Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Exercises For The Soul
I have decided to discoontinue Exercises For the Soul, family home evening lesson because I see lots of FHE helps both online and in the Ensign. I am sure there are others too. Besides, you know the needs of your family better than I. One daughter had each family member write their own persoonal creed after teaching them about a personal creed. (See R.S. manuel about George Albert Smith 2012. The important thing is that you HAVE FHE.
ORANGE-CARROT COOKIES
These sound disgustingly healthy but are surprisingly delicious. I had never thought of them as an Easter cookie but Kristen is going to take some to a family gathering. They turn out a pastel apricot color and I had never made the association between bunnies and carrots in the cookies. I am including the recipe as well as a recipe for an easy spring salad which Josie calls Orange Fluff and which we are making this week.
Orange-Carrot Cookies
1 c. shotening
3/4 c. sugar
1 c. cooked, mashed carrots (We cooked our own carrots but in the past I've bought cooked carrots in a can. The carrots need to be mashed like mashed potatoes so we had to cook them a little longer than I normally would.)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Cream shotening and sugar until fluffly. Add mashed carrots, egg and vanilla. Mix well. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt and add to carrot mixture; mix well. Drop batter by large tspn-fulls on greased baking sheet. Bake in moderate (350) oven about 15 min. Makes 5 dozen. While cookies are warm, frost with Golden Glow frosting. (Included below)
Golden Glow Frosting
Combine juice of 1/2 orange, grated rind of 1 orange, 1 T. butter or margarine and 1 c. confectioner's sugar.
Orange Salad (Orange Fluff)
1 reg. size orange jello
1 pint cottage cheese
1 can mandarin oranges, well drained
8 oz. cool whip
Sprinkle Jello over cottage and mix well. Add oranges and stir in Cool Whip. Allow to set up in fridge. ( You can add other items as desired such as colored mini marshmallows or other fruit. You can also use other flavors of Jello. I have had green Jello with canned pineapple.)
This salad is easy and makes a good addition to a meal.
Orange-Carrot Cookies
1 c. shotening
3/4 c. sugar
1 c. cooked, mashed carrots (We cooked our own carrots but in the past I've bought cooked carrots in a can. The carrots need to be mashed like mashed potatoes so we had to cook them a little longer than I normally would.)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Cream shotening and sugar until fluffly. Add mashed carrots, egg and vanilla. Mix well. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt and add to carrot mixture; mix well. Drop batter by large tspn-fulls on greased baking sheet. Bake in moderate (350) oven about 15 min. Makes 5 dozen. While cookies are warm, frost with Golden Glow frosting. (Included below)
Golden Glow Frosting
Combine juice of 1/2 orange, grated rind of 1 orange, 1 T. butter or margarine and 1 c. confectioner's sugar.
Orange Salad (Orange Fluff)
1 reg. size orange jello
1 pint cottage cheese
1 can mandarin oranges, well drained
8 oz. cool whip
Sprinkle Jello over cottage and mix well. Add oranges and stir in Cool Whip. Allow to set up in fridge. ( You can add other items as desired such as colored mini marshmallows or other fruit. You can also use other flavors of Jello. I have had green Jello with canned pineapple.)
This salad is easy and makes a good addition to a meal.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Banana Nut Cake
This week Keistin and I made Banana Cake. I always liked this cake when Mom made it because the flavors were a little different than the usual, especialy when made with Richmond Frostibg which is included below.
Banana Nut Cake
2 1/2 c. flour
1 2/3 c. sugar
1 1/4 tsp. double action baking powder (I just used what I had in the cupboard.)
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2/3 c. high grade shortening (or margarine)
2/3 c. buttermilk (Ralph accidentally got a carton of low-fat milk so we made our own sour milk by adding either 1 T. of lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of milk..)
1 1/4 c. mashed bananas
1/2 c. beaten eggs (about 2 large eggs)
2/3 c. chopped walnuts (optional but I love nuts so I always add them)
Sift together dry ingredients. Add shortening, 1/2 0f the buttermilk and mashed banamas. Beat vigorously with a spoon for 2 min. or mix with electric mixer on med. speed for 2 min. Add remaining buttermilk and bananas. Beat 2 more min. Fold in chopped nuts. Pour batter into tworound prepared pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 min.(45 min. for oblong pan.)
Richmond Frosting
Mix:
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 T. cornstarch
2 T. cocoa
dash of salt
Add 1/2 c. boiling water. Cook and stir until thickens. Add 1 1/2 T. butter and vanilla.(Mom used rum flavoring which gave it that unique flavor.)
Pour on cake while hot.
Banana Nut Cake
2 1/2 c. flour
1 2/3 c. sugar
1 1/4 tsp. double action baking powder (I just used what I had in the cupboard.)
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2/3 c. high grade shortening (or margarine)
2/3 c. buttermilk (Ralph accidentally got a carton of low-fat milk so we made our own sour milk by adding either 1 T. of lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of milk..)
1 1/4 c. mashed bananas
1/2 c. beaten eggs (about 2 large eggs)
2/3 c. chopped walnuts (optional but I love nuts so I always add them)
Sift together dry ingredients. Add shortening, 1/2 0f the buttermilk and mashed banamas. Beat vigorously with a spoon for 2 min. or mix with electric mixer on med. speed for 2 min. Add remaining buttermilk and bananas. Beat 2 more min. Fold in chopped nuts. Pour batter into tworound prepared pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 min.(45 min. for oblong pan.)
Richmond Frosting
Mix:
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 T. cornstarch
2 T. cocoa
dash of salt
Add 1/2 c. boiling water. Cook and stir until thickens. Add 1 1/2 T. butter and vanilla.(Mom used rum flavoring which gave it that unique flavor.)
Pour on cake while hot.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
UPDATE
For some reason I can't access my e-mail but I can get on my blog so I will just spend my time posting there. Over the President's Day weekend we went up to the cabin in Island Park. Sara and Jay's family came too plus he invited all his brothers and sister's families, We opened up great-grandma's cabin next door and Emily and Chad's cabin behind us and had a good family time. Luckily there is ample snow in Island Park since we have hardly any in Rexburg. The kids enjoyed playing with cousins all day in the snow. They slept good at night. I'm glad my ears still work. Even though I was pretty much a lump on the couch I enjoyed hearing the family conversations. (At times there were 10 adults and 30 kids which made it a little difficult to hear.) All in all it was a great 3 days.
This week Kristen and I are making home made butter out of whipping cream like I used to in kindergarten. I won't include instructions as I have already done so awhile back. Last week we made 2 easy fudge sauces. With these you always have a simple dessert on hand for your family or for company. You can pour it over any flavor of ice cream, pound cake or whatever you want.
