Presents of Peace

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by kevinthoule 10/15/05

My Christmas budget has been spent and now it's time to get creative! I wanted a few gifts that will help our souls grow and be spiritually meaningful... so dear hubby if you're reading this, time to click off and not spoil some surprises!

All these gifts are based on scriptures.

* 1 Nephi 19:23 "And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning."

Take a small brown paper bag and put a nice bow. Fill it with papers with scriptures on one side and then moments that this scripture has reminded you of the person on the other.

For example: 1 Nephi 3:7 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" Then on the next side, "My dad setting up hundreds of chairs as Elder's Quorum president week after week all by himself. It seemed impossible but you always did it without complaining."

* Mosiah 2: 17 "When ye are in the service of others, ye are only in the service of your God."

Make a list of community volunteer opportunities. You can search newspapers, craigslist, the yellow pages, go to the library or schools and ask... google is always great. :) Print out this wonderful talk given at the last general conference. (What have I Done for Someone Today? President Monson) Attach both together and roll up like a scroll. Put a nice ribbon. Take about 10 index cards and make them a little fancier... whether it be stickers or whatever. On the top of the index cards put What Have I Done for Someone Today?

This gift is different. It encourages one to have wonderful experiences, then record it on the index cards to put in a journal or just reflect on. I know I love to help out but don't always have the knowledge of what needs to be done or how to help... maybe others think the same way and this could be a meaningful gift!

* D&C 59:5 "Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him."

How many of us take the time to review and ponder what we did good that day? Take this scripture and write it on a white board in permanent marker. Underneath (again, in permanent marker) write the question: What did I do today to fulfill this commandment? Boards and dry erase markers can be found at the dollar store or target dollar section.

* Mosiah 4:27 "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order."

Spray paint an old shoe gold. Fill the shoe with your favorite quotes on hope, perseverance, and endurance. Give a little note card explaining:

When you're feeling tired
Worn out from the day,
When the race seems heavy
Don't fear or dismay!
Reach inside this shoe,
Golden truth will restore
A smile to your face
and love forever more!
poem by Sofia

* Ether 12: 27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weaknesses. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Teach a talent or one of your strengths to someone you love. For example, my hubby doesn't know how to play the piano or read music, so I'm going to plan on teaching him this upcoming year. And to my Hubster, if you happen to be spoiling your surprise and reading this I would like you to please teach me how to play all those Bob Marley songs on the guitar. It will be music dates.

* Alma 34:32 "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."

Buy or make a 2010 year calendar. For each day write a scripture for the person to look up or a service challenge. Have a theme for each month... for example Hope. Use the topical guide and plan away precious time.

2009 LDS Christmas Family Devotional Ideas

This year we will have the letters CHRISTMAS hanging on a small Christmas tree. For each letter is a Christ centered quality and attribute we can learn about and follow. Once a devotional is done, I will let the girls replace the letter with the picture from the devotional on the tree. (Pictures to come soon!)

I just want to take the opportunity to bear testimony that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. Because He was born, because He lived His life perfectly and then atoned for you and I... we can have happiness! We can have peace and return to Him again after doing our very best. I love Christmas time. I love everyday of life.

I pray that my daughters can learn early through the teaching of the Holy Ghost who Christ is. I pray that my son can be proud of his mommy who adores him and does everything she can to return to him and make sure our family is eternal. I pray that Heavenly Father may know that I consider it a privilege to be able to bow before Him and confess Him as my God and His Son, Jesus Christ, as my Savior and Redeemer.

I hope these can help you and your beautiful families in any way shape or form! Merry Merry Christmas!!

"C" For Charity

Gospel Art Book Jesus Carrying a Lost Lamb

Scripture: Moroni 7:45-47 "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever ; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."

Scripture: John 10:11-15 "I am the good shepherd : the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Activity: Find, then be kind! Hide a bunch of stuffed animals around the house. These are like our Father's lost sheep. We must find, then be kind to them! Name something kind you can do for people as you find the stuffed animals.

Song: Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd (Hymns pg. 221)

Bear Testimony

Additional Activity: From what the children have come up with, as far as kindness ideas, choose one idea and then go do!
**Although, I'm kind of tempted to go as a family to a busy intersection with signs like "Have a nice day" and big smiley faces**

"H" For Happiness

Gospel Art Book Jesus Blesses the Nephite Children

Question: What do you think makes our Savior happy?

Scripture: 3 Nephi 17:5-25 (Jesus heals and blesses Nephite children)
Emphasize verse 20 "And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full."

Song: (Adaptation from Donovan Leitch that we used to sing at girl's camp)
Happiness runs in a circular motion
Life is like a little boat upon the sea
Everybody is a part of everyone, anyways
You can be happy if you let yourself be.

