Perfection ... Not Required Overnight.

As I've PREPARED for my Sunday School lesson on
The 2nd Coming,

it's been a little overwhelming.
Yet, as I've PRAYED about it, it's not so much so.

A great comparison to that day is
The Parable of The Ten Virgins
Five were wise and five were foolish.

I've always admired the five that were WISE and READY. I've hoped I would be one of those. However, I've never stopped to realize that their preparation did not happen overnight.

It took a whole lifetime to fill those precious vessels.

They, like all of us, needed TIME ...

TIME to try to do their best everyday. As we do the same, we add another drop of OIL to our precious vessels.

Note before watching:
"The Bridegroom" is representative of The Savior
"The Virgins" represent each of us
"The Wedding" is The 2nd Coming
"The Oil" represents our preparation for the 2nd Coming

“In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps”
-President Spencer W. Kimball

The Battle

Just a little snippet from Sunday School...

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between 2 ‘wolves’ inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealously, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity,guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness,benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather,
“Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied,

“The one you feed.”

Not just for Spiritual Things...

How lucky I feel to live in this small town were my children walk the halls with COACHES and teachers who believe the same things they do.

I so appreciate
COACH CLOWARD for joining us in Sunday School and teaching the kids that revelation is for everyday life... not just spiritual things. The ability to search, ponder and pray, as Joseph did, is something we can all do... in ALL aspects of our lives. Coach left a powerful testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the youth... one that will be a gift to them for all time.

THANKS COACH!

Clue #6

Saturday: This man is TALL. He probably knows your grades and may know what your plans are after high school. He has spoken at many assemblies (with passion). When I read him our Sunday School roll, he knew who YOU were.

Clue #5

Friday: This person works at Grantsville High School. I guarantee if you have not been IN his OFFICE, you have been within 10 feet of it.

Clue #4

Thursday: This person likes cows but prefers pigs. He also likes dirt but loves grass.

Clue #3

Wednesday: This person is MALE and "A GAMER".

Clue #2

TUESDAY: This person is probably in tennis shoes 90% of the time.

Attn: Sunday Schoolers

Hello Sunday Schoolers!

Glad to see you found The Blog.
Let me introduce you to "THE GAME"...

**Note: You will need to put on your "thinking caps".


The Objective:To figure out who will be visiting our classroom THIS Sunday.

The Instructions:
1. Check this blog EVERY DAY.
2. Each day you will find a new clue to help you in your quest to win.
3. The clues will get more detailed as the week goes on.

The Rules:
1. Leave your guesses in the "comment" section found at the bottom of this post.
2. You may guess ONE time every day.
3. Be sure to leave your NAME with your comment.

The Point System:
1. The class will get a point for each GUESS.
2. Guesses will be VOID if there is not a name attached.
3. Points will be given for EVERY correct answer.
4. Extra PointS will be given depending on how EARLY the correct guess comes in.
5. I have invited ALL visitors to this blog to guess with you... their guesses will also earn a point.
6. Points will be given to EVERYONE who reads the lesson this week. You will find what to read from the sticker on the back of your study guide. Leave me a comment if you need more information.
7. All points earned will go toward our "Reward Program". You know, the one where YOU are choosing the next reward (and just so you know, going to Texas Road House for dinner is NOT an option... keep thinking though).

***Note: You have the ability to earn all 70 points needed in this ONE WEEK alone. That's a good goal to work toward... no let's make it a CHALLENGE.

How to win:
1. Look all around for people who match the clues.
2. Guess everyday
3. Remind everyone you see to do the same.
4. Come to class on Sunday.
5. Do NOT be late.
6. Plan to be reverent.

GOOD LUCK!

Here we go...

Monday: YOU (most likely) see this person on most days. This person is, personally, concerned about YOUR future.

It's NEVER hopeless.

Heavenly Father will forgive us for BIG MISTAKES, for He knows ALL things... HISTORY tells us so.

