Emotional Goal...Listen to conference with a purpose and a will to pay attention. Before conference begins, ask in prayer to be directed to God's will for you for the next six months. What would he have you do to build his kingdom in you? Did you start a church journal? If so take notes as you listen to conference. How can you improve? Don't think of it as a guilt trip but a grand opportunity to be taught at the feet of the Master. "The truths of the gospel have been beautifully taught and reemphasized. As we take the messages of the past two days into our hearts and into our lives, we will be blessed." President Thomas S. Monson, October 2012
Physical Goal...OK it's no secret that the Word of Wisdom is true. It's time to remove all unhealthy food items from your home, starting with fake hydrogenated peanut butter and shortening; hydrogenated fats are poison to the cardio-vascular system. Look through your cabinets, read the labels, and toss all products with hydrogenated ingredients. Then, toss all products with long lists of chemical additives. Stop using these today and refuse to buy any more of these products made by designing men; throw them away. Donating them isn't a good idea either. Is it OK to give poison to the poor? Daily exercise, choosing an optimistic attitude, and a Word of Wisdom diet can prevent and in some cases reverse cardio-vascular disease, cancer, depression, and diabetes, which are directly caused by our own actions.
Spiritual Goal...Let's get off the temple welfare wagon and take some family names to the temple. It is a spiritual high to take Grandma Billie through the temple; it really is. "Some may feel that if they pay their tithing, attend their regular meetings and other duties, give of their substance to the poor, or perchance spend one, two, or more years preaching in the world, they are absolved from further duty. But the greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead. We may and should do all these other things, for which reward will be given, but if we neglect the weightier privilege and commandment, notwithstanding all other good works, we shall find ourselves under severe condemnation. And why such condemnation? Because “the greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us, is to seek after our dead.” Because we cannot be saved without them, “it is necessary that those who have gone before and those who come after us should have salvation in common with us, and thus hath God made it obligatory to man,” says the Prophet Joseph Smith." Joseph Fielding Smith, February 1971 If you don't know where to start, call Janet Seegmiller; she loves to help.
Financial Goal...many years ago at a stake Relief Society meeting in Kent Washington, I learned about de-junking. Remember the old saying, 'a place for everything and everything in its place?' The famous organizing guru taught us to get rid of things that didn't have a proper place and learn to care for and organize the things that were left. Taking that one step further, let's go through closets and drawers. Donate some things. Then sell the rest on ebay or at your own carport sale. Use this money to pay down a debt or build up your garden. Let this goal help you become one of the world's best homemakers! Then resolve not to fill up your space with unnecessary things again. Use your home to bring peace and beauty to the lives of your family; clutter doesn't do this. Order does and so does well organized home storage items. "Mothers who know are nurturers. This is their special assignment and role under the plan of happiness. To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Therefore, mothers who know create a climate for spiritual and temporal growth in their homes. Another word for nurturing is homemaking. Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home. Home is where women have the most power and influence; therefore, Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world. Working beside children in homemaking tasks creates opportunities to teach and model qualities children should emulate. Nurturing mothers are knowledgeable, but all the education women attain will avail them nothing if they do not have the skill to make a home that creates a climate for spiritual growth. Growth happens best in a “house of order,” and women should pattern their homes after the Lord’s house (see D&C 109). Nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work. Helping growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role bestowed on women." Julie B. Beck, October 2007
Emergency and Pantry Kits...Use the things in your kits and replace them over the week of Conference. Since you will be using these items instead of your regular menu, use your grocery budget to replace them.
