January: Increase our Testimonies of Jesus Christ through Prayer and Scripture Study.

For those of you who were not able to be in Relief Society today, I wanted to share a story and some thoughts from Sister Maughan's Presidency Lesson.  As a presidency we are focusing this year on prioritizing our lives.  Each month will have a theme for us to focus on based off of the Relief Society declaration, which is included in the Presidency message this month at the top of the blog.

This month's theme is: Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.  Our focus is that through those things, we will begin each day to put Christ as our top priority.

In Sister Maughan's lesson, 'Priorities in the Race of Life," she told an awesome story that I thought would be worth sharing for any who had missed it, about Cliff Young.  So often, we feel that life is a race and that we are pressured, hurried, and never quite at the end of it.  Often in that race we lose sight of our priorities.  On the other hand, in our race of life, we can stay focused, on the path and able to endure when we know what the prize is.  Just depends on how we look at the race.  How are you looking at it?  Well, read the story below, hope it inspires your new year and your race of life!

Cliff Young – the farmer who inspired a nation“The whole nation thought he was a crazy old man to undertake an almost impossible feat. Most feared that he would die trying. But this humble old man proved all the critics wrong.
Cliff Young, at 61 years of age, participated in 1983′s Sydney to Melbourne race. Considered to be the world’s toughest race, with the distance of 875 kilometers (543.7 MILES!!!!) and took at least 6 to 7 days to finish, Cliff Young entered the race against world-class athletes.

The Beginning:
Every year, Australia hosts an 875-kilometer endurance racing from Sydney to Melbourne – considered to be the world’s longest and toughest ultra-marathon. It’s a long, tough race that takes a week and normally participated by world-class athletes who train specially for the event. Backed by big names in sports like Nike, these athletes are mostly less than 30 years old men and women equipped with the most expensive sponsored training outfits and shoes.

In 1983, these top class runners were in for a surprise. On the day of the race, a guy named Cliff Young showed up. At first, no one cared about him since everybody thought he was there to watch the event. After all, he was 61 years old, showed up in overalls and galoshes over his work boots.
As Cliff walked up to the table to take his number, it became obvious to everybody he was going to run. He was going to join a group of 150 world-class athletes and run! During that time, these runners don’t even know another surprising fact – his only trainer was his 81-year-old mother, Neville Wran.
Everybody thought that it was a crazy publicity stunt. But the press was curious, so as he took his number 64 and moved into the pack of runners in their special, expensive racing outfit, the camera focused on him and reporters started to ask:
“Who are you and what are you doing?”
“I’m Cliff Young. I’m from a large ranch where we run sheep outside of Melbourne.”
They said, “You’re really going to run in this race?”
“Yeah,” Cliff nodded.
“Got any backers?"
“No.”
“Then you can’t run.”
“Yeah I can.” Cliff said. “See, I grew up on a farm where we couldn’t afford horses or four wheel drives, and the whole time I was growing up– until about four years ago when we finally made some money and got a four wheeler– whenever the storms would roll in, I’d have to go out and round up the sheep. We had 2,000 head, and we have 2,000 acres. Sometimes I would have to run those sheep for two or three days. It took a long time, but I’d catch them. I believe I can run this race; it’s only two more days. Five days. I’ve run sheep for three.”
When the marathon started, the pros left Cliff behind in his galoshes. The crowds smiled because he didn’t even run correctly. Instead of running, he appeared to run leisurely, shuffling like an amateur.
Now, the 61-year-old potato farmer from Beech Forest with no teeth had started the ultra-tough race with world-class athletes. All over Australia, people who watched the live telecast kept on praying that someone would stop this crazy old man from running because everyone believed he’ll die even before even getting halfway across Sydney.
Turtle vs rabbits:
Every professional athletes knew for certain that it took about 7 days to finish this race, and that in order to compete, you would need to run 18 hours and sleep 6 hours. The thing is, old Cliff Young did not know that!
When the morning news of the race was aired, people were in for another big surprise. Cliff was still in the race and had jogged all night down to a city called Mittagong.
Apparently, Cliff did not stop after the first day. Although he was still far behind the world-class athletes, he kept on running. He even had the time to wave to spectators who watched the event by the highways.
When he got to a town called Albury he was asked about his tactics for the rest of the race. He said he would run through to the finish, and he did.
He kept running. Every night he got just a little bit closer to the leading pack. By the last night, he passed all of the world-class athletes. By the last day, he was way in front of them. Not only did he run the Melbourne to Sydney race at age 61, without dying; he won first place, breaking the race record by 9 hours and became a national hero! The nation fell in love with the 61-year-old potato farmer who came out of nowhere to defeat the world’s best long distance runners.
He finished the 875-kilometre race in 5 days, 15 hours and 4 minutes. Not knowing that he was supposed to sleep during the race, he said when running throughout the race, he imagined that he was chasing sheep and trying to outrun a storm.
When Cliff was awarded the first prize of $10,000, he said he did not know there was a prize and insisted that he had not entered for the money. He said, “There’re five other runners still out there doing it tougher than me,” and he gave them $2,000 each. He did not keep a single cent for himself. That act endeared him to all of Australia. Cliff was a humble, average man, who undertook an extraordinary feat and became a national sensation.
The Inspirational Run Continues:
In the following year, Cliff Young entered the same race and won the 7 th place. During the race, his hip popped out of the joint socket, his knee played up and he endured shin splints. But those didn’t deter him from finishing the race. When he was announced as the winner for most courageous runner and presented with a Mitsubishi Colt, he said, “I didn’t do it near as tough as old Bob McIlwaine. Here, Bob, you have the car,” and gave the keys to him.
It was said that Cliff Young never kept a single prize. People gave him watches, because he never had one. He would thank them because he did not want to hurt their feelings, but will then give it away to the first child he saw. He did not understand why he would need a watch because, he said, he knew when it was daylight, when it was dark, and when he was hungry.