HOT FUDGE SAUCE
3 1/2 oz.baking chocolate or 3 heaping T. Cocoa (I use Hersheys baking Cocoa)
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. cornstarch
dash salt
1/2 c. cream or evaporated milk ( I rarely have cream so always use evaporated milk.)
2 tsp. vanilla
In double boiler or heavy saucepan melt butter (and chocolate if using the chunk kind). Mix in sugar, cornstarch, salt, (and cocoa if using the powdered kind) that have been sifted together. Blend in cream. Cook over medium heat and stir 5 min. or until thick. Add vanilla.
Makes 1 1/2 cups.
The second easy chocolate sauce is made in the microwave. Put in a small bowl about 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips, about 1 T. margarine and some evaporated milk ( I use just enough to come up to but not over the chocolate chips.) Heat in microwave on 50% and stir often until choc. chips are melted and other ingredients are incorporated.
Unfortunately, this is easy to do when you are home alone and you want something sweet and quick. You can cut it in half or more. Or you can make it for others too.
This week Kristen and I are making home made butter out of whipping cream like I used to in kindergarten. I won't include instructions as I have already done so awhile back. Last week we made 2 easy fudge sauces. With these you always have a simple dessert on hand for your family or for company. You can pour it over any flavor of ice cream, pound cake or whatever you want.
HOT FUDGE SAUCE
3 1/2 oz.baking chocolate or 3 heaping T. Cocoa (I use Hersheys baking Cocoa)
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. cornstarch
dash salt
1/2 c. cream or evaporated milk ( I rarely have cream so always use evaporated milk.)
2 tsp. vanilla
In double boiler or heavy saucepan melt butter (and chocolate if using the chunk kind). Mix in sugar, cornstarch, salt, (and cocoa if using the powdered kind) that have been sifted together. Blend in cream. Cook over medium heat and stir 5 min. or until thick. Add vanilla.
Makes 1 1/2 cups.
The second easy chocolate sauce is made in the microwave. Put in a small bowl about 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips, about 1 T. margarine and some evaporated milk ( I use just enough to come up to but not over the chocolate chips.) Heat in microwave on 50% and stir often until choc. chips are melted and other ingredients are incorporated.
Unfortunately, this is easy to do when you are home alone and you want something sweet and quick. You can cut it in half or more. Or you can make it for others too.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Exercises for the Soul - Joun Journal
In the last John Journal newsletter Uncle Hugo asked some questions and then mentioned several people by name to answer them. I was one of them. In the most recent edition of the John Journal I addressed them and I felt I needed to explain why I am a Mormon. This week, you can choose a variety of ways to use this as a springboard for your own family home evening, even if it is to have each family member write their own testimony.
Person of the week: Emily Manwaring - Recently her family and Chad and Emily's family visited us at the cabin. While we were there, Kennedy and a good friend had a disagreement. Kennedy could not be consoled. There were only the three of us in the cabin - Emily, Kennedy and grandma. (Blake and Josie had taken Jack to Rexburg to get his head stapled because he cut a big gash in it with a piece of metal.) Emily did wonderful things to try to help Kennedy and took care of her.
Last week Kristen and I made Porcupine meatballs. We heard lots of jokes about them being made out of porcupinne meat. (Actually their just made out of hamburger but are called Porcupine Meatballs because the rice in them sticks out like the quills on a porcupine. I think I have included this recipe before so I won't post it here. Call me if you need the recipe.-
This week we are making rolled sugar cookies for Valentine's Day. Any standard rolled sugar cookie recipe will work. You probably have your own favorites so I will not post this recipe either.
Person of the week: Emily Manwaring - Recently her family and Chad and Emily's family visited us at the cabin. While we were there, Kennedy and a good friend had a disagreement. Kennedy could not be consoled. There were only the three of us in the cabin - Emily, Kennedy and grandma. (Blake and Josie had taken Jack to Rexburg to get his head stapled because he cut a big gash in it with a piece of metal.) Emily did wonderful things to try to help Kennedy and took care of her.
Last week Kristen and I made Porcupine meatballs. We heard lots of jokes about them being made out of porcupinne meat. (Actually their just made out of hamburger but are called Porcupine Meatballs because the rice in them sticks out like the quills on a porcupine. I think I have included this recipe before so I won't post it here. Call me if you need the recipe.-
This week we are making rolled sugar cookies for Valentine's Day. Any standard rolled sugar cookie recipe will work. You probably have your own favorites so I will not post this recipe either.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
oregaoSplit Pea Soup
It has been awhile since I posted. Last week we had new carpet istalled in our dining room/family room and in the back laundry room. Ig took longer tp install than we had planned on. With everything out of the room, Ralph could not resist the chance to re-paint, re-finish a cabinet, and re-decorate. The result is a very nice looking room to spend time in. Kristen and I made Split-pea soup this week and I am going to include the recipe even though I think I have posted it before. January is a good soup month and this is a litte different kind of soup. Plus, it is one of our favorites.
SPLIT PEA SOUP
1 lb. split peas
2 quarts water
2 c. chopped carrots
2 c. chopped celery (including tops)
2 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. parsley flakes or 1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley
1 T. oregano leaves ot 1/4 tsp. ground, dried oregano
1 T.salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 Bay leaf
1 meaty hambone or hamhock. ( I used a small, leftover ham we bought for New Year's but never used.)
Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour thirty minutes until soup has formed. (Soup will thicken as it cools.) Remove bay leaf and meat from to soup. Return bite-sized pieces of meat to soup. Good served with a roll or piece of bread and butter.
SPLIT PEA SOUP
1 lb. split peas ( Kristen's husband was teasing her about having to split all those peas. At least I think he was teasing. Just buy a bag of dried, split peas at the grocery store. )
2 quarts water
2 c. chopped carrots
2 c. chopped celery and celery tops
2 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. dried parsley or 1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley
1 T.
SPLIT PEA SOUP
1 lb. split peas
2 quarts water
2 c. chopped carrots
2 c. chopped celery (including tops)
2 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. parsley flakes or 1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley
1 T. oregano leaves ot 1/4 tsp. ground, dried oregano
1 T.salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 Bay leaf
1 meaty hambone or hamhock. ( I used a small, leftover ham we bought for New Year's but never used.)
Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour thirty minutes until soup has formed. (Soup will thicken as it cools.) Remove bay leaf and meat from to soup. Return bite-sized pieces of meat to soup. Good served with a roll or piece of bread and butter.