Storage Goal...Do you have extra sheets, blankets, towels, and so forth in your storage. Do you have a store of wood for your fireplace? If you have reached your basic and secondary food storage goals, begin to consider other things you use on a daily basis such as linens, clothing, and heating fuel. “Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to ‘prepare every needful thing’ (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others....be wise as you store food and water and build your savings...With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve.” https://www.lds.org/topics/food-storage
Provident Living...The best provident living skill is home production which includes gardening. During the first week of April, plant peas, leeks, soft neck garlic, and onions. During the second week of the month, plant Swiss Chard, spinach, turnips, brassica seedlings, and kale, romaine lettuce, red leaf lettuce, beets, carrots, potatoes and sweet potatoes outdoors. Indoors start cucumber, melon, and winter squash seeds in pots. As potatoes and sweet potatoes sprout, cover to cover visible greens with sandy soil/compost/dried leaves until to soil reaches the top of the cage. Continue to succession plant carrots often. Cover your plantings with floating row covers or clear plastic hoop houses--think of it as adding a warm blanket to your little plant babies' beds. “There have been very few years in my life when I have not been responsible for a garden. Even now as a city condominium dweller, I still plant and harvest a garden each year.” L. Tom Perry, October 1980 Often homemakers wonder how they can add to the family income. Remember Benjamin Franklin's words, "A penny saved is a penny earned." A great way to save is to cook from scratch. This doesn't mean opening a box of hamberger helper or a cake mix. Cooking from scratch means using real whole ingredients such as whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, etc. That sure sounds like food storage, doesn't it! Yes, scratch cooking takes more time and planning, but the benefits go way beyond the pennies you save. Taking time to prepare meals with and for our families, we combat emotional homelessness, teach life skills, improve health, and enjoy tastier food. "Homemaking skills are becoming a lost art. I worry about this. When we lose the homemakers in a society, we create an emotional homelessness much like street homelessness, with similar problems of despair, drugs, immorality, and lack of self-worth." Susan B. Tanner, Ensign, June 2005
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Friday
Tuesday
tired of red delicious?
There are some beautiful old fruit trees planted in CC. Sadly, many are overgrown, neglected, and underutilized. Because tastes have changed, some don't like the fruit of the old trees. Sometimes the variety planted doesn't suit the climate and rarely produces fruit. Whatever the reason you don't like your fruit trees, there is a solution besides cutting it down. Graft new varieties onto your mature rootstock.
Thursday
March Newsletter 2
Emotional Goal...Read President Uchtdorf's talk Of Regrets and Resolutions from October 2012 General Conference. Ponder and resolve to do something about these points: spend more time with loved ones, strive more earnestly to become the person God wants you to be, and find happiness, regardless of circumstances. Write about this in your journal.
Spiritual Goal...Now that the New Year is in full swing, make an honest assessment of your preparation for Sunday School and Relief Society. Attempt to go prepared to participate and ask at least one question each week. If you are too shy to ask questions out loud in class, give a note to the teacher beforehand containing your question. Teachers need participation for successful lessons.
Physical Goal...If you've been walking for awhile, consider adding a weighted vest to your walking routine. Weight bearing builds bone density. Some don't like walking outdoors; if this is the case consider a mini trampoline, which also doubles as a children's energy buster. If these goals aren't possible, make sure to spend part of every day moving and lifting to your own ability. Every minute spent moving and lifting improves your physical stamina, bone density, and strength. "Many people, including me, have difficulty finding the time for sufficient rest, exercise, and relaxation. We must schedule time on our daily calendars for these activities if we are to enjoy a healthy and balanced life. Good physical appearance enhances our dignity and self respect." M. Russell Ballard, Liahona, September 2012
Storage Goal...As you use items from your long term storage such as beans, rice, or wheat, make sure you use your grocery budget to replace them at the monthly cannery night.
