February 2013 - Books Read

“Take upon you my whole armor that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.” —D&C 27:15
These words are as true today as they were back in 1830 when Joseph Smith received them in revelation—almost more so as today’s youth face the growing challenges of our society. But now in this compact yet powerful book, today’s most beloved youth speakers explain how wearing that spiritual armor can not only help youth face those difficult challenges in life, but also conquer them.

Contents
• “Girt About with Truth” by Brad Wilcox
• “A Bulletproof Breastplate” by John Hilton III
• “Put on Your Gospel Shoes” by Anthony Sweat
• “Shields Up!” by John Bytheway
• “Buckle On Your Helmet” by Hank Smith
• “Your Spiritual Sword” by Laurel Christensen

Filled with quotable quotes and video QR codes, this is the perfect book for those who want to line up on the Lord’s side and Armor Up!"

“Everywhere I go,” writes Elaine S. Dalton, “it seems that I see young women whose eyes shine with the light of the Spirit. These young women know that they are daughters of our Heavenly Father. Their inner goodness radiates in their eyes and in their faces. They shine! And yet, they don’t even realize that others notice.”

"In Shine! Sister Dalton lets young women know that their choices matter. Her encouraging counsel, paired with beautiful images, will help young women recognize and live up to their divine potential and destiny."

 "I believe we have all been created for greater things than we can comprehend," writes Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. "But such accomplishments are not achieved by fierce competitiveness, calculated one-up-manship, or cold indifference to others. True greatness will always be predicated upon love, respect, compassion, dignity, prayer, hard work, God." In this collection of memorable quotations, selected from Elder Holland's talks and devotionals given over the past twenty-eight years, his remarkable insights and words of encouragement—particularly to women—are paired with inspiring visual images in a beautiful gift book designed to lift and strengthen readers in all walks of life."

" High Crimes at High Tea

"Things to Do in England

"Visit Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and the London Zoo Take the Jack the Ripper tour
 
"Sample authentic English scones and crumpets Discover a dead body

"What begins as a holiday trip for amateur sleuth and cooking aficionado Sadie Hoffmiller and her daughter, Breanna, turns into a bizarre mystery when they discover a dead body in the sitting room of an English manor.

"Breanna's boyfriend, Liam, is heir to both the family title and the family estate of Southgate, where everyone seems to have a secret . . . or two.

"When the body in the sitting room disappears, Sadie and Breanna are stranded at the estate until the police can clear them to leave. With their departure delayed, they might as well solve the murder.

"Armed with a jogging whistle, her personal recipe collection, and an unfailing sense of American justice, Sadie begins her own investigation to find the killer. But as Sadie uncovers layer after layer of misdirection, secrets, and outright lies, she wonders if anyone is telling the truth
Take a missing family history, toss in a secret romance, mix with a mysterious murder, and this is one vacation Sadie will never forget."

 "The cheerleader who has everything . . . ? Mallory Dane has a great family (at least on the surface), is popular at school (as long as she doesn’t make waves), and dates an amazing boyfriend, Todd (who happens to be completely made up). Boys—and sex—are something Mallory just can’t deal with, so she created her “invisible guy” to avoid it all. But when Liam Crawford comes along—a real guy, flesh and bones and strumming his guitar—Mallory starts questioning her fictional relationship. Is she really willing to give up Todd for Liam? And can she make amends for the lies she’s told—even to her best friend, Tess? What if your biggest, most embarrassing secret was broadcast to the whole world? Letting go of her secret will be easier said than done, and Mallory will risk everything—her family, Tess, cheerleading, her reputation, and most of all, her heart."

 "Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

"Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen;or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It's all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?"

"We all know our own strengths and weaknesses -- at least to some extent. Often we notice a real strength in another person and wish we were more that way. Do you want to be more organized? Do you want to be a person who loves and accepts everyone? Do you want to have a home in which all who come there know they are welcome? In this newest book in the Time Out Classics series, bestselling singer/songwriter Hilary Weeks shares the love God has for us as we are now, as well as some practical ideas about how He can help us become how we want to be."


"When Digory and Polly are tricked by Digory's peculiar Uncle Andrew into becoming part of an experiment, they set off on the adventure of a lifetime. What happens to the children when they touch Uncle Andrew's magic rings is far beyond anything even the old magician could have imagined.

"Hurtled into the Wood between the Worlds, the children soon find that they can enter many worlds through the mysterious pools there. In one world they encounter the evil Queen Jadis, who wreaks havoc in the streets of London when she is accidentally brought back with them. When they finally manage to pull her out of London, unintentionally taking along Uncle Andrew and a coachman with his horse, they find themselves in what will come to be known as the land of Narnia."

"To see a good day, change your perspective. Look at things in a different light. Laugh. Uncover the good that may be concealed. Let your perspective allow you to focus on the Lord. Through Him, understanding will come."

"His eyes. His touch. His kiss. Dante was unlike anyone Abby had ever met. Now he’s gone, and Abby will do anything to get him back . . .

"The hourglass door has closed behind Dante, sending him back in time to hunt down Zo, Tony, and V. Abby knows that Dante, as a Master of Time, is the only one who can stop them from destroying time itself. She also knows that he will need her help. But almost immediately, things start to change, and Abby’s worst fears are realized when Zo begins targeting her past specifically.
As Abby’s world fractures around her, she must face a terrible truth: either Dante didn’t make it through the door, or he is lost forever. So with Dante’s blueprints in hand, she begins construction on a new door, a new time machine that will either save Dante—or doom him.