Cliff came to prominence again in 1997, aged 76, when he attempted to become the oldest man to run around Australia and raise money for homeless children. He managed to completed 6,520km of the 16,000km run before he had to pull out after his only permanent crew member became ill.
His love for running never diminished but in year 2000, after collapsing in his Gellibrand home a week after completing 921 kilometers of a 1600-kilometre race, his lose his strength for running. The mild stroke ended his heroic running days.
After the long illness, Cliff Young, the running legend passed away on 2 nd November 2003. He was 81.
The “Young-shuffle” has been adopted by ultra-marathon runners because it is considered more aerodynamic and expends less energy. At least 3 winners of the Sydney to Melbourne race have been known to use the ‘Young-shuffle’ to win the race.

Now, for Sydney to Melbourne race, almost nobody sleeps. To win that race, you have to run like Cliff Young did, you have to run all night as well as all day.
(Story quoted from: http://www.my-inspirational-quotes.com/inspirational-stories/cliff-young/)

Watch a video about him on the post before this one, too.....

Vidoe about Cliff Young

What is Christmas?

What Is Christmas?

By President Thomas S. Monson

 Ensign, Dec. 1998, 2

This is a glorious time of the year, simple in origin, deep in meaning, beautiful in tradition and custom, rich in memories, and charitable in spirit. It has an attraction to which our hearts are readily drawn. This joyful season brings to each of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the spirit of Christmas


There’s Christmas in the home and church,

There’s Christmas in the mart;

But you’ll not know what Christmas is

Unless it’s in your heart.

 The bells may call across the snow,

And carols search the air;

But, oh, the heart will miss the thrill

Unless it’s Christmas there.

Christmas is children. As a young elder, I had been called to the old Primary Children’s Hospital that once stood on North Temple Street in Salt Lake City. There were children to be blessed. It was the Christmas season. I had never been in a children’s hospital before.
As our group entered the foyer, we noticed an attractively decorated Christmas tree, with beautifully wrapped gifts beneath its boughs.
A feeling of sympathy welled up within me as I noticed these tiny children, many with legs or arms in large plaster casts. Some were ever so weak and pale.
A young lad called out to us, “Will you give me a blessing?” Of course the blessing was given. I shall ever remember placing my hands on the tousled head of that faithful boy who was desperately ill. As we left his side, he looked up into my eyes and said, “Thank you, Brother Monson.

