’t expect to be ‘fit companions of the Gods,’ like Eliza R. Snow said, if we haven’t had to do the work to become that.  A lot of that is lonely work between us and the Lord and calling upon His Atonement to help us through our experience.  The journey is what makes us.”          ~ Julie B. Beck        
                                                                     
“When life is hard, remember – we are not the first to ask, ‘Is there no other way?’”   ~ Jeffrey R. Holland

“The way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life.”                                                                                                                                                         ~Joseph B. Wirthlin

“Remember that we do not run alone in this great race of life; we are entitled to the help of the Lord.”
                                                                                                                                    ~ Thomas S. Monson

“Make your mind tell your body what to do.  Be not weary in well doing.”  ~unknown

“If you dream it, you can do it.”     ~Walt Disney

“We have one life to live, and we have to do the best we can with this life.”  ~ David O. McKay

“Yes, there are trials, and yes we have many challenges, but we have the gospel of Jesus Christ so we can make it through.”  
                                                                                                                        ~Elaine S. Dalton

“Becoming like our Savior Jesus Christ happens when our faith in Him allows us to ‘do hard things’.
                                                                                                                                    ~Julie B. Beck

“As we put our faith in the Lord and keep our focus on the eternities, we will be blessed to be able to accept whatever trial we are given, for life on earth, as we know it, is only temporary, and, if we endure it well, the Lord has promised us: ‘And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”    ~ Robert D. Hales

“In the strength of the Lord we can do and endure and overcome all things.”   ~ David A. Bednar

“Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, & the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow’.”       ~ Thomas S. Monson

“Where there is great love, there are always miracles.”     ~Willa Cather

“All the water in the world,
However hard it tried,
Could never sink the smallest ship unless it [gets] inside.
All the evil in the world,
The blackest kind of sin,
Could never hurt you the least bit unless you let it in.”
                                                            ~ Boyd K. Packer

“When you’ve taken your last step and done all that you can do, He will lift your heavy load and carry you.”
                                                                                                ~ Hillary Weeks (He’ll Carry You)

“At times you may feel like David trying to fight Goliath.  But remember – David did win!”  ~ Thomas S. Monson

“We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.”  ~Epictetus

“Life is not about what you have, it’s about what you become.”   ~ Unknown

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me   (Philippians 4:13)

And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
                                                                                                                                    (Abraham 3:25)

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father:  Ye shall have eternal life.  (2 Nephi 31:20)

And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever.  Amen.   (Ether 13:41)

…peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee in high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.  (D&C 121: 8-9)

And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.   (Alma 36:3)

And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for they good.   (D&C 122:7)

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.  (Ether 12:27)

Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.  For after much tribulation come the blessings.  Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand. 
                                                                                                                                                (D&C 58: 3-4)

   And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.  And again it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.   (Mosiah 4:27)

…faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.    (Ether 12:6)


Posted by at No comments:

Saturday Is a Special Day......Sunday Activities


Sabbath Day Activity Ideas

Ø   indicates ideas with additional idea details listed below)

  • Prepare future talks and lessons (church and FHE)
  • Visit someone in the hospital or nursing home
  • Check out Church media available online
  • Do some Family History research
  • Catalogue family pictures
  • Write in a journal
Ø  Go for a walk
Ø  Write a letter
Ø  Sing songs together as a family
Ø  Play family games together
  • Read scriptures or church magazines or other good books aloud together
  • Have family interviews or family counsels
  • Memorize scriptures
  • Work on Duty to God/Faith in God
  • Make treats together to share with a neighbor or friend
  • Draw/paint or color together
  • Create a Sabbath Day idea book with lists and depictions of appropriate activities that children can browse and choose from

Additional details for Sabbath Day Activity Ideas
Family Walks - This is a great time to inspire gratitude in your children.  Go for a walk and have each child find 2 or 3 things they are especially grateful that Heavenly Father created/provided for them.  Record these items in a family journal.  Include them in your family prayer at the end to the day.

