Preparedness Program

I actually received this program from my Sister-in-law, who is a member of the Rocky Mount, NC ward. {So I did not create this idea, the credit goes to the Relief Society program in that ward}, but it is such an amazing idea, I wanted to share it.
How it works:
Each month for 12 consecutive months you will select a goal for each of the five categories:
72 hour kits
Home food Storage
Temporal Goals
Spiritual Goals
Missionary Goals

These are some outlined ideas for you to choose from. There are ideas for each of the 12 months. They are just ideas to help you advance in your personal preparedness, however, you can set your own original goals.

You are encouraged to record your goals at the beginning of the month, and then write the date completed.

Since we are already into May, I am going to start with their May goals.

{chose one from each category}

*72 Hour Kit:

-Add at least three items to your kit.

-Get trained in first aid.

*Home storage:

-Each time you go to the grocery store, add four or more canned items to your cart for food storage.

-Add dried fruit and vegetables to your food storage. Remember to store what you use, and use what you store.

-Learn about emergency sanitation.

*Temporal Goals:

-Organize a drawer this month and have four storage boxes labeled, "give away/sell", throw away, put away, and "storage".

-Work on improving your nails and making your hands soft and beautiful.

*Spiritual Goals:

-Do your visiting teaching.

-Attend the temple. This can be with sisters, as a ward, with family, or individually.

-Study the steps of true repentance as outlined in the scriptures and sincerely repent of one of your shortcomings.

*Missionary Goals:

-Share a copy of the 72 hour kit checklist with a neighbor or friend and bare your testimony of preparedness.

-Give someone a pass a long card.

-Pray and ask the Lord to help you select a family or and individual who is ready to hear the gospel.

There are also some excellent quotes in this handout. I like this one a lot:

"We know times may be hard financially for some, but we promise that as we follow the direction of our church leaders, lives will be blessed. This program is designed for you to take small steps. Be realistic, you need to walk before you can run. Do not go into debt reaching these goals."

"To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman's strength and influence today can e tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home---which is society's basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife."-President Spencer W. Kimball

LDS.org resource-Post 1: Children

I think I am going to have to start dedicating at least one post a month to the amazing resources that I find on LDS.org, this website is has so much to offer, it just seems to keep on giving. Today I will focus on ways you can use this site to teach your children.
There are Scripture Stories online.
These colorfully illustrated stories from the scriptures {Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants} are written on a basic reading level for children. They are also a valuable resource for others who may not yet be familiar with the standard works.
You can access these stories in multiple media formats, one of which is video.
This could be a great tool to use in Family Home Evening, were you and your children can watch a story from the scriptures.
You can also access the Children's Songbook online, through the Church Music Site. This online version of Children's Songbook comes in text, or you can use the Interactive Church Music Player, which has many functions {and could be a post in itself}. This can also be a great tool in Family Home Evening, as you and your children learn songs together, or use the music as an accompaniment.
Last but not least, the church has published a new Gospel Art Book, it is like the Gospel Art kit, but bound. Which makes for mess free, easy access use.
The art in the Gospel Art Book is organized into six sections: Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Church History, Gospel in Action, and Latter-day Prophets. You can use these pictures for learning and teaching at home your children. Descriptive titles as well as references to scriptures and other sources for learning about and discussing the pictures are available in the Gospel Art Book index. The site encourages you to searching the accompanying scriptures and sources to deepen your understanding of the events and gospel principles depicted in the pictures. You can also access an online version: here.
If you would like to order a kit, you can go here. {They are $3.50}
I hope you find these resources useful in teaching your children, yourselves, or for using them in your callings.

Mormon Messages on YouTube
If you are looking for a simple way to watch and share brief, gospel-centered videos, visit Mormon Messages, a Church-sponsored YouTube channel that is updated each week with teachings of our basic beliefs, stories of hope and inspiration, and more.
Here is the Easter Message:

A New Apostle.

Elder Neil Linden Andersen, 57, was named the newest apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Saturday during the morning session of the Church’s 179th Annual General Conference.
The announcement was made by Church President Thomas S. Monson to 21,000 people seated in the Conference Center and to hundreds of thousands more watching the broadcast throughout the world. Elder Andersen will fill the vacancy left in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, who passed away in December of 2008.
To read about Elder Anderson click: here.
To view a press conference with Elder Neil L. Andersen, answers questions regarding the announcement of his call to be an apostle, click: here.

