General Women's Conference at a Glance

Here is the link to view the General Women's Conference

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2015/04?lang=eng&vid=4140528359001

Filling Our Homes with Light and Truth

Cheryl A. Esplin
Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency

When filled with the Spirit and with gospel truth, we have the power to withstand the outside forces of the world that surround and push against us. However, if we are not filled spiritually, we don’t have the inner strength to resist the outside pressures and can collapse when forces push against us.

Satan knows that in order for us and our families to withstand the pressures of the world, we must be filled with light and gospel truth. So he does everything in his power to dilute, distort, and destroy the truth of the gospel and to keep us separated from that truth. …

One place where we best seek to be filled with light and truth is in our own homes. …

Strong eternal families and Spirit-filled homes do not just happen. They take great effort, they take time, and they take each member of the family doing his or her part. Every home is different, but every home where even one individual seeks for truth can make a difference. …

… As we fill our hearts and homes with the Savior’s light and truth, we will have the inner strength to withstand in every circumstance.
Full Video  |  News Summary  |  Highlight Video

The Family Is of God

Carole M. Stephens
First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

We each belong to and are needed in the family of God. Earthly families all look different. And while we do the best we can to create strong traditional families, membership in the family of God is not contingent upon any kind of status—marital status, parental status, financial status, social status, or even the kind of status we post on social media. …

Our opportunity as covenant-keeping daughters of God is not just to learn from our own challenges; it is to unite in empathy and compassion as we support other members of the family of God in their struggles, as we have covenanted to do. …

… God wants us to be one. God needs us to be one—covenant-keeping daughters united in the diversities of our individual lives who desire to learn all that is needed to be back in His presence, sealed to Him as part of His eternal family.

… The ordinances we receive and the covenants we make at baptism and in holy temples connect the family of God on both sides of the veil—connecting us to our Father through His Son.
Full Video  |  News Summary  |  Highlight Video

Defenders of the Proclamation

Bonnie L. Oscarson
Young Women General President

There are three principles taught in the [family] proclamation which I think are especially in need of steadfast defenders. The first is marriage between a man and a woman. … For anyone to attain the fulness of priesthood blessings, there must be a husband and a wife sealed in the house of the Lord, working together in righteousness and remaining faithful to their covenants. This is the Lord’s plan for His children, and no amount of public discourse or criticism will change what the Lord has declared. …

The next principle which calls for our defending voices is elevating the divine roles of mothers and fathers. We eagerly teach our children to aim high in this life. … Do we also teach our sons and daughters there is no greater honor, no more elevated titles, and no more important roles in this life than that of mother and father? …

The last principle we need to stand and defend is the sanctity of the home. We need to take a term which is sometimes spoken of with derision and elevate it. It is the term homemaker. All of us—women, men, youth, and children, single or married—can work at being homemakers. We should “make our homes” places of order, refuge, holiness, and safety. Our homes should be places where the Spirit of the Lord is felt in rich abundance and where the scriptures and the gospel are studied, taught, and lived.
Full Video  |  News Summary  |  Highlight Video

The Comforter

Henry B. Eyring
First Counselor in the First Presidency

Many are praying to Heavenly Father for relief, for help in carrying their burdens of grief, loneliness, and fear. Heavenly Father hears those prayers and understands their needs. He and His Beloved Son, the resurrected Jesus Christ, have promised help [see Matthew 11:28–30]. …

The Savior described the way He helps lighten loads and gives strength to carry them when He was about to be crucified. He knew that His disciples would grieve. He knew that they would fear for their future. He knew they would feel uncertain of their capacity to move forward.

So He gave them the promise that He makes to us and to all His true disciples:

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; …

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:16, 27).

Protecting Children and Families from Pornography

The Utah Coalition Against Pornography would like to make you aware of its annual conference entitled "Protecting Children and Families Against Pornography: Pornography Hurts, Understand Heals," to be held Saturday, April 18th from 9:00 am ton 4:00 pm at the Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City, UT. The purpose of the conference is to provide those attending with information and resources to help safeguard children and their families from the serious challenges of pornography. We invite all interested persons to attend.

Alpine Utah Young Single Adult Stake Women's Conference 2015

The Women’s Conference will be held Saturday,  March 21, 9:00 – 12:00 noon in the Developmental Center Chapel, just west of the Temple, 835 East 850 North, American Fork.  A light brunch will be served.  Sisters are encouraged to dress casually as all classes are interactive, and some require movement.