Write a Letter - You and your children are more likely to do this if everything you need is in one place.  Create a "letter Mailbox" that includes items like stationary, pencils/pens, address books or filled in address labels of family and missionaries, envelopes and stamps.  Include fun paper or stamps to encourage younger children to participate. Make the box a "special" activity reserved for Sundays and other special times.

Sing Songs Together as a Family - prepare a song as a family that you can sing at a nursing home, hospital or for an extended family gathering.

Play Family Games Together - Don't get bogged down with Chutes and Ladders over and over every Sunday.  Branch out - prepare a "re-enactment box" with costumes that could be used to depict scripture stories or church history events.  This does not need to be elaborate.  Most Book of Mormon stories can be pulled off with a dishtowel and a rope to create a headdress - add rocks and a flashlight and you could do the Brother of Jared in a flash!


LDS Living Magazine
{LDS How-to} Keep Your Kids Reverent in Church
Mandy Slack - March 15, 2012 http://ldsliving.com/story/68059-lds-how-to-keep-your-kids-reverent-in-church

We know hoping for reverent children in church is like dreaming the impossible dream. But there are a few surprisingly simple ways to achieve it.
If I were to walk into a sacrament meeting and see children sitting quietly, engaged by the sacrament speakers instead of their Cheerios or coloring books, I would probably die of shock. Children just aren’t equipped with the ability to sit still and listen to religious vernacular (or anything) for extended periods of time. (For that matter, most adults even struggle.)

Just because kids have a hard time sitting still doesn’t mean they lack faith, but it does mean your task of keeping peace in the chapel is harder. Here are some ideas that might prevent icy stares from fellow ward members:

Prepare
Life gets busy with kids in the picture, but even minimal preparation will lead to a saner sacrament meeting. Set out clothes on Saturday night (including your own), and make other church preparations—if you’re not running around on Sunday morning, it’s likely both you and your kids will be calmer.

Three hours is a long time for some kids to go without any snacks, so pack something to give them in between. But for the love of every primary teacher, avoid sugar. “That is just not nice,” says Merilee Slack, mother of four boys between the ages of 1 and 7. “Kids get way out of control.” Melissa Morgan, mother of three children between the ages of 2 and 5, suggests feeding the kids before sacrament meeting. “We have sacrament meeting last, so they’re usually pretty hungry by the time it comes around. I try to feed them right before; otherwise all they’re thinking about is the food.”

Make the Time in the Hallway or Foyer Unpleasant
If you have to take your child out of sacrament meeting, make sure wherever you’re taking them is not a fun alternative. Lots of people suggest making the child sit on a parent’s lap and practice being reverent. You can do this anywhere—in the foyer, in an empty classroom, or even the mother’s lounge. Kerri McLennan, mother of three little boys, says, “After they have practiced for a while, we’ll give them the choice to either keep practicing or go back in with everyone else. This works really well.”

Surround Them with Good Examples
Of course you should be a good example if you want your kids to learn reverence, but it also helps to sit near someone else who also displays good Sunday behavior. Jessie Walker and her family started sitting near two young women who her four-year-old daughter, Brett, admires. “I have Brett watch them while the sacrament is being passed and I tell her that what they are doing is thinking about Jesus,” explains Jessie. “She is starting to catch on. I’ll catch her looking at them and mimicking what they are doing.”

Provide Reverent Entertainment
Keeping kids reverent must be a universal problem, because there are options everywhere for quiet and spiritual entertainment. Deseret Book even has a Heroes of the Book of Mormon app you can download onto your smartphone, which offers puzzles, a coloring book, and a matching game. It also includes scripture references for study. Here are some other things that you can use to keep your little ones entertained:

            •           Activity Books—Whether you have babies, toddlers, or little kids, there are activity books to keep your little ones entertained and reverent. Who is This Jesus?, the brand new hidden picture book, showcases touching pictures of Christ but also has subtle pictures hidden in the pages for your kids to find.