***NOTE: These video's are a continuation of one another. Therefore, watch the top one first and the bottom one to see the end.




If you want to learn more about the things we believe, CLICK HERE

2nd Greatest Event

Each Sunday I am so thankful for the greatest event that ever took place... the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Today I am especially thankful for the 2nd greatest event...

“The appearance of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ to the boy prophet is the greatest event that has occurred in this world

since the resurrection of the Master”

-Elder Ezra Taft Benson

To learn more about this morning more click HERE

One Voice

Today, in Sunday School, we finished up our study of
The Book of Mormon.

We cannot even begin to count the blessings we have received through reading this year. We are so thankful for the examples, both good and bad, which help us know how to return to our Heavenly Father.

However, the end of the book is always bitter-sweet as it ends with the testimony of just ONE VOICE.

Will YOU Choose Strength?

Today in Sunday School we talked about

The ARMOR of God.
We discussed how everyone begins life with ARMOR

but that it becomes strong or weak depending

on how we choose to live our lives

The youth shared such great insight and ideas on how to make their ARMOR stronger. Then each one committed to change something in their lives ... therefore, choosing to "PUT ON STRENGTH" as they started school this week.

As I listened to these youth and watched them commit to be stronger it made me want to be like them. So, before the day is done, I will commit to change something ... will you?
Will you put on

STRONGER ARMOR

with us?

Tender Mercy

What a terrible Saturday ...
Jeff and I spent all day Saturday looking for a new car ... and I (not Jeff, my righteous husband, only "I") also spent all day Saturday struggling with my FOOLISH PRIDE. It's hard to not follow the temptings of the world (and a good salesman) OVER what is good and wise for your family. Toward the end of the day, Jeff turned to me and asked me what I wanted to do. In turn, I grumpily said, "I just want to go home." I couldn't take the struggle with the world anymore. I walked into my home, exhausted, with a splitting headache, a bad attitude and no desire to prepare to teach Sunday School... so I didn't.

What a humble Sunday...
As I awoke on this Sabbath Day, I felt terribly ashamed and prayed for help to teach the 18 faithful teenagers who come to class every single week. The Lord, in his goodness, then stepped in and showed me what it's like to be "IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF IT". The thought came to me to ask the kids what they'd learned over the past few months. As I did, each one shared wonderful insight and testimony as to what each handout, each story and each other meant to them. I stood before them as the STUDENT this day and I witnessed how the Lord uses tiny moments in our lives to show us what is really important ... It is not cars, houses or belongings of any kind ... It is ONLY the difference we make in the lives of others and these youth made a difference in mine today.

What a wonderful Sabbath Day this is ... and oh, the wonderful gift of those "Tender Mercies" the Lord gives us.


P.S. I can't post a picture of each youth in my class... so I will just post my cute Tyson and my cute nephew, Austin. For they are another "Tender Mercy" in my life everyday!

Divine Intervention

Since I have been called to teach Sunday School to the youth in our ward, a strong impression continues coming to my mind and it is this: These youth do not have to KNOW anything for sure right now... it is enough for them to simply BELIEVE... and as they begin to BELIEVE they will come to KNOW the truth of all things.

This impressions seems to end up being the focus of our lessons often and because of that, we've had some great experiences. One happened a few weeks ago. As I was preparing the lesson I had an immediate impression come to me that I should have some visitors come and talk to the youth. I knew, without question, that those visitors should be my brother (Brandon), Anna Parkinson and the head Baseball Coach for GHS (Loren Anderson). Each one readily agreed to come and each one shared a strong testimony of how BELIEF has become KNOWLEDGE in their lives. I wish I could share what power these brothers and sisters brought with them! It was FEAST of The Spirit.

At the last minute, I felt a need to make this video for class that day. I know it was truly made by The Lord... and that I was only used because I had a computer! I hope you will enjoy viewing it!

(Be sure to turn off the music from the play list below so you can hear the music that comes with the video!)