Landfill

Hi Ladies!
  I got on today, not really knowing what it was I should post about. 
  Now, I think I know.
  To start off, I wanted to post this video from lds.org/youth.

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/reclaimed?lang=eng

I love that video.  It reminds me of a story that my stake president told in a high council meeting, which my father was in attendance. 

When my stake president was young and my hometown Syracuse was just farmland, he had a bike.  He loved this bike.  It was his favorite toy.  But one day it broke, and his father took him to the landfill to throw away his bike.

Years later, just like Idaho Falls, Syracuse's landfill is now a park. There are homes there.  There are trees, families, and even ponds.

Just like in the video, it would be ridiculous to dig my stake president's bike back up.  Why would you want something broken to resurface in your life, and destroy the beauty that has replaced it?

Just like these two stories, we all have mistakes, weaknesses, addictions, problems, and issues.  But once we give them over to Christ, it would be ridiculous to try to get them back. 

That's the wonderful thing about the Atonement and the Savior.   Christ can make shortcomings into successes and gross landfills of sin into beautiful parks. 

Once we have given our sins over to Christ, we should not try to reclaim them.  We should not return to them.  Carrying around a broken bike for the rest of our life would be clutter.  We should not hoard our mistakes, shortcomings, or issues.

It's time to let your landfill become a park.

 

Young Women Mutual Ideas

Here are some Mutual Ideas.  :) Enjoy!!
--J

Mutual Activities

• Faith Walk: Set this up in a back yard or something like that. Take a rope and tie it to tries, posts, fences, etc. to make a path.  Blindfold each girl and lead her down the rope.  Have the class presidency tempt them (for example say: "Jen! We have ice cream sandwiches over here...just follow me!") or throw water balloons at them.  Have faith stops, etc.
•  Make clay jewelry!  This is way fun and home-making like! We did this for my Mia Maid class, and with was so great. :) 
• Do a lip gloss night.  We did this and it was way great!  Click here for recipes. 
• Parade of rooms.  I've never done this, but it sounds fun (and a good excuse to clean your room.)  http://www.christysclipart.com/room_activity.html
• Have a recipe night.  We've done this before and it was way great!  You could make recipe boxes, exchange recipes, or learn how to make different seasonal recipes.  For example: 1 - We made cinnamon rolls!  Way fun.  2 - We learned different Autumn Recipes from several girls/moms.  The recipes were exchanged and then we got to sample each!
• Dirty Doubles Kickball.  You play this like kickball except for a few details.  Each base is composed of "dirtying" things.  The first is a baby pool full of shaving cream.  The second is a baby pool of mud.  And the 3rd is a baby pool full of water, with a water slide to home base.  Make sure the girls are dressed appropriately.   Then pair them into doubles, tie them together by their legs (like a 3 legged race), and play!
• I've never done this, but this sounds great for Presidency Training: Leadership Training Sleepover - Present four 20 minute workshops: 1) Positive Attitude, 2) Friendship, 3) Time Management and 4) Personal Progress. After a night of snacks, games, and fun, end the activity with a simple breakfast. Follow up with a leadership training lesson at your next class presidency meeting on Daily Spiritual Preparation.

DO YOU HAVE IDEAS FOR MUTUAL?  COMMENT, EMAIL gomerxoxo@yahoo.com, ETC.

Disguise

Here's the next song.  It's called Disguise.  It's about not putting on a disguise or changing who you are for the world.
-J

Disguise

V1. I have dreamt a thousand times

That I was what they wanted me to be

But the dream isn't mine

It's what they want to see

Chorus:

I'm not going to change

Just to please their eyes

(oh-oh-oh)

My life isn't going to rearrange

Just cuz they want a disguise

V2. I can't do what they ask

I am not going to change to make them smile

I'm not going to wear a mask

Try to change me isn't worth the while

Chorus.

