Lesson Recap

     This week's lesson was the October 2014 General Conference talk by Jorg Klebingat titled "Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence."
Sister Nicole Couch taught this lesson and encouraged us to go home and re-read/listen to this talk as there is a lot of wonderful information to help us contained in it.
     Elder Klebingat begins by asking us to rate on a scale of 1 to 10 how comfortable we would be right now in God's presence. He then warns us, "Whenever the adversary cannot persuade imperfect yet striving Saints such a you to abandon your belief in a personal loving God, he employs a vicious campaign to put as much distance as possible between you and God. . . [Satan] will tell you lies- lies that Heavenly Father is disappointed in you, that the Atonement is beyond your reach, that there is no point in even trying, that everyone else is better than you, that you are unworthy, and a thousand variations of that same evil theme."
     We must remember that Satan = Lies, and God = Love.
He gives us 6 suggestions that will dissipate these evil voices and bring back spiritual peace and confidence into our lives.
     1. Take responsibility for our own spiritual well-being
     2. Take responsibility for out own physical well-being
     3. Embrace voluntary, wholehearted obedience as part
         of your life.
     4. Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly
         and quickly
     5. Become really, really good at forgiving
     6. Accept trials. setbacks, and "surprises" as part of your
         mortal experience.

 

Weekday Meeting

Our weekday meeting this coming month is May 21st. Brother Jed Lewis will be teaching us  about personal safety and how we can be more aware and what to do in certain situations. All the young women ages 12-18 are also invited so if you have a daughter that age bring her with you. Put his night on your calendars.

Temple Trip

This is a reminder to contact Rick Evans if you want to go on the temple trip May 9th. We will be taking a bus to the Logan Temple. We plan on leaving at 6 a.m. and should be back around 4 p.m. The plan is to do a session, have lunch, and then do another session before heading home. There is a cost to help pay for the bus which is $15.00 per person.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday this week to these wonderful sisters:

Rachelle Shively - April 27th
Katy Herndon - April 27th
Krishaun Player - April 29th
Kaylyn Carson - April 29th
Marjorie Nulph - May 1st

Ward Variety Show

Come have a good time Saturday at the Ward Variety Show.

Stake Fireside for the Family

This week the Missionaries in the Stake are putting on a fireside for the whole family. Everyone is invited.

Lesson Recap

Sister Krishaun Player taught out lesson Sunday. It was lesson #7 on Joseph Smith.
     "When God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ come to earth, as they did in 1820 when they appeared to the young boy prophet, Joseph Smith, it is not something that concerns only a handful of people. It is a message and a revelation intended for all of our Father's children living on the face of the earth. It was the greatest event that has ever happened in this world since the resurrection of the Master. Sometimes I think we are so close to it that we don't fully appreciate its significance and importance and the magnitude of it.
     The first vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith is bedrock theology of the Church."
      Read again the story of the first vision, read about his life. Come to know him once again for . . ."Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God, one of the truly great prophets of all time, an man of destiny, a man of character, a man of courage, a man of deep spirituality, a God like prophet of the Lord, a truly noble and great one of all time."
     She also showed us the following Mormon Message.

https://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#testimony-of-the-book-of-mormon
      

Temple Trip

Remember to sign up for the temple trip which is coming up on May 9th. There will be a bus leaving at 6 a.m. We will travel to the Logan, Utah temple. The plan is to do an endowment session, have lunch, and do another endowment session. We should be back around 4 p.m. The cost is $15 per person to pay for the bus. You will also need to pay for your own lunch. Sign up next Sunday. If you have any questions contact Rick Evans.

Welcome to the Ward

We want to welcome Josh and Maryann Gundersen and their family to the Shelley 1st ward. They are living next to Brent and Brandi Timm.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday this week to these marvelous sisters:
Kat Dobie - 20th
Kally Cook - 21st
Kim Kolsen - 23rd
Elaine Hamilton - 25th
Vickie High - 26th

Weekday Meeting

There will be no weekday meeting this month. We look forward to seeing you next month.