"With each new change that ripples into her present, Abby s life continues to spiral out of control. Her relationships with Jason, Natalie, and even her family are threatened to the breaking point—and beyond. Zo’s power is greater than Abby ever imagined, but as she struggles to free Dante, she receives help from an unexpected—and unlikely—ally."

"Our Father in Heaven wants us to be happy. And yet, we all have times of trouble. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland writes, "One of the unfailing facts of mortal life is the recurring presence of trouble...When these difficult days (and nights!) come—and they will—it will help us to remember that 'it must needs be,' that in the grand councils of heaven before the world was, we agreed to such a time of challenge and refinement. We were taught then that facing, resolving, and enduring troublesome times was the price we would pay for progress. And we were committed to progress eternally."

"A large percentage of the psalms that appear in the Bible were written for such times of trouble. From petitions for relief to acknowledgments of God’s power, these psalms provide comfort, perspective, and spiritual solace when we are going through our own trials.

"In this tender book, Elder Holland explores dozens of scriptural passages from the psalms, offering personal ideas and insights and sharing his testimony that “no matter what the trouble and trial of the day may be, we start and finish with the eternal truth that God is for us.” Elder Holland's reflections on the psalms provide a powerful witness of that comforting truth.

"Includes DVD with a full two hours of content! Elder Holland addresses questions from a live audience regarding challenging issues in the last days."

"From the day Elsie’s older brother brought his friend Kye McBride over to their house, Elsie adored him. When she was eight, she secretly blew kisses to him. When she was twelve, she sat on the stairs unnoticed and watched him escort another girl to prom. When she was a senior in high school, she walked into math class and found out he was her new math teacher.

"With that much emotion fueling her, things were bound to go wrong. And they did. Elsie not only spent the last two weeks of school avoiding him, she turned avoiding-Kye-at-all-costs into her life-long philosophy.

"Now three years have passed and Elsie has come home for her brother’s wedding. She’s got to face Kye-–hopefully without getting crushed again."

"Its been years since author Thom Mortenson has been back to Garrison, Colorado. As part of the committee who invited the bestselling writer to speak at the library fundraising benefit, Sadie Hoffmiller wants everything to be perfect right down to the homemade devils food cake she baked herself. Certainly, murder was not on the menu."

Higher (TOFW)

I love going to Time Out for Women.  It's always such an uplifting time.  I don't have the right words, ever, to describe the feelings or the genuine emotion that is always involved.  I love feeling the Spirit and being able to have my cup filled.  This was my first year attending in Layton, which also happened to be the very first stop in this year tour.

 

What a great theme for the year and what a great thing to be thinking about at the start of a new year.  This was based off a scripture in Isaiah 55:9 - "So are MY was HIGHER than your ways."

Dallyn Vail Bayles was the musical number for Friday night.  He's incredible.  Such an amazing talent and I am so very happy he's willing to share it with us.  His versions of Bring Him Home and To Dream the Impossible Dream are incredible and just about bring you to tears.




Being able to listen to Sister Virginia Pearce is always a privilege.  She discussed the choices we get to make and how we handle having too many choices - do we get paralyzed or dissatisfied?  She outlined three choices that we can make now.

1. Choose to believe that we have a choice. Agency does work for us and it is critical for us.  Choose to be brave, happy, and grateful!
2. Choose to surrender.  Not to give up.  Surrender your will to the Savior.  He can and will make sure we can do this.  To yield to His = To Trust in Him.
3. Choose to show up, more than just physically.  Show up with ALL of you - be present, have an open heart, open mind, open spirit.

When we surrender and show up, we gain and win EVERYTHING!

Terryl & Fiona Givens were new to Time Out this year.  I did previously ready their book so I was kind of prepared for them.  They went over the Truth of the Restoration:

1. God is a personal entity, having a heart that beats in sympathy with human hearts, feeling our joy, and sorrowing over our pain.
2. We lived as spirit beings in the presence of God before we were born in this mortal life.
3. Mortality is an ascent, not a fall, and we carry infinite potential into a world of sin and sorrow.
4. God has the desire and the power to unite and elevate the entire human family in a kingdom of heaven, and, except for the most stubbornly unwilling, that will be our destiny.
5. Heaven will consist of those relationship that matter most to us now.

- The most difficult choices that face us are between goods, not between good and evil.  To know what questions we should be asking is as important as the answers.


Hilary Weeks is another person who is just freaking amazing.  I love her.  She even debuted a couple new songs.  She shared her clicker story with us, which is actually the second time I've heard it, but the first time I've actually done something about it (BillionClicks.org).

* Note to self: Live as if you matter! 

Dean Hughes is a great writer and I learned also a great speaker.  Love it when you can mix laughter and spiritual matters.  He spoke about Priesthood and Relief Society working together.  As well as the way we make seemingly mundane things into holy things by looking at our motivations.  He gave the example of looking at a mother changing a diaper - this act can become beautiful by our motivations, being a mother and raising a righteous generation.

* It's easy to get bogged down in the why something won't work instead of looking at the bigger possibilities and the things that can come out of the impossible.
* In the middle of things, it's very hard to see the final outcome.
* We don't work toward holiness by giving up our own personality traits.
* Look up!  It makes it easier to keep putting things in place.

