YW lesson

See these candy bars?  I am going to give you a choice.  They are going to sit right here throughout the lesson...you can either come get 2 chocolate chips right now...or have the candy bar at the end.  Anyone want the 2 chocolate chips now?

Nervous about lesson...dating/sexual purity ...a topic that is sometimes a bit uncomfortable & we have girls at different ages/stages...  so I'm hoping to make the first part kind of fun & second half more serious.  We will play Who Wants to Be a Millionaire...as a team.  If you win by answering all of the questions, you'll get the candy bar up at the front at the end...unless you decide you want the 2 chocolate chips now...At any time, you can phone a friend (ask the leaders) or go to the source (look in scriptures, lds.org, Especially for Youth pamphlet. Let's get started.
Questions about dating:
$1,000What age does the church say you must be to begin dating?  (16)
$2,000 What is the purpose of dating?  Name at least 2 purposes.   (To have fun, to get to know young men, develop social skills, make friends, and eventually find an eternal companion)
$5,000 Who should you date?  (Those with high moral standards.)
$10,000Should you date one person exclusively when you are young?  (No...doesn't allow you to get to know as many people,may lead to immorality.)
$25,000What should dating help prepare you for?  (Temple marriage)
$50,000What types of activities should you do on a date?  ( fun, those that help you maintain your moral standards, activities that help you get to know your date)
100,000 according to D&C 121:45-46, what blessings come from being virtuous? (Confidence wax strong, Holy Ghost constant companion)
$250, 000 Activities not to engage in (necking, petting, etc.)

QUOTE #1  Elder Bednar said, "Such relations are not merely a curiosity to be explored, an appetite to be satisfied, or a type of recreation or entertainment to be pursued selfishly. They are not a conquest to be achieved or simply an act to be performed. Rather, they are in mortality one of the ultimate expressions of our divine nature and potential and a way of strengthening emotional and spiritual bonds between husband and wife. We are agents blessed with moral agency and are defined by our divine heritage as children of God—and not by sexual behaviors, contemporary attitudes, or secular philosophies."

$500,000 What does it mean to be chaste?  (To refrain from sexual activity before marriage and to have complete fidelity within marriage)
$1,000,000The Lord has said that this sin is more serious than any sin except murder or denying the Holy Ghost.  (Immorality)

There is no more beautiful sight than a young woman who glows with the light of the Spirit, who is confident and courageous because she is virtuous.  --Elaine Dalton, April 2010 "Remember Who You Are!"

I hope to focus primarily on the positive side of chastity, but I do feel like a warning might be necessary:
he writer of Proverbs observes: “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? . . . Whoso committeth adultery . . . destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away” (Prov. 6:27–28, 32–33).

Elder Holland compares sexual sin to fire...and says that part of the reason it is so serious is that it deals with how children are brought into this world.  Heavenly Father has set strict commands related to how we enter and leave this mortal state.  He gives 3 reasons sexual sin is so serious:

1st, Elder Holland states, "The body is an essential part of the soul. This distinctive and very important Latter-day Saint doctrine underscores why sexual sin is so serious. We declare that one who uses the God-given body of another without divine sanction abuses the very soul of that individual, abuses the central purpose and processes of life, “the very key” (Ensign, July 1972, 113) to life, as President Boyd K. Packer once called it. In exploiting the body of another—which means exploiting his or her soul—one desecrates the Atonement of Christ, which saved that soul and which makes possible the gift of eternal life. And when one mocks the Son of Righteousness, one steps into a realm of heat hotter and holier than the noonday sun. You cannot do so and not be burned."

2nd, Elder Holland explains, "Secondly, human intimacy is reserved for a married couple because it is the ultimate symbol of total union, a totality and a union ordained and defined by God. From the Garden of Eden onward, marriage was intended to mean the complete merger of a man and a woman—their hearts, hopes, lives, love, family, future, everything....Can you see the moral schizophrenia that comes from pretending you are one, pretending you have made solemn promises before God, sharing the physical symbols and the physical intimacy of your counterfeit union but then fleeing all other aspects of what was meant to be a total obligation?"

3rd, Thirdly, may I say that physical intimacy is not only a symbolic union between a husband and a wife—the very uniting of their souls—but it is also symbolic of a shared relationship between them and their Father in Heaven. He is immortal and perfect. We are mortal and imperfect. Nevertheless we seek ways even in mortality whereby we can unite with Him spiritually. Those special moments include kneeling at a marriage altar in the house of the Lord, blessing a newborn baby, baptizing and confirming a new member of the Church, partaking of the emblems of the Lord’s Supper, and so forth.
These are moments when we quite literally unite our will with God’s will, our spirit with His spirit. At such moments we not only acknowledge His divinity but we quite literally take something of that divinity to ourselves. One aspect of that divinity given to men and women is the use of His power to create a human body, that wonder of all wonders, a genetically and spiritually unique being never before seen in the history of the world and never to be duplicated again in all the ages of eternity. A child, your child—with eyes and ears and fingers and toes and a future of unspeakable grandeur."

