URGENT- First Presidency Appeals to Church Members to Help People in Haiti

First Presidency Statement on Haiti

22 January 2010 I  The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement today:
    Our hearts are filled with sadness as we have watched the suffering in Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake. We turn to the example of Jesus Christ who reached out to “lift up the hands which hang down” and “strengthen the feeble knees.” We are keenly aware that many in America are dealing with economic challenges caused by the recession. However, we are appealing to members to donate to Church Humanitarian Services as their means allow in order to help our Haitian brothers and sisters. Many have already contributed and others are anxious to do so.

   Money is not the only need in Haiti. People are frightened, bewildered, and wholly uncertain about their future. In addition to what people can do in helping with food, water and shelter, there needs to be a calming influence over that troubled nation. We invite our people everywhere to supplicate God for a spirit of calm and peace among the people as urgent aid and reconstruction efforts continue.  See attached links: First Presidency Statement from:"Newsroom-The Official Church Resource for News Media, Opinion Leaders, and the Public"http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/first-presidency-statement-on-haiti and: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/

How to donate: http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian-services/

West Valley Fourth Ward NEWS- January

Bishopric Message
  We have just celebrated a most wonderful and joyous time of the year we know as the Christmas season – a time of giving and caring about others.  It is easy to carry this loving spirit this time of year as we follow and try to emulate the greatest example of all, our Savior Jesus Christ. We are kept busy making cookies and other treats to take to our neighbors and friends, and we try to remember anyone who might need a visit, a Christmas carol or just a warm “hello.”
  May we remember the feelings we have in this season and make a greater effort throughout the year to share these things with all those with whom we come in contact. May we recognize these feelings as promptings of the Holy Ghost and act on them as He did.
  May we take a little “Christmas spirit” with us throughout the year and remember the widows and widowers – those who are alone or anyone who needs a visit, a kind hug and smile. “For inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).
  May each of us recognize that we are all God’s children and we are all brothers and sisters, and that we live under the most blessed and fortunate circumstances of all mankind. May we in turn seek and take opportunities to bless others throughout the
year.

Happy New Year!

from your bishopric

Russell Mathis, Randy Hainsworth and Mark Nielsen

GOSPEL DOCTRINE CLASS

Study Schedule for January (Old Testament Studies)

Jan 3 My Work and My Glory Moses 1

                   Jan 10 Chosen Before . . . Born Abraham 3; Moses 4

  Jan 17 The Creation Moses 1:27-42; 2-3

              Jan 24 Transgression Opened Eyes Moses 4; 5; 6

Relief Society

Our Christmas party has come and gone. Those of you who were able to attend seemed to have a lot of fun! We appreciate those who were involved in any way. We hope you enjoyed the delectable variety of Christmas treats that were available to take home. We look forward to a new year of interesting and uplifting Relief Society events. We hope you plan to come! On Saturday, January 9th from 10:00 AM to noon, we plan to meet with each of the visiting teachers and supervisors. Please mark this date on you calendars. A signup sheet will be passed around on Jan 3rd to accommodate a time that will be best for you. Our first meeting of the new year will be on Tuesday night, January 12, at 6:30 pm. It will center around our special angels, also known as visiting teachers.

Congratulations to the Rob and Jeanette Bentley family on the arrival of their new daughter and sister, Ashlynn. Both mother and daughter are doing pretty well. Ashlynn has been on oxygen, but is getting stronger. Just at printing we also send congratulations to Laura and Aaron Rollins on the birth of their daughter, Megan Elizabeth, born Monday, December 28 at 2:30 am, weighing 7 lb. 4 oz. Mother and baby are home and doing well.

   Earlene Thaxton is recuperating from her recent knee surgery. This is her second in so many weeks. We wish her a speedy recovery.

  Congratulations to Jessica and Dave Bateman on their recent marriage.  We are glad they are making their home on Whitehall.

Thank you for all your generous donations to ward and community this year during this holiday season. Overheard earlier this year from Anjuli Wheeler to her daughter: “Service is its own reward.” Thanks Anjuli.

Stake Temple Day will be Thursday, January 21, with a Chapel Meeting at 6:40 pm at the temple, therefore we will not have a separate RS Temple day that week.

