2014 Community Day of Service (Mormon Helping Hands)

On Saturday, April 26th, our church will be participating with many other churches and organizations across the state to serve our communities. Our day of service is two fold. We have been collecting canned and packaged food and putting them in the red bins at church. You can still bring the food to the church this week and on Saturday morning.

We will be meeting at 8am on Saturday, to work on the 2nd part of the project! We will be cleaning up Rose Canyon, so please bring your gardening gloves, shovels and such and help out! The ward will provide water and snacks!

Joseph Fielding Smith Manual Chapter 2: Our Savior, Jesus Christ

Vilate Baron taught the lesson on Sunday from Chapter 2 of the Joseph Field Smith manual, entitled "Our Savior, Jesus Christ." Please take some time to review it, as not everything was covered. Vilate mentioned an interview by Michael Otterson, Managing Director of the Public Affairs Department for the church. He reviews many simple ways we can share the gospel with others and so this may be useful and helpful as we all consider how we can do our part in our are of the Lord's vineyard.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/conversations/42

Hastening the Work through Visiting Teaching

As a Relief Society Presidency, we have thought through themes and things we want to focus on. This year, each month we will study a value from the Young Women Personal Progress values: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Integrity and Virtue. Studying these values will teach us even more about how to be better and as we live these values, we will be able to be even more prepared to help Hasten the Work.  

The Stake this year will focus on the church’s theme of Hastening the Work. Many conference talks have been given encouraging us to be even more involved in missionary work and living the gospel. 

What does that phrase bring to mind when you hear it? What is “the work?”

            More missionaries called to serve

            Focus on church members working hand in hand with the missionaries

            Move to missionary work focused on in ward council

            Sharing the gospel to those that are not members AND to those who are not active.
            Living the gospel in such a way that people want to ask us why we are different.

What part do you think you play, here in San Diego in hastening the work?

            Be open to just talking people about your testimony and what you know is right.

            Visiting those who are less active-through visiting teaching!

            Visiting less active members by having them in your home WITH the missionaries.

"With the confusion17 and commotion18 of today’s world, it’s not surprising that fewer people are attending their places of worship. Although many want to be closer to God and to better understand the purpose of life, they have unanswered questions. Many have hearts open to the truth, but as the prophet Amos described, “they [are running] to and fro [seeking] the word of the Lord, and [cannot] find it.”19 You can help answer their questions. In your everyday conversations you can add to their faith in Christ".20-Elder Neil L. Andersen, April 2013 General Conference

It’s not always those who are not members of our church who are not attending church, who have questions. Many members of our own church, our own ward, who aren’t active feel that way. Maybe even you have felt that way, yet you are here. Visiting Teaching is a perfect opportunity to hasten the work among those who are members of our ward but have for whatever reason, stopped coming and being with us. 

How do we prepare to be a member missionary and for visiting teaching? President Monson, in an address to the priesthood, but is applicable to us as well, said this:

The challenge is to be more profitable servants in the Lord’s vineyard. This applies to all of us, whatever our age, and not alone to those who are preparing to serve as full-time missionaries, for to each of us comes the mandate to share the gospel of Christ.

May I suggest a formula that will ensure our success: first, search the scriptures with diligence; second, plan your life with purpose (and, I might add, plan your life regardless of your age); third, teach the truth with testimony; and fourth, serve the Lord with love.-President Monson, April 2013 General Conference

The Purpose of Visiting Teaching is to Minister.

Have you ever thought about how member missionary work coordinates well with visiting teaching?

The Purpose of Visiting Teaching Is to Minister

How do we minister?

•                Pray daily for [the sister you visit] and her family.

•                Seek inspiration to know her and her family.

•                Visit her regularly to learn how she is doing and to comfort and strengthen her.

•                Stay in frequent contact through visits, phone calls, letters, e-mail, text messages, and simple acts of kindness.

•                Greet her at Church meetings.

•                Help her when she has an emergency, illness, or other urgent need.

•                Teach her the gospel from the scriptures and the visiting teaching messages.

•                Inspire her by setting a good example.
(See “How Visiting Teachers Love, Watch Over, and Strengthen a Sister,” in Daughters in My Kingdom, page 123.)

“The purpose of ministering is to help others become true followers of Jesus Christ. Ministering to others includes:

•                Remembering their names and becoming acquainted with them (see Moroni 6:4).

•                Loving them without judging them (see John 13:34–35).

•                Watching over them and strengthening their faith 'one by one,' as the Savior did (3 Nephi 11:15; 17:21).

•                Establishing sincere friendship with them and visiting them in their homes and elsewhere (see D&C 20:47)” (Handbook 2, 3.2.3).