I want you  to think for just a moment about what you know about God.  (all knowing, all powerful, creator, Father).  I think it is very significant that of all the things He could ask us to call Him, He asks us to call Him Father.  Of all of His roles, being our Father is the one He holds most sacred!  Of all the titles, God could ask us to call Him, He chose to have us call him Father.  I think there are several reasons for that...to remind us of our relationship to Him, to help us feel close to Him, but also to affirm His most sacred role...that of a father...a giver of life.  Of our roles here on Earth and in eternity, no role is more important than being a father or mother.  And the law of chastity is given to protect this divine and most important of roles.  It is a law of love and protection.  If he values and treasures that role, shouldn't we respect our roles as mothers just as much...and hold sacred the power that allows us to become a mother.  

Elder Holland said, "Of all the titles God has chosen for Himself, Father is the one He favors most, and creation is His watchword—especially human creation, creation in His image. You and I have been given something of that godliness, but under the most serious and sacred of restrictions. The only control placed on us is self-control—self-control born of respect for the divine power this gift represents. Don’t be deceived."

I can testify that some of the greatest joy I have ever experienced has come through being a mother...no more wonderful, powerful, or amazing experience than carrying a child in your body, giving birth and raising that child.   But as the Family Proclamation teaches, "Marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God."  It continues, "Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity."
**Friend's child...I want to be a normal family with a mom and a dad.
**My dear friend who got pregnant as teenager...challenges of raising children as teenager...

QUOTE #2:  Elder Bednar taught, "The power of procreation is spiritually significant. Misuse of this power subverts the purposes of the Father’s plan and of our mortal existence. Our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son are creators and have entrusted each of us with a portion of Their creative power. Specific guidelines for the proper use of the ability to create life are vital elements in the Father’s plan. How we feel about and use that supernal power will determine in large measure our happiness in mortality and our destiny in eternity."


Repentance:

Elder Packer taught that when our physical bodies are injured, they can heal but often a scar remains.  "With our spiritual bodies it is another matter. Our spirits are damaged when we make mistakes and commit sins. But unlike the case of our mortal bodies, when the repentance process is complete, no scars remain because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The promise is: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42)."

Elder Holland said, "If some few of you are carrying such wounds—and I know that you are—to you is extended the peace and renewal of repentance available through the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. In such serious matters the path of repentance is not easily begun nor painlessly traveled. But the Savior of the world will walk that essential journey with you. He will strengthen you when you waver. He will be your light when it seems most dark. He will take your hand and be your hope when hope seems all you have left. His compassion and mercy, with all their cleansing and healing power, are freely given to all who truly wish complete forgiveness and will take the steps that lead to it."

President Packer also testified, "I am so grateful for the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the power of procreation, for the power of redemption, for the Atonement—the Atonement which can wash clean every stain no matter how difficult or how long or how many times repeated. The Atonement can put you free again to move forward, cleanly and worthily, to pursue that path that you have chosen in life."

BLESSINGS OF REMAINING PURE (or becoming pure through sincere repentance):
**Those who were here last week...think of the obvious love that we could see that Sara and Chris, as well as Laurel and Brian share.  That's a result of righteous living and obeying the law of chastity.  You want to have that too.  (NOW I do want to caution that living the law of chastity doesn't guarantee that you will marry or have children or that life will turn out the way you expect...but it does PROMISE that all desired blessings will be yours in the eternities! All wrongs will be righted and all injustices will be made just...)

Elder Packer said, "True love requires reserving until after marriage the sharing of that affection which unlocks those sacred powers in that fountain of life. It means avoiding situations where physical desire might take control. Pure love presupposes that only after a pledge of eternal fidelity, a legal and lawful ceremony, and ideally after the sealing ordinance in the temple are those procreative powers released in God’s eye for the full expression of love. It is to be shared solely and only with that one who is your companion forever."

**Those who have been inside the temple, or even walked around the grounds...think of the peace you feel there.  One of the blessings of remaining pure is the privilege of holding a temple recommend and being able to attend the temple often.  No greater blessing.

QUOTE # ___  Elder Bednar, "The Father’s plan is designed to provide direction for His children, to help them become happy, and to bring them safely home to Him with resurrected, exalted bodies. Heavenly Father desires us to be together in the light and filled with hope. In contrast, Lucifer labors to make the sons and daughters of God confused and unhappy and to hinder their eternal progression. The overarching intent of the father of lies is that all of us would become “miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27). Lucifer wants us ultimately to be alone in the dark and without hope."  