V3. (sing twice)

I'm beautiful, beautiful without beautification

Fit perfectly without alteration

Gorgeous, gorgeous, inside and out

Oh, I'm going to scream and shout!

Chorus.

Chorus Again.

My Soul

Here's another one of my songs.  It's called "My Soul."  It's about not letting the world govern who you are.

-J

My Soul

V1: They can't tear me down,
Pull me down with their chains

Drive me out of town,

Or drown me in the pain.

And they can't make me small,

Tell me who I am,

Limit me to nothing at all,

Cuz I can...

Chorus: Fly higher than any airplane

Work just as hard, despite the time I came

(yes I can)

Be beautiful despite what they say

Forsake the world and go my own way

Scream on a mountain til I'm whole

Cuz they don't rule my soul.

V2: Call me a freak

Just cuz I'm not like you

Criticize the words I speak

Or analyze everything I do.

But they can't say

What I'm meant to be

I go the right way

And be the one and only me.

(Chorus)

V3: And they can try

To make me change

Tell me I am shy

But I know my range.

And I am beautiful

Despite what they say

And I am wonderful

In my own way.

(Chorus)

(Repeat Chorus)

Top to Bottom

Hey Ladies!
   Some of you know that I compose.  For one of my Personal Progress Projects, I've decided to write  divinely inspired (hopefully!) songs.  I'll be posting the lyrics to them on the blog.  Hope you enjoy!  Comment, questions, etc.  This one is about the beauty in you!
-J

Top to Bottom
V1. Today you told me you're not good enough
That your arms are weak and you don't feel so tough.
But I have news for you
You are as strong as you make up your mind to

Chorus:
I hope you know
When you walk by I go wo...
I hope you see
That you are top to bottom beauty
And you were made the way you are for a reason
Because beauty doesn't come and go with the season

V2. You fight and fight to change who you are
Counting all your lucky stars
But you're missing the point here
The letters on the wall are clear.

Chorus

V3. Don't listen to what they say to you
Their diet, tips, and lists of things to do
They're missing the beauty
That's inside already

You're gorgeous
You're beautiful

Chorus

Magnify Your Calling: As a Friend

  Have you ever really thought of friendship as a calling??
  Though you don't get set apart by a priesthood holder or attend regular meetings, friendship is a calling of its own.
   In Mosiah Chapter 18, in verse 9 it reads:
    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...

  As friends, don't we do many of those things?  Haven't you ever comforted a friend, mourned alongside them, or stood up for your standards while with them?

  I believe that friendship is a very important calling, one that is both easy and hard, challenging and rewarding. 
   Presdient Henry B Eyring, in this message, talks about friendship.  He says:
 

One of the great tributes the Savior can give is to call us “friends.” We know that He loves with a perfect love all of His Heavenly Father’s children. Yet for those who have been faithful in their service with Him, He reserves this special title. You remember the words from the 84th section of the Doctrine and Covenants: “And again I say unto you, my friends, for from henceforth I shall call you friends, it is expedient that I give unto you this commandment, that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power” (D&C 84:77).

We become His friends as we serve others for Him. He is the perfect example of the kind of friend we are to become. He wants only what is best for His Heavenly Father’s children. Their happiness is His happiness. He feels their sorrow as His own because He has paid the price of all their sins, taken upon Himself all their infirmities, borne all their troubles, and felt all their longings. His motives are pure. He seeks no recognition for Himself but to give all glory to His Heavenly Father. The perfect friend, Jesus Christ, is completely selfless in offering happiness to others.

Each of us who has made the baptismal covenant has promised to follow His example to bear one another’s burdens as He would (see Mosiah 18:8).

In the next few days you will have many opportunities to be a friend for Him. It may be as you walk on a dusty road. It may be as you sit down in a railroad car. It may be as you look for a place to sit in a Church congregation. If you are watching, you will see someone carrying a heavy burden. It may be a burden of sorrow or loneliness or resentment. It may be visible to you only if you have prayed for the Spirit to give you eyes to see into hearts and have promised to lift up the hands that hang down.