Financial Goal...Are you sticking to your budget and keeping an expense diary. If you've fallen back into old bad habits, read the back issues of the newsletter and make a resolve to stick to your financial guns. If you are struggling, consider getting off the disposable wagon. The use of disposable everything has literally exploded in the last half a century: razors, diapers and wipes, feminine products, plates, cups, cutlery, and napkins. What was once convenience now is seen as necessity. Financially struggling young parents lament that they 'can't even afford diapers.' The purchase of diapers used to be a one time expense that lasted through several babies that never broke any bank. You might slowly begin using kitchen towels and cloth napkins instead of paper. Look through your mom's fabric stash or the remnant bin at Joanne's; these are fun to make with scraps of calico and gingham with a simple hidden hem or blanket stitch. Every penny not spent is one drop of life blood saved for a better purpose. Jesus counseled women that clothing ought to be 'the beauty of the work of thine own hands.' D/C 42:40 Possibly we can turn this counsel to our kitchens, dinner tables, babies bottoms, etc.
Emergency and Pantry Kits...Prepare to rotate these things over the week of Conference. Make room in your grocery budget to replace them, since you will be using these items instead of your regular menu.
Provident Living...One of the first things I remember hearing the prophet say after I joined the church as a young teen was about growing a garden. Lately, we don't hear it as much. Perhaps the brethren feel we already know we ought to be doing this. Let me remind you. Grow lettuce, spinach, and herbs in your window sills for baby greens. Also, it's time to start seeds for spring planting. Since it takes 8 weeks before they are ready for the garden, eight weeks before last frost or around St. Patrick's Day start tomato, bell pepper, hot pepper, herbs, annual flowers, jicama, and eggplant seeds indoors in a sunny window. Two weeks later start green and purple cabbage, Nappa cabbage, bok choi, cauliflower, and broccoli. Some people start these in peat pots and re-plant them into 4 inch pots before finally transplanting outdoors several weeks later in the garden. I prefer to simply plant them in the bigger pots, such as large plastic cups, to begin with. Make sure to water your plants with kelp fertilizer and plant them in potting soil amended with azomite minerals. Make little green houses out of plastic sandwich bags until they are up and have little leaves. Watch Back to Eden Movie, a wonderful, inspiring movie about gardening without breaking one's back. Here's another look at this idea. Look into sources for wood chips if this method appeals to you. "Creation means bringing into existence something that di not exist before--colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter." Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2008 A garden can do all of these and more.
Spiritual Goal...Now that the New Year is in full swing, make an honest assessment of your preparation for Sunday School and Relief Society. Attempt to go prepared to participate and ask at least one question each week. If you are too shy to ask questions out loud in class, give a note to the teacher beforehand containing your question. Teachers need participation for successful lessons.
Physical Goal...If you've been walking for awhile, consider adding a weighted vest to your walking routine. Weight bearing builds bone density. Some don't like walking outdoors; if this is the case consider a mini trampoline, which also doubles as a children's energy buster. If these goals aren't possible, make sure to spend part of every day moving and lifting to your own ability. Every minute spent moving and lifting improves your physical stamina, bone density, and strength. "Many people, including me, have difficulty finding the time for sufficient rest, exercise, and relaxation. We must schedule time on our daily calendars for these activities if we are to enjoy a healthy and balanced life. Good physical appearance enhances our dignity and self respect." M. Russell Ballard, Liahona, September 2012
Storage Goal...As you use items from your long term storage such as beans, rice, or wheat, make sure you use your grocery budget to replace them at the monthly cannery night.
Financial Goal...Are you sticking to your budget and keeping an expense diary. If you've fallen back into old bad habits, read the back issues of the newsletter and make a resolve to stick to your financial guns. If you are struggling, consider getting off the disposable wagon. The use of disposable everything has literally exploded in the last half a century: razors, diapers and wipes, feminine products, plates, cups, cutlery, and napkins. What was once convenience now is seen as necessity. Financially struggling young parents lament that they 'can't even afford diapers.' The purchase of diapers used to be a one time expense that lasted through several babies that never broke any bank. You might slowly begin using kitchen towels and cloth napkins instead of paper. Look through your mom's fabric stash or the remnant bin at Joanne's; these are fun to make with scraps of calico and gingham with a simple hidden hem or blanket stitch. Every penny not spent is one drop of life blood saved for a better purpose. Jesus counseled women that clothing ought to be 'the beauty of the work of thine own hands.' D/C 42:40 Possibly we can turn this counsel to our kitchens, dinner tables, babies bottoms, etc.