SPLIT PEA SOUP
1 lb. split peas ( Kristen's husband was teasing her about having to split all those peas. At least I think he was teasing. Just buy a bag of dried, split peas at the grocery store. )
2 quarts water
2 c. chopped carrots
2 c. chopped celery and celery tops
2 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. dried parsley or 1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley
1 T.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Sloppy Joes
Recently we went to the cabin and bought a tub of barbecued flavored meat to take up for sandwiches. We did not like the taste of the sauce and it reminded me of the sauce mom used to makebfor sloppy joes. Kristen and I made it on last week's cooking day. I think I have posted it before but I will post it again below. This week Kristen and I are making fish cakes with creamed peas, a good recipe to have if you live in a landlocked like Idaho. You just mix a can of tuna with soft bread cubes, an egg and your choice of seasonings. I like dill. You should be able to spoon out about 2 T. each of mixture onto a hot greased skillet to fry fish cakes. Make creamed peas to spoon over the top when serving by making a white sauce and putting a generous amount of frozen peas in it.
BBQ Sauce for Sloppy Joes
2 T. butter
1 medium onion, chopped fine (about 1/4" pieces)
1 clove of garlic ( I skip this often because I don't have it in the house at the time.)
1/2 c. chopped celery
3/4 c. water
1 c. ketchup
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 T. vinegar
2 T. lemon juice
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
2 T. brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
Melt butter, add onions and cook until browned. Add remaining ingredients and cook 20 min. Makes about 2 1/4 cups or enough for 3 lbs. meat. ( I usually just brown hamburger and make the meat sauce with the hamburger in it. This week Ralph bought very lean meat and I didn't know it so I told Kristen to drain the fat off. It turned out drier than usual so I guess some of the hamburger fat is necessary to bring out the flavor.)
BBQ Sauce for Sloppy Joes
2 T. butter
1 medium onion, chopped fine (about 1/4" pieces)
1 clove of garlic ( I skip this often because I don't have it in the house at the time.)
1/2 c. chopped celery
3/4 c. water
1 c. ketchup
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 T. vinegar
2 T. lemon juice
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
2 T. brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
Melt butter, add onions and cook until browned. Add remaining ingredients and cook 20 min. Makes about 2 1/4 cups or enough for 3 lbs. meat. ( I usually just brown hamburger and make the meat sauce with the hamburger in it. This week Ralph bought very lean meat and I didn't know it so I told Kristen to drain the fat off. It turned out drier than usual so I guess some of the hamburger fat is necessary to bring out the flavor.)
Saturday, December 24, 2011
TWIN APPLESAUCE LOAVES
This is a recipe from my childhood. Mom used to make these at Christmas and put a few slices on the "cookie plates" she made for neighbours and friends. Just like banana bread it is better a day later rather than immediately. However, Ralph and I couldn't wait and thought it tasted pretty good the day Kristen and I made it. Kristen made some in mini loaf pans to give away. I love its moist, chocolaty flavor.
TWIN APPLESAUCE LOAVES
Sift into a mixing bowl: (I don't sift)
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 T. cocoa
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice ( I have left this out if I don't have it.)
Add:
1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce ( I just used what was in the can because it wasn't very sweet anyway. In the past, I have used my home made applesauce.)
Beat 200 strokes or 2 min. with an electric mixer on low.
If desired you can stir in any of the following:
3/4 c. chopped dates
3/4 c. chopped raisins
1/3 c. diced citron
3/4 c. chopped nuts ( I don't like fruitcake so usually leave these 4 ingredients out.)
Pour into greased pans. ( 1 tube pan or two medium loaf pans) and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour for tube pan, accordingly for smaller pans. You may frost cakes with white buttercream frosting when cool.
TWIN APPLESAUCE LOAVES
Sift into a mixing bowl: (I don't sift)
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 T. cocoa
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice ( I have left this out if I don't have it.)
Add:
1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce ( I just used what was in the can because it wasn't very sweet anyway. In the past, I have used my home made applesauce.)
Beat 200 strokes or 2 min. with an electric mixer on low.
If desired you can stir in any of the following:
3/4 c. chopped dates
3/4 c. chopped raisins
1/3 c. diced citron
3/4 c. chopped nuts ( I don't like fruitcake so usually leave these 4 ingredients out.)
Pour into greased pans. ( 1 tube pan or two medium loaf pans) and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour for tube pan, accordingly for smaller pans. You may frost cakes with white buttercream frosting when cool.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Gingerbread Houses
This week Kistin and I made Gingerbread Houses my way which is usually the easy way. We used to make 3-D gingerbread houses at my sister, Priscilla's house the day after Thanksgiving. Besides all the preparatiion, Priscilla used to talk about using "dynamite" to get her kitchen clean afterwards.
I just make gingerbread cookies and use gingerbread house cookie cutters. I decorate with colorful mini M&Ms as well as other candies. (I love the taste of gingerbread and chocolate.) I think I have included the recipe before but your favorite rolled gingerbread cookie recipe would probably work fine. I use the recipe from the red and white Betty Crocker cookbook.
for Rolled Ginger cookies. It's not Christmas until you've eaten a frosted gingerbread cookie. Besides, it tastes a lot better than eating a whole gingerbread house.
I just make gingerbread cookies and use gingerbread house cookie cutters. I decorate with colorful mini M&Ms as well as other candies. (I love the taste of gingerbread and chocolate.) I think I have included the recipe before but your favorite rolled gingerbread cookie recipe would probably work fine. I use the recipe from the red and white Betty Crocker cookbook.
for Rolled Ginger cookies. It's not Christmas until you've eaten a frosted gingerbread cookie. Besides, it tastes a lot better than eating a whole gingerbread house.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Fried Rice
This week Kristen and I made fried rice which she said her husband was looking forward to. I think I have posted this recipe before but I will include instructions here as a refresher. I like this recipe. Besides tasting good, it is a good way to use leftovers.
FRIED RICE
In a large skillet, saute in vegetable oil, chopped (small, about 1/4" or so)onions, celery, shredded carrots and leftover meat (diced). I have used chicken, turkey, ham and bacon. I imagine other meats would work if you want to try them. When heated add cooked rice (at least two cups. There are no measurements in this recipe because it just depends on your taste and what you have available.) Add a little more oil if rice sticks to the pan. Flavor with 1-2 T. of soy sauce. Be careful not to add too much as this will make the dish too salty. (I usuually set the soy sauce on the table so individuals can add more if they want it. I have also added frozen peas and bits of scrambled egg.
This can be tailored to suit your families' circumstances and likes or dislikes.
FRIED RICE
In a large skillet, saute in vegetable oil, chopped (small, about 1/4" or so)onions, celery, shredded carrots and leftover meat (diced). I have used chicken, turkey, ham and bacon. I imagine other meats would work if you want to try them. When heated add cooked rice (at least two cups. There are no measurements in this recipe because it just depends on your taste and what you have available.) Add a little more oil if rice sticks to the pan. Flavor with 1-2 T. of soy sauce. Be careful not to add too much as this will make the dish too salty. (I usuually set the soy sauce on the table so individuals can add more if they want it. I have also added frozen peas and bits of scrambled egg.
