Sunday, June 30, 2013

Come, Follow Me Talk

Gave a talk today.  For our Sacrament Meeting program they organized a state of the union-like theme for the Come, Follow Me Curriculum.  There was a speaker for YW, YM, and Sunday School.  It was amazing how we all had the exact same topic and approached it in completely different ways.  Everybody kind of balanced each other out.

First of all.  I HATE introductions.  Can't do them.  I think I've used the same introduction for every ward I've spoken in, and since this was my second talk in this ward, I was having major writer's block throughout the week.


So, I didn't have one.  I jumped right in.  It made me laugh in my mind because it reminded me of the Snark and Testimony gifs.  

When a speaker doesn't feel the need to tell you every emotion they went through when the bishop called them to speak and just gets right into their talk:
These are hilarious!  But we'll save that for another time.

I love change.  This is coming from major experience.  I'm pretty sure we've moved seven times in the last five years.  Change is refreshing, it's exciting, and it helps you grow.  You can learn from the past and take out all the good and add your own twist and traditions to turn it into something better.

So, why is everything changing?  Why now?

I've heard that when you raise your children, sometimes, because of their personalities, your parenting approach might need to be different depending on the child.  I know with my parents, I think my brothers were a little easier to raise than me.  My mom said she tried giving us all piano lessons when we were little, and the boys did a pretty good job of practicing when they were supposed to, but I was kind of dramatic.  The lessons usually ended with me sprawling across the piano bench on my back and not moving as if I were dead.  So, mom definitely needed to take a different approach with me most of the time  (Sorry mom)


If you look at that from an eternal perspective, I wonder if maybe Heavenly Father's different generations of children need to learn and experience the gospel in different ways.

Here's something to show how the times are definitely changing.  Just so you can see a difference in the generations, I wanted to quote a couple paragraphs from the For The Strength of Youth Pamphlet from 1965.


First of all... what exactly are pedal pushers, knee-knockers, and bermudas?

Pants for young women are not desirable attire for shopping, at school, in the library, in cafeterias, or restaurants.  Any apparel that suggests a house robe should not be worn in public but only in one’s home or apartment.
For the young men… When driving around in cars, working in the yard or elsewhere, they should wear appropriate trousers and shirts.  Shorts may be worn during actual participation in active sports.
“Grubbies” are inappropriate in public for everyone.  A “real lady” does not go out in public, to the market, or to shops with her hair in curlers.
Acceptable Dancing
The following should be observed:
      1. GOOD POSTURE - If one concentrates on good posture, most fad dances can be danced in a manner which will meet LDS standards.
      2. DANCE POSITIONS- When dancing, young people should avoid crouching, slumping over, or trying to do a backbend
      3. Body Movements- Members of the Church should be good dancers and not contortionists.  Emphasis should be placed more on styling and clever footwork

So, to me it definitely makes sense that as the times change, Heavenly Father may have a different way of raising different generations.

Not only have these new lessons affected the youth, but it has helped my testimony to grow.  Teachers are being pushed to grow spiritually.  The most important part of your service will be your own daily spiritual preparation.  Dedicate yourself to living the gospel with greater purpose than ever before.  Learning outlines are not meant to prescribe what you will say and do as you teach.  They are designed to help you learn the doctrine for yourself and prepare to engage the youth in powerful learning experiences.

This curriculum is helping teachers learn to teach like the Savior--


In every setting, He set the example.  He taught others to pray by praying with them.  He taught them to love and serve by the way He loved and served them.  He taught them how to teach His gospel by the way He taught it.

Overall, the path to conversion is a personal one.

"FOR NEARLY SIX THOUSAND YEARS, GOD HAS HELD YOU IN RESERVE TO MAKE YOUR APPEARANCE IN THE FINAL DAYS BEFORE THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD.
"WHILE THIS GENERATION WILL BE COMPARABLE IN WICKEDNESS TO THE DAYS OF NOAH, WHEN THE LORD CLEANED THE EARTH BY FLOOD, THERE IS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE THIS TIME: [IT IS THAT] GOD HAS SAVED FOR THE FINAL INNING SOME OF HIS STRONGEST... CHILDREN, WHO WILL HELP BEAR OFF THE KINGDOM TRIUMPHANTLY.
"MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT -- YOU ARE A MARKED GENERATION."
-EZRA TAFT BENSON

The youth are awesome!  They are the final warriors pushing through these last days.  PLANTS VS ZOMBIES-- they are the lawnmowers.


I remember as a teen when adults would say, "I was a teenager once too and I know what you're going through..." And yeah, that's true, but at the same time, it's really not.  I don't think we truly understand the spiritual battle that our youth have to face every single day.  Satan is trying harder now than ever before and they are constantly being surrounded by temptation.  The YW and YM are so strong and such an example to me.  They teach me more than I could possibly teach them.  I love my calling!

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Oh, What Do You Do In The Summertime?

On this especially sunny Sunday, I was crazy craving lemonade.  And I wanted to spend as much time outside as possible, so this is pretty much what happened....


"Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?  Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky?  Is that what you do?  So do I!"


I'm gonna say it...  Of the THOUSANDs of places we have lived, the summer weather in The Dalles is my absolute FAVORITE!  No humidity, no 'it's so hot I can't breathe' desert air, just pleasant, happy, smiling sunshine everyday.


We picked FRESH FRESH FRESH raspberries!  Holy smokes!  I couldn't stop eating them.


Stuntman came to visit while we were picking.  He kept head ramming my shoe. 


 "NOT NOW KITTY-FACE!"


Yes.


Easiest compote in the world award...
1 cup of raspberries
1 TBS of sugar
(Or maybe 2 if you're feeling cRaZy)
A couple squeezes of lemon

Warm it on the stove on low for a minute or two and BAM!  Add it to your lemonade.


Best. Day. Ever.

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