We will know we are successful in our ministry as visiting teachers when the sisters we visit can say:

•                My visiting teacher helps me grow spiritually.

•                I know that my visiting teacher cares deeply about me and my family.

•                If I have problems, I know my visiting teacher will take action without waiting to be invited.

As we do these things, we are accomplishing the purposes of Relief Society to:

•                Increase faith and personal righteousness.

“Visiting teachers sincerely come to know and love each sister, help her strengthen her faith, and give service. They seek personal inspiration to know how to respond to the spiritual and temporal needs of each sister they are assigned to visit. …

“When appropriate, visiting teachers share a gospel message. These messages may be from the monthly visiting teaching message … and the scriptures” (Handbook 2, 9.5.1).

"And their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer” (Moroni 6:4).

•                Strengthen families and homes.

“Strengthening families is the focus of inspired Church programs such as home teaching (see D&C 20:47, 51), visiting teaching, and family home evening. As in all things, Jesus set the example of entering homes to minister, teach, and bless” (Handbook 2, 1.4.1).

“Many members do not have faithful Melchizedek Priesthood holders in their homes. Church leaders should give special attention to loving and supporting these members through inspired, watchful care, including home teaching and visiting teaching” (Handbook 2, 2.3).

•                Help those in need.

“Assistance with spiritual and temporal welfare often begins with home teachers and visiting teachers. In a spirit of kindness and friendship that goes beyond monthly visits, home teachers and visiting teachers help individuals and families in need. They report the needs of those they serve to their priesthood leaders or Relief Society leaders” (Handbook 2, 6.2.4).

“[The Lord’s storehouse] includes Church members’ offerings of time, talents, compassion, materials, and financial means that are made available to the bishop to help care for the poor and needy. The Lord’s storehouse, then, exists in each ward” (Handbook 2, 6.1.3).

President Joseph F. Smith, the sixth President of the Church, said of an experience, “Never before had I seen so clearly exemplified the utility and beauty of this grand organization as in the example we here witnessed, and I thought what a gracious thing it was that the Lord inspired the Prophet Joseph Smith to establish such an organization in the Church.”

The Time to act is now. The Lord is Hastening HIS work. We may not be able to reach all those who are not members of our church, but through Visiting Teaching we can reach those in our ward who need to hear the gospel again. This year, the goal is for all the sisters in our ward to have visiting teachers. That means we all have a part to play in the Lord's work, to reach out and contact those who are not with us at church. 

"We are all in this together. With fellow ward members and missionaries, we plan and pray and help one another. Please keep the full-time missionaries in your thoughts and prayers. Trust them with your family and friends. The Lord trusts them and has called them to teach and bless those who seek Him..Pray to your Heavenly Father. This is His sacred work. He will guide you in what to do. He will open doors, remove roadblocks, and help you overcome obstacles. The Lord declared, “The voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, … and none shall stay them.”32.-Elder Neil L. Andersen, April 2013 General Conference

Thanksgiving done right!

Our Thanksgiving activity had so many good dishes and included some demonstrations that many of you wanted the recipes to. Thank you to Sister Brown for her pie demonstration and to Sister Deem and Sister McIntyre for doing the turkey's.

Marilyn Brown’s Thanksgiving Pie Recipes 

November 2013

Pie Crust*

2 ½ C.  (300 gm.) all-purpose flour

1 C. (two sticks) unsalted butter

2 T. sugar

1 tsp. salt

½ C. ice water

½ tsp. white vinegar

Slice butter into quarter-inch pieces and put in freezer for fifteen minutes.   Sift flour and sugar together or pulse in food-processor.  Stir salt, ice water and vinegar together in a liquid measuring cup.

Cut butter into flour mixture using your machine or by hand with a pastry blender until butter is size of large peas.  Stir or pulse liquid in slowly and minimally, until dough is moist but not sticky.  Add a little more water if necessary. 

Turn dough out on kneading board and shape it into a disk.  Wrap in plastic and store in fridge overnight or at least four hours.  When it’s time to make a pie, cut disk in two pieces, one larger and one smaller, and roll out for crusts.  Put bottom crust into chilled pie pan and refrigerate while you make the filling and roll out the top crust.

*Recipe from The Secrets of Baking (Houghton Mifflin, 2003) by Sherry Yard.

Cranberry Pie*

12 oz. package firm, fresh cranberries (about 3 ½ C)

2 large cooking apples or pears

1 C. chopped walnuts

1 C. sugar

1-2 T. thickener (corn starch, arrowroot powder, tapioca, flour, etc.)