This can be tailored to suit your families' circumstances and likes or dislikes.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Honesty
"God commands that we be honest in all things. When we lie, cheat or steal we open ourselves wide to Satan's influence and close ourselves to God's influence. If we want to have the Spirit to guide and comfort us, we must be honest with God, with ourselves and with other people." ... Family Home Evening resource manuel
Story: "Recently our grandson, Adam, was traveling with Sister Stone and me on a trip. About noontime we we stopped for lunch. When the waitress gave me my change, I realized that she I realized that she had charged me for only two sandwiches instead of three. I felt this was a good time to talk to Adam about honesty and so I explained what had happened.
"I said we could leave now and keep the extra change and no one would ever know the difference, or we could tell the girl that we still owed her for a sandwich. Our decision wasn't at all difficult to make when we decided that if we kept the money that didn't belong to us we would be breaking the commandment, 'Thou shalt not steal".
"Adam and I approached the girl at the counter and I explained to her that she had undercharged us. She thanked us for telling her of the mistake. We continued on our way with a good feeling, and I am sure Heavenly Father approved of what we had done." (O. Leslie Stone, "Be Honest", Friend, Jan. 1975, p. 7 )
Have a family member read this statement by Mark E. Petersen and invite each member to comment on it.
"We come to the point where faith and works meet each other. Here we ask ourselves: Do our works verify faith?...
"Honesty, truth virtue and kindness are hallmarks of true Christianity. If we lack them, we can hardly say that we follow Christ.
"Whether it be lying, or cheating or robbery or deception; whether it is in the home, in business, in sports, or in the classroom; dishonesty is completely foreign to the teachings of Jesus." (In Conference Report, Apr. 1982, pp.19-20 or Ensign, May 1982, p. 15.)
SCRIPTURES: Exodus 20:15, Ephesians 4:25, D&C 51:9, D&C 63:17, thirteenth article of faith.
ASK: What are several manifestations of dishonesty? (Lying, cheating, stealing. )
READ: Proverbs 6:16-19
DISCUSS: Many of the of the sins listed in Proverbs are associated with dishonesty. Help your family realize that dishonesty is at the root of almost every other sin and that they cannot receive the blessings of the gospel if they are dishonest.
Sugested hymns and songzs : "Shall the Youth of Zion Flter?" Hymns no. 157
"Dare to do right" Sing With Me B-81
Persons of the week: Chad and Emily's family whose family visited for Thanksgiving. They brought two beautiful poinsettias, Taylor warmed up to grandpa and I loved watching Kennedy use her strategy and thinking skills learning a new game.
Story: "Recently our grandson, Adam, was traveling with Sister Stone and me on a trip. About noontime we we stopped for lunch. When the waitress gave me my change, I realized that she I realized that she had charged me for only two sandwiches instead of three. I felt this was a good time to talk to Adam about honesty and so I explained what had happened.
"I said we could leave now and keep the extra change and no one would ever know the difference, or we could tell the girl that we still owed her for a sandwich. Our decision wasn't at all difficult to make when we decided that if we kept the money that didn't belong to us we would be breaking the commandment, 'Thou shalt not steal".
"Adam and I approached the girl at the counter and I explained to her that she had undercharged us. She thanked us for telling her of the mistake. We continued on our way with a good feeling, and I am sure Heavenly Father approved of what we had done." (O. Leslie Stone, "Be Honest", Friend, Jan. 1975, p. 7 )
Have a family member read this statement by Mark E. Petersen and invite each member to comment on it.
"We come to the point where faith and works meet each other. Here we ask ourselves: Do our works verify faith?...
"Honesty, truth virtue and kindness are hallmarks of true Christianity. If we lack them, we can hardly say that we follow Christ.
"Whether it be lying, or cheating or robbery or deception; whether it is in the home, in business, in sports, or in the classroom; dishonesty is completely foreign to the teachings of Jesus." (In Conference Report, Apr. 1982, pp.19-20 or Ensign, May 1982, p. 15.)
SCRIPTURES: Exodus 20:15, Ephesians 4:25, D&C 51:9, D&C 63:17, thirteenth article of faith.
ASK: What are several manifestations of dishonesty? (Lying, cheating, stealing. )
READ: Proverbs 6:16-19
DISCUSS: Many of the of the sins listed in Proverbs are associated with dishonesty. Help your family realize that dishonesty is at the root of almost every other sin and that they cannot receive the blessings of the gospel if they are dishonest.
Sugested hymns and songzs : "Shall the Youth of Zion Flter?" Hymns no. 157
"Dare to do right" Sing With Me B-81
Persons of the week: Chad and Emily's family whose family visited for Thanksgiving. They brought two beautiful poinsettias, Taylor warmed up to grandpa and I loved watching Kennedy use her strategy and thinking skills learning a new game.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Honeybutter
This week Kristen and I made honeybutter. The recipe came from a girl in our ward called Missy Babcock. If you live in Rexburg, you have to know how to make honeybutter. It was a feature at a popular restaurant when I went to college here, when my children went to college here, and probably still is today. Anyway I am glad to have this recipe and I'm glad to pass it on. It is an easy 1-2-3 recipe.
Honeybutter
1 cup butter (softened)
2/3 c. honey
3/4 c. powdered sugar
(we added 1/2 tsp. cinnamon but you can experiment with your own ideas. I wanted to try some strawberry jam that didn't set up.)
Mix and serve on scones (If you're in a hurry just fry some unbaked bread dough on a skillet. Even easier, use Rhodes bread dough found in the grocery store.), toast or warmed (in the microwave) rolls.
Honeybutter
1 cup butter (softened)
2/3 c. honey
3/4 c. powdered sugar
(we added 1/2 tsp. cinnamon but you can experiment with your own ideas. I wanted to try some strawberry jam that didn't set up.)
Mix and serve on scones (If you're in a hurry just fry some unbaked bread dough on a skillet. Even easier, use Rhodes bread dough found in the grocery store.), toast or warmed (in the microwave) rolls.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
FAMILY HOME EVENING
For this week's family home evening I have included a link to either a printed copy or a video of Ralph's BYUI Devotional talk. (Thanks to Ralph for setting it up.) Most of the family has already heard it and he is glad to have it over with but I thought it was very good so it is wortth reviewing.
Hymn: Ralph got to choose the songs for the devotional and he chose "Be Still My Soul" because the composer is Finnish and Ralph likes the message.
Persons of the Week: This summer I think everybody in the family, including kids, ran in some sort of race, a marathon, a half marathon, or some other distance. Congratulations to all!
Hymn: Ralph got to choose the songs for the devotional and he chose "Be Still My Soul" because the composer is Finnish and Ralph likes the message.