 

We'd love to see you there as well. Please feel free to contact me with questions. Thank you for assisting us in getting the word out!

 

Heidi Woahn

Alpine YSA Stake RS President

801 361-0463

hwoahn@gmail.com

Sister Jones presented from the life of Ezra Taft Benson lesson # 4 called "Living Joyfully in Troubled Times" President Benson states that with faith in our Heavenly Father, we can have hope for the future, optimism in our present tasks, and inner peace. Our happiness must be earned from day to day, but it is worth the effort and because our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy, He will bless us as we follow His will for us.

When asked what activities help lift the sisters spirits when they are discouraged, listening to music, attending the temple, and reading the scriptures were among the comments made.  In addition to these activities it was mentioned that when we are in the service of our fellowmen we feel a kinship to our Savior and draw closer to our Father in Heaven. 

We watched the following video of a 13 year old Arizona boy who fulfilled his Duty to God by pushing himself to the limit so his friend, who has cerebral palsy, could compete in a triathlon. Here is the link to the video:

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-03-004-daytons-legs?lang=eng

"Happiness here and now consists in freely, loving, joyfully acknowledging God's will for us -- and doing it in all ways and all affairs big and small"

Dear Sisters: We have an opportunity to meet with the Relief Society Presidency on (Sunday) March 15th and March 22nd to discuss our callings as Visiting Teachers.  Not only are these interviews a great way to "jump start" our own visiting teaching, they also help the Relief Society Presidency to learn of the needs that we might have individually, thus making sure each sister in the ward are truly being served and not just the ones that are in distress.  There are still plenty of times available to accommodate your schedule, please call Cari (801-796-0323) for an appointment.

Week of November 2nd

UPCOMING CALENDAR ITEMS: 

   

         

         Nov. 13    Relief Society Dinner w/ program at 6:30  theme: "Are You Part Of The Inn Crowd Or Part Of The Stable Few"

                          If you have any of the following that we could use for decoration for the dinner, please contact Celeste Wright.

                          Nativities, White Christmas Lights, Lanterns, LED Candles for Lanterns

         Nov. 29    Empty Nesters (see below)

         Dec. 6      Ward Christmas Party (tentative date - more info. to follow)

Empty Nesters:

    What:  Empty Nesters

When:  Saturday, November 29^th

Where:  Studio C, BYU Broadcasting Building

Event:   BYU Pre-Game Show, Televised away BYU-Cal Football Game, and Post-Game Show

RSVP:  Doug or Betty Jo:  801-830-1989 (Please let us know if you cannot keep your reservation.  Thank you.)

Welcome to Our Newest Sisters

   

         Kylee (Logan) Street

         8935 Pine Hollow Dr (bsmt)

         Kylee is a newlywed who moved here from Spanish Fork.  She is a softball coach for Weber State University.

        Sydney (David) Raynes

        8907 Cottage Canyon Dr.

        They have one son named Calvin who is 9 months old. Sydney is a teacher.  She teaches 2nd grade at Fox Hollow Elementary in Lehi. 

Birthdays:

           Jodee Matsuda                Nov. 6

           Jaylin Rogers                  Nov. 8

           Rebecca Pedersen          Nov. 12

           Dorothy Clingo                Nov.13

           Katie Greenwood            Nov. 13

           Connie Paxman              Nov. 14

Single Adult Fireside:

There will be a special fireside for Single Adults Ages 46+ on November 9th at 7 PM.  The fireside will be held in the chapel located at 60 East 1600 North in Orem.  Brother Mark Miner featured in Mormon Messages will be the speaker.

Team 1  -  Come and receive your blessings from cleaning the chapel on Sat. Nov. 8 at 9 am. Burgess, Arndt, Bradford, Broderick, Brown (Adam), Doman, Hawkes, Hiatt, Livingston, Miner, Pedersen, Rogers, Schumacher, Taggart, Tracy

TFOT 4th Sunday Lesson Schedule -  

• November: Are We Not All Beggars? , Jeffrey R. Holland

• December: Ponder the Path of Thy Feet : Pres Monson

• January: Personal Responsibility: D. Todd Christofferson (Free Forever, to Act for Themselves ), Elder Jörg Klebingat ( Approaching the Throne of God with      Confidence ), Pres Uchtdorf ("Lord, is it I?")