            •           Quiet Books—You can make these books on your own with help from websites like How to Make a Quiet Book or MormonChic. If you’re not so crafty or don’t have the time to take this kind of project on, you can buy quiet books online and in Deseret Book stores.

            •           Popsicle Puzzles—This easy craft is the answer if you’re a busy mom, but want to make something to help your kids make it through sacrament meeting. You and your child or children could make these puzzles together and have plenty of options for quiet entertainment when Sunday rolls around. Learn how to make popsicle puzzles here.

            •           Picture Books—Laminate pictures from The Friend or other church books and magazines, then punch a hole in the corner and slide a metal ring in the hole to make a flipbook. You can also laminate pictures of temples or prophets.

            •           Pipe Cleaners—Jennifer Hsu, writer for mormonchic.com, suggests bringing pipe cleaners in a Ziploc bag. This may seem simple, but I bet it could hold a toddler or baby’s attention for more than an hour.

Make Sure Your Kids Know What You Expect
Kids are bad at reading minds. Let them know why they are in sacrament meeting and what you expect from them while they are there. Make sure they know who is boss. You don’t have to act like a prison guard, but if you give your kids the choice of being reverent or rowdy, they will likely choose to be rowdy. If you let them know that’s not an option, they’ll learn to be reverent.
Enjoying Sacrament Meeting with Children
By Chris Crowe
With help, young children can learn to be reverent.
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1989/07/enjoying-sacrament-meeting-with-children?lang=eng
03241_000_011
When I was a boy, I was convinced that my dad had the longest arms in the world. Anytime one of us boys whispered, whined, winked, or did anything else Dad considered irreverent during mass, we were jolted back into reverence with a rap on the back of the head. No matter where we sat in our family group at church, Dad could reach us.
Knowing there was no escaping Dad’s long arm, we usually sat like reluctant angels through the service, but being quiet didn’t make us like church.
Years later, I attended my first Latter-day Saint sacrament meeting and was shocked by the unruly behavior of most of the children. Had my dad been there, he would have worn out his arm trying to teach reverence to those kids.
About ten years after my first visit to sacrament meeting, I was again sitting in an LDS chapel, but this time I was a member of the Church and a father wrestling with unruly toddlers of my own.
“There’s got to be some positive way to teach our children reverence,” I said to my wife. “I don’t want them to dread church as I did.”
Since then, my wife and I have found ways to help our four children, all under the age of eight, be reverent during church. They aren’t always paragons of reverence, but most of the time they are reverent enough, and what is more important, they are learning to enjoy sacrament meeting.
Here is some of what we learned as we “trialed and errored” our way into sacrament-meeting reverence. These ideas have worked for us; other families may have different but equally effective ways of encouraging reverence.

Be reverent yourself

It is important that parents teach their children by example that reverence in sacrament meeting is important. We can’t expect our children to behave in church when we don’t behave ourselves.
When I was in the bishopric, I had many opportunities to watch the example parents set for their children in sacrament meeting. Many were reverent, and their children responded likewise. But I would see a few parents standing in the back of the chapel with young babies in their arms, using the meeting as a time to chat with friends. Others were reading, writing, or catching up on their sleep. Their children were usually equally irreverent.
As parents, we owe it to ourselves and to our children to be active participants in sacrament meeting, not indifferent spectators. We need to pay attention to what the speakers are saying. Once we get home, we should discuss the sacrament meeting talks and what we learned from them.

Teach your children

After we improved our own sacrament meeting behavior, we taught our children exactly how we expected them to behave in church.
Our first attempts consisted of taking them to the foyer when they misbehaved, which is necessary so others can enjoy the meeting. This method had mixed results. Our noisy children weren’t disrupting the spirit of the meeting, but my wife and I missed out on much of what was going on. On top of that, our children soon decided that the freedom and fun of the chapel foyer were much more desirable than sacrament meeting.
After reviewing why we had failed, we changed our tactics and fought the battle of sacrament meeting reverence at home instead of at church. In family home evening and at other times during the week, we had our children practice sitting quietly. As we focused our lessons on the purpose of sacrament meeting, we explained to our children why we took bread and water. We talked to them about Christ’s sacrifice and explained that sacrament meeting was a time for them to think about Jesus.
After only a week, the effects were noticeable, and after three or four weeks, our older children were actually beginning to sit quietly for most of the meeting.

