Poem from RS today

This is the poem one of the new sisters was referring to in Relief Society today. Carol Lynn Pearson is a Mormon author. It was suggested that this poem be a good baby shower gift and a way to introduce the Plan of Salvation to our friends. Try pairing it with The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

Day Old Child

By Carol Lynn Pearson

My day old child lay in my arms,

With my lips against his ear.

I whispered strongly, “How I wish—

I wish that you could hear,

“I’ve a hundred wonderful things to say,

(a tiny cough and a nod),

Hurry, hurry, hurry and grow

So I can tell you about God.”

My day-old baby’s mouth was still

And my words only tickled his ear,

But a kind of light passed through his eyes,

And I saw this thought appear:

“How I wish I had a voice and words,

I’ve a hundred things to say.

Before I forget, I’d tell you of God—

I left Him yesterday.”

PLAN IT, BUY IT, AND COOK IN BULK - YOU WILL SAVE MONEY...AND EAT BETTER.

If you have seen the "Food Nanny" on BYU TV - she has a hard time competing with our own Food Nannies Joanne Poulsen and Esther Davis. Last night at Cooking 101, we were shown how to create a few great dishes our family enjoys, and then preparing, and freezing these meals for times in the month we are strapped for time. Esther cooked 6 large Chicken Pot Pies from a large chicken she has pre-cooked in the crock-pot. She had then stripped off about 3 1/2 cups of chicken for her pot pies. She uses pre-made pie shells and tops, and large bags of frozen vegetables to which she added sauted onions and celery. She then freezes these pies, and pulls them out early in the day to unthaw and cook for dinner that night. The great taste and look of her Chicken Pot Pies made you think she had "worked on it half the day" - and it didn't taste like those little chicken pot pies I remember as a child! One thought I had was that Esther would be ready to take a delicious home-cooked meal to any family in need on an hour or two of notice.

Joanne makes huge quantities of very thick ground beef spaghetti sauce, then she seals the mixture in large-mouth Mason jars, and puts in the freezer. When she takes one out to thaw, she adds a couple of cans of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, and it has that wonderful freshly made taste. Sealing and freezing in the mason jars works great, and maintains the initial fresh taste. If you have a large family you use a couple of quarts of the sauce - But if you are cooking for only two or three people - pint size jars would works with the addition of tomato sauce and diced tomato.

In anticipation of this class, Esther had a whole month of meals, planned out on a calendar. She had a couple of days crossed out when they ended up buying pizza - because they were running late or she was tired, but she spoke enthusiastically of how much money she has saved, and how much time and energy she has saved by planning better, and buying and cooking in bulk. Both sisters said that they only mess up the kitchen the day they bulk cook and freeze, and then it is just a matter of thawing and cooking.

Two closing thoughts: Never eat before you go to Cooking 101 and I will make a few copies of the recipes for those interested this coming Sunday.

Chapter 3 this Week

Dear Sisters,
Please read lesson 3 "Our Testimony of Jesus Christ." President George Albert Smith has such a powerful ability to express his testimony of our Savior. His testimony is pure belief in, faith in, and love of our Savior. I desire for my testimony to be more like his. I think you will have this desire also as you study his words.

Much love,
Shirlee

The Book of Mormon and Proposition 8

I have taken the challenge (and privilege) to read The Book of Mormon this year. I am in Mosiah. I have been reading Abinadi's clarion call to righteousness before King Noah. He seals his testimony with his death by fire.
Then I pick up the newspaper and read of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the voter approved ban on gay marriage in California has been ruled - by them - unconstitutional. (This will cause the matter to be heard before the Supreme Court.) Because I had just been reading the clear and urgent words of a prophet, there was no way I could feel neutral or "removed" from this decision and the happenings in another state.
I feel most deeply that this is a time for all Latter-day Saints to become involved with what is happening around us and make sure our voice is heard. The matters before us are not "subjective" as we have clear direction from our prophets down through the ages to the "FAMILY PROCLAMATION" scripture given to us September 23, 1995 by the Lord through Gordon B. Hinckley.
What I have found is that the more I study and read, on a daily basis, the Book of Mormon - the more I can see what is truth and what is error in life around me.
I am not one to argue politics and get caught up in rhetoric. BUT, I am a baptized, covenant making Daughter of God and what is going on around us is not about subjective beliefs on what powers State or Federal government have. The issues before us are at the very fabric of what we voted for in our Pre-Mortal Life!
Let's read the Book of Mormon, then, let's keep a very close watch on current events. (It is easy to get distracted by our personal challenges and hope the future will take care of itself.)
Let's marshal all of our prayers, fasting, and good works to sway the Powers of Heaven and our government to keep America in its sacred position as the Land of the Covenant!

CHECK OUT THE R.S. BULLETIN BOARD

You will find our Storage Water Goals for the next three months on the right hand side of our Relief Society Bulletin Board. It starts at the bottom with 72 hours of water, then 2 weeks of water, and finally 1 months supply of water for your family. The goal asks for 1 gallon of water, per person, per day. for each family member, living in the home. When you reach that goal, stick on a little round (family) sticker on the chart. The stickers are found in a small plastic bag, next to the charts.

Sisters, these are simple and measurable goals, and "by small and simple things, are GREAT things brought to pass. " We are hoping that by giving you the information through interest group classes, sources for various items needed, opportunities to place group orders, at better prices, and a measurable timeframe to accomplish the goal, that we may all be successful. START TODAY, AND WHEN YOU REACH THE FIRST GOAL, MARK YOUR FAMILY ON THE CHART.

The Church and Stake suggested goals for "starting" Food and Water storage is a 3 months supply. How many times have you ask yourselves "How am I doing in living the gospel, and applying the principles I have been taught?" "How is my family doing in being prepared both temporally and spiritually for the days ahead?" Now we can absolutely begin to answer some of these temporal goals, by starting small and measuring our progress.