Another speaker I absolutely adore - Emily Watts!  So many great laughs, but even more important, things to think about and ponder.

We are told to knock and it shall be opened.  What happens when is it NOT?

1. Trust Him to act according to the bigger picture.  God will respond according to His eternal plan.  Be thankful that Heavenly father trusts you enough to let your faith and character grow.
2. Fair is not perfectly equal.  Fair = getting what you need when you need it the most.  Everything in life does not need to be perfectly balanced.  To be in balance means to be static; to progress you need to take risks and be a bit unbalanced.  Heavenly Father is fair; He's not always equal.
3. Heavenly Father guides and protects us more than we will ever know.  Sometimes He answers prayers but we don't recognize it because it wasn't answered the way you expected it to be.  He may answers prayer you never even prayed.  You don't know who's praying for you or what their prayers may include.
4. We have a part in it; He has expectations of us as well.  Do we have amazing gifts we aren't using be way we are supposed to be?  You don't know what your gifts may be able to accomplish.  Use the gifts Heavenly Father is giving you.

S. Michael Wilcox appears to be so serious and such a deep thinker, which he is, but still always comes across as so approachable.

* One of life's great searches is communicating with our Heavenly Father.
* There is a difference in praying and pouring out your soul.  You empty your soul and He will fill it.  It's a relief to be able to pour things out.
* Never make decisions based on fear - they will always be wrong.
*Remember the promises God makes with you; God does not make promises that He will not fulfill.
*Sometimes we have to have past-tense faith in order to get future answers.
*Sometimes you don't need to say anything, just walk with the Lord.  Sometimes prayer is unexpressed - learn the feelings of quiet.

Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt was another new addition to the line up.  I LOVED HER!  I am super excited for her book to come out this fall - and I don't even know for sure what it will be about.

*We can have a straight forward learning experience with the Lord daily.
* Do you sign up for something then allow fear to stop you?
* Can't you be a little helpful to someone running their course?
* Do you feel as if you have to be perfect to participate?
* Satan hates us - always has, always will.  His power is limited.  He cannot make us do anything.  We have been given powerful tools to over come and conquer him.
* The key to having joy = "Father, Thy will be done."
* Do my daily routines reflect what I claim to value?


We ended the weekend with Laurel Christensen, who will also have a a new book coming out soon.

* We have a choice to make to let faith rule our life.
* Kinds of fear:

1. Disappointment:  What's the worst thing that can happen?  You must make a decision to move on.
2. Failure:  Don't look back on your fears, failures, and mistakes.
3. Danger/bad things:  Heaven is on your side.
4. Success:  It is our light, not our darkness that we fear the most.  We know we are capable of more.

*Fight Fear with:

1. Power:  Your identity, even if you don't like it, is your comfort zone.  What is it in your situation you like?  We are not meant to live in a comfort zone.
2. Love - with your heart:  When you stop praying for what your heart really wants, your heart stops wanting what you weren't willing to pray for.  The tragedy is not not getting what you want, the tragedy is when you no longer want.  We can't afford to stop waiting what we really want.  God will not waste a miracle on a doubter.
3. Sound Mind:  Sometimes we use the notion of God's will as a notion to mean we abdicate our own responsibility to exercise our own will.  He wants us to have the courage to act on our own will.  He trusts us enough to exercise our own will.  Heavenly Father is not a chess master; He is a brilliant architect.

*Have the courage today to rise above your fears, to live higher.

January 2013 - Books Read

 February Book Club #2

"Ira Wagler was born in 1961, the ninth of a Canadian Amish couple's eleven children. At seventeen, in the dark of night, he left the religious settlement, but it was only nine years later that he finally left the church for good. His favorite Bible verse is from Psalm 34: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." In this new memoir, he tells what it was like growing up Old World Amish and what it felt like leaving it for a strange new world. Far more than picturesque; Growing Up Amish conveys one man's heartfelt experience."

 January Book Club 1 & 2


"The story takes the form of a series of letters from a senior demon, Screwtape, to his nephew, a junior "tempter" named Wormwood, so as to advise him on methods of securing the damnation of a British man, known only as "the Patient".

"Screwtape holds an administrative post in the bureaucracy ("Lowerarchy") of Hell, and acts as a mentor to Wormwood, the inexperienced tempter. In the body of the thirty-one letters which make up the book, Screwtape gives Wormwood detailed advice on various methods of undermining faith and promoting sin in the Patient, interspersed with observations on human nature and Christian doctrine. Wormwood and Screwtape live in a peculiarly morally reversed world, where individual benefit and greed are seen as the greatest good, and neither demon is capable of comprehending or acknowledging true human virtue when he sees it."

 "Visit beautiful Utah and experience the wonder of love experienced by three different women. First, can Jo’s faith help Dan face who he really is—or will life’s torrent sweep him away forever? Next, we watch as Marissa battles her past after a chance encounter with Anson. Can they keep their faith from faltering and the past from pushing them apart? In the final story, we find Brenda disillusioned with her perfect life. Will Jim prove to be one more money hungry man, or does God have a different plan?"

 February Book #1 Book


"Stephanie Nielson began sharing her life in 2005 on nieniedialogues.com, drawing readers in with her warmth and candor. She quickly attracted a loyal following that was captivated by the upbeat mother happily raising her young children, madly in love with her husband, Christian (Mr. Nielson to her readers), and filled with gratitude for her blessed life.