I hope we all embrace and magnify our calling as friends in this world.  :)

-J



Magnify Your Calling: Church Service Callings as Presidency

Hi,
  So as metioned in our previous post "Magnify Your Calling", the Flame is going to be posting a few things about magnifying different callings.  Enjoy, comment, and ask questions! Thanks.
   -J

Chruch Service Callings
   At the age of young womanhood, there aren't quite as many callings to be had.  But I believe that the callings that are commonly extended to youth are some of the most wonderful and intimate (or personal) callings in the Church.
   Many of you may be serving in class presidencies.  I have served in a number of presidencies, and I can tell you with all honesty that there is something special about these callings.  They are a call of leadership, but also of fellowship.
    The main purpose of a class presidency is to fellowship, love, and bring others unto Christ.  We must strive to develop a personal relationship with each one of the girls and show genuine love, compassion, and friendship. 
   How do we magnify our callings by fellowshipping?  What does it even mean to fellowship?
  In the online dictionary, it says:
   Fellowship: the condition or relation of being a fellow: the fellowship of humankind; community of interest, feeling, etc.

  

   Fellowshipping is really about becoming friends with one another.  One great thing I love about my ward is how close and friendly all the girls are.  I've noticed various people reaching out to other girls of different ages, likes, interests, and lifestyles.  I strongly admire those who break the boundaries of designated groups.  One beautiful thing my old Beehive counselor said was, "We must not have any -ites among us.  No cheerleader-ites, no soccer-ites, no scholar-ites."

  

  How do you fellowship in a presidency?

  I believe fellowshipping is one of the greatest ways to magnify your calling.  Do the small, simple things that Christ would've done.  Remember that no act of kindness is too small.

   Some things I've seen done in presidencies to help fellowship include:

•      Taking cookies or treats to the girls.  My presidency has been doing this.  You just make some cookies, attach a little love note, sign from the presidency, and then doorbell ditch them.  It works great!  They are always so grateful afterwards and can really feel the love.
•      Welcome new girls or girls advancing into your class.  Go deliver a gift, stop by her house and talk to her, or things like that.  Remember to make her feel special.  Don't forget to announce her presense in opening exercises and help the girls get to know her.  We does this funny thing where if there is anybody who is new, they have to respond to three random questions.  It helps them to feel loved and cared about.
•        Sit by a new person everyday.  Don't just always sit by your friends.  Encourage the rest of the class to do so as well.  Remember: the presidency can set a great example and encourage positive, friendly trends in their class.

    LOVE!  It's so simple sounding, but just make sure that they all know they are loved.  Call them if they miss church or mutual and tell them you missed them!  Greet them with love!  In my Mia Maid class, we've started a little prayer jar.  It contains the names of all our Mia Maids.  We draw a new name every week, and pray throughout the week for her to have a great week and to feel of our love.

  And lastly, BRING OTHERS UNTO CHRIST. 

   One important thing to remember in bringing souls to Christ, fellowshipping, and loving is to be like Christ.  I like to put it like this: It's the vowels - a, e, i, o, and u.

   A is for Accept: Accept them.  It does not matter when they come or in what state they come in, accept them.  Let them feel that you love them.  Try not to judge for their flaws or differences, just accept them for who they are.
  E is for Encourage: Encourage not only in Church activity, but also in whatever else they do.  Recognize their accomplishments, encourage them, and uplift them.
   I is for 'I love...': Don't over-shower them with compliments, but make sure that you still give them.  It is always so great feeling when others compliment you.  "I love your dress..." "I loved that comment you gave in Sunday School today..." "I love you!"
   O is for Open: Open not only the door for them to come to activities, but open your heart.  Be open to their suggestions, to their complaints, and to their struggles.
   And finally, U for Unify: Unify your girls.  Unify in love, in fun, in spiritual experiences, in the gospel, and in faith.