Tag Archives: sacrament

A Lesson in Repentance

Posted on by

Today I was sitting at home doing some Saturday chores when there came a knock on my door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I went to the door not knowing what to expect. I opened the door, and a man and boy from my ward stood on my doorstep. I greeted them and asked how I could help, and the answer startled me. They were there to tell me that the boy and his cousin had damaged our rock wall a few days earlier. My husband had come home from work that day to find pieces of the rock wall … Continue reading →

New Personal Progress Booklets

Posted on by

Have you seen the new Personal Progress booklets? They’re fabulous. Take everything you loved about Personal Progress before, and now put a fresh look on it, spiral bind it for easy usage, and invite all women (and men) to participate. I love how updated the book is, but more importantly, I love how functional it now is. With the addition of the value Virtue to the Young Women theme and program, the church needed to update many of its materials including posters, manuals, and the Personal Progress book. The organization of the book is very similar to how it was … Continue reading →

Technology at Church

Posted on by

I have a love-hate relationship with technology at church. There are some amazing things out there, but they can be abused quite easily. Perhaps this love-hate relationship stems from the fact that I work with the youth and I see how often they turn to technology for myriad purposes—both the good and the not-so-reverent. But the youth definitely aren’t the only ones using technology in church. Have you ever looked down the pew and seen an adult playing a game on their phone? What about texting during church. I’ve seen that one a lot too. I have to admit it … Continue reading →

A Friend and Foe at Church

Posted on by

I remember sitting in Relief Society one of my first weeks in my ward and spying one of the most beautiful children ever. Really, they’re a family of beautiful children, but my baby-loving eyes rested on the youngest of this tow-headed family. She had impressively white hair and the most beautiful big brown eyes, which stood out on her clear little face. I was sitting next to her mom that day, so I started making silly faces and trying to win her affection. It kind of worked, to her mom’s surprise. Of course, that won me over completely. This little … Continue reading →

Making the Most of the Sacrament

Posted on by

Sometimes you have an epiphany about something you should have grasped long ago. This past Sunday was one of those days for me. After a long week, I was drained and ready for some spiritual recharging. As I sat in Sacrament meeting and thought about the week, I found a deeper understanding of the sacrament than I have in a long while. The sacrament is all about starting over. I have a whole new week to begin on. I have a clean slate. And all those things that weighed me down over the week were lightened as I began to … Continue reading →

Conference Center Turns Ten Years Old

Posted on by

I don’t know if the last decade has gone as quickly for you as it has for me, but can you believe that the Conference Center is ten years old this year? Ten years ago this month, the first General Conference was held in this historic building, giving a break to the much smaller (but still impressive) Tabernacle. The Conference Center has become part of Salt Lake City and definitely part of Temple Square. After a decade of use, it’s still as beautiful, inspiring, and useful as the day it was completed. One of my favorite features of the Conference … Continue reading →

New Duty to God Program

Posted on by

Every once in a while, the church changes and updates their programs to better serve the needs of the members. I personally love how these programs, while the same in purpose and desired outcome, adapt to use new technologies and relevant goals to strengthen and uplift our youth. I also love how the changes to this program involve the family. According to the Questions and Answers section on LDS.org, the program “provides opportunities for parents and leaders to strengthen relationships with young men” and can “easily be integrated into family home evening and quorum meetings and activities.” Families are a … Continue reading →

The Importance of Parents

Posted on by

I was touched today as I listened to the afternoon session of General Conference as Elder L. Tom Perry talked about the importance of parents in teaching children the valuable lessons in life. I loved how he gave examples of his own mother and the wonderful things she did to enrich her family members and teach them both temporal and spiritual lessons. Her “overpreparation” never went to waste, as she dedicated her time to teaching her children as well as her Relief Society sisters. I also have a mother, who has gone above and beyond in all her church callings, … Continue reading →

Easter Sunday

Posted on by

As we enter Easter weekend, I’m reminded of the true meaning of the holiday. Growing up, the Easter bunny came on Saturday, and Easter Sunday was all about church. Of course, there was always an Easter dress to wear, but we recognized that Easter was a religious holiday not to be confused with baskets filled with plastic grass, colored eggs, and tiny treats and treasures that fit into colorful plastic eggs. As I have gotten older, I have done several things to prepare for Easter. Hopefully, these suggestions will help you build your testimony of the true meaning of Easter: … Continue reading →

Preparing for General Conference

Posted on by

Can you believe it’s that time of year already? The bulbs are blooming on Temple Square, the rain is inevitable, and LDS families all over the globe are getting excited to hear inspired messages from the general authorities and prophets. Twice a year, we get the opportunity to be taught by our beloved leaders, and not a spring goes by that I don’t eagerly wait for the first weekend in April. This year is no exception. In the days that lead up to General Conference, here are a few things you can do to prepare yourself and your family to … Continue reading →