"However, everything changed in an instant on a sunny day in August 2008, when Stephanie and Christian were in a horrific plane crash. Christian was burned over 40 percent of his body, and Stephanie was on the brink of death, with burns over 80 percent of her body. She would remain in a coma for four months.

"In the aftermath of this harrowing tragedy, Stephanie maintained a stunning sense of humor, optimism, and resilience. She has since shared this strength of spirit with others through her blog, in magazine features, and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Now, in this moving memoir, Stephanie tells the full, extraordinary story of her unlikely recovery and the incredible love behind it—from a riveting account of the crash to all that followed in its wake. With vivid detail, Stephanie recounts her emotional and physical journey, from her first painful days after awakening from the coma to the first time she saw her face in the mirror, the first kiss she shared with Christian after the accident, and the first time she talked to her children after their long separation. She also reflects back on life before the accident, to her happy childhood as one of nine siblings, her close-knit community and strong Mormon faith, and her fairy-tale love story, all of which became her foundation of strength as she rebuilt her life.

"What emerges from the wreckage of a tragic accident is a unique perspective on joy, beauty, and overcoming adversity that is as gripping as it is inspirational. Heaven Is Here is a poignant reminder of how faith and family, love and community can bolster us, sustain us, and quite literally, in some cases, save us."

"Charlie is a freshman.

"And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his year yet socially awkward,he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

"Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up."

TOFW January Book Club
 
"Whether by design or by chance, we find ourselves in a universe filled with mystery. We encounter appealing arguments for a Divinity that is a childish projection, for prophets as scheming or deluded imposters, and for scripture as so much fabulous fiction. But there is also compelling evidence that a glorious Divinity presides over the cosmos, that His angels are strangers we have entertained unawares, and that His word and will are made manifest through a sacred canon that is never definitively closed." - Terryl and Fiona Givens.

"The God Who Weeps is an explanation of how Mormonism makes sense of life."

"Written as an engaging story, this book shows how mistaken views can cause people to misread situations and exacerbate the issues they wish to improve. Arguing that it is only after they understand themselves and get their internal house in order that they can correctly confront external conflicts, the book shows what can be done to make that happen, and how to make inner peace a potent tool for achieving outer satisfaction."

"A recipe for murder!

"* 5 families living on Peregrine Circle
"* 1 flowered curtain tieback
"* 1 missing child
"* 1 body in the field

"Mix with a long list of suspects and top with two very different detectives. Increase heat until only the truth remains.

"Award-winning author Josi S. Kilpack introduces a new series of culinary "cozies" that is sure to tantalize mystery lovers. In this debut volume, cooking aficionado-turned-amateur detective, Sadie Hoffmiller, tries to solve the murder of Anne Lemmon, her beautiful young neighbor - a single mother who was mysteriously killed while a lemon tart was baking in her oven. At the heart of Sadie's search is Anne's missing two-year-old son, Trevor. Whoever took the child must be the murderer, but Sadie is certain that the police are looking at all the wrong suspects - including her!

"Armed with a handful of her very best culinary masterpieces, Sadie is determined to bake her way to proving her innocence, rescuing Trevor, and finding out exactly who had a motive for murder."

"Part-time clown Amelia White has a detailed list of traits and accomplishments that make for her perfect man and she won't marry anyone lacking even one of them. Perhaps that's why she's nearly thirty and still unmarried.

"Always a bridesmaid, never a bride seems to apply to both her and her roommate, until Stacy announces her upcoming and unexpected wedding.

"Now Amelia is feeling like an Old Maid of honor.
When she is introduced to Ben Adams and begins to spend time with him, she is delighted to check off all the items on her list and believes he might just be The One. As she falls in love, she learns she has assumed a great deal and Ben is not the man she thought he was. But, even so, could he prove to be the perfect man for her?"

"The gospel offers us the unmatched gifts of peace, happiness, and joy, but sometimes these promises seem elusive and unattainable. In his familiar, warm style, Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve outlines the truths we need to understand and embrace to live a life of peace, happiness, and joy. He covers such important topics as developing a godly character, receiving and responding to heavenly guidance, repenting of our sins, loving others, and learning to cope with what seems unfair. Using insightful stories and examples, Elder Scott mentors the reader while at the same time he teaches with profound apostolic counsel. If we will trust in the Lord's promises and accept the gifts he offers us, if we are obedient to his commandments, then we too can fulfill the scriptural declaration, "Men are, that they might have joy."

"His past. Her future. Can love bring them together in time?Abby's senior year of high school is textbook perfect: She has a handsome and attentive boyfriend, good friends, good grades, and plans to attend college next year. But when she meets Dante Alexander, a foreign-exchange student from Italy, her life suddenly takes a different turn. He's mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she's ever met before. Abby can't deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Time behaves differently when they are together - traveling too fast or too slow or sometimes seeming to stop altogether. When the band Zero Hour performs at the local hangout, Abby realizes that there's something dangerous about the lead singer, Zo, and his band mates, Tony and V. Oddly, the three of them are also from Italy and have a strange relationship to Dante. They also hold a bizarre influence over their audience when performing. And Abby's best friend, Valerie, is caught in their snare. Dante tells Abby the truth of his past: he once worked for Leonardo Da Vinci, helping to design and build a time machine. When Dante was falsely implicated as a traitor to his country, he was sent through the machine more than five hundred years into the future as punishment. As the past and the present collide, Abby learns that she holds a special power over the flow of time itself. She and Dante must stop Zo from opening the time machine's door and endangering everyone's future. More than one life is at stake and Abby's choice could change everything."