½ C. raisins or dried currants

Zest and juice from one orange

3 T. melted butter

½ tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 400 °.   Grind or chop cranberries coarsely.  Put in large mixing bowl, add sugar, and stir.  Peel and core apples or pears and chop finely.  Add along with nuts and raisins to cranberry mixture.  Mix thickener in orange juice and add with remaining ingredients to mixture.  Pour into prepared pie pan (Note:  this makes a large pie.  Use a 10” or a deep-dish pie plate to keep it from running over.) 

Roll out top crust, either lattice or one-piece, and cover pie.  Trim edges and crimp.  Brush top with mixture of egg yolk and 1 T. milk and sprinkle sugar on if desired.  Cover edges with tin foil strips to keep from burning and put in oven on rack in lower part (but not bottom rack).  Bake one hour plus, until it starts to bubble in the center.  Check pie as it cooks.  When top is browned enough, (about 40 minutes in m oven) set a piece of tinfoil on top to keep it from getting too dark, and remove tinfoil strips around edges.  Serve with vanilla ice cream or plain cream.

*Recipe from Time-Life New England Cookbook  (1970)

Homemade Green-Tomato Mincemeat*

7 C. water

8 C. sugar

8 lbs. cooking apples

5 lbs. green tomatoes

1 T. ground cloves

4 T. cinnamon

1 lb. raisins

Combine sugar and water in a large heavy pan (at least eight-quart) and bring to a boil.  Turn off when sugar is dissolved.  Peel and quarter apples.  Quarter tomatoes and cut out any hard parts.  Chop apples and tomatoes in food processor until finely chopped.  Chop raisins coarsely.  Add to sugar syrup along with remaining ingredients.  Simmer until tender—at least 45 minutes, stirring every few minutes.  Then add 1 C. vinegar, 1 lb. butter  (I leave this out and add 1/4^th C. melted butter to filling when I bake the pie), 1 tsp. salt. 

Ladle into properly prepared quart canning jars while still simmering and process in boiling water bath for twenty minutes.  Makes 6-7 quarts.  (Note:  I double this recipe and cook it in my 13-quart Le Creuset pan.)  This is a five-year supply for us.

To make a pie, pour a quart of mincemeat into a pie dish with bottom crust.  Stir in 2-3 tsp. thickener of choice.  Optional additions are orange or lemon zest and melted butter.  Top with a whole or lattice crust.  Bake at 375 ° about 45 minutes until crust is lightly browned and center is bubbling.

* I got this recipe at a family reunion 25 years ago from an elderly relative who brought this pie.  I’ve since seen a similar recipe in a pioneer cookbook.  It reflects the frugality or our pioneer foremothers, who would have picked the green tomatoes the day before the first killing frost and used windfall apples.

Turkey
Tips: 
http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t-56-/turkey-tips.asp


Recipe Lisa has used (Ina Garten's recipe)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/perfect-roast-turkey-recipe4/index.html
Total Time: 3 hr 20 min
Prep 30 min
Inactive 20 min
Cook 2 hr 30 min
Yield: 8 servings
Level: Intermediate

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/perfect-roast-turkey-recipe4/index.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 fresh turkey (10 to 12 pounds)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch fresh thyme
1 whole lemon, halved
1 Spanish onion, quartered
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the zest and juice of the lemon and 1 teaspoon of thyme leaves to the butter mixture. Set aside.

Take the giblets out of the turkey and wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, halved lemon, quartered onion, and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey.

Roast the turkey about 2 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil; let rest for 20 minutes.

Slice the turkey and serve.

2013 Lesson Schedule

We must CHERISH one another, WATCH OVER one another, COMFORT one another and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together.   

                                                                                                           --Lucy Mack Smith



This year we will be studying from Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow.

JAN 6  RS Presidency Cherish one another
JAN 13  Lorenzo Snow Chapter 1: Learning by Faith
JAN 20   STAKE CONFERENCE
JAN 27   Blessings of the Sacrament by Elder Clarke

FEB 3  RS Presidency
FEB 10 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 3: Life Long Conversion
FEB 17  Lorenzo Snow Chapter 4:Strengthened by the Power of the Holy Ghost
FEB 24  Converted unto the Lord by Elder Bednar

MAR. 3 RS Presidency
MAR. 10 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 5: The Grand Destiny of the Faithful
MAR. 17 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 6: Becoming Perfect before the Lord
MAR. 24  The Joy of Redeeming the Dead by Elder Scott
MAR 31  Combined TBA

APRIL 7 General Conference
APRIL 14 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 7: Faithfulness in the time of trial
APRIL 21 Lorenzo Snow "Search me oh God and Know my....
APRIL 28 See Others as They May Become by President Monson