• February: Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority : Richard G. Scott

• March: Sacrament: Sister Cheryl A. Esplin (The Sacrament—a Renewal for the Soul ), and James J. Hamala (The Sacrament and the Atonement)

• April: Continuing Revelation : Pres Eyring

Next Sunday's RS Lesson –  TFOT  #23 Individual Responsibilities

Notes from Sundays Lesson-  RS Presidency Message – Mindy Horne

From the recent Women’s Conference, Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk “Living the Gospel Joyfully”:

God sent you here to prepare for a future greater than anything you can imagine. The promised blessings of God to the faithful are glorious and inspiring. But how do we attain them?

The Savior has answered this question in our time:“Except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory.“For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation. …

For this reason, we speak of walking the path of discipleship.We speak of obedience to God’s commandments.We speak of living the gospel joyfully, with all our heart, might, mind, and soul.

And yet for some of us, obedience to God’s commandments doesn't always feel very joyful. Let’s face it: there may be some that seem harder or less appealing—commandments that we approach with the enthusiasm of a child sitting before a plate of healthy but hated vegetables. We grit our teeth and force ourselves to comply so that we can move on to more desirable activities.

Perhaps during times such as these, we might find ourselves asking, “Do we really need to obey all of God’s commandments?” I think God knows something we don’t—things that are beyond our capacity to comprehend! Our Father in Heaven is an eternal being whose experience, wisdom, and intelligence are infinitely greater than ours.4 Not only that, but He is also eternally loving, compassionate, and focused on one blessed goal: to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. In other words, He not only knows what is best for you; He also anxiously wants you to choose what is best for you.

Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren't like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us. So we have a choice. On the one hand, there is the opinion of the world with its ever-changing theories and questionable motives. On the other hand, there is God’s word to His children—His eternal wisdom, His certain promises, and His loving instructions for returning to His presence in glory, love, and majesty.

The choice is yours! You are loved. You are dear to your heavenly parents. The infinite and eternal Creator of light and life knows you! He is mindful of you. Yes, God loves you this very day and always.

He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to Him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer. He knows of the times you have held onto the fading light and believed—even in the midst of growing darkness. He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you have fallen short or failed. And still He loves you.

From Linda K. Burton’s talk “Prepared in a Manner Which had Never Been Known”

SISTER SPOTLIGHT – HOLLY HUNSAKER

The day Holly Hunsaker was born, her mother received a double delightful blessing.   Holly has a twin sister.  Holly (and her sister) were born in Port Jefferson, New York.  She grew up in American Fork with her 5 sisters and 4 brothers.  (Yup, that’s9 siblings!)

When asked who has inspired her, she says it’s her sister, her mother and the Savior.

“My twin, Kristi, always works hard, is happy and emulates Christ.  My mom is the same way.  Christ has inspired me the most.  Through His atonement, I can always have hope and overcome anything.”

Holly met her husband, Aaron, in the singles ward.  They live at 9253 Emerald Lake Cove.  Holly says the best part of the day is “coming home to my husband.”  Some family favorite meals she prepares are quinoa & sweet potato and fajitas.  What is their home decorated in?  She wrote, “wedding pictures.” One thing she has been especially grateful for lately?  “My husband.  He is so patient and kind and loving.”

Holly writes that her proudest or most accomplished moments were graduating from college and serving a mission.  She also says she’s an “expert” at school and emphasizes, “I LOVE learning.”

If Holly is ever feeling down, what music lifts her spirits and makes her heart sing?

“Church music.  No joke.”

Holly currently works for Veil and does asset protection for clients. (temporary)  She also works for Senuw, a health supplement company.  (long-term)

Holly’s hobbies include soccer, singing, piano and working out.  When asked about her favorite vacation, she says it was her mission to Tampa, Florida, Spanish-speaking.

If Holly had a day to herself, that ideal day would be:

“Sleep in, make a nice breakfast, cuddle with my husband, do stuff outside all day, watch movies, etc.”

More of Holly’s favorites:

Saying - “The Kingdom of God…or NOTHING.”

Food – cereal

Color – yellow

Restaurant – and type of Spanish food

Sport – soccer

Exercise – cardio

Holiday – Christmas

When asked if she collects anything, Holly writes:

“I don’t like collecting.  I have no trouble getting rid of things.  I do, however, love church books.”

When it comes to reading, Holly most enjoys the Book of Mormon or self-help books (psychology).

One special goal Holly would like to reach in her life:

“I would like to be more moderate and not react so much when hard things happen.”

How has visiting teaching blessed her life?

“I love getting to know new sisters in the ward.”

If Holly could have one wish?

“Everybody would know and embrace the gospel.”

Holly is a great addition to our ward.  Be sure to watch for her performance in a snappy little musical number at our next Relief Society meeting!  (She’s a firecracker!)

