Sunday, March 23, 2014

God's Greatest Creation - A House For Our Spirits

You know how dreams don't make any sense sometimes? Last night I had a dream I was pregnant and about to deliver a baby. My stomach felt HUGE… probably from all the delicious gelato I consumed on our vacation last week. We had also just been to a family baby blessing on Sunday and the new mother looked incredible. Her second birth and you would never know she had even one! How does a body do that? Stretch beyond belief and then return, in some cases back to the original form? Our bodies are the most amazing thing EVER!

As I "labored" away in my dream, accompanied by my attentive and concerned husband, I was struck by the magnitude of the pregnancy and birthing process. I have always thought the ingenious and intricate aspects of our human anatomy are perfect evidence of God's existence. What an awesome house for our spirits! The musical score by the very talented Rob Elliott is the perfect background for this beautiful message by Russell M. Nelson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMZ-ETxj0hE
 God's Greatest Creation - click to view



Thursday, March 6, 2014

Stake Youth Missionary Weekend

Future Sister Missionaries added a wonderful dimension

FARMINGTON NORTH STAKE MISSIONARY WEEKEND
February 28- March 1, 2014


Purpose: Assist the church's "Hastening” efforts by preparing the youth for missionary service

Friday - Stake Center
5:30 Prayer Meeting for all leaders
6:00 Youth Check In, Name Tags, Available Pen, Note pads
*Note assigned areas for luggage drops off at check in for Friday & Saturday
6:15 Mission Conference – Mission President (Elder Kopischke) (Chapel)
7:15 Visit the World: 9 Rooms assigned for cultural presentations
Taste of the food, Culture, Language, fun experiences……
7:35 Youth rotate to other rooms for second cultural experience
8:00 Sack Lunch -  Dinner Break for overnight kids/excuse Deacons & Beehives to kitchen for ice cream and then return to their homes.
8:15 Move to “Zone Conf” meeting rooms for companionship assignments (4 rooms):
(Elder Kopischke/Stake Pres to make assignments prior)
8:40 “MTC” Study Class: Teaching the Joseph Smith Story, Teaching skill development
MTC room assignments on the youth's badge – Small group training sessions
9:30 Depart to ‘Apartments’ with companions 
(HOST FAMILIES PICK UP THEIR MISSIONARIES)
10:00 Personal Study
10:30 Companion Prayer-Lights out

Saturday - Stake Center
6:30 Arise, Shower, Shave Personal Study
7:30 Arrive at Zone Conference - Greet and Direct to Breakfast
7:30 Breakfast
8:00 Zone Conference Welcome – Mission President (In the Chapel)
8:30 Study Class/Lesson Plan (Preach My Gospel) - MTC room assignments
9:15 Tract-Teach-Testify-Invite Various Rooms/ 
Volunteer "Investigators" - Older missionaries in the Stake
Use all three chapel buildings to accommodate youth "missionaries"
10:00 Stop teaching and shuttle kids back to stake center
10:15 Testimony Meeting (4 rooms – Stake Presidency and Elder Kopischke)
11:30 Closing-Mission President (Chapel)

AMAZING FUTURE MISSIONARIES



Youth were "called" to nine different missions
 and rotated to two different "cultural" experiences presented 
by newly returned missionaries who brought authentic enthusiasm.


             Sack Dinners were distributed to the overnight "Elders and Sisters" before they left for their host family's homes.


Host families brought them back from their "apartments" for an early breakfast



Record amounts of food prepared and served - just a taste of the MTC

Overnight luggage assigned to drop offs

"Investigators" provided tracting experiences


"Can we share a message of hope and happiness with you?"
Handed these schedules out to youth and leaders - quarter cardstock sheets with a map on the back


Sunday, March 2, 2014

My Broken Hallelujah

"I will always deserve to go to hell 
but by the grace and mercy of God
I am not going. 
If there is no hell, 
then heaven is merely a pleasant option
 for nice people." 

I heard someone say this C. S. Lewis quote on a Christian music station as I was driving to the Huntsman Cancer Center in Salt Lake City, UT where I would have my first MRI since being diagnosed with melanoma and the surgeries that followed to remove the dreaded cancer.  I was reminded that no matter WHAT happened to me that day, it would be possible to live with my loved ones eternally because Jesus did descend below all to conquer death and hell. INCREDIBLE! My scans were clear and all is well for another four months. Hallelujah!



                   



Following this thought, these two songs came on and I felt my testimony and love of Jesus Christ grow exponentially. This might not be your kind of music but I love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo3DudOzV4k

"My Broken Hallelujah" - The Afters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtPmX7e_Rpw

"We Believe" - Newsboys