 "Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again.

"When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

"But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven."

"A breathtaking new vision of a legendary tale. Snow White is the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen who is out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman who was dispatched to kill her."

All Because of...

This: 

I went and did this:

And now I get to do this:

 twice a day and this:

 twice a day and this:

 twice a day and this:

 twice a day and this:

once a day and I get to go back on allergy shots.  Ah the joys of growing into allergies instead of growing out of them!

The Latest Opportunity

When I got the phone call from the ward executive secretary to schedule a meeting with the Bishop in my new ward, I really didn't think much of it.  I'm new and there is usually an initial meeting, kind of a getting to know you opportunity.  Then came the magic words - "The calling we have for you..."  I think I was a little taken back, just because I wasn't expecting anything.  I now get to teach out of the Teachings of Presidents of the Church manuals on the third week of every other month.  I have mixed feelings about this.  I love to teach, but these manuals have always seemed a bit difficult to teach from.  I couldn't help but smile as so many of the sweet sisters in the ward congratulated me and encouraged me and just altogether strengthened me.  The Presidency was all  so nice to me as they thanked me for accepting the call.  I don't know if they were afraid I'd say no, but I do look to the new opportunity and the growth it will provide me.

2012 BYU Women's Conference

It was another fabulous year at Women's Conference.  I introduced Mandy to it this year.  The weather cooperated, for the most part.  I do think it was less crowded as there didn't seem to be any struggle getting into classes, at least for me.  However, I did still have quite the time deciding which classes to take.  I tried not to let the location of the class or who the presenter was influence me and tried to figure out where I needed to be.  So, this year, just so I remember, I think I'll put in the choices I narrowed it down to before I actually go into the highlights from my notes in each session.  I think there was only one class I went to this year that didn't either quote President Uchtdorf or refer to the book, Daughters in My Kingdom.  Both great resources.

(Just in case you want a visual, here's the general session speakers.  I love that there we always close with a General Authority.)

Opening Session

Linda K. Burton (Newly Called General Relief Society President)

• Follow the path of discipleship.
• Covenant keeping arms us with power and glory.
• Heavenly Father knows each of us and wants us to have every blessing.

"Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God in Great Glory"
Ruth Todd - Wife, mother; radio/TV broadcaster; senior manager for LDS Church Public Affairs; Tabernacle Choir host; stake Young Women president.

•  We need the women of the world, not just the women of the Church.
• God arms His people with all we need.
• Our influence for good can be significant when strengthened by the power of God.
• Shared faith and commitment will bind us regardless of differences in trials and tribulations.
• Most of our trials may look like trail blisters when compared with others.
• Strategies: to be Armed:
• Prayer - you cannot make it alone.
• Feast on the Word of God - the more you read, the more you find you need to read.
• Service to others - opportunities are everywhere we each have the opportunity to influence many in our realm.
• The House of God (temples)
• Stay Strong and Empower Those Around us.
• Support one Another - No judging or grudging; each of us gets to search for the path we are to follow; we are not given the Holy Ghost "just in case"

• The Lord wants us to be happy and to be filled with peace.
• Rejoice and have joy in this life - even during our tests and trials.

 11:00 a.m. - noon

1. Trusting in the Lord's Timetable
2. "Where Can I Turn for Peace?"
3. "The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Not an Obligation; It is a Pathway"
4. "We Are Not Left to Walk Alone"

Trusting in the Lord's Timetable - "My words are sure and shall not fail...But all things must come to pass in their time (D&C 64:31-32).  We need to trust in the Lord's timetable, not only for ourselves but for others as well.  The Lord is the master planner.  Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ prepares us for whatever life brings....Wise are those who make this commitment: I will put the Lord first in my life and I will keep His commandments."  How do we learn to have more faith in the Lord and in His timing?  How does putting the Lord first in our lives help us keep an eternal perspective about his timing?

Michelle Brown - Mother of returned missionary son, grandmother; registrar at junior high school; served in young women, primary presidency, and nursery.

Janie Penfield:   Associate athletic director/senior woman administrator, BYU Athletic Department; aunt; favorite callings: Young Women, youth Sunday School teacher.

Michelle:

• We can't do it without the Savior by our side.
• Who do you put your trust in when you know you can't do it on your own?
• Faith must include trust - we must put the US in trust.
• Are you praying for the will of your Father in Heaven - even when you are feeling peace?
• God will testify to you through the power of prayer; it's only through prayer we will know the Lord's will for us.
• You may not always be able to prepare yourself for what may come emotionally.

Janie:

• The Lord is constant; all blessings will come.
• Keep an Eternal Perspective:
• Choose to put the Lord first
• Choose to qualify for the Lord
• Listen and act on promptings
• Make the Lord your first priority
• Stay on the trail and be aware of your progress
• We function in the muddled, mortal middle - the Lord knows the end from the beginning.
• The veil becomes thinner as we align ourselves with the Spirit.

• Choose to follow the Savior's example.
• The world has big plans for us; the Lord's plans are even bigger and better
• Make time to be about the Lord's business everyday.
• Small and simple things bring about great things
• We must train and prepare for the trials and challenges we will have throughout our lives.