Emergency and Pantry Kits...Prepare to rotate these things over the week of Conference. Make room in your grocery budget to replace them, since you will be using these items instead of your regular menu.
Provident Living...One of the first things I remember hearing the prophet say after I joined the church as a young teen was about growing a garden. Lately, we don't hear it as much. Perhaps the brethren feel we already know we ought to be doing this. Let me remind you. Grow lettuce, spinach, and herbs in your window sills for baby greens. Also, it's time to start seeds for spring planting. Since it takes 8 weeks before they are ready for the garden, eight weeks before last frost or around St. Patrick's Day start tomato, bell pepper, hot pepper, herbs, annual flowers, jicama, and eggplant seeds indoors in a sunny window. Two weeks later start green and purple cabbage, Nappa cabbage, bok choi, cauliflower, and broccoli. Some people start these in peat pots and re-plant them into 4 inch pots before finally transplanting outdoors several weeks later in the garden. I prefer to simply plant them in the bigger pots, such as large plastic cups, to begin with. Make sure to water your plants with kelp fertilizer and plant them in potting soil amended with azomite minerals. Make little green houses out of plastic sandwich bags until they are up and have little leaves. Watch Back to Eden Movie, a wonderful, inspiring movie about gardening without breaking one's back. Here's another look at this idea. Look into sources for wood chips if this method appeals to you. "Creation means bringing into existence something that di not exist before--colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter." Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2008 A garden can do all of these and more.
Saturday
plant fruit trees with self-sufficiency in mind
Inheriting a couple fruit trees that were not pruned properly and dodging rotting fruit on sidewalks in summer from overgrown trees, I have become highly interested in the proper pruning process. There is no sense in planting trees that grow too large for an average or elderly housewife to care for and harvest. This video explains the proper pruning process very well.
Tuesday
February Newsletter 2
Spiritual Goal...Learn to learn by the Spirit. "Once Spencer W. Kimball was asked, 'What do you do if you find yourself caught in a boring sacrament meeting?' President Kimball thought a moment, then replied, 'I don’t know; I’ve never been in one.' President Kimball was teaching that he did not go to sacrament meeting to be entertained; he went to worship the Lord, renew his covenants, and be taught from on high." A. Roger Merrill One fun way to get your mind into the meeting is to keep a church journal, an idea spread by John Bytheway. Any notebook and pen will do to jot notes. The act of writing a bit of what you hear keeps your mind active and engaged, allowing your spirit to be taught.
Emotional Goal...Read, study, and implement President Bednar's talk The Merciful Obtain Mercy. "The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade." Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Physical Goal...How long has it been since you submitted to cholesterol testing? Is your level 150 or under? Did you know following the Word of Wisdom will definitely cure a high cholesterol level and even reverse many degenerative diseases? Did you know in addition to the promised health benefits, the Word of Wisdom promises protection, knowledge, and wisdom to those who obey its precepts? What are those precepts? We all know the don'ts, although there is some debate over the use of the drug caffeine and prescribed mind altering drugs. However the dos are just as important. Our diets should be mainly made up of wholesome herbs (vegetables, legumes, and greens), seasonal fruits, and grains with flesh foods only 'used sparingly' if at all ('should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine'.) Back when Joseph Smith received this revelation, the only fresh fruits and vegetables available were from the family's root cellar. Sometimes these didn't last through the winter. Currently, that isn't the case, nor is there a famine in our part of the world. Extensive medical research proves the Word of Wisdom over and again; animal products cause degenerative disease including elevated cholesterol levels. "I think that another reason why I have very splendid strength for an old man is that during the years we have had a cafeteria in the Utah Hotel, I have not, with the exception of not more than a dozen times, ordered meat of any kind. On these special occasions I have mentioned I have perhaps had a small, tender lamb chop. I have endeavored to live the Word of Wisdom, and that, in my opinion, is one reason for my good health." Heber J. Grant, April 1937
Financial Goal...Hopefully, you are beginning to feel more comfortable, since you began implementing the financial goals found in these newsletters. If you have not yet begun, do so today. If you have been working the goals right along, now may be the time for you to follow scriptural admonitions of feeding, succoring, and lifting up. Giving to others always brings great blessings to the giver as well as the receiver. One fun idea told to my family by our home teacher is the Christmas Experiment. All through the year, the adult children of this home teacher saves money. Before Christmas they put this money in envelopes each with a card stating it is a gift of love from Jesus. They pray for the Spirit to guide them in giving out these gifts as they walk around town. They reported that it is a beautiful and spiritual way to bring the proper spirit into their hearts during that special season. Some donate to LDS charities. Some give financial support to a special missionary or child in need. Some give larger fast offerings. Whatever you do, do something.