Persons of the Week: This summer I think everybody in the family, including kids, ran in some sort of race, a marathon, a half marathon, or some other distance. Congratulations to all!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Conference at the Cabin
This weekend we are going to listen to the LDS General Conference in Island Park at the cabin. Ralph has been scrambling to get all his projects finished before winter sets in. Hopefully he can just relax and enjoy being up there. His devotional talk at BYUI isn't until Tuesday, Oct. 4th so I don't know if that will happen.
Emily and family will be there and I am looking forward to that too. While the men are at General Priesthood meeting on Saturday night, Kennedy and I are going to make a treat for them. I know it is a tradition in some areas for the women to go shopping but I would rather they have something yummy to come home to.
Below is the recipe we will be making which is a favorite of Ralph's and sooooo easy.
Cherry Cheecake
1 graham cracker crust (We will be using a store-bought one but you can crush some graham crackers and make your own.)
1 large package instant vanilla pudding
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
Mix cream cheese and pudding plus milk (according to pkg. directions) in a blender. Pour into graham cracker crust. Chill or freeze until set. Top with 1 large can of Wilderness Cherry Pie Filling. Serve and enjoy.
Emily and family will be there and I am looking forward to that too. While the men are at General Priesthood meeting on Saturday night, Kennedy and I are going to make a treat for them. I know it is a tradition in some areas for the women to go shopping but I would rather they have something yummy to come home to.
Below is the recipe we will be making which is a favorite of Ralph's and sooooo easy.
Cherry Cheecake
1 graham cracker crust (We will be using a store-bought one but you can crush some graham crackers and make your own.)
1 large package instant vanilla pudding
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
Mix cream cheese and pudding plus milk (according to pkg. directions) in a blender. Pour into graham cracker crust. Chill or freeze until set. Top with 1 large can of Wilderness Cherry Pie Filling. Serve and enjoy.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Back to Life as Usual
We spent a good summer in Island Park and now we are home in Rexburg and Ralph is back to work as Director of the Library. He is scheduled to speak at Devotional on October 4,. In my opinion, he is doing a good job at both but I think the stress level will go down after Oct. 4. and great-grandma has a new foundation, while we have a new front porch on our cabin.
Stephanie from downstairs has been great help. Last week we made Wacky Cake, a good cake to make if you are out of eggs, and this week we are making a microwave dish called Beefy Enchiladas. Also Ben brought his six kids to the cabin and taught them how to make Foil Dinners in a bonfire. I will include the instructions here.
WACKY CAKE
2 1/3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 T. cocoa
Mix the above dry ingredients in a 9x13 or 9x12 pan using a fork. When thoroughly mixed, make 3 holes or wells in dry ingredients, large, medium and small. In the large well put 1/2 c. plus 1 T. of vegetable oil. In the medium well put 1 1/2 T. vinegar. In the small well put 2 tsp. vanilla. Pour 1 1/2 c. cold water over all. Mix all ingredients in pan well with fork. Bake cake in 350 degree oven for about 20 - 30 minutes. Cake will be soft so it is best to frost it in the pan.
BEEFY ENCHILADAS (microwave)
Brown 1 lb. ground beef with 1/2 to 1 finely chopped onion. In a large pan mix together ground beef and onion with the following ingredients:
2 cans tomato sauce
1/2 can enchilada sauce (We don't like food very spicy)
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. cumin
Mix and simmer a few minutes or microwave 5 min. on high.
Fill and roll flour tortillas with following ingredients:
refried beans
grated cheese
ground beef and tomato sauce mixture (Reserve some sauce and cheese for top.)
Place rolled tortillas in microwave dish and cook in microwave on high for 9 minutes
FOIL DINNERS
Ben carries over this skill from his scouting days but we used a few conveniences to update it to the 21st century and make it "kid-friendly".
Layer the following on a heavy piece of aluminum foil:
1 frozen beef pattie (It will probably be thawed by the time everything is assembled and ready to cook.)
salt and pepper to taste
1 slice of onion (We had to explain to kids that they did not have to eat the onion if they didn't like it but that it was necessary for flavor.)
Frozen hash brown potatoes (shredded works best)
Very thinly sliced carrots
Any other very thinly sliced vegetables of your choice
Place a double piece of tin foil on top and seal the edges well by folding over.
Write names with magic marker on outside of packet.
Place packets in fire coals until cooked.
These make a good camping meal but somehow don't turn out so good when cooked in the oven.
Stephanie from downstairs has been great help. Last week we made Wacky Cake, a good cake to make if you are out of eggs, and this week we are making a microwave dish called Beefy Enchiladas. Also Ben brought his six kids to the cabin and taught them how to make Foil Dinners in a bonfire. I will include the instructions here.
WACKY CAKE
2 1/3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 T. cocoa
Mix the above dry ingredients in a 9x13 or 9x12 pan using a fork. When thoroughly mixed, make 3 holes or wells in dry ingredients, large, medium and small. In the large well put 1/2 c. plus 1 T. of vegetable oil. In the medium well put 1 1/2 T. vinegar. In the small well put 2 tsp. vanilla. Pour 1 1/2 c. cold water over all. Mix all ingredients in pan well with fork. Bake cake in 350 degree oven for about 20 - 30 minutes. Cake will be soft so it is best to frost it in the pan.
BEEFY ENCHILADAS (microwave)
Brown 1 lb. ground beef with 1/2 to 1 finely chopped onion. In a large pan mix together ground beef and onion with the following ingredients:
2 cans tomato sauce
1/2 can enchilada sauce (We don't like food very spicy)
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. cumin
Mix and simmer a few minutes or microwave 5 min. on high.
Fill and roll flour tortillas with following ingredients:
refried beans
grated cheese
ground beef and tomato sauce mixture (Reserve some sauce and cheese for top.)
Place rolled tortillas in microwave dish and cook in microwave on high for 9 minutes
FOIL DINNERS
Ben carries over this skill from his scouting days but we used a few conveniences to update it to the 21st century and make it "kid-friendly".
Layer the following on a heavy piece of aluminum foil:
1 frozen beef pattie (It will probably be thawed by the time everything is assembled and ready to cook.)
salt and pepper to taste
1 slice of onion (We had to explain to kids that they did not have to eat the onion if they didn't like it but that it was necessary for flavor.)
Frozen hash brown potatoes (shredded works best)
Very thinly sliced carrots
Any other very thinly sliced vegetables of your choice
Place a double piece of tin foil on top and seal the edges well by folding over.
Write names with magic marker on outside of packet.
Place packets in fire coals until cooked.
These make a good camping meal but somehow don't turn out so good when cooked in the oven.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Recipes
For various reasons it has been a long time since I posted a BLOG so I will try to catch up with a couple of recipes. I have made these with Stephanie but not posted them. We are kind of into easy summer recipes now.
Shrimp Salad
Cook 1/2 to full package of small pasta such as alphabet macaroni or small pasta shells. (Depends on how much you want to stretch 1 can of shrimp. Stephanie and I used 1 pkg. of small pasta shells.) in boiling, salted water.