We wish you all a HAPPY NEWYEAR!!

Relief Society Lesson Schedule

Jan 3 TBA Relief Society Presidency

Jan 10 Lesson 1 - Gospel Principles Diane

Jan 17 Lesson 2 - Gospel Principle

Jan 24 Stake Conference

Jan 31 TBA Bishopric

RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENCY

President Kay Williams 963-9706

1st Counselor Barbara Stott 969-8721

2nd Counselor Dorene Lynch 969-1700

Secretary Pam Magnuson 968-6506

Dear Biblios:

  As we look back on the year we have just accomplished, we can reflect on all the good memories we have made in our participation in Book Club. Our year was brought to a close with an especially enjoyable evening under the care and keeping of Jean Stout as she presented Two From Galilee: The Story of Mary and Joseph for our final meeting in November. It was a thought-provoking discussion and Jean did a wonderful job of putting us there in those times, experiencing what it must have been like for that young couple and their overwhelming responsibility. Thanks for all the effort!

  I know you have all been anxious to hear how things came out on our Books for Kids Project . . .so I shall keep you in suspense no longer! As always, the true Spirit of Christmas took over and we gave the Elves of the North some real competition. There were big smiles and many, many THANKS when our gift of 126 BOOKS (no typo -- that is a triple digit number!) was delivered to the Ronald McDonald House. I tell you, Scrooge does NOT live among the blessed souls of this Ward. A million thanks to everyone who was so generous in this project.

  Since I am quite sure that your little eyes have been skimming and darting in hopes of getting a glimpse of the upcoming read, you should know that we first have to give our best wishes for a speedy recovery to Earlene. She received quite the Christmas present from Santa . . . I'll let you decide if she was naughty or nice. In an attempt to lengthen her stride, she is recuperating from an unexpected knee replacement. Earlene had the book presentation for January. Obviously, it would be a bit difficult to work on a book review through the fog of drugs. Rather interesting and entertaining for us maybe . . . but, still difficult. HEE HEE

  My delay in submitting to the newsletter was attributed to the dilemma this left me with. After much deliberation, I regret to inform that you best start groaning and making other plans for the night of January 26th --- our next get-together. You are left with Yours Truly to once again grind the motions of a Book Review. Please register any

complaints with Earlene! HEE HEE

I would not say that we could be considered a "Literary" group and my own personal choice would be more like Mystery Guild, but we are going to invite ourselves to another time that is most fascinating and engaging. Prepare, my friends, to learn, laugh and DISCUSS (def. -- to consider or examine by comment, etc.; talk over or write about) an extremely well-written novel that opens in London in 1946. January, 1946: Writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (no, it is not referring to cows!). And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.

  I am fortunate to have been told recently about this book and had just read it, so I will now pass on the gift and give you an opportunity to read it. Help me out here, my fellow Biblios, and pick up this great story. It will help you get through your January blahs and it will prove to be a fun discussion. Treat yourself and give the New Year a terrific start!

Your Devoted Editor,

Kris Humphries

801.963.9706 or 801.808.9783

Book: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Authors: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Presenter: Kris Humphries

Place: Jean's Island

Date: Tuesday, Jan 26th

Time: 7:00 pm

MISSIONARIES

Elder Joseph C. McManama

mailto:eldermcmanama@myldsmail.net
Elder Scott Bowen

Family and Church HistoryMission Church Office Building

Dear Mom, Dad and family,

  The days fly by. I am shocked how time has begun to pick up. I guess when you do the same things every day that’s what happens. I now have 17 months in the mish.

I am happy because this week we have two baptisms planned for tomorrow. We will be finishing this field strong. Our zone has racked up 50 baptisms. We have a zone of about 12 missionaries. So good thing all are working hard.

  The other day we were walking home with some members from playing volleyball in the church and a little boy in the street screamed something out at us, some racist comment or something. One of the little member girls who was walking with us (like 12 years old heard what he said and ran full speed at him and pushed him while screaming in his face "you don’t talk to angels of the Lord like that!"  Hearing that, I looked around thinking "what angels is she talking about?" Then I realized she was talking about us! Weird to think that. . . and hearing it made me want to be better.