• Choose to build your faith.
• Make time for the Spirit to teach you.
• Trust God enough to trust in His timing.
• Heavenly Father doesn't want us to be down.
• Choose to live as your Heavenly Father would have you live.
• Look to God for help and you won't be overwhelmed.

• Choose to be comforted.
• We may have to wait for the happily ever after to find us.
• People in our lives can help us; be comforted by them.

• Choose to be patient.
• This is when our agency is truly being tested.
• It will help us remember what we already know.
• Be faithful, active participants in the Lord's timetable.

• His plan for us is far better than we can imagine!

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

1.  Forget Not That Heavenly Father Loves You
2. "Do As I'm Doing": Setting Healthy Examples for Others
3. "And in Her Tongue is the Law of Kindness"

Forget Not That Heavenly Father Loves You (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf) - As daughters or our Heavenly Father, we are never forgotten.  Even during difficult and dark days we are known, remembered, and loved by Him.  "He who created and knows the stars, knows you and your name.  You are the daughters of His kingdom" (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf).  How can we know, understand, and feel God's love for us, His daughters?  How can this knowledge increase personal strength?  In what ways can we remember more of this divine love in our lives?

Leslie A. Bonsteel - Family friend, mentor, confidant; global corporate relationship manager; enthusiastic learner, gleaner of great ideas; teacher

Joan Creer - Wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend; English teacher at Salt Lake Detention Center; long-time school and community volunteer; favorite calling is teaching the gospel, from Primary to Gospel Doctrine.

Leslie:

• Heavenly Father wants us to understand these truths.
• The Lord esteems all flesh in one...especially those trying to be righteous and trying to keep the commandments.
• He is constant; we are not.
• He will continue to bless us.
• Confidence to approach the Lord comes from knowing of His love.
• Know the God you trust.
• How do you know?:
• Ask
• Sometimes we forget to ask.
• Once you know, write it down.
• Satan's going to work hard to distract you.

• Thank the Lord frequently.
• Make a deliberate effort to remember
• Priesthood blessings are all evidence of His love.

• Consider the people you love the most
• What are you willing to do for them?

• Actions
• Believe in Christ; Love one another.
• Sometimes bad things happen; don't think it's evidence of losing Heavenly Father's love

• Trust in Heavenly Father allows us peace and healing and the ability to move forward, even in hard times.

Joan:

• To remember important thins is one of the most difficult things to do.
• Remember God's love for a time WHEN, not if, bad things happen.
• Hard times without the Savior, are just that much harder.
• Good comes from everything we go through
• Without faith, even seeing is not enough.
• All of our prayers will be answered, maybe not the way you think it should be.
• Resources in Adversity: personal prayers and reading the scriptures; attending church; go to the temple; the organization of the church; visiting teaching
• Everything will be okay in the end; if it's not okay, it's not the end.

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

1. "Rejoice in Hope"
2. "And Nothing Shall Offend Them" 
3. "Draw Near unto Me and I Will Draw Near unto You"
4. I Can Do Hard Things
5. Covenants: "Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God"

"Rejoice in Hope" (Romans 5:2) - Elder Jeffrey Holland said, "The Savior of the world will walk that essential journey with you.  He will strengthen you when you waver.  He will be your light when it seems most dark.  He will take your hand and be your hope when hope seems all you have left."  Hope comes from faith in Jesus Christ.  In what ways does hope give us resilience?  How does hope in our Savior and His Atonement keep us going when we are faced with difficult challenges?

Judy Anderson - Served in all Church auxiliaries; served mission to Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia with husband; now serving at Provo MTC; most fulfilling and challenging callings; wife, mother, grandmother, where she's learned to rejoice in hope.

Lissa Bangerter - Returned missionary; mother and grandmother; thinks Primary chorister is the best calling ever; recipient of much love and support from family and friends; runner, reader.

Judy:

• When does serving in the Lord's kingdom ever come at a convenient time?

• By learning what hope is and what it isn't
• Part of a three-legged stool that stabilizes our lives.
• Wishing is hollow, hope requires action.
• Isn't - doubt, despair, failure to care for our failure men
• Hope encourages us to place ourselves in the loving care of our Heavenly Father.

• Why we as women must have hope?
• We need to rejoice in hope; you belong to the sorority of Saviorhood
• Ours is the role to give hope
• Miracles frequently come at a price.

• How do we become hopeful?
• We would all like life to be picture perfect, even though we know trials are necessary for our exaltation.
• Fear become faith only through Jesus Christ
• Prayer - it cannot be casual if it is to be effective
• Turn to the scriptures
• Lose yourself in charity - true happiness comes when we look outward
• Time for self-evaluation - be patient with yourself
• Temple

• Recognize the things that cause you to lose hope.

Lissa:

• If you will eventually look back and laugh at it, why not laugh at it now.
• Make the choice to be happy.
• Sometimes our smile is a result of our joy; sometimes our joy is a result of our smile.
• Develop hope through hardship
• Look at the blessing you do have instead of the blessings you don't have
• Just because you are discouraged, doesn't mean you have to look it.
• Read good things cling to good things
• "The Lord will not give us more challenges than what we need to return home to him."  --Elder Richard G. Scott.