Activity: Your boat is your couch. Dump a bunch of balloons on the ground and have fun! While you are playing, write things you are happy about on the balloons with marker.

Scripture: Mosiah 2:41 "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

Bear Testimony

"R" For Reverence

Christus, by Bertel Thorvaldsen Replicas found in Temple Visitor Centers

Song: I Love to See the Temple (CS pg. 95)

Activity: I SPY Temple game. Get out 4 or 5 different temple pictures. Take turns saying phrases like "I spy a temple with Jesus and the 12 apostle carved on the front". What temple is that? The Oakland, CA temple!! or "I spy a temple with 6 very tall spires." What temple is that? The Las Vegas, NV temple!!

Question: What is it like at the temple?
What are some feelings you would have if people were NOT being reverent at the temple?

Scripture: John 2:13-16 "And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise."

Activity: I SPY Reverence game. Everyone shows how to be reverent and take turn saying things you spy. For example, "I spy Maria folding her arms." or "I spy Christina being a really good listener." or "I spy daddy kneeling for prayer."

Bear Testimony

"I" for Intelligence

Gospel Art Book Boy Jesus in the Temple

We will do this activity at the local library aka heaven on earth.

Scripture: Luke 2:40-52 The story of Jesus teaching in the temple.

Question: How do we increase in wisdom?

Scripture: D&C 93:36 "The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth."

Activity: Blissfully roam around the library and gather a few books. Sit down at a table (in the children's section for us) and open up your books. Read. Look at pictures. Share and learn. Enjoy knowledge and grow in intelligence!! Hold up a copy of the scriptures to end with. What was Christ doing in the temple? Teaching His Father's word. So of all things we should study, what is most important? Our scriptures!!

Bear Testimony

"S" For Service

Christ Reasoning with Peter, by Giotto di Bondone (Italian Painter from the late Middle Ages)

Song: I'm Trying to Be like Jesus (CS pg. 78-79)

Activity: Have some footprints making a path around the house to the picture of Christ washing His disciples feet. Have the picture covered so it will be a surprise. To get to the picture, a family member will have to say something related to service, whether it be a scripture, a way to serve or song they can think of on each footprint.

Scripture: John 13:4-15 (Story of Christ washing His disciples feet)
Emphasize verse 15 "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."

Activity: Further explore the concept of service by having a special desert. Everyone will work together to help out. Have strips of paper with things like "Please put on table cloth.", "Please put plates on the table.", "Please light the candle." etc. in a can and let each family member draw one strip to see what they can do. This is what our family is going to indulge in! I wonder who will pull the "Please put on whip cream."... Hopefully it's my 2 year old!!

Bear Testimony

"T" for "Thirst no More"

For legal purposes (and personal integrity) I attribute this image to Living Water International www.water.cc I do not endorse them, I only put the web address because those are the conditions to be able to use this beautiful photo. Woah. Mouthful. :)

Scripture: D&C 63:23 "But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.

Story: “The Woman at the Well,” Friend, Mar 2001, 8 found here.

Activity: Construct our own mini-well, instructions found here. Gather supplies for an additional well to give to a family with young children in your ward.

Questions: Our bodies thirst for water, what do our spirits thirst for?
What do we do to get the water Christ spoke of to the woman at the well in our lives?

Bear Testimony

Activity: Go as a family to give the well materials to another family of your choice. Print out instructions for them as "well" as this poem (by yours truly):

Our Heavenly King and Father
Sent down His precious Son
The source of all joy and truth
Eternal life begun.

Each and every day
Christmas time or not
The living water flows
And is not to be forgot.

Our well is filled and topped
with love up to the brim.
Happy Holidays and memories!
All glory to be to Him!

"M" for Miracles

Scripture: We will read “Christ’s Ministry and Miracles,” Ensign, Jan 2007, 40–45 found here as a family.

Activity: Make a large block letter M on a piece of paper. As a family come up with as many miracles you can think of that have happened to your family. Write them down on the M. Say a prayer of thanks for all the many miracles in our lives. Hang the M up somewhere to be seen often.

Question: What was the greatest miracle of all times?

Song: Did Jesus Really Live Again? (CS pg.64)

Bear Testimony

"A" for Atonement

"This window in St Michael's Cornhill in London depicts Christ agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and the soldiers, led by Judas the betrayer, coming to arrest Him." Image Courtesy Creative Commons license on flickr.com by Lawrence OP April 9, 2009

Scripture: Isaiah 49:16 "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

Song: God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son (Hymns pg. 187 Verses 1-3)

Quote: "Jesus Christ was appointed to be our Redeemer before the world was formed. With His divine Sonship, His sinless life, the shedding of His blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, His [painful] death on the cross and Resurrection from the grave, He became the author of our salvation and made a perfect Atonement for all mankind.