Elder McManama

Thought for the month

“Never forget that the purpose for which a man lives is the improvement of the man himself, so that he may go out of this world having, in his great sphere or his small one, done some little good for his fellow creatures and labored a little to diminish the sin and sorrow that are in the world.”

-- William E. Gladstone

FORMER WARD MEMBER GREETINGS

Hello WV 4th Ward Family,

  Hey! It was great to read the Newsletter and feel connected to the many happenings there.

  Wow! Four babies in one month. Congrats Crissy, Harkers, Burtons, and Pratts and I thought Bentleys were close??? I see the RS cookie tradition is going strong. Wendy and I still find great recipes from that old email Sister Williams sent out.

  The update with us is we found a home in thecity of Frisco, a city about 20 minutes North of Dallas. My counseling practice is in the city of Lewisville, about 15 minutes from Frisco. It has a giant lake with three fingers. Our office overlooks a small lake. Our home is in a nice neighborhood in the Frisco 3rd Ward. There are eight stakes in the North Dallas area. The kids have adjusted fairly well. We became friends with our real estate agent's family, the Paulssons, who hosted us forThanksgiving. They have children close to our kids’ ages.

  Noel and Taylor go to facebook regularly to catch up on their friends and life in Utah. So, keep posting your updates and add all of us as friends on Facebook so we can stay in touch. If you are not on Facebook, you can email us or send us a letter. Our family Christmas letter will go out next week.

Love you all, Shane Adamson&Family

West Valley 4th Ward News December 2009

Bishopric Message
As we enter the month of December, evidences of entering the annual Christmas season are everywhere. Children are making out their wish lists for Christmas presents and parents are nervously looking over their family budgets. Our neighborhoods light up with Christmas decorations, Christmas music has been running for at least a month in all of the stores and shoppers are camped out in the early morning hours on the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of special sale prices. Calendars are beginning to fill up with Christmas season parties, concerts and other events. The retail sales, the day after Thanksgiving, will be closely watched as a barometer of the economy –will the present recession continue into next year?  Have we forgotten the original reason we celebrate this time of year? Even though we know from biblical descriptions and modern revelation that Christ our Savior was born in the early spring, the Christian world has accepted Dec. 25th as the day to celebrate His birth. Everywhere the original reason to celebrate this season is disappearing. Lest someone be offended, the standard greeting on cards is now “Happy Holidays,” not Merry Christmas!  In a recent talk, the speaker shared four ways of how our Christmas Season was significant to him:

1. He looked forward every year to the association with his family, both on Thanksgiving and Christmas. He either traveled far, or his children traveled to spend time in his home so that he and his wife could renew relationships with grandchildren.

2. He loved the music of this season. He regretted that we sing the beautiful Christmas carols but one month a year! Handel’s Messiah and many of the popular Christmas tunes held a special place in his heart.

3. He looked forward to family traditions. In his home they always sought out and attended a performance of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol!”

4. Lastly and most importantly, he remembered the birth of the Christ Child, our Saviour. He recounted the gifts we received from Christ: His Church, His Teachings and Gospel, the opportunity to repent of our sins because of His Atonement, and the gift of eternal life through His Resurrection, all making him a better person. He felt the desire to serve others, especially the lowly and downtrodden as Christ did because of the spirit of Christ and Christmas that entered his heart every year.

We need to develop our own family traditions where we remember the true meaning of Christmas.

May we find a place in our hearts for the Christ Child and all he stood for.

Merry Christmas from your bishopric

Russell Mathis, Gaylen Atkinson

and Mark Nielsen

Sub for Santa

Once again this year we will be providing a Subfor-Santa program to assist families within our neighborhood. If you would like to participate by making a cash donation please contact Kay Williams (801-808-9794) or Bishop Mathis (801-968-3779) for information and instructions on how you can contribute.

Please Come to Our 4th Ward Christmas Party!
Who: Everyone
When: December 12th at 4:30
What: Soup & Salad, Fun
Where:Whitehall Church House
Be There!