Home Storage Goal...What does your emergency kit look like? Is it adequate for real emergencies or is it just Band-Aids and bactine? While we may not be nurses or doctors, we can certainly butterfly and bandage. You never know when you will need these things, so stock up this month on larger more useful bandages, tape, wraps, butterflies or steri strips, cold packs, hot packs, etc. Some things right from your kitchen can do a world of good in an emergency as well. Chopped garlic in olive oil (strained after steeping for several days of course) makes a good disinfectant, ear ache tamer, and virus chaser. Cayenne pepper will stop bleeding instantly, stop a dizzy spell, and warm someone with hypothermia. A parsley and carrot salad helps in cases of water retention. A poultice of plantian, yes that weed in your yard, will stop the pain of an insect bite. A comfrey poultice possibly with a bit of that garlic oil and maybe some cayenne, will help wounds of all types heal faster often without scaring. Do some research on old home remedies. They may not be as fancy as a pill from the doc, but many have stood the test of time for a reason.
Emergency Kit...make sure medications are up to date.
Provident Living...check out all the seed catalogs coming in the mail. Make a plan for spring planting or look at our newsletters from last year for a plethora of gardening ideas. Plan on at least one new vegetable this growing season. Plant at least one dwarf or espalier fruit tree, grape vine, or berry bush. Make your order early so you will be ready to start seeds in a sunny window. It almost makes the snow bearable. "In previous times we have urged you to plant gardens and trees. We congratulate you on the number of gardens this year. Everywhere we drive, from city to city, we see gardens that were not there before. Rows of corn, red tomato plants, carrots, onions, radishes, squash, and other plants. We congratulate you! We are sure that you have reduced, to some extent, the high cost of living by having these fresh vegetables from your own gardens." Spencer W. Kimball, October 1975
Emotional Goal...Read, study, and implement President Bednar's talk The Merciful Obtain Mercy. "The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade." Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Physical Goal...How long has it been since you submitted to cholesterol testing? Is your level 150 or under? Did you know following the Word of Wisdom will definitely cure a high cholesterol level and even reverse many degenerative diseases? Did you know in addition to the promised health benefits, the Word of Wisdom promises protection, knowledge, and wisdom to those who obey its precepts? What are those precepts? We all know the don'ts, although there is some debate over the use of the drug caffeine and prescribed mind altering drugs. However the dos are just as important. Our diets should be mainly made up of wholesome herbs (vegetables, legumes, and greens), seasonal fruits, and grains with flesh foods only 'used sparingly' if at all ('should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine'.) Back when Joseph Smith received this revelation, the only fresh fruits and vegetables available were from the family's root cellar. Sometimes these didn't last through the winter. Currently, that isn't the case, nor is there a famine in our part of the world. Extensive medical research proves the Word of Wisdom over and again; animal products cause degenerative disease including elevated cholesterol levels. "I think that another reason why I have very splendid strength for an old man is that during the years we have had a cafeteria in the Utah Hotel, I have not, with the exception of not more than a dozen times, ordered meat of any kind. On these special occasions I have mentioned I have perhaps had a small, tender lamb chop. I have endeavored to live the Word of Wisdom, and that, in my opinion, is one reason for my good health." Heber J. Grant, April 1937
