Counsel for Youth

Happy Birthday Diamond!

We hope you have a fabulous day!

Buried Treasure

Please bring your scriptures for our lesson on Sunday!

Don't Pass It On

This reminded me of the lesson we had with Sister Moody when she talked about Satan's tools. This is one of the most hurtful kind of tools he uses to get us to turn on each other... Stay positive!

Testimony

"When the winds blow and the rains pour, they blow and pour on all. Those who have built their foundations on bedrock rather than sand survive the storms. There is a way to build on bedrock by developing a deep personal conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ and knowing how to receive inspiration. We must know—and know that we know. We must stand spiritually and temporally independent of all worldly creatures. This begins by understanding that God the Father is the Father of our spirits and that He loves us, that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and Savior, and that the Holy Ghost can communicate with our minds and our hearts. This is how we receive inspiration. We need to learn how to recognize and apply these promptings."

--Elder Allan F Packer "Finding Strength in Challenging Times"

A testimony provides proper perspective, motivation, and a solid foundation on which to build a life of purpose and personal growth. It is a constant source of confidence, a true and faithful companion during good times and bad. A testimony provides us with a reason for hope and gladness. It helps us cultivate a spirit of optimism and happiness and enables us to rejoice in the beauties of nature. A testimony motivates us to choose the right at all times and in all circumstances. It motivates us to draw nearer to God, allowing Him to draw nearer to us (see James 4:8).

Our personal testimony is a protective shield, and like an iron rod it is guiding us safely through darkness and confusion. Nephi’s testimony gave him the courage to stand up and be counted as one who obeys the Lord. He did not murmur, doubt, or fear no matter what the circumstances. When times got tough he said, “I will go and do [what] the Lord [has] commanded, for I know that the Lord … shall prepare a way … [to] accomplish [it]” (1 Nephi 3:7).

Just as the Lord knew Nephi, God knows us and loves us. This is our time; these are our days. We are where the action is. Our firm personal testimony will motivate us to change ourselves and then bless the world.

--Dieter F Uchtdorf "The Power of a Personal Testimony"

First Presidency and Apostles

July's Theme is Divine Nature

"Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk in faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Hoppy Birthday Angela

Happy Birthday Angela!
We are so lucky to have you in our class, and hope today is a fantastic day for you!

Girls Camp 2009 Highlights

Camille racing across the broken bridge

Abby flying down from the broken bridge

Channing with some other groovy chicks

Your "boss" leaders

LAVA LAMPS

I had such a great time with you girls! Thanks for letting me hang with you. I've got more photos... and check out Sister Foy's blog too. Fun stuff!

Shutterfly Slideshow

Girls Camp Tuesday

Lava Lamps Meet
9:00 am @ the church

Craft Corner Deathmatch

Come ready to use your creativity and building skills to compete!
Yummy dessert for all and prize for the winners!

Wednesday YW & YM Activity
7:00 @ the church

Cute & Modest

Since we have been asked to wear modest one piece swimsuits to camp, and I know you're having a hard time finding them, Here are some ideas:

Suggestions from Jen Modest Fashion Magazine

Lime Ricky

White Lillies

Hits the Spot

Island Bandeau

Coral Halter Sarong

Hope this helps a little, good luck!

Tie Dye Wednesday

Wednesday June 10
Tie Dye T-shirts for Camp
7:00 @ the church

Shirts will be provided

Behavior

Along the lines of what Sister Rice was talking about in her lesson on Sunday (regarding the need to act as if we have faith even if we don't yet). I heard this interesting quote in a speech by AJ Jacobs recently. What made it the most interesting is that he is agnostic (unsure about the existence of a God). He tried living according to the laws of the Bible for one year as an experiment, and this was one of his conclusions:

“I couldn’t believe how much my behavior changed my thoughts. This is one of the huge lessons of the year- is that I almost pretended to be a better person, and I became a little bit of a better person. So, it’s that I had always thought, you know, that you change your mind, you change the behavior. But it’s often the other way around. You change your behavior and you change your mind. So, you know, if you want to become more compassionate you visit sick people in the hospital, and you become more compassionate. You donate to a cause, and you become more emotionally involved in that cause…. In the Proverbs it says that if you smile, you will become happier, which, as we know, is actually true….”

Camp Certification - Foil Dinners

Wednesday June 3
Bring a foil dinner ready to put on the coals!
Meet @ 7:00 Southlake Lagoon

If you're not sure how to make one,
here's a standard recipe

Unfortunately I'll miss this one because my son has a concert at the same time. But have fun, I love foil dinners...