Dear Friends and Fellow Bookers: Hummmm-mmmm, humm . . . Where, oh where, has this '09 gone . . .. where oh where can it be??? It has flown by with ease as we have sometimes staggered, limped, broad-jumped, zipped, zigged and zagged along in an attempt to keep up with it. What a ride it has been and our journey was once again made more worthwhile with the presentation of "Pillar of Fire" given by Pam Magnuson in October. Many thanks and applause, Pam, for your extra effort in bringing the lives of Lehi, Nephi, Laban, Aaron, Jonathan, the Elders, and others to our greater understanding of how times might have been then. You made it exciting, interesting and left us wanting more. We all enjoyed it immensely! Kudos!

  As we bid 2009 farewell, we have enjoyed many enlightening, growing, enchanting, suspenseful and enduring encounters. We were introduced to some great reads, great laughs, and wonderful people along the way. More than that, we had the opportunity to build on our friendships and each month, got that little boost of happiness from being among friends. I cannot thank you enough for your support, encouragement, participation and smiling faces. YOU are the ones who have made our Book Club what it is, and will be, for many months to come . . .what a gift we have to look forward to! Thanks to you, our new roster/assignment sheet doesn't look quite so bare now. There are still spaces awaiting your loving strokes, but we have an excellent start to the New Year. I for one look forward to it all with great anticipation.  I don't often take this liberty, but I am going to suggest a book for your reading pleasure during the month of December. You may even want to make its reading a tradition of the season. I figure since we all feel the same way . . . rushed and broke . ..you could use a little "brain candy." Pick up the book Skipping Christmas by one of our favorite authors, John Grisham. My mom (Charlotte Humphries, for those of you who don't know her) is a great proponent and example of living life with HUMOR! According to her philosophy, you may as well be dead if you don't have humor! HEE HEE.   She will be 96 years old this month. . . I think she may be on to something and maybe we ought to take heed. I'm sure she would like me to take heed on a few other things as well . . . being my mother and all, but this is all you need to know about. HEE HEE

  Please remember to get the word out for our Books for Kids Project. Anyone who would like to help out, please have books for any ages up to and including 18. You can drop them off to my home, take them to church and give them to Kay (R.S.), or call me for a pick up. The DEADLINE is December 16th! This has been a rewarding project in the past and we appreciate your generosity . . . as do the little souls at the Ronald McDonald house.

'Til we meet again, my good friends . . . a very joyous and peaceful Holiday Season.

Sincerely, Your Personal Frosty,

Kris Humphries 801-963-9706 or 801-808-9783

Relief Society

    We hope that you all are feeling well enough and that you enjoyed the November break doing something to lift your spirit and lighten your step.

   Come join with us at our third annual Cookie/Treat Exchange and Social planned for Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 pm. A light dinner will be enjoyed as we visit. We have some fun activities planned as well. Bring a dozen or two ofyour delectable cookies or treats. This will give us an opportunity to share treats with our friends and neighbors, as well as enjoy being with and getting to know our sisters better!
   Once again we have an opportunity to share some clean, used clothing with those less fortunate. We are collecting warm outerwear, socks, hats, blankets, coats/jackets, gloves/mittens for the Good Samaritans. They would also appreciate new, un-opened toiletries, like toothpaste/brushes, lotion, shampoo, etc. All contributions can be placed in the tubs just outside the Relief Society room under the coat rack. These will be collected until mid-December.
  As a ward we will also be able to participate in a unique Sub-for-Santa project. There are several families in the ward area who are really struggling to provide Christmas toys and clothes for their children. The Bishopric and Ward Council have decided to provide gift cards to the parents of these children so they can pick up the things of which they are most in need. Therefore, the ward will be accepting cash (check) donations via the tithing/contribution envelopes. Just write Sub for Santa in the “Other” column and give it to Bishop Mathis or one of his counselors. Call Kay Williams at 801-808-9794 with any questions.
  Wedding bells will soon be ringing for Jenny Hainsworth and Adam Haymond. Jenny is the daughter of Randy and Brenda Hainsworth. They will be married on Friday, Dec. 11 in the Salt Lake Temple. We send our best wishes to them.
  Look for opportunities in the future to go to the dry pack cannery to boost your storage variety.
  The Jordan River Temple will be closed November 30 until December 22. You might consider attending the new Oquirrh Hills or Draper Temples during this time.
  We are pleased to have Laura Rollins as our new blogger! Be sure to visit our R.S. blog found at wv4th.blogspot.com.
  Congratulations to Emilie and Dustin Harker. Emilie delivered a baby girl on Sunday, Nov. 22, Camille Lydia (pronounced the French way, Cami) is the seventh child to be born into the Harker Family. Mother and baby are doing well.  Congratulations also to Regina and Lorin Pratt on the arrival of their second son, Jared Lorin.  Congratulations to Crissy and Anthony on the arrival of their son, Adam. Congratulations to Robyn and Casey Burton on the arrival of daughter number three, Kaylee Anne. These announcements may be a little past due as many of you are likely already aware of these newest additions to our ward family. If we missed announcing yours, please let us know if you would like us to include them in our next newsletter. We have some more arrivals coming in the very near future.
  Thank you to those who helped with the Stake High Priest/Singles Dinner. It was a lovely evening complete with a ham dinner and delightful musical entertainment. We would like to thank those whohelped in the planning, cooking, helping in the kitchen and serving that night for their generous service.
  Thanks, too, to those of you who helped in any way with the luncheon for the Chesley family recently. We are sorry for their loss of son and brother, Eric, and express our love to Bill and his family.  We would also like to express our love and sympathies to the Wayne and Hendrika Nelson family whose daughter-in-law, Karlene, passed away recently. She was married to their son Tom.
  Remember your visiting teaching visits as the holidays seem to come at us at a fast pace. A new year is just around the corner! Share your sweet spirits with those with whom you come in contact. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Relief Society Lesson Schedule
Dec 6 Christmas Prose   Kay Neeley
Dec 13 JS46: The Martyrdom   Diane
Dec 20 JS47: Praise to the Man   Julie
Dec 27 October Conference Talk  Rose

