Body Piercing

Hi Girls,
  So, I've decided to offer you some support on everyday controversy in this section of "VALUES." 
  Question: How many times have you heard "but everybody else is doing it" or "it is the latest fashion/trend!"?? Or even "but at least I'm better than so and so..."??
   When it comes to gospel standards and your values, there is no trend, there is no excuse that all the world is committing this sin, or that you are better than someone else.  How someone else acts or lives does not affect your eternal salvation...how you do DOES. 
    Today, I'd like to talk about something I find all too common in our world. 
    Body Piercing.
    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has set forth specific standards concerning multiple body piercings.  "Latter-day prophets strongly discourage the piercing of the body except for medical purposes. If girls or women desire to have their ears pierced, they are encouraged to wear only one pair of modest earrings."
     Why should we keep the standard of "one piercing?" 
     1.  Prophets of God have received revelation for the Church, stating that we should refrain from multiple piercings.
     2.  A single pair of earrings looks nice.  The more you get doesn't mean the better.  You don't need to show off your jewelry collection all on one ear cartlidge.  And then it turns to gauges, lip rings, nose piercings, and those are just unsanitary! I can promise you that you are more likely to get a good, respectible job if you only have one or even less.
     My dad is a CFP.  He was once interviewing a young man to be his secretary.  Well, this kid had his ear, face, and whole body decked out with piercings.  He quickly removed them as my dad walked in.  Sure, this kid was a genius, but my dad didn't like the piercings.  Getting a life insurance policy from a kid who has the grossest ears ever isn't too bright of an idea.
      3. Your body is a temple.  “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).  That was taught by one of Christ's early apostles, Paul.  If you know you are a child of God who has the capability to be an exalted being, a goddess even, and have a beautiful resurrected body, why would the piercings matter?

     So, sisters, please don't follow "the trend."  One is good. Keep being awesome.

-Flame Team.

Every...

Savoring Every Moment

Hi Girls!

For the past couple of days, I've been comtemplating many things.  May seems to be the busiest month of the year, for some reason.  But I've realized one thing:
I can't ask for more days than what I have now, but I can enjoy the days I have left.

Though this past week has been crazy, I know that if I try to enjoy it and face it with optimism and faith, than I won't need to worry or doubt.  I've been running a petition; I've discovered that my favorite teacher is leaving the school; and I've discovered the fact that I only have two weeks left with my friends before summer starts and then everybody goes their own ways during ninth grade.  But I know that if I try to savor every moment and have faith, I don't need to worry about the future.

There are two options when it comes to time:
A. Worry about how little time you have.  Freak out because you want more.  Run out of class and cry in the girls' bathroom (done that TWICE this week.)  Worry.  Freak.  Run.
B. Enjoy every moment.  Savor the time you have left.  Thank God that you have what time you have left.  Believe that He knows what is best for you and that He is leading you the way you need to go.

I promise you the second option is much better.  I've decided I don't want to worry about if my friends and I will keep tabs over high school.  I don't want to worry that I won't have my favorite teacher to discuss my problems, successes, and failures with.  I don't want to worry that all I do is in vain.  I want to be happy.  I want to savor every little moment, every time I get poked, every time my teacher jokes around with me, and every second I have here.
-Sincerely,
Flame Team.

Jump In!

The quote above is by Ronald Rasbund, who spoke at last General Conference.

Click on the picture to make it bigger!

Safe & Sound

Bright Idea - Attitude

Hi Girls!
   The Bright Idea today is having a good attitude.
   Why is our attitude so important and why should we consider it "one of our values?"
   President Monson said:
  

"A in my ABCs refers to attitude. William James, a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, wrote, “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”¹

So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment.

Charles Swindoll—author, educator, and Christian pastor—said: “Attitude, to me, is more important than … the past, … than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day."

     I love the quote he mentioned at the end..."we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day."

     Your attitude has an effect on how you see the world, yourself, and others.  It affects what others see of you and how they interact with you.

     When my cousin, Kassi, was fifteen years old, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Many people, when faced with the posing trial and thought of upcoming difficulty will give up.  But Kassi made a decision to have a good attitude.  She wasn't going to pitty herself.  In fact, while at St. Jude's Hospital receiving kimotherapy treatments, she put others in front of her.  She had a good friend in the Hospital who was also going through health difficulties.  Kassi helped her friend into the car, around the hospital, and had a good influence and attitude even when she, herself, was feeling the effects of her treatments.  While she was undergoing all this pain, she kept her chin up, served others, and maintained a positive attitude.

Do you have a story of how you had a good attitude?  Comment!

 Kassi, on the left, with one of her friends.  This was posted on her friend's MySpace.

*Side Note:  Kassi has now been cancer free for roughly 2 years.

Bright Idea! - Books

Hi Girls!
  Have you ever noticed how hard it is to find GOOD books with a great storyline, fantastic characters, AND good langauge?  I have. 
  I've decided to formulate a list of some good books to read.  PLEASE COMMENT if you have any ideas as well.  Thanks.
-Flame Team.


Good Books
-Fablehaven Series by Mull
-Michael Vey Series by Evans
-Dickens Inn Books by Stansfield
-A Face in the Shadows by McCloud (I've read this one twice and I LOVE IT!)
-Love Beyond Time by Allen (great book!  Historic Fiction/Romance Awesome!)
-Passage to Zarahemla by Heimerdinger
-Unlikely Heroes by Carter
-Work and the Glory by Lund (warning: does have a few swear words in one of the books, to go with the context and time period)