MAY 5  RS Presidency
MAY 12 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 9: Sacred Family Relationships
MAY 19  Lorenzo Snow Chapter 10: Come into Temples
MAY 26  TBA


JUNE 2 RS Presidency
JUNE 9 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 11: "I seek not my own will, but the
JUNE 16  Stake Conference
JUNE 23 TBA
JUNE 30 Combined

JULY 7 RS Presidency
JULY 14 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 13: Relief Society True Charity
JULY 21 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 14: With God All Things Are Possible
JULY 28  TBA

AUG 4 RS Presidency
AUG 11 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 15: Faithful, Energetic Service in the Kingdom of God
AUG 18 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 16: That We May Become One
AUG 25 TBA

SEPT 1 RS Presidency
SEPT 8  Lorenzo Snow Chapter 17: Priesthood for the Salvation of the Human Family
SEPT 15 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 18: Church Leadership and Selfless Service
SEPT 22 TBA
SEPT 29 Combined

OCT 6  Gen Conf.
OCT 13 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 19: Missionary Work
OCT 20 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 20: The Kingdom of God Moves Forward
OCT 27 TBA

NOV 3 RS Presidency
NOV 10 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 21: Loving God More Than We Love the World
NOV 17 Lorenzo Snow Chapter 22: Doing Good to Others
NOV 24 "Continuously Holding Fast" Elder Hamilton, October 2013 Conference,

DEC 1 RS Presidency
DEC 8 Chapter 23: The Prophet Joseph Smith
DEC 15 Chapter 24: Reflections on the Mission of Jesus Christ
DEC 22 TBA
DEC 29 Combined

Super Saturday Schedule

9 am. Welcome to Super Saturday! – at our building

Drop off any items for the exchange table in cultural hall and any contributions to brunch in the kitchen on way to the RS room. We’ll have opening exercises followed by Ashleigh Tanner & Alicia Gettys teaching us fabulous friendship skills and how to network in a positive way.

10:10 Dollar Divas – Young Women’s Room

Sister Gandola is putting on a game show with a number of displays. Who knew stretching a dollar could be so much fun?

11:00 Brunch - Primary Room

Come join us for a lovely meal. Diedra is making quiche!

11:45 Timely Teaching – Relief Society Room

Institute Director, Mathew Mackay is training us how to teach the gospel. Come ready to take notes.

10:00-1:15 Enjoy a variety of activities in the cultural hall

Family History

Brother Jardine will be there to assist you with your genealogy questions. If you’d like to work on your ‘Fan Chart’ make sure you can log into family search. https://familysearch.org/.

Exchange table

Bring useable items that are cluttering up your closets and cupboards. If you see something you could use, take it home with you. Anything remaining after 1pm will go to Deseret Industries.

Crafts

Those who haven’t paid for their craft kits need to bring $ for the craft materials.

Idea Jars

What’s Next? – $5.20

Fun, simple, affordable developmental activities for toddlers & preschoolers. Great for families with busy little ones at home.

I’m Bored! – $5.30

Summertime boredom buster activities for school age children. Easy and affordable ways to build memories during those long summer days.

It’s a Date! –$5.50

Bring variety and creativity to date night. This jar full of fun date ideas make a cute wedding or anniversary present.

Custom Coasters

Create coasters to match your personal style. Choose from fun designs provided or bring your own scrapbook paper to match your décor. Why pay high prices for fun coasters?

Coaster Kit, paper included – $2.25

Coaster Kit, bring your own paper – $2.00

Super Saturday!!

Super Saturday

23^rd June 9am

Join us for relevant classes, useful crafts, sisterhood….. and a tasty brunch.

Sign-up at the kitchen window before or after Relief Society on Sunday 27 May –3 June –10 June

Classes

Fabulous Friends

Strengthen and expand your social circle. Ashleigh Tanner & Alicia Gettys teach us how to communicate better, connect with others without judging, break boundaries, and quickly make friends.

Timely Teaching

Are you lost for words when those “Gospel Teaching Moments” come your way? Mathew Mackay (UCSD Institute Director) teaches us how to make teaching the Gospel part of everyday life.Dollar Divas

Shop, decorate, and enjoy San Diego on a budget. Learn tips and tricks for stretching your dollar without extreme-couponing.

On-Going Activities in the Cultural Hall

Family History – Isn’t it about time?

Family History walk-in clinic with Brother Jardine.

In preparation for our upcoming event this Saturday, we remind you that there will be an option to speak with a representative about the basics of family history research and maybe print a "Fan Chart".  If you wish to participate or ask questions, please make sure that you can sign in on the church website.  You can assure yourselves that you have the correct information by doing the following:

First, go to the website:  https://familysearch.org/. 