Take action when they’re irreverent

Of course, the children occasionally slipped into irreverence, but when they did, we knew we had to do more than just take them out to join the foyer carnival. My father had made it clear to us that he wanted us in church, not just in the vicinity of it. After considering Dad’s methods and listening to a speech on discipline, my wife and I realized that taking irreverent children out of sacrament meeting solved the immediate problem, but it did nothing to encourage them to avoid future irreverence. We made up our minds to teach our children that life in sacrament meeting was much more pleasant than life on the fringe of sacrament meeting.
The next Sunday, my two-year-old son had a terrible tantrum. I immediately carried him out of the chapel, but this time I didn’t stop in the foyer. I found an empty classroom down the hallway, sat down on a folding chair, and held him firmly on my lap.
In a minute he calmed down and squirmed to be free. My initial reaction was to let him down, but I decided instead to keep him on my lap. He complained, and I explained to him that he would remain on my lap, as immobile as I could hold him, until he decided it was time to return to sacrament meeting reverently.
To my wiggly two-year-old, such restriction was the worst fate possible. After ten minutes of pleading, squirming, and crying, he realized I meant business, and he asked if he could go back to sacrament meeting.
“Will you be reverent, Son?” I asked.
He nodded.
“And if you’re not reverent, what will happen?” He pointed to the chair.
We returned to the meeting, where he remained reasonably quiet. He and our daughters still had their moments on other Sundays when they had to be taken from sacrament meeting, but it didn’t take them long to learn that they preferred their freedom in sacrament meeting to the restriction of Dad’s lap in a quiet classroom down the hall.
Naturally, it’s better, and easier, to prevent irreverence than to deal with it at church. Knowing that our children wouldn’t be able to listen to or understand all of the sacrament meeting talks, we planned alternative quiet activities for them when they began to lose interest.
All of our children, even the youngest, enjoy reading and looking at the illustrated children’s scripture stories published by the Church. We also bring a few crayons and blank sheets of paper for the younger ones to draw on when they become too wiggly. The older children are allowed to draw, too, but we encourage them to draw pictures that relate to the talks being given.
We also found that games, food, treats, and toys usually create more chaos and mess in the meeting than they prevent.

Remember that kids are kids

We don’t expect our children to be perfect in church because we know at their ages it’s sometimes beyond their abilities. But my wife and I have a goal to enjoy sacrament meeting. When one of our children misbehaves, we deal with him or her as quickly and as unemotionally as possible.
It also helps to keep a sense of humor. If a member of our family does a flip off the back of the bench or toddles, unnoticed, to the stand, we try to remain calm, extinguish their behavior, take them out if necessary, and tell ourselves that, someday—maybe—we’ll chuckle over the incident.
If you are alone and outnumbered by your children, you can still maintain reverence—with a little help. When I was called into the bishopric, my wife was left to handle our children by herself. After a few Sundays, she found the task overwhelming and exhausting, so we asked a retired couple in our ward if they would sit by our family every Sunday to even the odds. They willingly agreed, and now our children love to sit by their “grandparents.”
In our family, we try to make sure church is a positive experience for us and our children. With a little practice and planning, and with lots of patience, we are helping our children learn to appreciate sacrament meeting and to do it reverently.