QUOTE # ________  Elder Bednar:  "We also are promised that, as we pursue the pathway of virtue, “the Holy Ghost shall be [our] constant companion” (D&C 121:46). Thus, living the law of chastity invites some of the greatest blessings men and women can receive in mortality: appropriate spiritual confidence in the presence of family, friends, Church associates, and, ultimately, the Savior. Our innate longing to belong is fulfilled in righteousness as we walk in the light with hope."

Video?   I CHOOSE to be pure...you are not alone in your decision to be pure!

CANDY BARS..Satan will tempt you to give up the tremendous blessings that come with sexual purity to enjoy a little pleasure now.  Don't give up what you want most for what you might think you want now.  The reward is too great.  All that the Father hath.  The companionship of the Holy Ghost.  Eternal life.  An eternal family.  Confidence.  Hope.  Decide today to live the law of chastity!

A super day!

Last Saturday, the day after Michelle and I returned from Girls Camp, we had an especially great day.  Alfredo gave me a new shirt.  Our friend Mike bought it while he was in Spain this summer.  It was an early Anniversary gift.

That afternoon, our whole family was able to go see Greased at the Desert Star Theatre.  This was quite fortunate.  We have season tickets this year.  I had it in my head that our tickets were for July 18.  I remember thinking that it was going to be a busy day...the day after we got home from camp, the same day as our tickets for the Pioneer Day Concert, and I thought about changing the tickets.  But I never got around to calling to change them, so I figured we would just have a busy, fun day.  Well, Friday morning (while still at Girls Camp) I suddenly had this feeling that I better double check the date.  When I got home, I pulled up the email that listed all of our ticket dates...and our tickets had been for the previous Saturday.  I had totally messed up and we had missed them.  I told Alfredo about it that night.  He said I should call the theatre and see if there was anything they could do.  I had read their reservation policies and you have to cancel/change tickets 48 hours in advance so I doubted they could do anything.  But I got up my nerve and called on Saturday morning.  They still had 6 tickets left for the matinee show that day, and they said we could have them!  Originally, they told us we would be separated...2 of us together, and then the other 3.  I said that was fine.  But when we arrived, they asked us to wait just a few minutes because they were trying to rearrange things so we could all sit together.  They didn't even have to let us attend since it was my silly mistake, but they not only let us attend but warmly welcomed us and rearranged things so we would all be seated together.  I am so impressed by their customer service.  It was a fun show and I felt so grateful we were able to attend.

 Then that night, Michelle, Ella, Alfredo and I were able to attend the Pioneer Day Concert at the Conference Center.  It featured Laura Osnes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Orchestra on Temple Square.  Ever since returning from Nauvoo, the early Saints have been on my mind.  I am so thankful for their sacrifice and legacy of faith.  It is such a blessing to know that many of my ancestors endured so much so that I could have the gospel in my life today.  I am so grateful to them.  So it held even deeper meaning to hear the songs of the pioneers at the beginning of the concert.

Because Laura Osnes is a Broadway star, most of the songs were songs from Broadway.  That was a lot of fun as well.  After the concert, our friends Immanuel and Denise, who were sitting just behind us at the concert, joined us at Kneaders for dessert.  A very wonderful day spent with my most favorite people:  my family.

Hiking with Friends

A couple of weeks ago, we took a short but beautiful hike with the Galatas.  The hike is near their house and I can't remember what the trail is called, but it is short but ends at a waterfall.  It was probably the perfect length for Gabby...and to be honest, since I'm not in great shape lately, it was about the right length for me too.

After the hike, we went back to the Galata's house.  The kids did some crafts...painting bird houses and making animals out of perler beads.  We had a hot dog bar and enjoyed visiting.  A fun summer day with great friends!

Girls Camp: I Know I Am...United We Know

I had the great privilege of attending Girls Camp this year.  Our stake went to Aspen Grove.  It was great to be there with Michelle...it was her first year of Girls Camp.  It was wonderful to spend the week with the amazing young women in my ward, with the other leaders from my ward (Sara, Aly, and Kylee) and with the other young women and leaders from my stake.  There were so many wonderful experiences, and I wrote quite a bit in my journal about it.

When I first heard the theme, I must admit that it seemed a bit odd...or at least not catchy like some other themes.  But it turned out to be such a beautiful theme with layers of meaning and insight.  Each ward was assigned a word (loyal, noble, confident (That was ours!), witness, together, possible, trustworthy, and chosen.)  Each ward selected a woman from the scriptures that exemplified that word.  Ours was the widow of Zarapeth.  So as camp progressed, we heard a lot about these women, these words and how each of us is/can be loyal/noble/confident/trustworthy, etc.  The spirit bore witness that together, we can come to know our divine potential, our individual worth as daughters of God.  But I really loved on the last day as Sister Hunt, our stake camp director, pointed out that this theme also points our minds to our Savior, the Great I Am.  So another layer of meaning is that each of us knows Him.  And camp had a part in helping each of us come to know Him better.  I've written more about my thoughts and feelings about this theme in my personal journal, but it ended up being an incredibly powerful theme.