Financial Goal...Hopefully, you are beginning to feel more comfortable, since you began implementing the financial goals found in these newsletters. If you have not yet begun, do so today. If you have been working the goals right along, now may be the time for you to follow scriptural admonitions of feeding, succoring, and lifting up. Giving to others always brings great blessings to the giver as well as the receiver. One fun idea told to my family by our home teacher is the Christmas Experiment. All through the year, the adult children of this home teacher saves money. Before Christmas they put this money in envelopes each with a card stating it is a gift of love from Jesus. They pray for the Spirit to guide them in giving out these gifts as they walk around town. They reported that it is a beautiful and spiritual way to bring the proper spirit into their hearts during that special season. Some donate to LDS charities. Some give financial support to a special missionary or child in need. Some give larger fast offerings. Whatever you do, do something.
Home Storage Goal...What does your emergency kit look like? Is it adequate for real emergencies or is it just Band-Aids and bactine? While we may not be nurses or doctors, we can certainly butterfly and bandage. You never know when you will need these things, so stock up this month on larger more useful bandages, tape, wraps, butterflies or steri strips, cold packs, hot packs, etc. Some things right from your kitchen can do a world of good in an emergency as well. Chopped garlic in olive oil (strained after steeping for several days of course) makes a good disinfectant, ear ache tamer, and virus chaser. Cayenne pepper will stop bleeding instantly, stop a dizzy spell, and warm someone with hypothermia. A parsley and carrot salad helps in cases of water retention. A poultice of plantian, yes that weed in your yard, will stop the pain of an insect bite. A comfrey poultice possibly with a bit of that garlic oil and maybe some cayenne, will help wounds of all types heal faster often without scaring. Do some research on old home remedies. They may not be as fancy as a pill from the doc, but many have stood the test of time for a reason.
Emergency Kit...make sure medications are up to date.
Provident Living...check out all the seed catalogs coming in the mail. Make a plan for spring planting or look at our newsletters from last year for a plethora of gardening ideas. Plan on at least one new vegetable this growing season. Plant at least one dwarf or espalier fruit tree, grape vine, or berry bush. Make your order early so you will be ready to start seeds in a sunny window. It almost makes the snow bearable. "In previous times we have urged you to plant gardens and trees. We congratulate you on the number of gardens this year. Everywhere we drive, from city to city, we see gardens that were not there before. Rows of corn, red tomato plants, carrots, onions, radishes, squash, and other plants. We congratulate you! We are sure that you have reduced, to some extent, the high cost of living by having these fresh vegetables from your own gardens." Spencer W. Kimball, October 1975
Friday
January Newsletter 2
If you are just beginning your preparedness journey, go back to the December 2011 newsletter and begin there.