Some years ago, President Gordon B. Hinckley told “something of a parable” about “a one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough no teacher had been able to handle them.

“Then one day an inexperienced young teacher applied. He was told that every teacher had received an awful beating, but the teacher accepted the risk. The first day of school, the teacher asked the boys to establish their own rules and the penalty for breaking the rules. The class came up with ten rules, which were written on the blackboard. Then the teacher asked, ‘What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’

“ ‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response.

“A day or so later, the lunch of a big student, named Tom, was stolen. The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old.

“As little Jim came up to take his licking, he pleaded to keep his coat on. ‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’

“The boy took off the coat. He had no shirt and revealed a bony little crippled body. As the teacher hesitated with the rod, big Tom jumped to his feet and volunteered to take the boy’s licking.

“ ‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’ the teacher asked.

“After five strokes across Tom’s back, the rod broke. The class was sobbing. Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. ‘Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!’ ”

President Hinckley then quoted Isaiah:

“ ‘Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. …

“ ‘He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our [sins].’ ” (Isa. 53:4–5.)

No man knows the full weight of what our Savior bore. His [deep] suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He took upon Himself all the sins of all other mortals, caused Him “to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit” (D&C 19:18).

**(See below) The Atonement and the Resurrection accomplish many things. The Atonement cleanses us of sin on condition of our repentance. Christ’s resurrection gave us the assurance of life after death.

Our Redeemer took upon Himself all the sins, pains, and sicknesses of all who have ever lived and will ever live (see Alma 7:11–12). He knows our trials by firsthand experience.

Because the Savior has suffered anything and everything that we could ever feel or experience, He can help the weak to become stronger. He understands our pain and will walk with us even in our darkest hours.

We long for the ultimate blessing of the Atonement—to become one with Him, to be in His divine presence, to be called individually by name as He warmly welcomes us home with a radiant smile, beckoning us with open arms to be enfolded in His boundless love (see Alma 26:15; Morm. 5:11; Morm. 6:17; Moses 7:63)." (James E. Faust, “Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice: The Savior’s Atonement,” Friend, Mar 2002, 2)

** Display GAK pictures 227, 230, 239

Activity: Trace each family members hands. We know what Christ did with His hands for us. Now what can we use our hands to do for our Savior. Write down ideas or draw a picture inside the handprint. Cut it out, then glue on a nice square of Christmas scrapbook paper. Add a bow on top.

Bear Testimony

"S" for Sacrifice

GAK 244 Christ and the Rich Young Ruler

(You will need to spend some time with your family making some cookies beforehand... and don't eat any!!)

Song: I Stand All Amazed (Hymns pg. 193)

Scripture Story: "A rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked what he should do to have eternal life. Jesus told the man that he must obey the commandments. When the rich young man said that he had been obedient to the laws of God, Jesus said the man needed to do one more thing. He needed to sell all he had, give to the poor, and follow Jesus. The rich young man was very sad. He did not want to do what Jesus told him to do. He loved his riches more than he loved God." (Summary GAK 244 Matthew 19:16-24; Mark 10:17-25; Luke 18:18-25)

Question: How was this young man different from Christ? What did Jesus sacrifice for us?

Scripture: Alma 34:13-14 ''Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away. And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal."

Demonstration: "To sacrifice is to give up something valuable or precious, often with the intent of accomplishing a greater purpose or goal." (Gospel Topics) Set out the plate of cookies you baked. Offer your family the choice to eat the cookies or sacrifice their portion to a neighbor. Will this make your neighbors happy?

Quote: " Sacrifice is a demonstration of pure love. The degree of our love for the Lord, for the gospel, and for our fellowman can be measured by what we are willing to sacrifice for them. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ manifested the supreme example of this love. His life and ministry established a pattern for us to follow. His divine mission was culminated in a supreme act of love as He allowed His life to be sacrificed for us. Having power over life and death, He chose to submit himself to pain, ridicule, and suffering, and offered His life as a ransom for our sins. Because of His love, He suffered both body and spirit to a degree beyond our comprehension and took upon Himself our sins if we repent. Through His personal sacrifice, He provided a way for us to have our sins forgiven and, through Him, to find our way back into the presence of our Heavenly Father.

The sacrifice he requires of us is “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Ne. 9:20) that can lead us to repentance. When we consider His example, the demands made upon our time or means are slight in comparison. We should, therefore, give gladly and count it as a blessing and an opportunity." (M. Russell Ballard, “The Blessings of Sacrifice,” Ensign, May 1992, 75)

Bear Testimony