PRIMARY

We would like to thank the Primary children for doing such a great job in our Primary program last month. They looked just like angels up on the stand dressed in white and singing their little hearts out! Thank you, too, to all of the parents for supporting them.

  Last month we said goodbye to our Sister Nielsen who had been teaching the 8-year-olds. We will all miss her and want to thank her for her hard work and loving attitude. Sister Bawden has taken over that class and we are  excited to have her with us!

  Please keep in mind that we will be having our annual "meet your teacher breakfast" on January 2nd at the church. This is a fun activity that allows your children to come and meet their new teacher for the upcoming year as well as eat a yummy breakfast and play fun games. You will be receiving an invitation as the date approaches.

  The theme for this month in Primary is "My family is blessed when we remember Jesus Christ."  During this month we will be learning about the life of Christ and how we can always remember the love that he has for us.  As always, we want to thank you for sharing
your children with us. We love them so much and learn so much from them each week!

PROVIDENT LIVING

During the month of December give yourself the gift of increased Spiritual Self Reliance. Include in your celebration of the Savior’s birth things that will help you remember Him and increase your spirituality. A solid testimony of the Savior and his gospel will help you overcome the trials of the world and bring you peace during the Christmas Season and throughout your life. As a family, make a list of things that you can do during December to make Christmas a spiritual experience. You may want to include some of the following activities:

1. Purchase scriptures for each member of your family who can read. These can be inexpensive paperback editions with each child’s name embossed on the cover. Supply marking pencils so scriptures can be underlined. Scripture story books could be purchased for younger children.

2. Read the story of Christ’s birth in each of the gospels in the New Testament. Have everyone mark their scriptures and compare the stories. Read the children’s version of Christ’s birth for young children. Develop a habit of reading scriptures daily to increase your spirituality.

3. Have a Family Night where you discuss the true meaning of Christmas. Smaller children can dress up as wise men and shepherds and the holy family.  Weekly family nights will help keep your family focused on the gospel in their lives.

4. Visit Temple Square and view the manger scenes and the movies in the visitor’s centers.

5. Attend the temple. It is a wonderful place to feel peace during the chaos of the holidays. Since the Jordan River Temple will be closed from December 1-21 it would be a good time to visit one of the new temples in the valley. Regular temple attendance will contribute greatly to increased spirituality.

6. Plan a family service project. Do secret service for a neighbor, visit an elderly person, participate in a sub for Santa project or any other project which will help the family look beyond themselves.

