Sunflowers

This flower was first discovered in the Americas at around 1000 B.C. When Europeans came to this continent and saw this unique plant, it was one of the first horticultural exports they took back to their countries as the Sunflower gave them cheerful and sunny "thoughts".
As summer wears on, I enjoy the large supply of beautiful Sunflowers. Tradition says these are happy flowers and they stand for loyalty and longevity.
When life/the heat/work/people get to be a little much, I go out and find some Sunflowers. They are a reminder to me that one can look at the summer months in two ways - having to measure the distance to a particular store or destination from where my car is parked - and/or the beauty of SUNFLOWERS that thrive in this summer heat!

5th Sunday's Lesson

Sisters, this week we have the opportunity to study more about our Savior Jesus Christ. Our lesson topic is "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus."

Here are some ideas to help prepare for this lesson:
1. Read the talk "Discipleship" by President Faust, Nov 2006 Ensign.
2. Read the talk "Our Perfect Example" by President Eyring, Nov 2009 Ensign.
3. Study the scriptures found in the Bible Dictionary under "Christ, Names of."
4. Read and study one of the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) or read them all!

We look forward to your participation.

Crossroads

As women of D4 Relief Society, we are constantly in the middle of each others' lives. It is the way it is supposed to be. We know this from Alma in the Book of Mormon as he expresses what real membership in the Lord's church entails "to mourn with those who mourn" Mosiah 18:9.
We are aware of those who have lost their jobs. We pray for those who struggle with wayward family members. We think of ways to support our widows and the women who are advancing in age.
However, our greatest outpouring of support and affection goes to a mother who has lost a child - actually two children. This would be Bonnie Muir. Bonnie has been part of the D4 RS for many years. She has served in many callings in the church - even as Relief Society president. Her oldest son, Jeff Muir died on Saturday, August 21. The details for his funeral will be given in an email blast to the sisters.
Bonnie and her family are at a "crossroads" in this life. Their earthly family will look and feel very different in the coming years.
I know each of us, as her sisters in Relief Society, will succor and support her in any and every way in the coming days ahead.
That is what we do best in the Relief Society - we understand the importance of family and we know how to LOVE!

We are all ___________ of ______

A high-school student.
A 19-year-old boy far from home.
A young mother.
A Bishop.
A grandmother.
And you.

What do they have in common????? Come find out in Relief Society this Sunday.
Click HERE to read the lesson and have a head start!

And leave your guesses as a comment.

45 Years Old!

When one walk through our Meandering Way Building and sees all the signs of age, it is "chagrining" to think I am older than this building or this ward! We had our D4 45th Ward Birthday Celebration at Spring Creek Pool last night and the Activities Committee did a wonderful job. There was a large turnout and the food was great and plentiful. We had a healthy representation of our Primary and YM/YW. However, I did miss the people of D4 that were there when I was a young wife/mother and new member of this ward back in 1975.
My first memory of D4 was a time when David and I had graduated from BYU and had come to Dallas to find our way in the world. We were staying with his parents and went to the Stake Roadshows and D4 had the winning roadshow written by Mary Taylor and Karen Bateman. The apartment we found turned out to be in the D4 boundaries and the rest is history. I know I would not be the wife/woman/mother I am today, without the mentoring of Kay Hollingsworth, Fern Woodbury, Karen Bateman, Mary Taylor, Mary Kay Tanner, Barbara Dunn, and the list goes on and on.
I felt the ward party last night represented the "future" of D4. But my heart grows soft when I think of the many people who influenced my life - so richly - with their examples or talents or lessons or kindnesses - that I did not see last night. A swimming event was probably not a party they would have attended on a hot summer night. I just wanted all of them to know I had them in my heart - and can still see the reflections of their influence in this ward.
I love this D4 Ward. I love the past, present, and the future of it.

SIMPLY SENSATIONAL PRIZE

The Dallas 4th Relief Society Presidency and Enrichment Committee will be giving a "SIMPLY SENSATIONAL SUPER" prize to the woman (or daughter age 8 or older) who comes up with a fun craft/activity that can be used at our SIMPLY SENSATIONAL SEPTEMBER SUPER SATURDAY coming up on September 18th. This activity/breakfast/all round blast will be for all women/girls ages 8 to 108 years old. We will have our fabulous waffle breakfast and enriching fun events and crafts for all ages BUT we need ONE more!!!
Bring your ideas to Relief Society this Sunday and give them to a member of the presidency. The one selected will be richly rewarded.

Covenants

Come learn about the benefits of being a covenant people. This Sunday's RS lesson is chapter 15 in the Gospel Principles Manual: The Lord's Covenant People.

To study more about covenants, here's a great talk by President Faust:
"Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart"
May 1998 Ensign

Are We Watching?

I was reading a great article on "watch groups" and was concerned that there is not nearly the oversight or outrage voiced by the public over what is on TV as there has been in the past. I know some of us will say we don't watch television (I don't believe that too much!) but there should be a general concern over what our community is faced with.
There is a wonderful website - www.parentstv.org - where we can get on and let advertisers know how we feel about the programs they are sponsoring. It is our CIVIC DUTY.
I do not wish this to be a posting that gets a lot of negative comments about the evil in mass media etc. I just wanted to make you aware of an opportunity to spread our voice of what we would LIKE to see and hear and what we will not be a part of.

August Spotlight

Lexi Savoie...

Grew up in: West Valley City, Utah
Something new or unique: Bachelors degree in Physics
Favorite church hymn/primary song or scripture: True to the Faith
Favorite food: Lasagna
Favorite thing to do: Site Seeing
The family: Husband's name is Lee, daughter is Mariann and a baby on the way in September.

What happened to the Seventy?

In the 1970's, a holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood, might have been called to be a member of the Quorum of the Seventy in their ward/stake. There have been dramatic changes with this office of the priesthood - what are they?
Our lesson this week in Relief Society is on "Priesthood Organization". I will have a reward for those who have read this and found the answer to this important question that tells us much about the ongoing revelations concerning the priesthood.

Civic Duty

Friday I had jury duty. I reported to the Municipal Court Building on Harwood Street in Dallas. (This building is seriously old and needs more help with the A/C than our RS room!) Because of the number and ages of my children, I have only qualified for this privilege for the last 7 years. I have never been picked for a jury, I think it is my red hair, but I am always amazed that we have this judicial system. And that this system - against all odds - works.
I sat in a room full of people from all walks of life, ethnic background, and ages. We were sworn in and our rights and responsibilities were explained to us and we were generously thanked for coming. Then we mostly just sat and waited and waited some more.
I left the building feeling a little "virtuous" by having made my way downtown and exercising my civic duty to give my fellow citizens a chance to be heard by a jury of their peers - a constitutional right.
Coming home, I thought that this opportunity should not be called "jury duty" but "jury privilege".
I just know if I ever had to go to trial and have my case heard by a jury, I would the people there and selected to reflect who my "peers" would or should be.
Like voting at EVERY election, going for jury duty is my CIVIC duty and I really am grateful for the chance to be part of this system.

A Great Book!

As we get close to school starting again, I wanted to promote a wonderful book - The Promise - by Oral Lee Brown. It is about a woman who lived in Oakland California and wanted, NEEDED, to make a difference. It is written in clear, direct prose and is such a faith promoting story. She tells of meeting a first grade class of 23 children and promising she will help them graduate from college! She reminded me that often we get "trapped" in our minds because of our details and fail to do the impossible - with Divine help of course!
This is my vote for a RS Book Interest selection. It moved me to change - the best sign of a great book.