Add:
1 can small shrimp (drained)
1/4 c. chopped green onions
1 cucumber (diced)
1/4 c. sliced radishes
1/2 c. chopped celery
2-3 chopped hard boiled eggs
(If you don't have all the vegetables, use 3 or more of them.)
Mix about 3 good squirts of hot sauce (I like Louisiana Hot Sauce.) in 1 c. mayonaise (I like Best Foods.) for salad dressing and pour over salad ingredients. Toss until mixed. Serve on lettuce if you wish.
Yummy Summer Drink
1 small can frozen orange juice
1 small can frozen lemonade
1 large can pineapple juice
5 mashed bananas
4 cups sugar
10 cups water
Mix all ingredients and freeze in a shallow pan. (Mixture should not be more than 1 in. deep.) When frozen fill glass about 2/3 full of broken up pieces of frozen mixture and pour 7-Up over. Serves 30 (or 2 people who really really like it)
Shrimp Salad
Cook 1/2 to full package of small pasta such as alphabet macaroni or small pasta shells. (Depends on how much you want to stretch 1 can of shrimp. Stephanie and I used 1 pkg. of small pasta shells.) in boiling, salted water.
Add:
1 can small shrimp (drained)
1/4 c. chopped green onions
1 cucumber (diced)
1/4 c. sliced radishes
1/2 c. chopped celery
2-3 chopped hard boiled eggs
(If you don't have all the vegetables, use 3 or more of them.)
Mix about 3 good squirts of hot sauce (I like Louisiana Hot Sauce.) in 1 c. mayonaise (I like Best Foods.) for salad dressing and pour over salad ingredients. Toss until mixed. Serve on lettuce if you wish.
Yummy Summer Drink
1 small can frozen orange juice
1 small can frozen lemonade
1 large can pineapple juice
5 mashed bananas
4 cups sugar
10 cups water
Mix all ingredients and freeze in a shallow pan. (Mixture should not be more than 1 in. deep.) When frozen fill glass about 2/3 full of broken up pieces of frozen mixture and pour 7-Up over. Serves 30 (or 2 people who really really like it)
Friday, May 20, 2011
Exercises for the Soul - Money Management
i saw this lesson in the FHE Resource Manuel and reflected on what we taught our children which I am sure was not perfect. I thought this was a good lesson.
Scripture: Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Proverbs 16:8
We should use the financial resources with which we are blessed to perfect ourselves and build up the kingdom of God. ( Family Home Evening Resource Book )
A Practical Experience In Budgeting: This uniqie way to help family members understand their part in helping with the family budget was suggested Dr. Dwayne Belt of the Brigham Young University faculty. You may wish to use some of his ideas or adapt them to the needs of your own family:
"I told the children to sit in a circle on the floor to prepare for a special activity for Family Home Evening. To their astonishment, I gave each one of them a large bundle of one dollar bills. My wife and I also had a bundle.
"All of this money together is the amount earned each month in our family", I said .
"Tonight you are all going to help Mom and Dad spend it."
[Note: It might not be practical to have this much currency in your home. You may want to make paper bils or use play noney or money from the Monopoly game. If possible, place a real bill on top of the bundle. ]
"For some time my wife and I had felt that one of the important things we should teach our children was the wise use of money. Although we felt the children should not be overburened with concern about the family budget, we believed that a better understanding of our financial resposibilities and goals would contribute to the harmony we desired in our home.
"You need to know that there are some things we are required by law to pay", I explained. " After those things are paid, there will be other things we need and must pay for, and then we can use the rest of the money as we wish."
"Tithing was quickly agreed upon as the most important thing we have promised to pay followed by other Church donations. Each person counted out his share and handed it to me.
"We have always paid our tithing first even when we 'owed' only $9.00 a month, and we have always been blessed for it," I reported to the family.
"So we continued on down the list - taxes, social security, house payment, insurance, utilities annd many others. The children looked distressed as their piles of money began to get smaller.
"Occasional questions arose about things such as retirement funds. These were discussed in an attempt to help each one see the reason for these kinds of programs.
"In our family," I said, " savings comes under the list of things we have promised to pay. We have promised ourselves that we would save regularly to prepare for missions, college or family emergencies. To help us keep that promise to ourselves my employer pays some of our money to our savings account each nonth."
"When we had exhausted the list of the things required by law and promises, we moved to other things we needed. Food was mentioned first, followed by clothing and medical care.
"Soon we began to mention a few things we would like to do or to have, and as families often do we found that we had too much month left at the end of the money. Long before our list of needs and wants was exhausted, the piles of one-dollar bills had disappeared.
The children stared in disbelief. My wife and I smiled knowingly.
Some of the comments were:
"I'm sick1"
"What do you do at Christmastime?"
"I didn't realize how fast we spend the money you make, Dad."
"Boy, it must take a lot of time to figure out the budget and pay the bills each month.
"It's all the dozens of little things that really add up."
"You sure have to plan ahead."
"Is it wrong to buy things we don't actually need?"
"It is not wrong to have and enjoy many of the beautiful and wonderful things in the world,", we told [our children], "as long as we keep two things in mind: First, our desire for material posessions should always be secondary to our desire to serve the Lord and your fellowmen.
Second, acquiring luxuries should always be secondary to acquiring necessities."
'That was fun.', said one of the children,'but what does money have to do with the gospel?'
" We have been told that our Heavenly Father gives us no temporal commandments. Everything he tells us to do is for our eternal good. And every part of our life, including handling the family finances, is part of living the gospel."
"That evening the following commitment were made
"I will keep track of what I spend for an entire month and then make a priority list for using my allowance."
"I am going to be more careful about the little things I buy that I could get along without."
"I'm going to try to save $100 from my allowance and baby sitting by the time school starts next fall."
"I'm going to pay my tithing the very first Sunday after I get my allowance, without fail."
"With an occasional reminder, our family have noticeably made sincere attempts to use our resources financial more wisely since this experience. We will never forget the night we helped 'spend' the family income." ("They All Held The Money," The Instructor May 1970, pp. 158-59.)
Suggested Hymn: "Count Your Many Blessings" Hymns no. 202.
Person of the Week: Alayna Hill for drawing a cute picture of fish in a fishbowl. I like all the wonderful pictures my grandkids make.
Scripture: Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Proverbs 16:8
We should use the financial resources with which we are blessed to perfect ourselves and build up the kingdom of God. ( Family Home Evening Resource Book )
A Practical Experience In Budgeting: This uniqie way to help family members understand their part in helping with the family budget was suggested Dr. Dwayne Belt of the Brigham Young University faculty. You may wish to use some of his ideas or adapt them to the needs of your own family:
"I told the children to sit in a circle on the floor to prepare for a special activity for Family Home Evening. To their astonishment, I gave each one of them a large bundle of one dollar bills. My wife and I also had a bundle.