7. Read uplifting Christmas stories as a family.

8. Have family and personal prayers daily no matter how chaotic the holidays become.

9. Listen to sacred Christmas music at home and in the car. It can be very calming.

10. Watch inspiring Christmas movies as a family.

11. Attend inspiring Christmas programs such as Savior of the World or the Tabernacle Choir Christmas program. Support your children in their school Christmas programs.

12. Watch the First Presidency Christmas devotional as a family.

13. Attend Church weekly and be spiritually fed. Enjoy the ward Christmas program.  Plan your holiday celebration to include Christ and His gospel. A wonderful Christmas should include spiritual moments, family togetherness and service along with the other celebrations of the season.

GOSPEL DOCTRINE CLASS

Study Schedule for December (Doctrine & Covenants)
Dec 6 Being Good Citizens D&C 58, 98
Dec 13 Family Ordained of God Proclamation
Dec 20 Zion Pure in Heart D&C; Pearl of Great Price
Dec 27 To Be Announced

MISSIONARIES

Elder Joseph C. McManama  eldermcmanama@myldsmail.net
Hello,
Right now I am happy, I love life and my president. Today we had conference and he speaks with so much power I love him! I want to be him!  Today he completely called us to repent. That’s his job, isn’t it? We call the members and the investigators to repent, then he in his great wisdom calls us to repent. I am honestly terrified of the man and his power, but I love him.
  My companion is looking skinny. He doesn’t eat much, I have to eat his mashed potatoes. But he’s a cool cat and we are homies.  We baptized Sunday, and this week we are going to baptize a bunch!  We have found some really special people who accept everything that we teach, and we have really been able to see them change and really believe in God. Also we have been giving marriage therapy classes to a couple. The couple has been married for like 30 years, but somehow we always have the answers for them and I love them so much. I love the mission for this.  I am excited to talk for Christmas. I hope that the new baby is happy and healthy.  I love you and miss you. Always remember to pray and read the scripts so that you can be protected from the temptations of the world. I have realized that I hate TV and video games. They are a waste of time.
  Life is beautiful and easy. I’m so happy for all of you and love you. Tell Megan I love her too and miss her a lot! I hope we go to college one day, and it will be fun to see her off on her mission.

Elder Scott Bowen  Family and Church History Mission Church Office Building

Please email your articles to peggy52@safe-mail.net no later than December 20th this month. Thanks!

Relief Society Christmas Social- Reminder!!! Tuesday Dec. 8th

Clipart from Mormon Share

If you would like to participate in the cookie/treat exchange, we are recommending 2 dozen cookies or treats that would feed 12 people.

Sign-up sheets will going around in Primary, Sunday School, and Relief Society on Sunday December 6th.  The Relief Society Presidency have purchased the items for the light dinner.  We just need volunteers to prepare and bring the items to the Ward by 6:00 pm.  If you didn't see the sign-up sheet and would still like to help, please contact Dorene Lynch. 

Relief Society Humanitarian Project

Clipart from Mormon Share

Latter-day Preparations: What We Learned at Conference By Gary C. Lawrence

Remember (past) General Conferences when we were told to grow gardens, put in a supply of food, prepare 72-hour kits, get out of debt, and put our houses in order by preparing every needful thing?
The Church's instructions on provident living still stand, of course, and there are wonderful resources available to help us. But when was the last time such counsel received significant attention in General Conference?
As best I can recall, there was a turning point when President Hinckley, after an extensive sermon in a priesthood session on financial preparations, said, "Now that's all I'm going to say about that." It may have been the last time he mentioned physical preparations in a General Conference address.
During the five sessions of conference just completed, I attempted to write down every admonition, instruction, exhortation, suggestion or recommendation given by the speakers. I collected 430 items of counsel in all, but.
No one talked about food storage
No one advised putting together emergency kits
No one exhorted us to get out of debt
No one said to grow a garden
There were only three references to financial matters (Elder Watson, Bishop Burton and Elder Christofferson) and all of them were warnings against excesses and greed, not about preparations.
Many sense that things could soon break loose - that it wouldn't take much to put many prophesied events about the last days into motion. At this time of turmoil throughout the world, a roller coaster economy, crime, thugocracies, natural disasters, looming inflation and even nuclear threats, it would seem a natural time for our leaders to talk about nuts-and-bolts preparation - to tell us what we should do next.
Well, they did. But not in a direction some may have expected. (And the rumor du jour, that the call-out of Israel to flee to its tents was imminent, failed again - surprise, surprise.)
We've been hearing about food storage and other preparations since 1936. The way I see the talks this conference, those days are over. Members who haven't prepared physically are not very likely to start now simply because two or three more General Authorities plead with them.
This is not to suggest we'll never hear counsel about physical preparations again in General Conference, but rather it appears the emphasis is shifting from physical preparation to spiritual preparation - to build strength of heart, mind and spirit for whatever is coming, and especially to become more proficient at receiving personal revelation.
Those who watched conference hoping for a fish found that they instead were instructed how to fish. Of the 29 individuals who addressed us, 16 of them spoke about the Holy Ghost - how we can cultivate the gift of the Holy Ghost, how to improve our sensitivity to promptings, how to purify our lives so we can hear gentle spiritual communications, and related counsel - in other words, how we can gain personal instruction to guide us through coming events from the Source that knows everything. In speaking order:

• Elder Scott: Consistently strive to recognize and follow the feelings prompted by the Spirit.
• Sister Matsumori: Help others become more familiar with promptings of the Spirit.
• Elder Clayton: Be humble so you can hear the word of the Lord.
• President Uchtdorf: Listen for the Father's voice for it leads to the ministration of the Holy Spirit.
• Elder Oaks: Listen and feel of God's love.
• Elder Hales: Yield to the influence of the Holy Ghost.
• Elder Watson: Be temperate in all things as guided by the Holy Ghost.
• Elder Anderson: Turn away from pride, anger and impure thoughts.
• President Packer: The Holy Ghost communicates to our spirit with promptings and impressions.
• President Eyring: Learn to follow inspiration.
• President Monson: Refrain from anger so you will have the Spirit with you.
• Elder Perry: Listen to the Spirit for guidance.
• Bishop Burton: Let virtue garnish your thoughts.
• Sister Dibb: Use the safety equipment of scriptures, prophets, and the Holy Ghost.
• Elder Nelson: Cultivate spiritual discernment.
• Elder Ringwood: Be sensitive to the Holy Ghost.

The emphasis on these basic principles suggests that we haven't been following them, as we should. Which brings to mind the well-known story of Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers. Every season, even after the Packers had won two Super Bowls, Lombardi would address his players and start with the basics: "Gentlemen, this is a football." (And Max McGee, the team's star receiver who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl history, would say, "Not so fast, coach, not so fast.")
There wasn't a player who didn't already know what Lombardi would say - blocking, tackling, mental alertness. But he said it over and over because they fell short on execution. Our leaders are obviously telling us it's time to execute the basics better and bulk up our spiritual preparations to match whatever we've prepared for our physical survival.
Having a house full of wheat, beans and rice will be insufficient if we are not strong in spirit and mind as we face prophesied events.
(Contribution article from Pam & Gary Magnuson)

Karlene Nelson - Wayne & Hendricka's Daughter-in law

Karlene Ellsworth Nelson My Little Girl Karlene went to be with her "Pops" on October 26, 2009 from complications of surgery.She was born January 28, 1962 to Merlin and Shirley Ellsworth and lived in Magna, Utah for many years. She was the third child out of four. She was married to Tom S. Nelson May 12, 1991 for 18 years. She was always doing little things for others, loved making and buying little treats and presents for family. She loved the good things in life, camping, fishing and the outdoors. Her life was her family. She loved spending time with her mom and talking with her for hours. She also loved her father Merlin who was her "Pops" who preceded her in death on November 11, 2003. She is also preceded in death by her grandfather Joe Black from Kemmer, WY. She left behind her loving husband Tom, West Jordon; mother Shirley, Randlett, UT; brothers Kary (Chris), Honeyville, Utah, Steve (ex - Lori Cook), West Jordon, Tracy, Magna; nieces Cori, Whintnee, Kaylee; nephews Erik, (Jerod - deceased) and grandmother Lillian Torrey, West Valley. TO MY WIFE As the world moves on ours does not Her life is better and ours is not Our hearts and minds are heavy her soul and spirit is free I love you my little Girl. Your Big Boy - TOM Private family services were held at Starks Funeral Parlor on October 29, 2009. Online condolences www.starksfuneral.com