We walked away, only to hear him call out, “Oh, Brother Monson, merry Christmas to you.” I could scarcely see him for the tears in my eyes. He had that glow about him that comes only at Christmastime. That boy trusted in his Heavenly Father. He acknowledged the priesthood of God. His faith was unwavering. I felt I was on holy ground.
What made the glow emanate from the presence of this faithful boy? It was the Christmas spirit. Why does peace come closer to reality at this season than at any other? Why is it that more friends are remembered and more enemies forgiven at the Christmas season than at any other time? It is the Christmas spirit.
Christmas is remembering. A year ago our thoughts turned to the celebration of the sesquicentennial of the arrival of the pioneers in the valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847. What was Christmas like that year?
From an entry in the diary of Mrs. Rebecca Riter, dated December 25, 1847, we read: “The winter was cold. Christmas came and the children were hungry. I had brought a peck of wheat across the plains and hid it under a pile of wood. I thought I would cook a handful of wheat for the baby. Then I thought how we would need wheat for seed in the spring, so I left it alone.”
Christmas is giving. Ralph Waldo Emerson, the poet, wrote: “Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only [true] gift is a portion of thyself.”

President David O. McKay said: “True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service.
“It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring ‘peace on earth,’ because it means—good will toward all men.”
A few years ago I received an anonymous letter from a kindhearted dentist who demonstrated brotherly love and goodwill. I’d like to share it with you:

“Dear President Monson:
“I feel remiss in that I should have sent you a thank-you note sooner. Last December I listened to your talk given during the Christmas devotional. You spoke of an older woman who could not afford to pay for the registration for an automobile she had recently purchased. Others came to her aid. All involved were touched.

“I am a dentist by profession. Not long after the devotional, my receptionist informed me that an acquaintance of hers was coming into my office. She had problems with two of her teeth. She knew this woman and told me of her circumstances. The woman carried many burdens. The family business, which she ran, was doing poorly and the family was three months behind in paying rent. They had five children, many grown into adulthood, but all had moved back home because of difficult personal circumstances. By sheer force of will, she had kept her family together for some time. Now two teeth were broken.
“The woman arrived for her appointment and explained about her dental problem. She asked if I would allow her to pay her bill over time. She explained to me that her family had experienced several financial reversals and were just recently starting to pay some overdue bills.
“I assured her that her credit was good with me. She asked if I could repair just one of the two broken teeth at that time. I assured her that I could, and we began.
“Since I had the time, I repaired both teeth, for which she was grateful. When the work was completed, thinking of your talk, I told her that if she would not be offended, I should like to make a Christmas present of the dental work, for which there would be no bill. She was astonished. I could sense the depth of the stress and strain she had carried, as uncontrollable tears of gratitude gushed forth due to a small, simple act of kindness. It must have been years since someone showed her some little favor. Not able to speak, she made her way out.

“Both my assistant and receptionist were so moved by her reaction that they also sprouted tears and could hardly speak. I, on the other hand, was doubly glad. One part, in seeing such a simple act have such a happy effect on another. And the second part, for once in my life having a patient in my office crying for joy, and not for pain!
“To you, my very best wishes.
“Sincerely,
“A brother in the gospel”
Christmas is prophecy fulfilled. On the eve of His birth, the voice of the Lord came unto Nephi, saying, “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.”
What did the holy prophets of old declare? Isaiah, more than 700 years before the birth of Christ, prophesied, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

On the American continent, King Benjamin said, “For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent … shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay. … He shall suffer temptations, and pain. … And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.”
Then came that night of nights when the shepherds were abiding in the fields and the angel of the Lord appeared to them, announcing: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy. … For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
The shepherds with haste went to the manger to pay honor to Christ the Lord. Later, wise men journeyed from the East to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. … When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
Since that time, the spirit of giving gifts has been present in the mind of each Christian as he or she commemorates the Christmas season. Our Heavenly Father gave to us His Son, Jesus Christ. That precious Son gave to us His life, the Atonement, and victory over the grave.
What will you and I give for Christmas this year? Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps. It was said of Him that He “went about doing good.”
As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will be ours.