Second, in the right-hand top corner of the page, click on Sign In.  Then, if you have an account, please sign in using your User Name and Password for FamilySearch.  If you do not have an account, please click on Create New Account, then LDS FamilySearch Account, then follow the instructions—you will need your Membership Record Number, which you can obtain from the back of your current temple recommend or from our ward clerk, Jonathan Claussen.  Please email him at Jonathan.Claussen@gmail.com.  

Third, bring your Username and Password to the Super Saturday activity.

Useful crafts - Make something for yourself or as a gift.

Idea Jars

What’s Next? – Fun, simple, affordable developmental activities for toddlers and preschoolers.

I’m Bored! – Summertime boredom buster activities for school age children.

It’s a Date! – Bring variety and creativity to date night.

Custom Coasters –Create coasters to match your personal style. Choose from fun designs provided or bring your own scrapbook paper to match your décor.

Exchange Table –One sister’s junk is another sister’s treasure

Bring new or gently used items you don’t need. Clean out your closets of extra clothes and your cupboards of household items. Take what you need. Anything left over goes to DI.

Food!

Brunch - Let us know you’re coming so we can save you a seat. *If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions inform Sister Malmstrom by June 5^th so we can accommodate your needs.

Visiting Teaching- Readers Choice

This month for Visiting Teaching, we get to choose a message to share from the April General Conference. What talks and messages stood out to you that you shared with your sisters?

The Blessings of Relief Society

Lately, I have been thinking about the organization of Relief Society and what a blessing it is in my life. My husband and I recently had the opportunity to go to an event that was hosted at a church of another religion, it took place on a Sunday for their church sermon. I really enjoyed the experience, the people were very kind and outgoing. They had a new building that was very large and had everything you could want. However, afterwards it struck me that there was no organization for the women of the church to gather together and strengthen one another. From what I could see, all the members came and listened to the sermon then would go back to their lives. There was no organization that would notice if someone was missing (the congregation was so large, you might not even notice), or if there were needs of the members that needed to be addressed. I am sure that they socialize on their own, and reach out to one another, but Relief Society is much more than that.

A couple weeks ago I missed church because I had gotten food poisoning and I received calls from multiple sisters in the ward asking if I needed anything from them. My Husband went to church solo and he said that other sisters approached him and asked the same thing. It was just 3 hours on one day of the week, but they noticed I was missing and immediately volunteered to help.

I was looking through conference talks from last month and I think because of my recent experiences this one stuck out to me: The Vision of Prophets regarding Relief Society: Faith, Family, Relief by Julie B. Beck. In it she talked about several things, including-

• It is clear that the purposes of Relief Society are to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need.
• When the Prophet Joseph Smithestablished Relief Society, he directed its first president to “preside over this society, in taking care of the poor—administering to their wants, and attending to the various affairs of this institution.”⁵ He envisioned the organization as “a select society, separate from all the evils of the world.”
• President Joseph Fielding Smith told the sisters that they had “been given power and authority to do a great many things.”⁹ He said, “You are members of the greatest women’s organization in the world, an organization which is a vital part of the kingdom of God on [the] earth and which is so designed and operated that it helps its faithful members to gain eternal life in our Father’s kingdom.”¹⁰
• Relief Society is not a program. It is an official part of the Lord’s Church that is “divinely ordained of God” to teach, strengthen, and inspire sisters in their purpose regarding faith, family, and relief. Relief Society is a way of life for Latter-day Saint women, and its influence extends far beyond a Sunday class or a social gathering.
• The sociality, friendship, and unity we desire will be the sweet results of serving together with the Lord in His work.
• As sisters become more aligned with the purposes of Relief Society, the vision of the prophets will be fulfilled. President Kimball said, “There is a power in this organization [of Relief Society] that has not yet been fully exercised to strengthen the homes of Zion and build the Kingdom of God—nor will it until both the sisters and the priesthood catch the vision of Relief Society.”²⁵ He prophesied that“much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often … an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church … are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.”²⁶

I am so grateful to be a part of the UC First Ward Relief Society. When my husband and I first moved in to the ward last fall, the members were so outgoing and welcoming. I had called my sister and was telling her how the new place we had moved was so great, and I had loved all the people here. She assumed I was talking about the neighbors in my complex and started asking about them. I responded that all the wonderful people I was referring to were the members in the ward. Come to find out, half of them had just moved in to the ward and were just as new as I was.

As we head in to the summer and approach the annual turnover I hear the ward has, may we reach out to the new sisters and make them feel as welcomed as I have felt in the UC First Ward Relief Society.