LDS Gems, Inspirational Quotes

Looking for daily inspiration, or maybe a quote on a specific topic?
LDS.org has a site devoted to quotes, called LDS Gems, Inspirational Quotes. This site can be an invaluable resource. I use it to find my 'Quote of the Month', for this blog.
Not only can you surf this site for a desired topics, but you can subscribe to receive emails, or RSS feed. You just pick a topic and click on 'subscribe to email', and they send you emails certain days of the week, on that specific topic. It's great!
Here are a list of the categories you can look at:
Church History Gems: which contain faith-promoting experiences and teachings related to the early history of the Church.
Daily Gems: which offer inspiration and increased gospel knowledge for both members and nonmembers with quotes from Church leaders on a variety of subjects.
Family Gems: are thought-provoking quotes from Church leaders that focus on supporting and strengthening marriage and family relationships.
Young Single Adult Gems : which build unity and a sense of purpose with uplifting messages directed to tomorrow's leaders.
Youth Gems: which provide quotes of encouragement and hope to direct young people in the fight for truth and light in today's challenging world.
Search Gem Archives: the archives have topics listed in alphabetical order and have more than 140 topics! {you can also search by month or year}
I encourage you to take a look around LDS Gems, Inspirational Quotes, and find some inspiration.

Relief Society Birthday Celebration

Hinesville Relief Society will be celebrating the 167th Birthday of Relief Society.
The Relief Society was founded by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Relief Society serves under the direction of the priesthood. It assists priesthood leaders to help sisters and their families come unto Christ. It helps each sister and their families receive all essential priesthood ordinances, keep the associated covenants, and qualify for exaltation and eternal life.
The following objectives support the purpose of Relief Society:
Build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
Uphold, nourish, and protect families.
Provide Relief.
All women 18 years and older as well as women younger than 18 who are married or are single mothers, are welcomed into the sisterhood of Relief Society.
The motto is “Charity Never Faileth”.

Our theme this year will be based on President Uchtdorf's talk 'Happiness, Your Heritage', from the October 2008 General Relief Society Broadcast.

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.
Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.
Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty." -President Uchtdorf.

Additonal Ideas for Conference

Pre-Conference:
Prayer:
*In prayers during the weeks leading up to conference pray for speakers and for ability to feel promptings etc.
+always keep Presidency in prayers.
‘King Benjamin’
* Start time: 1 week before General Conference.
Activity: Take the week or FHE to discuss King Benjamin’s Address in Mosiah. {Emphasis how the families faced their tents towards the prophet & discuss why}
Day of General Conference: Pitch tent in front of T.V. & let children watch.
Getting to know Authorities:
*Take photo sheet {from Ensign} w/ General Authorities and review}
+see during conference for continuation-sticker sheet.
Conference journal:
*Activity: For FHE create special journals, for writing promptings & feelings during conference. This can be done by decorating small notebooks or folders.
{discuss with children what they may feel a prompting from the spirit is.}
Get to know your leaders:
*Activity: Highlight one leader during a FHE leading up to conference, so your children can get to know the leaders.
+as they get older you can have them each prepare short information on leader.


During Conference:
Picnic:
*Prepare a picnic {each child can pick an item to be made and help prepare it}
While eating between as a family you can discuss what you felt during the last session.
‘Come listen to a Prophet’s voice party’”:
*Turn one day of conference, into a party.
Decorate, activities, & party food {such as pizza} in between sessions.
{Folder idea} Word of the session:
Put out a bowl of candy and each time someone says the ‘word of the session’ & one of the children recognizes it, they get to take a piece of candy.
{Folder idea} Getting to know General Authorities {cont.}:
* use copies of authorities photo sheet & when one of the authorities speak, place stickers on their picture.

Post-Conference:
Incentive:
*The Monday after Conference as a family go out for Ice cream and discuss what you like/ how you felt/ promptings you my have had/ or how you can apply it something in your life. {use conference journals}
Family Theme:
*At FHE agree on which talk was most important to you as a family, and make it your theme, till next conference.
{Find ways to apply it in your life during this time}
+also can be done individually, w/ parents checking up on progress mthly.