Sacrament Meeting Reverence
Enjoying Sacrament Meeting with Children  1989 Ensign: by Chris Crowe 
·         Be Reverent Yourself
·         Teach Your Children
·         Take Action when They are Irreverent
·         Remember Kids will be Kids
www.lds.org/ensign/1989/07/enjoying-sacrament-meeting-with-children?lang=eng
{LDS How-to } Keep Your Kids Reverent in Church   LDS Living Magazine Mandy Slack - March 15, 2012
·         Prepare
·         Don't Make Hallway/Foyer Time a Reward
·         Surround Them with Good Examples
·         Provide Reverent Entertainment for Small Children
o   Quiet Books
o   Activity Books/Folders
o   Picture Books
·         Make Sure They Know What You Expect
http://ldsliving.com/story/68059-lds-how-to-keep-your-kids-reverent-in-church



Quiet Book Ideas/ Folder Ideas (the tip of an iceburg)
http://sewingbelle.blogspot.com/2010/02/quiet-book_22.html - Beautiful Bible theme Quiet Book
http://laurathoughts81.blogspot.com/2011/06/quiet-book-week-summary-template.html - LDS Quiet Book (including a page about Ammon with Removable ARMS!! ;-) )
http://dorasdigitals.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-sacrament-book.html?showComment=1345045752985 - Sacrament Reverence Book
http://ldslessonideas.wordpress.com/category/primary/coloring-pages/ - Book of Mormon Coloring pages
http://yourcreativejuices.blogspot.com/2010/04/more-quiet-book-pages.html - Activity Quiet Book
http://joeandanna.blogspot.com/search/label/quiet%20book  - Quiet Book with counting activities
http://jocelynandjason.blogspot.com/2011/11/mr-potato-head-quiet-book-pages-10-11.html - Mr. Potato Head Quiet Book page
http://atsecondstreet.blogspot.com/2010/02/on-go-book-tutorial.html - Simple Quiet Book
http://thecraftingchicks.com/2009/09/tiffanys-quiet-book.html - Quiet Book Clock
http://emptybobbinsewing.com/2010/06/04/birthday-week-the-quiet-book/ - Buttons and counting Quiet Book
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2007/04/25/on-a-roll/  - Fabric Crayon Holder
http://www.littlefamilyfun.com/2012/04/file-folder-games-sundays.html - Bible Themed Folder Games
**These can all also be found/linked to from Nancy Sorenson's "for the kids" Pinterest Board
Quotes on Reverence

"As leaders, we see some patterns related to reverence that, if not corrected, may open up chinks in your spiritual armor. For example, we have noticed a growing trend in the Church to arrive late at sacrament meeting, priesthood, and other meetings. Bishops and stake presidents report some members coming in as late as half an hour after the meeting has started. Occasionally there may be a legitimate excuse for not arriving on time (such as having an emergency appendectomy), but in most cases it is because you simply plan poorly or do not care enough. The ideal would be to arrive five or ten minutes early so you can sit in the chapel quietly listening to the prelude music and preparing yourselves to worship. Our sacrament meetings belong to the Savior. When you arrive late, it not only interrupts the reverence of others, but it is a sign of your own disrespect and apathy." -Elder Ballard in the July 2004 Ensign

"The world grows increasingly noisy. Clothing and grooming and conduct are looser and sloppier and more disheveled. Raucous music, with obscene lyrics blasted through amplifiers while lights flash psychedelic colors, characterized the drug culture. Variations of these things are gaining wide acceptance and influence over our youth...This trend to more noise, more excitement, more contention, less restraint, less dignity, less formality is not coincidental nor innocent nor harmless. The first order issued by a commander mounting a military invasion is the jamming of the channels of communication of those he intends to conquer. Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit". -Boyd K. Packer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 28; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 22

"Reverence may be defined as a profound respect mingled with love and awe. Other words that add to our understanding of reverence include gratitude, honor, veneration, and admiration. The root word revere also implies an element of fear. Thus, reverence might be understood to mean an attitude of profound respect and love with a desire to honor and show gratitude, with a fear of breaking faith or offending." -M. Russell Ballard, "God's Love for His Children", Ensign May 1988, 57


Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)