It was beautiful to be in the woods, to be away from the world.  It was wonderful to be surrounded by some of our Heavenly Father's creations.  To feel, as we sang "Walk Tall", that truly, "He's closer than you know.  Reach up, He'll take your hand."

To decorate, Aly had made a banner that spelled out "Confident".  The young women had made a banner that said, "Widow of Zarapeth".  The young women had made little posters with quotes about confidence.  Four of the young women drew sketches of what they thought the widow of Zarapeth might have looked like.  Also, each young woman had given Aly a photo of themselves doing something they felt confident doing.  These photos were laminated and hung up by the confident banner.  We also hung paper lanterns.  It looked great.  I am very impressed by the artistic talents of our young women...as well as their many other talents!

Stake leaders doing their skit

Stake leaders doing their skit

Our 1st and 4th years on their hike

Each girl got to decorate a puzzle pieces.  Here is Michelle with hers.

The hike was beautiful!

One of Michelle's favorite parts of camp was that the Beehives scared us leaders on the last night.  There is this creepy looking doll named Lester that has apparently come to camp before and given Sara and other leaders a scare.  Well, Lester was back and the Beehives put him in our tent.  Liv hid under Sara's pillow and was planning to reach up and stroke her cheek when Sara got into her sleeping bag.  Sara figured out the plan before that happened, but she still got a bit scared.  But then the darling/naughty/"terrorist" Beehives returned and began throwing wood chips on our tent (we didn't know that's what was happening at first).  I figured it was the Beehives, but it made an awful noise and to be honest, we were all quite scared.  Sara was on my matress with me, holding my hand.  Then a bit later, Liv tried to sneak into our tent again to scare us...and got her hair caught in the zipper of the tent (serves her right!)  :)  Silly, silly Beehives.

My favorite part, and I think the favorite part of virtually everyone who attended camp was the Remembrance Walk on the last night of camp.  The whole camp lined up in 2 parallel lines, facing each other.  Then each person, 1 by 1, was blindfolded and would walk between the 2 parallel lines.  As they passed, you were to whisper one word to them...whatever word the spirit prompted you to whisper.  It was one of the most beautiful things I have experienced.  It felt as if 1...you were being embraced by the Savior and those around you...and 2. as if these were the things that our Father would say to you if He were standing there...that each of us were allowed, for a moment, to feel and know who we truly are...to interrupt the world's voices that clamor for our attention and try to tell us who we should be... and whispered who we really are and who we are meant to be.  It was an experience that I hope I never forget...one I sort of wish could be repeated every few months because it felt so wonderful and helped me know/remember what I am meant to be.  So very special, and I think it touched most if not all of the participants pretty deeply.

Look at those beautiful young women soaking their feet!

Another thing that I thought was pretty special was Aly had made each girl a personalized tub and washcloth.  After the hike and service project, each girl was given her tub filled with water and bath salts.  They soaked their feet and then Aly washed and dried their feet and rubbed lotion on each girl's feet.  It brought me to tears watching her serve these young women in such a tender way, much as the Savior did for his disciples.

Such an amazing week.

Our ward...leaders and girls!  Such wonderful examples to me.  I love them!

A few more photos from my family's visit

On Monday, we finished the fireworks.

 And we took photos of Grandma, Grandpa and the grandkids!

Ordinary Moments

Well, that's what life is - this collection of extraordinarily ordinary moments. We just need to pay attention to them all. Wake up and pay attention to how beautiful it all is.

Alexander Payne

One of the things that I love most about having family visit is paying attention to the ordinary moments.  Moments that perhaps would not be photograph-worthy or would not catch my attention if my family weren't around.  Moments when I sit with my two sisters and talk.  Moments when a favorite memory from the past is shared.  Moments when cousins sit side by side and play happily.  Watching my niece use her imagination.  Going to a movie with grandma and grandpa.  Having a silly string war.  Moments when the family is just relaxing, perhaps not even speaking, but sitting near one another, just being together.  Because we don't live close by, these seemingly ordinary moments are quite extraordinary and I appreciate all the more how special they are.  It would be nice if we lived closer together but I treasure each moment we do get to spend together.

I love these lyrics from the song "Little Wonders" which was in Disney's movie Meet the Robinsons:
Let it slide
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Till you feel it all around you
And I don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by
It's the heart that really matters in the end 

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These small hours still remain.
****
Grateful for these ordinary moments, these small hours, with those I love most!