Mitten Strings to God ~ Memorial Day with our Kids

Teaching the meaning of Memorial Day to your children can be a challenge.

For many Americans, Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer. We enjoy getting out camping or having a barbecue, but to military families, the meaning runs much deeper than a casual barbecue.

We as the general public should remember and teach our children why there is a day of observance to honor those who sacrifice for our country.

 

The simplest thing you can do to explain and honor this holiday with your children is to spend time talking to them about what Memorial Day means to you. Take the day to talk & reflect on the subject of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Here are a few ideas for things to do with your kids as you talk to them about the meaning of Memorial Day.

* Honor and Respect

        Put flowers on graves at the Veteran's cemetery.

* Visit and Pay Tribute

        Take a Thank You to a Military Relitive.

        Take Thank You cards, cookies, books, or movies to 

        the Veteran's Hospital and visit those who don't have 

        regular visitors. 

* Support

        Go to www.anysoldier.com and send something to a 

        Soldier.

*Remember

        Tell them a story about one of their ansestors that served 

        in the military.

* Celebrate with a Parade

        Watch the Memorial Day Parade on TV or dress up and 

        make homemade instruments and hold your own parade.

* For older kids you can tune into the History Channel or the 

        Military Channel or rent a movie about some of the 

        famous battles of the past.

* Teach your children about Medals of Honor, go to the link 

        http://www.homeofheroes.com/coloringbook/  for a free 

        Medals of Honor printable coloring book.

* Make it fun with activities or crafts

        Here are a few ideas:

 

Paint Rocks for Table Cloth Weights

Decorate Jars for Candles for the Barbecue Table

 

 Get Red, White and Blue sidewalk Chalk and create Patriotic Art

 

Make a Patriotic Hand Print Picture

Make fun Patriotic Treats Together

  

HAVE A GREAT MEMORIAL DAY HONORING OUR MILITARY

AND APPRECIATING OUR FREEDOM!!

 

Witnesses of the Book of Mormon

Taught by Becky S.

"Witness" means to testify of a fact or event. In our society today we see many situations where witnesses are needed--court, births, baptisms, marriages, and car accidents just to name a few. This is 
not something new to society. It is a fixed law that has been known through all ages of time known as the "law of witnesses." It is a law that our Heavenly Father follows as well. He understands that more than one witness is necessary to establish truth.

For many years Joseph Smith was alone as a witness. He "was alone in the first vision, alone when Moroni brought the message to him, alone when he received the plates; but after that he was not alone." 

While translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery noticed several scriptures that referred to the need for three witnesses.

Ether 5:2-4  
2 Nephi 11:3
2 Nephi 27:12

Joseph Smith also received a revelation (Doctrine and Covenants Section 5) discussing the need of three witnesses and the roles they would play.

D&C 5:11-13

Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris were chosen to be those three special witnesses. 

They beheld an angel who stood before them and was holding the gold. The angel turned the leaves of the pages of the plates so they could see the engravings on them. They heard "they voice of God...declaring from the heavens that the translation was by the gift and power of God, and commanding them to bear record of it to all the world."

Joseph Smith was no longer alone. Lucy Mack Smith said "that the Prophet came home weeping for joy after the witnesses had beheld the plates under the direction of an angel of God, because, he said,'The load has been lifted and I am no longer alone.'"

All three of these witnesses played prominent roles in helping establish the gospel after this experience. But even so, all three eventually left the church for their own reasons.

During that time of being estranged from the church it would have been so easy for them to deny the truthfulness of their testimony if their experience of in the woods was not true. But it is true and never once did they deny their testimonies. Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris did return and were rebaptized into the church, but David Whitmer did not return. Up to their dying days all three bore testimony of their experience and it's truthfulness.

Book of Mormon Class Update

The Book of Mormon Class, taught by Sue G. will be taking a short break during the summer months but will be back in the fall. We'd like to thank Sue for putting so much time and effort into teaching the class every week. Every lesson was very interesting and well taught. We can't wait until the fall when the class returns to it's regular schedule. Thank you Sue!

May 2014 Calendar

May 7th:              YM/YW Fireside
                              7 PM -  Everyone is invited to attend. A Sister who translated the Book of                              Mormon into one of the languages spoken in South Africa is the main                                      speaker.

May 15th:            RS Temple Night
                            5:30 PM - Dinner in the cafeteria, followed by the 6:30 PM session

May 27th:           Seminary Graduation
                            7PM at the Stake Center

June 10th:         Special RS Program "The Errand of Angels"
                            7 PM
                 

Ongoing Activities-

Wednesdays:    Neighborhood Play Group*  

                            10:00 AM at the Church. Call Shannon Page at 801-295-5962                                                 for more information.

May 15th:          Pinterest Craft Group*
                             9AM-11AM every 2nd Thursday of the month.
                             Call Sydney Garner at 801-597-0431 for more information.
                               

 *Activities that are neighborhood special interest groups.