Welcome

We want to welcome Tyler and Amanda Brown and their son Benjamin to the ward! They bought the white house just to the north of Ron and Shirley Lundquist's home.

Thak you!

We as a presidency just wanted to say thank you to all of the sisters that have helped us recently. There have been lots of food taken into homes and help with funerals. Sisters thanks for all you do and all the hours your spend helping others. You are amazing!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday this week to these fabulous sisters.

Kim Young - 19th
Lorina White - 19th
Barbra Raymond - 19th

Presidency Message

Twenty years ago in September at the General Relief Society meeting President Hinkley read for the first time to us “The Family a Proclamation to the World”. At that time I was a very young first time mother as Jordan had been born a few week earlier. I was just starting out in the role of mother and I definitely needed a lot of help and guidance then, and I still need help and guidance now in my role as woman, wife, and mother. In the Women’s broadcast March 28^th Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson asked us as the women of the Church to defend the proclamation and three main principles which it contains.

1. That marriage is between a man and a woman.
2. Defend the divine roles of mothers and fathers.
3. The sanctity of the home.
            We all know that Satan is try his best to destroy the family because he knows if he can destroy the family we have less of a chance to make it back to our Father in Heaven. Sister Cheryl A. Esplin said, “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. . . 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.” Sister Oscarson echoed her words, “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.”   
            The challenge has been given but how do we accomplish this? Through the basic things we have been asked over and over to do: family and personal scripture study, family and personal prayer, family home evening, wholesome family activities, good family traditions, and family service projects. The list could go on. I challenge you to evaluate the spiritual level of your home. If it isn’t where you want it, what do you need to change? Maybe you need to increase the frequency of one of the items I listed or maybe even start doing one of them. Maybe you need to evaluate the media you allow in your home. Whatever it is, make the change necessary to increase the spiritual level in your home.  It won’t be easy because Satan isn’t going to like it but persevere. I have posted in multiple places in my home a sign to help me remember what is important and what I am fighting for. The sign reads, “I am in a fight with Satan for my family and I REFUSE TO LOSE!!!”  He is trying his best to destroy my family but I will fight him with all I can. I pray for each of you and your families that you can win your daily, weekly, and monthly, yearly, and yes sometimes lifelong battles with Satan.      

Love,

Sister Rayanne Cook                                               

 

Conference

     Conference has come and gone and I hope you were all able to listen to at least some of it and feel the marvelous spirit that came with it. Oh how we are blessed to hear the wonderful messages from our leaders. Just because it is over doesn't mean it is gone. You don't even have to wait for the Ensign to come in May. You can listen, watch and download conference at www.lds.org.
     There were so many messages that touch my heart. From what I heard, there seemed to be some recurring messages on family, being truly converted, and the Savior and His Atonement.  I loved many of them but for me Elder Holland's talk on Christ and the Atonement was amazing and what I needed to hear. Isn't it amazing how we can all get what we need. I encourage you to think about what you heard, listen to it again or read it and take it into your heart to help you become better, to become who your Father in Heaven wants you to become.
Love,
Sister Cook

Lesson Change

We have switched the lesson schedule for the next two weeks around as Sister Player needs to be gone to take care of family this next Sunday. So, this week Sister Campbell will teach lesson #8 - The Power of the Word. Then on the 19th, Sister Player will teach lesson #7 - Joseph Smith, an Instrument in the Hands of God.

Babies

We have had 4 babies born this past month. Congratulations to the new moms and dads we are excited for you!

Nick and Amber Hess - a girl, Sophia
Jaron Baker and Brittany Beckstead - a girl, Zendaya
Joey and Angel Charboneu - a boy, Myles
John and Kim Ryszka - a girl, Elizabeth

Thank You!

Sisters thank you so much for all the service you have given over the past couple of months. We have had surgeries, babies born, funerals, and illnesses and you have stepped up to the challenge of caring for your brothers and sisters in the Shelley First Ward. You are all amazing! Thanks for your willingness to serve and your love for others.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday this week to these two fantastic sisters:
 
Irene Campbell - 5th
April Hill - 7th