Spiritual Goal: Incorporate the words of modern prophets into your everyday life. In this modern day of easy communication, conference talks are easily accessible on computers, phones, and other devices as well as old-fashioned CDs. While working in the kitchen, listen to a conference talk a week. Choose one talk each week to listen to over and again, while doing chores. Not only will your spirit be fed, but, suddenly, those chores won't seem like drudgery anymore. Plus, you will get very familiar with the calming voices of our leaders. At the end of each week, write your thoughts on that talk in your journal. "Embedded in the gospel of Jesus Christ there are eternal principles and truths...members of the Lord's true Church, have special access and insight into these eternal principles and truths, especially when we listen to the Spirit for individual guidance and hear the prophet's voice as he declares the will of God to the members of the Church. You and I both know how important these eternal principles and truths are in our lives." L. Tom Perry, October, 2009
Emotional Goal: Read and study President Bednar's talk, And Nothing Shall Offend Them. Whenever you catch yourself feeling offended or being offensive, STOP IT! Choose charity. Give the benefit of a doubt. Love your neighbor. "As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity for independent action and choice. Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon, To believe that someone or something can make us fee offended, angry, hurt or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation." David A. Bednar, October 2006
Spiritual Goal: Incorporate the words of modern prophets into your everyday life. In this modern day of easy communication, conference talks are easily accessible on computers, phones, and other devices as well as old-fashioned CDs. While working in the kitchen, listen to a conference talk a week. Choose one talk each week to listen to over and again, while doing chores. Not only will your spirit be fed, but, suddenly, those chores won't seem like drudgery anymore. Plus, you will get very familiar with the calming voices of our leaders. At the end of each week, write your thoughts on that talk in your journal. "Embedded in the gospel of Jesus Christ there are eternal principles and truths...members of the Lord's true Church, have special access and insight into these eternal principles and truths, especially when we listen to the Spirit for individual guidance and hear the prophet's voice as he declares the will of God to the members of the Church. You and I both know how important these eternal principles and truths are in our lives." L. Tom Perry, October, 2009
Emotional Goal: Read and study President Bednar's talk, And Nothing Shall Offend Them. Whenever you catch yourself feeling offended or being offensive, STOP IT! Choose charity. Give the benefit of a doubt. Love your neighbor. "As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity for independent action and choice. Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon, To believe that someone or something can make us fee offended, angry, hurt or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation." David A. Bednar, October 2006
Physical Goal: Continue with daily exercise and all the other ideas we've explored over the last year. If you haven't yet begun, go back to the December 2011 newsletter and begin today. "Nutritious meals, regular exercise, and appropriate sleep are necessary for a strong body, just as consistent scripture study and prayer strengthen the mind and spirit." Thomas S. Monson, October 2008
Financial Goal: Hopefully, you have been working on each goal over the last 13 months. If not go back to the December 2011 newsletter and begin today. If so go back to the December 2011 newsletter and review through the goals of the last 13 months. Where is your debt? Are you about to hit a financial cliff? It's never too late to begin improving your financial situation; begin today. "Because Satan uses greed and the pursuit of possessions to sweep families off the celestial highway, Jesus advised, "Beware of covetousness. "Covetousness is restrained as we project our income, pay an honest tithe and generous fast offering, budget needed expenses, avoid unnecessary debt, save for future needs, and become temporally self-reliant. God's promise to us is, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Anthony D. Perkins, October 2012
Storage Goal: If you have not yet begun to store food or are just beginning, go back to the December 2011 newsletter and begin today. If you have been working right along with the goals or even if you haven't done anything yet, try your hand at live cultured vegetables, the original super food and sweet craving tamer. Have you heard of probiotics? They are an expensive vitamin like thing, which are so easy to create in your own kitchen. Think of the health you will build and the money you won't spend. Cultured raw vegetables (aka kraut) are full of probiotics plus inexpensive, easy, delicious, and fun to make; not to mention they preserve the natural enzymes, minerals, and vitamins (particularly vit C and calcium) of living vegetables for the benefit of the consumer. Cabbage, even organic cabbage, is