• Battle against discouragement:
• Prayers & scripture study
• Gratitude
• Attitude
• Music
• Service
• The temple
• Obedience

• 2 Nephi 9:34 - Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal (SMILE)

Afternoon General Session

Armed with Principles that Never Change
Lisa Richardson - Wife of Matthew Richardson; mother, grandmother; homemaker; ward Relief Society teacher, visiting teacher

Matthew O. Richardson - Professor of Church history and doctrine, BYU; second counselor in general Sunday School presidency; husband, father, grandfather 

• Doctrinally based guidelines for what we ought to do; we can always count on them
• Divine principles leading to eternal life never change
• Act for yourself; Agency
• Divine gift and God given responsibility
• Our actions and consequences are inseparably connected
• Your rewards are coming

• Work to be protected and strengthened in this world
• The world we entered requires work and effort.
• The Gospel of work is part of this gospel
• Are we removing blessings by doing too much for those we love?
• The tuition of mortality must still be paid.

• Look to God and Listen to it
• Heed the council of the Prophet, Seers and Revelators
• Focus on the Lord

• Commitment to teaching, edifying, and supporting each other
• Family Home Evening
• Not restricted to formal settings
• Don't you dare give up your teaching, edifying, and supporting

• God's power arms us; only His power will protect us.

Morning General Session

Discipleship and Our Ministry

Sandra Rogers - BYU International Vice President; former Sunday School teacher and missionary to the Philippines; member, Relief Society General Board; chair, BYU Women's Conference committee 

• Jesus shoes us the way, the sum of Christian worship
• The lives of our people must become the symbol of our faith
• Our lives must be a declaration of our decision to follow Christ.
•  We, too, must be another testament of Jesus Christ
• Making and keeping covenants elevates our discipleship.
• He has promised us that in His strength we can do all things.
• We are the Lord's agents because we are trying to be like Him
• Women can magnify their imperfections far better than they magnify their callings.
• Jesus wants all of us to pass with flying colors.
• Discipleship is about emulating Jesus
• True disciples do anything to find a way to be obedient
• We are under injunction to forgive all because we all must be forgiven by our Father.
• Covenant women can prevail over the troubles of the world.

11:00 a.m. - noon

1. "To Know Who You Truly Are"
2. Busyness Does Not Define Our Worth: Simplifying Our Lives
3. Meaningful Prayers: For Self, for Others
4. "Decisions Determine Destiny": Turning Points, Crossroads, Changes

"To Know Who You Truly are" (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland) - The world surrounds us with images - and expectations - of the "perfect" woman.  We may know she doesn't really exist, but the insecurities, anxieties, time, and money we put towards those expectations are very real.  we have been created by an all-wise Heavenly Father.  How do we align our outward appearance with our divine heritage and purpose?  How can we avoid being deceived by false role models and the influence of popular media?  How can we find joy, confidence, and identity in our true individual worth?

Vilma Sagebin - Mother, Young Women General Board; wife, mother, grandmother; flight attendant; returned missionary; former seminary teacher in Brazil

Mary N. Cook - First counselor, Young Women general presidency; wife, stepmother, grandmother, great-grandmother

Vilma:

• "You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me" --The Lion King
• To be able to know who we truly are, we need to know:
• Where we came from
• We were participants in the battle
• We knew Jesus would not fail us
• Our testimonies won the war
• You can and will feel the love of the Savior
• There is always a hope; there is always a way to return
• Heavenly Father is always ready with an open heart.

• We need to know our Father in Heaven and our brother, Jesus Christ
• Eternal life is lasting happiness
• Our experiences are tailor made for each one of us.
• The enemy uses our desires to be perfect against us; nobody is perfect
•  Do not cease to call upon God; His glory will be upon you
• One virtuous women led by the Spirit can change the world. --Elaine S. Dalton
• You are not here by chance
• You are not invisible to Heavenly Father
• He knows you; He loves you
• You are beautiful and perfect in His eyes.

Mary:

• Confusion on our identity is one of Satan's greatest tools
• Satan's tactics include
• focus on the things you aren't, to the point of forgetting who we are
• media shows us who the world thinks we should be (fictional, superficial status)
• the sexualization of women - we must start noticing it

• Women of virtue must become visible
• Sisters must lead the world in everything that's praiseworthy.
• Remember ALL we are:
• daughters of Heavenly Father, who loves us
• We come to earth trailing clouds of glory with immense and unlimited gifts
• We all have full equality in His sight
• The media seduce us with the doctrine of the devil; our spiritual gifts help us

• If you're doubting, STOP IT
• Remember your gifts as well as the enabling power of our Heavenly Father and the Atonement
• Focus on the divine attributes of others
• Focus on and list your spiritual gifts.  Don't be afraid to ask others.

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

1. "Be of Good Cheer, for I Will Lead You Along"
2. Tender Mercies Are Available to All: Gifts of His Love
3. "This is Not My Doctrine, to Stir Up the Hearts of Men with Anger"
4. Patience with Yourself "You Are Closer to Heaven Than You Suppose"

"Be of Good Cheer, for I Will Lead You Along" - We can find daily joy and cheer despite our challenges in life as we trust in the Lord.  Elder Joseph B. Wirthin said, "The next time you're tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead."  How can we choose optimism and joy instead of pessimism in all of our relationships and life experiences?  How do faith in and hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ help us to "be of good cheer?"

