Carol Kendall

Gotta get all 50

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My People

Today is my daughter's birthday and I was reflecting on the fact that my kids are now 21, 19, 17, 15, and 12.  It's hard to believe my "little people" are now all taller than me (save 1, Katie, who has grown and inch  and a half in the last month).

Big or little, these five individuals and the Dad who created them with me are the most important people in my life.  It is my privilege to think and pray and plan and prepare for them every single day.  Nothing else I do compares to the deep satisfaction I feel in being a mother.  It is the best.  I love you!!

Beware the FROZEN Heart...Come Unto Christ

Last Sunday, I (along with my Laurels and their advisors) put on a fabulous New Beginnings with the theme "Beware the Frozen Heart...Come Unto Christ."  We had such a great response from girls and parents that I wanted to share it.  Here is a sample of some of the things we did:

Invitation

Food table

Donut snowmen, blue punch in cups that I colored on the outside with those markers you use to write on car windows.

Theme table with gifts

Gift for every girl:  adjustable bracelet with charm that says "Come Unto Christ", the tag is laminated to be hung in their room or on a bathroom mirror.

Front - we projected the videos here and you can see the snowflakes we had hung from the ceiling.

Program (names taken off for privacy)

ANNA - INVITATION

Leader:  Our theme tonight is Break the FROZEN heart…Come Unto Christ.  When the movie opens, Anna is singing to her sister Elsa asking, “Do you want to build a snowman?”  It is an invitation to her to connect, to love, to be friends and share life together.  Christ is similar to Anna in that He issues that invitation to each of us to come unto Him, to know Him, to love Him and be loved by Him. He is your brother and He wants to be your friend.

_____________________ : In Moroni 10:32 we read: “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness.”  Henry B. Eyring said, “The words “come unto Christ” are an invitation.  It is the most important invitation you could ever offer to another person.  It is the most important invitation anyone could accept…Every member of the Church, upon accepting the baptismal covenant, becomes a disciple who has promised to stand as a witness of Jesus Christ at all times in any place he or she may be in.  The purpose of our witness is to invite people to come unto him.”

Video: “COME UNTO CHRIST”

Introduction of new Beehives

TROLLS - IMPROVE

Leader:  The trolls describe Kristoff as being a “Fixer Upper.”  Each of us is a fixer upper, too!  Christ wants to help us with this, in fact, we can’t do it without Him.  That’s why we are commanded to “be perfected in him.”  Personal Progress helps Young Women come unto Christ and be like him.

 Video:  “THE MIRACLE OF PERSONAL PROGRESS”

_______________:  Do first part of Good Works #3 (Read Mosiah 18:7-10, and in your journal list three ways you can comfort others or help them bear their burdens.)  Encourage the parents to follow up with their daughters to complete the experience.

ELSA - INSPIRE

Leader:  In the movie, Elsa’s breakthrough comes when she sings “Let It Go” –- she realizes that the greatest freedom she can experience is when she lets go of the things of the world and becomes what she was meant to be.  You, too, are meant to be more than what the world would have you be.  You can become what Heavenly Father intended you to be.  You will accomplish this as you come unto Christ, become perfected in him, and “deny yourselves of all ungodliness.”

_______________:  Are we truly striving to come unto Christ in our lives?  How do we know?  Those who have come unto Christ are those who are striving to become like Him.  They are not striving for worldly things or the approval of the world. 

_______________:  One of the ways Young Women “deny themselves ungodliness” is by participating in worthwhile activities.  These activities bring us together as “fellowcitizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19) and help us grow into the kind of people Heavenly Father wants and needs us to be.

Show slide show of past year activities to song "Let It Go"

Bishop speaks

Song sung by all Young Women:  “Come Unto Christ”

I Had To Say

Lots of news the last couple days that it seems everyone is sounding off on.  I don't usually wade into the fray, but I felt it was important for me to say:

Just because something is legal doesn't make it right.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/12/19/duck-dynasty-family-phil/

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=28099570&nid=148&title=federal-judge-overturns-utah-same-sex-marriage-ban&fm=home_page&s_cid=featured-1

Cat in the Hat Personal Progress

Our theme for Evening of Excellence was "Oh, the Places You'll Go" from Dr. Seuss.  As YW president, I was asked to talk and since I was dressed as the Cat In the Hat, I wrote a little poem to inspire.  The girls and adults loved it, so I thought I'd share it here.  Feel free to use it in your wards and families too!

Cat in the Hat Personal Progress

If the sun does not shine.

And it’s too wet to play.

Do not sit in the house

All that cold, cold, wet day

Personal Progress is something

For one and for two.

Lots of wonderful projects 

You will love to do!

So pull out your book

It’s for short and for tall.

Don’t just sit in your house.

and do nothing at all.

For if all that you do is to

Sit!

Sit!

Sit!

Sit!

You will not like it.

Not one little bit. 

So listen to me!

I’m the Cat in the Hat!

Listen to me!

And you will not fall flat!

There is lots you can do

and it starts just like that.

Begin building your faith

It is fun that’s not funny.

Plant a seed that will grow

In the sun that is sunny!”

To your faith add patience, kindness,

temperance, and love

These things are all in you,

from your Father above.

As His daughter you are cherished,

He knows and loves you.

Your life’s mission to fulfill

Is what you must do.

Does this seem like a lot?

For I’ve still more to say.

Don’t be discouraged,

Just start today.

There’s so much to learn,

Reading lights up the way!

“Knowledge is power,”

So the wise people say.

Choose the right not the wrong,

Choose the right above all. 

Choose the right not the wrong,

On you consequences fall!

Serving others is key.

Let your light shine so bright.

While you’re helping another,

You’ll be filled with delight. 

Live as you say you believe,

Keep your promises true,

Like our Savior who did

All He promised to do.

One more value to learn

And then you’ll have them all,

One more value to learn,

This is no time to fall!

The temple is your goal,

Pure and worthy you must be.

As a virtuous woman,

Worth more than a ruby.

Chaste in thought and in deed,

Creative power you possess,

Treat yourself as a temple, and

Future lives you will bless.

“Look at you!

Look at you now!” says this cat.

Your Personal Progress all done

I give you a tip of my hat.

A grand path you have trod!

A grand woman you’ll be!

I’ll give you this necklace!

With a shining ruby!

And look!

You get a plaque!

But that is not all!

Oh, no.

That is not all...

To your fellow young women,

You can lend a hand,

Help them walk the path too

And earn all that is grand!

You’ve learned all about prayer,

Taking the sacrament.

You’ve learned of teaching,

Of cooking, and of talent,

Of Atonement and tithing,

Of motherhood and home,

Of standards and blessings,

Of making your gratitude known.

So when your mother comes in

And she says to you,

“Did you have any fun?

Tell me. What did you do?”

I hope that you will know

Exactly what to say.

I hope that you will tell her

All that went on here today.

How you learned and you grew,

And came closer to God,

Prepared to enter His House,

His Son’s path you have trod.

© 2013 Kris Crowther