Praise to the Man - A Tribute to the Prophet Joseph Smith

I love the Prophet Joseph Smith. As it is July and we always think of the pioneers and all that they suffered in behalf of their beliefs, it makes me remember who started it all. Joseph Smith! What a great man and what great things he accomplished in his short life time.

I was reading a blog by a seminary teacher and she posed a question to her students. The question was this...

Let's pretend this is a special seminary class where you are all amazing artists, and in this class we incorporate art with the gospel. And for your final this year your assignment is this...

To paint or draw a picture of Joseph Smith.

Take a moment and think about his life. Which moment in his life are you going to choose to paint? She then went around and asked the students which moment they were going to choose. This was the cool part, some of their answers were:

The first Vision
When he said goodby to Emma
When he was leaping out the window
When he was receiving revelation
When he was rebuking the guards
When he was playing the stick pull game
When he first saw the land of Zion
When he and Emma finally had children
The last time he spoke to his brother Alvin
When he held the first published Book of Mormon
When he first saw the Gold Plates
When he was in prayer

After they all shared she then asked specific questions like:

If you were painting the first vision what angle would you take? Would you show the front of Joseph and the back of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ or visa versa? Or would you just show his face? What position would he be in? What expression would he have on his face? How would his hands be? What would his eyes be like? What would be around him?

If you were painting him rebuking the guards, what would Joseph look like? What emotion would you want to protray? How would you show righteous anger? How would you show him rebuking and in total control?

If you painted him receiving a revelation, would be be seated or standing? What expression would be on his face? What position would he be in? How will you show that he is receiving revelation?

After she had them digging and thinking about how they would paint him, she had them write in their journals the specifics about the scene they chose and how they would paint it.

Then after she had them go through this process she then showed them the above video by Liz Lemon Swindle. So many of the scenes were in the slide show and you could have heard a pin drop.

As I read her blog and watched the video, I cried. I love the Prophet Joseph and hope to meet him someday. I have memories going through my mind of our visit to Palmyra, New York and of our visit to Nauvoo, Illinois. What amazing places and the amazing events that took place in these most special places.

I hope each of us will take time this month to truly appreciate our pioneer ancestors and be ever so grateful to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that I am.

4th of July Weekend

We had a wonderful 4th of July Weekend. We went to Pocatello for Saturday and Sunday. I went to a baby shower that my sister was having for her daughter in law, Tracie. It was fun and she had a lot of family there and she received alot of nice things. Lyndon went over to his brother Ed's home and helped him with a project they have been working on. Then we visited with family Saturday evening and on Sunday attended church with my mom then had dinner and then headed home. We stopped in Tremonton and visited with Lyndon's mom and his sister and brother in law, Danna and Don Koyle. We had a nice visit with them. I have to say that Danna makes the most wonderful tasting rolls. Her strawberries were divine and I also sampled some banana bread that was delicious. I don't know how she stays so skinny with all the baking she does. She just, must not eat any of it or at least doesn't eat what I would probably do if I baked that much. Danna you are awesome and truly amazing. I want to be just like you when I grow up. Danna is such a great host and always so welcoming to anyone that stops in. We always enjoy visiting there.

Then on Monday, July 4th, Lyndon power washed the siding on the house and I did some housework that needed doing. Then we went to lunch and a movie later on in the afternoon. We went to the movie, "Larry Crowne". It had Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in it. It was a cute show. Then we came home had a light dinner, a piece of homemade Rhubarb pie and some ice cream and just relaxed the rest of the night. It was pretty quiet day. Our kids were all doing other things and so we enjoyed the day together. It was nice. We don't very often get to be together just the two of us. Loved it! Well, I hope you all had a nice July 4th and that the rest of your week goes well also. Tah! Tah! for now!

A True Friend

I loved watching this video about how important being a great example as a friend can be. It can lead our friends unto Christ and make them want to be a better person. I just returned home from Girls Rough Camp. We had a wonderful week. The weather couldn't have been better and we all had a great experience. The theme was: "For Such A Time As This". We focused on women of the church that have been great examples of faith and integrity, from the past and the present. It was amazing what the wards did with their personal woman of faith. I was truly amazed at how all of the young women showed love and friendship to each other and served each other and the leaders. I truly felt the spirit there and loved the experience. Although I am most glad to get to come home and have a nice warm shower and feel clean and be out of the sun and dirt. It truly makes me appreciate the women pioneers and all that they went through on their long trek being in the wilderness.

Thinking about friendship I want to share a few quotes on being a good friend and example.

"Do you know how to recognize a true friend? A real friend loves us and protects us. In recognizing a true friend we must look for two important elements in that friendship: A true friend makes it easier to live the gospel by being around him. Simularly, a true friend does not make us choose between his way and the Lord's way.

Choose your friends carefully. They will greatly influence how you think and act, and even determine the person you will become.

Show interest in others and let them know you care about them. Go out of your way to be a friend to those who are shy or don't feel included.

To have good friends, be a good friend yourself.

I love the gospel and am grateful for the opportunity to serve in the Stk. Y.W. Presidency. I am learning alot and love and appreciate the women that I serve with. I love the young women and I learn alot from them and their wonderful personalities, talents and service to each other. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know my Savior lives and that I am truly a daughter of God.
I hope that all of my family members know this too and will always strive to be good examples and friends to others. Have a great week everyone!

Chastity: What Are the Limits?

I think this video for the youth is so well done! I even think that adults need to hear this too! We live in a world that tells us that everything goes. Eat, drink and be merry. Well, they are wrong. We want our youth to be strong and valiant and not slide down a slippery slope of sin. This is a wonderful video for families in teaching them about Chastity.

I am really trying to think "SPRING"! I sometimes wonder if it will ever come. I am praying it will come soon. I would love to feel the warmth of the sun and the plants that Dallen and I planted today would love some sun too! Let's all THINK SPRING! Maybe it will come!

TOFW: Ultimate Mom "To Do" List Song

I recently purchased Hilary Weeks new book and cd entitled "Bedtime and Naptime and Bedtime and Naptime....The Simple Joys of a Mom's Life". It is a very sweet and tender book. I love it. She shares insights about motherhood in her book and on her cd. One of the songs she sings on the cd is called "The To Do List". It reminded me so much of when all of my children were at home and what a busy time of life that was. It had it's ups and downs, but I wouldn't change any of it for the world. Being a mother is one of the best jobs and callings in this life.

In her book she shared something with all of you, she said..."As a mother, I can help. I can play an important part in helping Him acheive this vital, soul-saving objective. If my children FEEL and KNOW of my love for them, it will make it easier for them to accept, feel, and know of Heavenly Father's love for them.

Every kiss,
hug,
kind word,
prayer,
sacrifice,
example,
high-five,
WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

I am convinced that a mother's love is a gateway through which children can feel Heavenly Father's love."

I hope all of you mother's out there reading this will have a Happy Mother's Day and know that you are a blessing in the lives of your children. Hope you enjoy the song "To Do List". As mother's I know you will all relate. Love you all!

We traveled to San Antonio April 27th to the 30th. We had a wonderful time. We visited many places...The River Walk, The San Antonio Temple (that is the picture above). The Alamo and many Spanish Missions that were built in the 1500's. It was so much fun and we just enjoyed being away and having time to spend together. We loved attending the temple there. It is a beautiful temple. The weather was in the low 90's. We loved getting away from the cold. If any of you ever get the chance to go to San Antonio, you should go to the River Walk. It is truly amazing.