Magnify Your Calling

Hi Ladies!
   Lately, I've been thinking about callings.  I wanted to share a little bit with you on that topic today.

   First of all, what are our callings in life?

   There are several different callings that we may be asked to accept.  We may have accepted them in the premortal realm.  It may be a calling that God asked you to fulfill before you were born.  And you accepted, telling him you would do anything he required of you.
    It may be a church calling.  You could be serving as a member of a presidency, a family history specialist, or in some other capacity.
    Or it may be a call to be a mother, a sister, a friend, a missionary, a wife, a daughter, or so forth.

  There are more callings in this life than just those that the bishop extends to you.  But no matter what your calling may be, magnify your calling. 
  
   What does it mean to magnify your calling?  How do we magnify our calling?

   In the next few weeks, I will be describing some ways we can magnify our own personal callings. I also encourage you to pray sincerely about your callings in life and to study it out.

President Monson said:
 

I would hope that we would not lose the real objective of our cherished opportunities to serve. That objective, that eternal goal, is the same spoken of by the Lord and found in the Pearl of Great Price: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”¹

May we ever remember that the mantle of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a cloak of comfort but rather a robe of responsibility. Our duty, in addition to saving ourselves, is to guide others to the celestial kingdom of God.

   I hope each of us can learn better about magnifying our callings and letting our "flame'' glow and grow. 

-J

We are Beautiful

  In April 2006, President Hinckley gave a talk in the Priesthood Session of General Conference.  In it he said:
  A week ago this hall was filled with beautiful young women who are striving to live the gospel. They are generous toward one another. They seek to strengthen one another. They are a credit to their parents and the homes from which they come. They are approaching womanhood and will carry throughout their lives the ideals which presently motivate them.
   I love that quote, but even more - I love it when it is applied to you and me.  Like this (insert your name instead of the ones used):
   A week ago this hall was filled with beautiful women, like Cassidy, who are striving to live the gospel.  Amanda is generous to others.  Jane seeks to strengthen others.  Alice is a credit to her parents and the home from which she comes.  Madi is approaching womanhood and will carry througout her life the ideals which presently motivate her.
   I love applying to myself, and I hope you do too.  Here's a little breakdown of what "we are" according to President Hinckley.
    "A week ago this hall was filled with beautiful women (like you), who are striving to live the gospel."
    Ask yourself this question:
    How is beauty connected with living the gospel?
    Elaine Dalton says, "The world places so much emphasis on physical attractiveness and would have you believe that you are to look like the elusive model on the cover of a magazine. The Lord would tell you that you are each uniquely beautiful. When you are virtuous, chaste, and morally clean, your inner beauty glows in your eyes and in your face. My grandfather used to say, 'If you live close to God and His infinite grace—you won’t have to tell, it will show in your face.'"
     By living your standards, you are beautiful!
    The next part says, "(You) are generous to others.  (You) seek to strengthen others."
    This reminds of our baptismal covenants in Mosiah 18. 
    8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are ^adesirous to come into the ^bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are ^awilling to mourn with those that ^bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as ^cwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the ^dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

     Next, "you are a credit to your parents and home...."

     What does it mean to credit your home?   

     In my view, it means to contribute to your home.  Follow the "Family" standards in the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet.  Help your siblings.  Love and assist your parents.  Be an example to your family.

      Lastly -

      They are approaching womanhood and will carry throughout their lives the ideals which presently motivate them.

      -Live your standards.  Never lower your standards.  Always keep them high and let them be your motivation.-

    Love President Hinckley.  And I love what "we are."

   

   

Handouts...is it 8??

You guys know the drill.

These are made with Creative Memories. Click on them to save and feel totally free to use them! Let me know if you need them translated into a different language. :)

-J

Patriarchal Blessings, Letter to Stake Presidents  2012 Handout

Basis Upon Which We Build; Howard W Hunter Handout - 2012

-All Things are Possible with Faith; Thomas S Monson/Matthew 14:29-31  - 2012

Candy Bar Poll Results

Thanks for those of you who took the poll. 
We had a tie between three different candy bars:
  -Almond Joy
  -Milky Way
  -Dove

  So I'll just post use ideas for  two of them.  The recipes below could be used for parties, FHE, or whatever really!
:) J

Recipes using Dove: (found on dovechocolate.com/Recipe)
 Pumpkin Chocolate Roll.  RECIPE

 Fondu for Two. RECIPE.

Recipes using Milky Way: (found at yummly.com)
 Milky Way Balls. RECIPE
  Milky Way Melt S'morz RECIPE

Back!

I am back from EFY!
  And I have to say, it was one of the most spiritual experiences ever.
  The kids were amazing.  Despite looks, position, or sociability, we were all on the same ground.  The boys were sweet and mannerly.  The girls were kind and so spiritual!  The dances were grand, the classes were mind boggling, and the counselors were so great!  Thanks to Session 10A Provo and the Temptation Titan Company for the great time!
:) J

Handouts 7

Handouts made with Creative Memories:

-Testimony 2012

-Time 2012

-Sin 2012

-Repentance 2012

Prom Ideas are Back!

Finally,
Posting some more prom modesty ideas.
Soon I'll get back to normal posting...I hope!  Just filling requests :)
-J

http://www.celestialbridalandprom.com/index.php?option=com_morfeoshow&task=view&gallery=4&Itemid=22
Was unable to extract photos off of this website, but feel free to look at it yourself.  They have some cute stuff!

http://bellaformals.com/dresses.php?c=2


http://www.venusbridal.com/bridesmaids/temple-maids