Last Thoughts on Integrity

"The cornerstone of character " ---Joseph F Smith

How to Gain Integrity:

1. Decide today, once and for all, that you will be worthy of trust
2. Have faith that the Lord can and will help you, and then diligently seek His help.
3. Make covenants and keep them.
4. Stand up for what you believe.
5. Expect your integrity to be challenged
6. Don’t give up.
7. Covenant–or perhaps I should say, renew your covenant–with our Father and His Son to do what you came here to do

---Sheri Dew

“You have to really understand who you are. When you look in the mirror, you have to be able to answer the question, who am I? and know what your standards are.” ---Elder Hales

“My dear young friends, whom I believe to be the best this world has ever seen, you were sent now because you have everything it takes to deal with the world now. You were put through your paces premortally. That you are here now speaks to how well you did. You have it in you to not only withstand the pressures of the last days but to triumph over them.” ---Sheri Dew

Wednesday Activity

Joint YM/YW

May 26

7:00 @ the church

The guys are in charge, should be fun!
Please let me know if you need a ride.

Happy Birthday Camille!

Welcome To Mia Maids Camille!
We're so excited to have you join us!

Pictures- Stake MM & Teacher Activity

The Basketball Challenge

Do you love your neighbor?

Channing!

Angela!

Abby!

Thanks for coming and being such great sports. Fun stuff!

Wednesday Activity May 20

Stake Teacher & Mia Maid Activity
@ 7:00
At the Church

Bees

"... It seems the door to permissiveness, the door to lewdness and vulgarity and obscenity swings only one way. It only opens farther and farther; it never seems to swing back. Individuals can choose to close it, but it is certain, historically speaking, that public appetite and public policy will not close it. No, in the moral realm the only real control you have is self-control.

If you are struggling with self-control in what you look at or listen to, in what you say or what you do, I ask you to pray to your Father in Heaven for help. Pray to Him as Enos did, who wrestled before God and struggled mightily in the spirit. Talk to your mom and dad. Talk to your bishop. Get the best help you can from all the good people who surround you. Avoid at all costs others who would tempt you, weaken your will, or perpetuate the problem."

-Jefffrey R. Holland, "Be Ready and Worthy"

The True Measure of A Man

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good."

- Ann Landers

How To Gain Integrity

"Remember that becoming people of integrity and honesty is not simply a matter of more personal determination, more grit, and more willpower; rather, it is accomplished through the enabling power of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I believe the best test of our integrity and honesty is when we personally enforce in our own lives that which ultimately cannot be enforced. There are so many aspects of being honest and of living the gospel that simply cannot be enforced in our lives by anyone else. You and I bear the responsibility to become people of integrity and honesty—people who are true and trustworthy when no one is watching and when no one else is around.

May we seek and qualify for the enabling and strengthening power of the Savior’s Atonement. And may each of us become and contribute to the latter-day light that will literally “chase darkness from among you” (D&C 50:25)."

-Elder David A Bednar

Certification Tonight

YW Stake Camp Certification

Tonight @ 7:00

At the Church

It should be lots of fun!

This Mother's Day I thought I'd share a wonderful quote that comes from a fantastic talk to the young women. (If you have a few minutes, I think you would enjoy reading the whole thing):

"Be true to your parents and your heritage. Regrettably there are a few parents who act in a way that does serious injustice to their children. But these cases are relatively few. No one has a greater interest in your welfare, in your happiness, in your future than do your mothers and fathers. They are of a prior generation. That is true. But they were once the age that you are now. Your problems are not substantially different from what theirs were. If they occasionally place restrictions on you, it is because they see danger down the road. Listen to them. What they ask you to do may not be to your liking. But you will be much happier if you do it. Your mother is your best friend. Never forget that. She gave you life. She cared for you, nurtured you, nursed you when you were sick, and looked after your every need. Listen to her now. Talk with her candidly and confidentially. You will find that she will keep your confidence and that her wisdom will prove to be wonderful."

--- President Gordon B Hinckley April 1996

PS: Great job singing today girls! And Abby I loved your talk, It was so thoughtful and heart felt!

YW Recognition Night

Stake YW Recognition Awards

Wednesday May 6

Be at the Church 6:30 for song practice

An Open Book

President Joseph F. Smith counseled

“Let every (young woman)’s life be so that (her) character will bear the closest inspection, and that it may be seen as an open book, so that we will have nothing to shrink from or be ashamed of”

(Gospel Doctrine, p. 252)

What is Immodesty?

This article called Different Types of Immodesty comes from an online magazine geared for LDS teens. I thought she did a good job of pointing out how there is more to modesty than wearing clothes that cover you up well. Being aware of the immodesty of our image can be just as important as the length of our skirt:

...we can try to boost our self esteem by looking for attention in different ways, but the secret is that it will always leave us lacking and wanting more. There will always be someone more attractive, more talented, more popular, or who has more money. The way we can overcome low self esteem is by having a our self esteem based in the one thing that is rock solid and will never change: we are all children of God with individual purpose. Jesus Christ is our savior and best friend and loves us. When we base our self esteem on these beliefs, we don't have to prove anything to others to feel good about ourselves. "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;" (D&C 18:10)

You Will Make The World A Better Place

Three Good Reasons

Activity on April 29

Tie-Dye Cupcakes
and
Door Decorations

7:00pm at the Church