Christy C. Anderson - Wife, mother of two boys, aunt; business owner, writer; pianist, friend



Joy Flitton - Wife, mother; counselor in stake Young Women presidency; former BYU Women's Conference service subcommittee member

Christy:

•  Your days and your goals are not the only ones to never go as planned
• We know the Lord will lead us along, but we aren't that excited to go
• Essentials in our "Purse"-suit of Happiness
• Pocket Pack of "Hope"
• Most of us are pretty optimistic about things
• Hope for the best in all things, but be prepared for when it doesn't work out
• "You have to take the uphill road to see the best view"
• A Heavenly View (Sunglasses)
• What's your biggest obstacle on your road to happiness?
• Sometimes it's tough to keep our list in perspective

•  Keys to Life's Ignition
• We accepted God's plan with shouts of joy.
• We don't know our path but it shouldn't stop us from moving forward with faith

• Keep blessings in perspective of eternal plan will help us with each obstacle.
• Something puts you in a place where you can function, even when everything around you tells you to quit.
• The Lord is aware of what you need to hear and provides the way for you to hear it.

Joy:

• Your Heavenly Father loves you and is so great to you.
• You don't know what the Lord has in store for you; trust in Him.
• Understand the magnificence of the presence of the Lord in your life.
• You are making a difference in your realm of influence.
• Sometimes it's very difficult to be happy - you must choose.
• Hard things will happen in your life, but He will always be with you and will guide you. 
• Learn who you really are!
• Every pain and heartache you have ever felt, Christ felt it first.
• "Every tear today will eventually be returned one hundred fold with tears of joy" --Elder Richard G. Wirthlin
• Choose optimism - Stop stinking thinking.
• Joy:
• Find joy in the Lord
• If you have a heartbeat and are still breathing, you have a purpose in being there.

• Find joy with family.
• Find joy in service
• Give a compliment, it may be your best form of service.

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

1. "Good Looking" is a Verb, Not an Adjective.
2. "Lay Aside the Things of This World, and Seek for the Things of the Better"

"Good Looking" is a Verb, Not an Adjective - Sister Elaine S. Dalton has taught that "deep beauty" is "the kind of beauty that shines from the inside out" ("Remember Who You Are," Ensign, May 2010).  How can we help focus ourselves and our children on the beauty that comes from virtue and character?  How do we best influence our youth to look on the heart and not just the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7)?

Michael D. Adams - Associated clinical professor, counseling and Career Center, BYU; licensed psychologist.

Diane F. Robison - Mother, grandmother; member, Young Women General Board; served with husband when he presided over the West Indies Mission; doctorate in instructional psychology and technology; taught Institute and seminary

Michael:

• We start off with good intentions, then Satan starts twisting those intentions - keeps us distracted; keeps us focused on flaws, inadequacies, etc.
• Satan wants to sabotage our efforts and can quite easily using: competition, comparison, criticism.
• Righteous pride helps us with our beauty; let go of shame and increase pride using Caring and Compassion.
• We get in the way of the love Christ would show us.
• Why do we treat our friends so much better than we treat ourselves?
• Show kindness to oneself rather than harshness.

Diane:

• How do we help others see deep beauty and see it our self?
• True beauty glows.
• Beauty is difficult to see today because of everything around us.
•  It's okay to want to be beautiful, but how much is too much?
• Where are you placing your values?
• You have an infinite love always with you
• Great and spacious make-up kit verses healthy beauty
• Suggestions:  Teach, Exemplify, Love

Closing Session

Our Prayer for Our Granddaughters

Elder Neil L. Anderson - Member, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; husband, father, grandfather

Kathy Anderson - Wife, mother, grandmother; France Bordeaux Mission; early morning seminary teacher; lives ten years in Europe and South America on assignment with Elder Anderson

Elder Anderson:

• Wickedness will not diminish, but there will still be great blessings for the righteous.
• To live in these times is a privilege
• The spiritual war is much more daunting than the physical wars.
• We much have Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in order to prosper in the war
• Conversion requires daily renewal and strengthening
• There cannot be conversion without testimony, baptism by fire
• We know the outcome of this waging war; we need not fear while the battle rages.
• The importance of this noble cause should allow as all to unite instead of focusing on our differences - we are all needed.

Sister Anderson:

• Know your Heavenly Father knows you, loves you and hears all your prayers
• Jesus will make everything right. 
• Honored with righteousness as you believe and have faith in His prophets.

 

New Recipes to Try

I love going to the Taste of Home Cooking Schools.  This is the first one I have actually been to that was in Salt Lake.  It was part of the What a Woman Wants Show at the South Towne Expo Center.  I got there early and was able to wonder around the show for awhile and fill out a couple of entries to win prizes.  And low and behold, I won a Miche purse:

I'm actually not a big fan of the reptile skin pattern and am trying to not carry bags this big.  Even as I say it, I feel like I am being absolutely petty.  Anyway, now my Mom is getting a new bag whenever we see each other again.  (The magic of texting and camera phones, I knew she'd love it before I left the show.

During the show, they had several give aways, and I got to win here too - I was actually pretty excited about the honey because it's been on my grocery list and I prefer the creamy stuff more.

Here were the recipes they introduced us to tonight:

 Grilled Chicken in Mango Chipotle Mojo

 Mushroom Tacos with Salsa Verde

 Mexican Shrimp Bisque

 Johnsonville Italian Meatballs

 New Orleans Garlic Chicken

 Asparagus Strudel

 Taco Casserole

 Peanut Butter Cheesecake

 Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes

 Grilled Chicken, Pesto and Two-Cheese Naan Pizza

Our chef for the evening, Michelle "Red" Roberts. 

It was just a fun evening and there are definitely some recipes I am excited to try.