New Month, New Ideas

Well, Sisters, a new month is here, one of the busiest of the year!  With it comes a few changes, we had announced that we were planning our Christmas Around the World, Progressive Dinner, but have felt to change that to something much simpler and hopefully more relaxing for this hectic time of year.  So, we will be having a Relief Society Slippers and Cider Social on Thursday, the 16th at 6:30 pm at the church.  We encourage you to dress comfy and cozy and wear your favorite socks and/or slippers.  We will be having hot cocoa and cider and donuts as we visit, exchange a 'tasteful' white elephant gift, and share favorite Christmas stories (if you have one you'd like to share, let me know ahead of time!) and relaxing from all of the running and rushing that comes around Christmas!!  Bring a friend, and all of our YOUNG WOMEN are invited, too!!

Please check the calendar to the side for any other updates or changes, like book club and crocheting--and sisters birthdays!!

And, don't forget, the Ward Christmas Dinner is tomorrow, if you signed up for potatoes you should have recieved the ingredients last night, other than that you just have to show up with you family or any friends you might want to invit--can't wait to see you all there!!!

November 2010 Presidency Message

I decided that each month when I post the new presidency message that I would archive the old ones, so this post is just November's message headed to the archives! November 2010
Dear Sisters,

Well, here we are near the beginning of another holiday season. It seems that time is flying by more quickly than ever. We are at the time of year when traditionally we think about the many things that the Lord has blessed us with. Too bad that we can’t be more contemplative about our blessings all throughout the year. Just a few weeks ago at General Conference, President Monson asked us: “My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.” President Benson also said, “The Prophet Joseph is reported to have said at one time that one of the greatest sins for which the Latter-day Saints would be guilty would be the sin of ingratitude. I presume most of us have not thought of that as a serious sin. There’s a great tendency for us in our prayers—in our pleadings with the Lord—to ask for additional blessings. Sometimes I feel we need to devote more of our prayers to expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving for blessings already received. Of course we need the daily blessings of the Lord. But if we sin in the matter of prayer, I think it is in our lack of the expressions of thanksgiving for daily blessings.” We pray that we all can grow in humility as we sincerely and frequently express gratitude for everything that we have and are. We love you and wish you the most joyous season ever.


Love,
Jamie, Cindy, Loree, and Kathy

Service Auction Review, World Wide Leadership Report, and MORE!

RS Service Auction

For those of you who missed the service auction, I am so sorry, whether for time constraints, other demands, or you were unsure of what it was and not really up to finding out, but I wanted to report on it and let you know a little bit more about it.  It was a WONDERFUL time.  I really was a little unsure about this as it first came up, the more I learned about it, the more I liked the idea.  After actually participating, I am so excited to hold one again.  We laughed so much, we learned so much about each other and our abilities and talents and even by seeing what others would bid on and how hard they would try for certain items really helped us learn about each other and I have to say that I think everyone there had a great time.  As you can see from the picture, there were a wide variety of things from goodies to crafts, to service such as baby-sitting and singing and guitar lessons.  I truly feel that each day we miss opportunities to serve because we are often too wrapped up in the normal rut of daily life, but what a fun way to share our gifts and talents and make our service available to others!!

World Wide Leadership Training

On November 13th, there were a few dramatic changes for some of us leaders in the church.  That was the day of our annual World-Wide Leadership Training Broadcast, but with it came the new and completely updated church handbook.  No longer will we have little partial sections based on what our organization covers, now all Presidencies have the entire handbook and are asked to know and understand all that pertains to them.  Wow.  That is how I felt coming out of the meeting.  We will no longer have welfare meetings in the wards, but our ward councils are to become much more efficient, the ward council members becoming much more involved in the needs of the wards, helping to relieve much of the Bishop's load.  The focus of the handbook: the individuals and families of the church.  I felt so strongly that this was a greatly needed change, and while it will take us some time to adjust and to really get moving on the changes needing to be made, what a blessing they will be to each member of the church as we strive to love and serve each other--and not the organization.