always inexpensive at the store if you don't have any stored in your basement or root cellar from your own garden. You will need 1 or 2 purple or green cabbages (purple cultured cabbage is a beautiful color), sea salt (not iodized table salt), a knife or food processor, a baby food jar filled with water or stones, and wide mouth quart jars. Thinly slice cabbage (save 2-3 outer leaves) into a large non-metal bowl. Sprinkle 1 T. salt over and set aside for ten minutes. Meanwhile, excluding the reserved leaves, blend the core and scraps with a bit of distilled water and toss with cabbage in bowl. With a potato masher, gently squish veggies until very juicy. Pack into jar(s). Roll reserved leaves into a log and push this into the jar to allow juice to totally cover cabbage. Top with baby food jar to further compact shredded vegetables below. Put jar(s) into a glass baking pan, cover with cheese cloth, and set on top of the refrigerator or other warmish place for three to seven days (check sooner in warm weather). Carefully, pull out a tiny bit of cabbage. Does it taste krauty and to your liking? If yes, cap and put in fridge minus baby food jar. If not leave it out for a couple more days and test again. Cooling stops fermentation; refrigerate when as mellow or sharp as you like. Cultured vegetables keep for a very long time in the fridge or root cellar; that is if you can keep yourself from gobbling them all up. Modern heat processing kills all enzymes and probiotics. Botulism will not grown in cultured vegetables but may in sealed, heat processed ones. At our house we like cultured vegetables so much and use them in such varied ways, I can't keep them in the house. Eat a bit daily to improve digestion, increase immunity, and fight the flu if you are already sick. Culturing can be done with vegetables of all kinds and has been for thousands of years in every part of the world. Some cultures add spices and hot peppers to their traditional cultured vegetables; think Korean kim chi or caraway kraut, yummy. They are such a big part of history that Hypocrites wrote about the healing benefits cultured vegetables back in the time of the ancient Greeks. They also fed the builders of the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty. "Relief Society stands for self-reliance. The best food storage is not in welfare grain elevators but in sealed cans and bottles in the homes of our people. What a gratifying thing it is to see cans of wheat and rice and beans under the beds or in the pantries of women who have taken welfare responsibility into their own hands." Gordon B. Hinckley, October 2006
Emergency Kit Goal: Check sizes of children's clothing in kits. Change things out if need be. Also, winter gear is on sale now. Fill out your kits or buy extra for storage.
Pantry Box: Check to make sure your inventory is topped off. Add a couple fun things for emotional support in an emergency.
Provident Living Goal: Learn to enjoy many different vegetables and fruits. While it is true that Latter-Day Saint women should grow as much of their family's diet as possible, we can learn to eat a variety of interesting things and perhaps discover new favorites to grow in our gardens. Did you know pie pumpkins are not only for pie? They are wonderful grated on salads, pureed for soups, and look exactly like grated cheddar cheese on top of a Mexican tostada salad. God put herbs of the field and fruits of the vine on this earth to increase the health of His earthly children. Let's learn to know and love many of these gifts; who knows they just might save your life. Many of the following ingredients can be grown indoors during winter or stored fresh from our gardens in the basement, refrigerator, or root cellar to increase the nutrition of your diet.
Sunday
December Newsletter 2
Physical Goal: finish or start LDS Physical Fitness Award Program. “Physical fitness is important in the lives of all of us. But we sometimes neglect our physical health, only to realize how precious it is once it is gone. This activity [LDS Physical Fitness Award Program] is designed to encourage families and individuals of all ages to take part regularly in activities that promote health and physical fitness. Other benefits include increased personal discipline and positive self-image, weight control, release of unwanted stress, and family fun and communication,” Physical Fitness Award Program, Family Home Evening Resource Book, (1997), 314
Financial Goal: Refinish a thrifted piece of furniture to give as a Christmas gift. Make a list of desired purchases with the rule that it must be on the list for 30 days before buying. De-junk your house. “No man is truly free who is in financial bondage. Think what you do when you run debt, you give another power over your liberty.” Benjamin Franklin
Provident Living Goal: Learn to cook and enjoy dried beans and whole grains from your storage. Learn indoor gardening and sprouting.
Storage Goal: 40 pounds dried beans per person, Batteries, dehydrated onions, garlic, herbs, peppers, celery, and carrots to flavor beans, candles, matches, hurricane candle holders
Emergency Kit Goal: Garbage bags, Candles, Matches, Can Opener
Pantry Box Goal: Family Tent, camping stuff
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