"All of this money together is the amount earned each month in our family", I said .
"Tonight you are all going to help Mom and Dad spend it."
[Note: It might not be practical to have this much currency in your home. You may want to make paper bils or use play noney or money from the Monopoly game. If possible, place a real bill on top of the bundle. ]
"For some time my wife and I had felt that one of the important things we should teach our children was the wise use of money. Although we felt the children should not be overburened with concern about the family budget, we believed that a better understanding of our financial resposibilities and goals would contribute to the harmony we desired in our home.
"You need to know that there are some things we are required by law to pay", I explained. " After those things are paid, there will be other things we need and must pay for, and then we can use the rest of the money as we wish."
"Tithing was quickly agreed upon as the most important thing we have promised to pay followed by other Church donations. Each person counted out his share and handed it to me.
"We have always paid our tithing first even when we 'owed' only $9.00 a month, and we have always been blessed for it," I reported to the family.
"So we continued on down the list - taxes, social security, house payment, insurance, utilities annd many others. The children looked distressed as their piles of money began to get smaller.
"Occasional questions arose about things such as retirement funds. These were discussed in an attempt to help each one see the reason for these kinds of programs.
"In our family," I said, " savings comes under the list of things we have promised to pay. We have promised ourselves that we would save regularly to prepare for missions, college or family emergencies. To help us keep that promise to ourselves my employer pays some of our money to our savings account each nonth."
"When we had exhausted the list of the things required by law and promises, we moved to other things we needed. Food was mentioned first, followed by clothing and medical care.
"Soon we began to mention a few things we would like to do or to have, and as families often do we found that we had too much month left at the end of the money. Long before our list of needs and wants was exhausted, the piles of one-dollar bills had disappeared.
The children stared in disbelief. My wife and I smiled knowingly.
Some of the comments were:
"I'm sick1"
"What do you do at Christmastime?"
"I didn't realize how fast we spend the money you make, Dad."
"Boy, it must take a lot of time to figure out the budget and pay the bills each month.
"It's all the dozens of little things that really add up."
"You sure have to plan ahead."
"Is it wrong to buy things we don't actually need?"
"It is not wrong to have and enjoy many of the beautiful and wonderful things in the world,", we told [our children], "as long as we keep two things in mind: First, our desire for material posessions should always be secondary to our desire to serve the Lord and your fellowmen.
Second, acquiring luxuries should always be secondary to acquiring necessities."
'That was fun.', said one of the children,'but what does money have to do with the gospel?'
" We have been told that our Heavenly Father gives us no temporal commandments. Everything he tells us to do is for our eternal good. And every part of our life, including handling the family finances, is part of living the gospel."
"That evening the following commitment were made
"I will keep track of what I spend for an entire month and then make a priority list for using my allowance."
"I am going to be more careful about the little things I buy that I could get along without."
"I'm going to try to save $100 from my allowance and baby sitting by the time school starts next fall."
"I'm going to pay my tithing the very first Sunday after I get my allowance, without fail."
"With an occasional reminder, our family have noticeably made sincere attempts to use our resources financial more wisely since this experience. We will never forget the night we helped 'spend' the family income." ("They All Held The Money," The Instructor May 1970, pp. 158-59.)
Suggested Hymn: "Count Your Many Blessings" Hymns no. 202.
Person of the Week: Alayna Hill for drawing a cute picture of fish in a fishbowl. I like all the wonderful pictures my grandkids make.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Porcupine Meatballs
Last week Stephanie and I made Porcupine Meatballs. Every time I make them I remember a friend who said, "Do they really use pocupine meat in them?" No, they use just regular ground beef and are called pocupine meatballs because there is rice in them which pokes out like miniature porcupine quills. At any rate they are delicious and easy to make. I am also including this week's recipe which I may have posted before. It is for Ann Landers Economical Pound Cake. She says that there is no excuse for not giving a gift because it is inexpensive and it tastes good.
Porcupine Meatballs
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
3/4 c. uncooked rice (Ralph got Uncle Ben's Instant Rice and it worked ok but before that I had always used just regular raw rice which I think I prefer.)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 can tomato soup
1 cup or can water
1 T. minced onion
Combine meat, rice, salt, pepper and onion. Shape into small balls. (about 1 1/2 " in diameter) Combine and heat soup and water in oven safe pan or pressure cooker. Drop meatballs in soup mixture. Close lid securely. Place in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour. When using pressure cooker place regulator on vent and cook 10 min. with regulator rocking skowly. Let pressure drop of its own accord. (I have never used a pressure cooker.)
Economical Pound Cake
3/4 lbs. good quality margarine or butter (I used butter.)
3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
3 C. flour, sifted
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon extract or 1 tsp. grated lemon peel (I always use lemon extract because I never have a lemon.)
1/2 tsp. almond extract
7/8 C. ginger ale
Cream eggs (the recipe says eggs but I think it must mean butter.) and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and flavorings and mix well. Add flour alternately with ginger ale, mixing after each addition. Bake in two loaf pans in pre-heated 275 degree oven for about 1 hour and 45 minutes or until skewer or tablle knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly in pan before turning out.
Porcupine Meatballs
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
3/4 c. uncooked rice (Ralph got Uncle Ben's Instant Rice and it worked ok but before that I had always used just regular raw rice which I think I prefer.)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 can tomato soup
1 cup or can water
1 T. minced onion
Combine meat, rice, salt, pepper and onion. Shape into small balls. (about 1 1/2 " in diameter) Combine and heat soup and water in oven safe pan or pressure cooker. Drop meatballs in soup mixture. Close lid securely. Place in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour. When using pressure cooker place regulator on vent and cook 10 min. with regulator rocking skowly. Let pressure drop of its own accord. (I have never used a pressure cooker.)
Economical Pound Cake
3/4 lbs. good quality margarine or butter (I used butter.)
3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
3 C. flour, sifted
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon extract or 1 tsp. grated lemon peel (I always use lemon extract because I never have a lemon.)
1/2 tsp. almond extract
7/8 C. ginger ale
Cream eggs (the recipe says eggs but I think it must mean butter.) and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and flavorings and mix well. Add flour alternately with ginger ale, mixing after each addition. Bake in two loaf pans in pre-heated 275 degree oven for about 1 hour and 45 minutes or until skewer or tablle knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly in pan before turning out.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Exercises Fot The Soul - Forgiveness
I, the Lord will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. -D&C 64:10
Gospel Truth: Forgiveness is using the power within us to overcome anger, feelings of revenge, and unhappy and bad feelings. Oue Heavenly Father commanded us to forgive everyone, and he will help us as we try to keep this commandment. (FHE Resource Book).
Print the letters F,O,R,G,I,V,E, on seven small pieces of paper. Mix them up and give them to family members to make into a word. Give them help if needed. When the word is complete ask each family member to complete the sentence, "Forgiveness is ________________.