Week of September 28th

UPCOMING CALENDAR ITEMS: 

   

         Oct. 4       General Conference

        Oct. 25     Stake RS Humanitarian Day at the A-Frame building across from the Stake Center 9-12noon.  Come and do some wonderful                                 Humanitarian projects as a stake. (see more info. below)

        Oct. 25     Ward Chili Cook-off at 6:30 pm at our church building 

         Nov. 13    Relief Society Dinner w/ program at 6:30  theme: "Are You Part Of The Inn Crowd Or Part Of The Stable Few"

New Sisters

Welcome to our two new sisters in the ward.

Chevia Nelson  - She and her family live in the Wynn's basement.  They have one daughter, Eloise (1).  Chevia enjoys dancing, sewing and quilting.  She is a dance instructor.

Kylee Street - Kylee and her husband live in Carol Brown's basement.  She is a newlywed.  Kylee is a softball coach at Weber State University.

Stake Humanitarian Project: 

Hello to all sisters in our Stake,

We will be having a Stake Humanitarian Project Open House on Saturday, October 25, 2014 held at the A-Frame building from 9 till Noon.  It will be a wonderful event for you to come and participate in. We will be doing the following projects:

200 Christmas stockings for service men and women.

Foam shapes used in all educational materials

ABC books used in homeless shelters and underfunded schools

Pinking shear dolls-cute!  Toys are always sent with disaster supplies

Small quilts-all hospitals need them

Pillowcases for the homeless shelters

If you would like to donate, the following items would be helpful:

1.       Quilt Batting

2.       Stuffing/fiberfill

3.       Fabric in 1 yard lengths.  (Given to a member of your RS Presidency to be delivered to Kay Johnson by October 10^th). These will be prepared in advance and assembled as quilts for us to tie in our laps. 

4.       Items to fill stockings (we will purchase tissues, toothbrushes, toothpaste and lotion).  Items for donating: guitar picks, harmonica, yo-yo’s, socks, CD’s, DVD’s, games hand sanitizer, deodorant, wet ones, eye drops, sunglasses, shampoo and conditioner, calendar, disposable razors, small flashlight, sunscreen, AT&T calling cards, mechanical pencils, pens, dental floss, non-perishable food items (cookies, candy, gum, granola bars, hard candy, NO Chocolate!,  Also you can send toys for the troops to give to the  children, which will bring  smiles to both!) 

We would love you to bring your own sewing machines, sergers and scissors (labeled with your name so you don’t lose them)

**Just a wee side note:  We have a wonderful stake newsletter on lds.org.  When you sign in choose the newsletter option and then choose the stake not the ward.  You will find wonderful information on it. 

Can’t wait to see you all there!

Sincerely,

Megan Duckworth

Monette Lunt

Katie VanDyke

Barbara Murdoch

Merit Badge Counselors:  The scout leaders are looking for any brothers and sisters in the ward who are interested in becoming merit badge counselors. There is a shortage of counselors in the stake.  See the attached document for the merit badges that are available. You do not need to have a degree in a particular field to be a counselor. You just need to have some expertise and a willingness to work with 12-14 year old boys. For more information or to sign up contact Bro. Rose at frose58@gmail.com or 408-835-3759.

      

Birthdays:

Carol Brown                      Oct. 1

Nichole Edwards               Oct. 1

Lani Vinzant                      Oct. 1

Celeste Wright                  Oct. 2

Kathy Branin                     Oct. 4

Nesha Thomas                 Oct. 9

Stephanie Johnson          Oct. 10

Jessica Hayward             Oct. 16

Virginia Morgan               Oct. 22

Heidi Schmutz                 Oct. 25

  

Vollyeball: Volleyball started on Sept. 18. They will play each Thursday night at 9 pm at the stake center until November 6th and then there will be Regionals.  All interested sisters are encouraged to attend.

Team 4  -  Come and receive your blessings from cleaning the chapel on Sat. Oct. 4 at 9 am. Edwards (Jacob & Nichole), Gonzalez, Greenwood (Brandon & Katie), Hall, Hammer, Harris, Hayward, Hunter, Jacobson, Jones, Macnair, Mecham, Roberts, Thueson, Voeller, Warner (Logan & Lisa)

RS Lessons for the 4^th Sundays (TFOT)

 October - Grateful In Any Circumstances - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Next Sunday's RS Lesson –  JFS Lesson #20 Love and Concern For All Of Our Father's Children