What a blessing to have inspired leaders, a Prophet of God receiving His counsel and direction for us so that we are able to face the needs of His children to strengthen them in a world of unsurety and turmoil.  I was overwhelmed to a degree, feeling that there is so much responsibility that comes back to us as quorum and auxiliary leaders, but also that comes back to each of us as home and visiting teachers, as neighbors, as friends, and as members of the church.  It's back on us to see to the needs of those around us, to report to our leaders when we see those in need spiritually and temporally and then to work together to serve, strengthen, love, and guide them.  I am excited to see the changes that this will bring, and hopefully the unity to our ward and the church overall. 

Christmas Around the World

Our next upcoming Relief Society event is our Christmas Around the World Progressive Dinner on the night of December 16th at 6:00 pm.  We planned this event with the idea of being able to share each others talents and have a little bit of learning and culture tied in to the Christmas season.  We are looking for those who would like to cook any kind of ethnic food that they may know how (to be served in smaller appetizer sizes) and for others to host the meals and the sisters eating them in their homes.  We thought maybe some would want to show their Christmas decorations--especially if they have any fun or unique ones from around the world, that we can learn more about Christmas in different areas.  We will have different groups going to each home at a time.  If you are interested in cooking or hosting, PLEASE contact me by phone 4642 or email gjnboyz@yahoo.com.

A Parable About Eternal Marriage.....

Today was the first day of the Marriage and Family Relations Sunday School Class that is being held over the next 16 weeks in our ward for whoever is interested in attending.  We were given a reading assignment from the study guide to have finished by next week.  It ended with this parable, which President Packer told in a talk in the October 1993 conference, entitled, "For Time and All Eternity."  This parable really struck me and so I thought I would post it on here and share with you all.......

Once a man received as his inheritance two keys. The first key, he was told, would open a vault which he must protect at all cost. The second key was to a safe within the vault which contained a priceless treasure. He was to open this safe and freely use the precious things which were stored therein. He was warned that many would seek to rob him of his inheritance. He was promised that if he used the treasure worthily, it would be replenished and never be diminished, not in all eternity. He would be tested. If he used it to benefit others, his own blessings and joy would increase.The man went alone to the vault. His first key opened the door. He tried to unlock the treasure with the other key, but he could not, for there were two locks on the safe. His key alone would not open it. No matter how he tried, he could not open it. He was puzzled. He had been given the keys. He knew the treasure was rightfully his. He had obeyed instructions, but he could not open the safe.
In due time, there came a woman into the vault. She, too, held a key. It was noticeably different from the key he held. Her key fit the other lock. It humbled him to learn that he could not obtain his rightful inheritance without her.
They made a covenant that together they would open the treasure and, as instructed, he would watch over the vault and protect it; she would watch over the treasure. She was not concerned that, as guardian of the vault, he held two keys, for his full purpose was to see that she was safe as she watched over that which was most precious to them both. Together they opened the safe and partook of their inheritance. They rejoiced for, as promised, it replenished itself.


With great joy they found that they could pass the treasure on to their children; each could receive a full measure, undiminished to the last generation.


Perhaps some few of their posterity would not find a companion who possessed the complementary key, or one worthy and willing to keep the covenants relating to the treasure. Nevertheless, if they kept the commandments, they would not be denied even the smallest blessing.
Because some tempted them to misuse their treasure, they were careful to teach their children about keys and covenants.

There came, in due time, among their posterity some few who were deceived or jealous or selfish because one was given two keys and another only one. “Why,” the selfish ones reasoned, “cannot the treasure be mine alone to use as I desire?”
Some tried to reshape the key they had been given to resemble the other key. Perhaps, they thought, it would then fit both locks. And so it was that the safe was closed to them. Their reshaped keys were useless, and their inheritance was lost.
Those who received the treasure with gratitude and obeyed the laws concerning it knew joy without bounds through time and all eternity.
I bear witness of our Father’s plan for happiness, and bear testimony in the name of Him who wrought the Atonement, that it might be, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.