Read the above gospel truth and D&C 64:10.
All of us will have to exercise the principle of forgiveness in our lives, sometimes repeatedly or for great injustices. I am thankful that my father showed me the importance of forgiveness in his life.
Personal story: Shortly after my Dad was called to be Bishop when I was a teen-ager, a distant relative called the Stake President and told him lies about my father and that he should not be Bishop.. In my youthfulness, I was livid and thought we should take legal action against this relative. My father calmed me, ignored the claims and showed me the principles of forgiveness. Life went on and this relative faded into the background. I am greatful for his example as I have had to use these principles multiple times in my own life.
Expeience by Cheif Blue of the Catawba Indian Nation: "One day my eleven-year-old son went squirrel hunting with six other Indians. He saw a squirrel run up a tree and cimbed up to scare it out on a limb. After he had done this he called to the others to hodd their fire until he could get down. One of the Indians in the hunting party had always been jealous of me and my position as chief. He and his son both both shot deliberaately at my boy. He was filled with buckshot from his knees to his head. The Indians carried my boy towards home and found a spot where they lay him while they ran for the doctor. A friend came and found me and said, "Sam, run home at once; your boy has been shot.." I ran all the way home and found my boy near death. The doctor was there and said that the boy would not live. He was right; the boy died in a few minutes. The man and son who had done the shooting were in my front yard visiting with members of the crowd that had gathered. They did not appear to be upset at their deed. My heart filled with revenge and hatred. Something seemed to whisper to me, "If you don't take down your gun and kill that man who murdered your son Sam Blue, you are a coward.."
Now I have been a Mormon ever since I have been a young lad and I knew it would not be right to take revenge. I decided to pray to the Lord about it. I walked to my secret place out in the timber where I have always gone to pray alone when I have a special problem, and there I prayed to the Lord to take revenge out of my heart. I soon felt better and started back to the house. But again I heard something inside whisper, again I turned back and prayed until I felt better. On my way back to the house I again heard the voice say, "Sam Blue, you are a coward." I turned again and went back to pray and this time I told the Lord he must help me or I would be a killler. I asked him to take revenge out of my heart and to keep it out. I felt good when I got up from praying. I went back to the house a third time and when I reached the house I went out and shook hands with the Indian who had killed my boy. There was no hatred or desire for revenge in my heart. (See Marion G. Romney The Power of God Unto Salvation, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year[Provo,3 February 1960] pp.6-7.)
Ask: Was it too much to expect Chief Blue to forgive his son's killers - especially when they did not repent? How did Chief Blue's strong desire to overcome hatred and revenge make it possible for him to forgive? Where did he get the strength to forgive?
If desired and if time, you may want to contrast the above experience with the parable of the unmerciful servant. (See Matthew 35).
Emphasize the importance of wanting to forgive, believing we have the power to forgive, and receiving the blessing of having hatred and revenge taken from our hearts.
Possible Hymns: Should You Feel Inclined To Censure, Love One Another (LDS Hymnbook)
Person of the Week: Jacob Hill When he went to meet his Preschool teacher, she asked if he was always as happy as that day. His mother said yes! Conggratulations to "happy boy", Jacob!
Gospel Truth: Forgiveness is using the power within us to overcome anger, feelings of revenge, and unhappy and bad feelings. Oue Heavenly Father commanded us to forgive everyone, and he will help us as we try to keep this commandment. (FHE Resource Book).
Print the letters F,O,R,G,I,V,E, on seven small pieces of paper. Mix them up and give them to family members to make into a word. Give them help if needed. When the word is complete ask each family member to complete the sentence, "Forgiveness is ________________.
Read the above gospel truth and D&C 64:10.
All of us will have to exercise the principle of forgiveness in our lives, sometimes repeatedly or for great injustices. I am thankful that my father showed me the importance of forgiveness in his life.
Personal story: Shortly after my Dad was called to be Bishop when I was a teen-ager, a distant relative called the Stake President and told him lies about my father and that he should not be Bishop.. In my youthfulness, I was livid and thought we should take legal action against this relative. My father calmed me, ignored the claims and showed me the principles of forgiveness. Life went on and this relative faded into the background. I am greatful for his example as I have had to use these principles multiple times in my own life.
Expeience by Cheif Blue of the Catawba Indian Nation: "One day my eleven-year-old son went squirrel hunting with six other Indians. He saw a squirrel run up a tree and cimbed up to scare it out on a limb. After he had done this he called to the others to hodd their fire until he could get down. One of the Indians in the hunting party had always been jealous of me and my position as chief. He and his son both both shot deliberaately at my boy. He was filled with buckshot from his knees to his head. The Indians carried my boy towards home and found a spot where they lay him while they ran for the doctor. A friend came and found me and said, "Sam, run home at once; your boy has been shot.." I ran all the way home and found my boy near death. The doctor was there and said that the boy would not live. He was right; the boy died in a few minutes. The man and son who had done the shooting were in my front yard visiting with members of the crowd that had gathered. They did not appear to be upset at their deed. My heart filled with revenge and hatred. Something seemed to whisper to me, "If you don't take down your gun and kill that man who murdered your son Sam Blue, you are a coward.."
Now I have been a Mormon ever since I have been a young lad and I knew it would not be right to take revenge. I decided to pray to the Lord about it. I walked to my secret place out in the timber where I have always gone to pray alone when I have a special problem, and there I prayed to the Lord to take revenge out of my heart. I soon felt better and started back to the house. But again I heard something inside whisper, again I turned back and prayed until I felt better. On my way back to the house I again heard the voice say, "Sam Blue, you are a coward." I turned again and went back to pray and this time I told the Lord he must help me or I would be a killler. I asked him to take revenge out of my heart and to keep it out. I felt good when I got up from praying. I went back to the house a third time and when I reached the house I went out and shook hands with the Indian who had killed my boy. There was no hatred or desire for revenge in my heart. (See Marion G. Romney The Power of God Unto Salvation, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year[Provo,3 February 1960] pp.6-7.)
Ask: Was it too much to expect Chief Blue to forgive his son's killers - especially when they did not repent? How did Chief Blue's strong desire to overcome hatred and revenge make it possible for him to forgive? Where did he get the strength to forgive?
If desired and if time, you may want to contrast the above experience with the parable of the unmerciful servant. (See Matthew 35).
Emphasize the importance of wanting to forgive, believing we have the power to forgive, and receiving the blessing of having hatred and revenge taken from our hearts.
Possible Hymns: Should You Feel Inclined To Censure, Love One Another (LDS Hymnbook)
Person of the Week: Jacob Hill When he went to meet his Preschool teacher, she asked if he was always as happy as that day. His mother said yes! Conggratulations to "happy boy", Jacob!
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