December Newsletter Relief Society Message

December brings to an end our discussion of:

SMALL & SIMPLE

Simplify
Miracles
Atonement
Laugh
Love

Service
Improve
Meek
Peace
Lift
Endure

It seems appropriate that we should end this study with ENDURE. Pres. Uchtdorf has said that: “Enduring to the end is a process filling every minute of our life, every hour, every day, from sunrise to sunrise.” (Ensign, Nov. 2007 p. 20)

Elder Dale G. Renlund, of the Seventy, stated that “to endure to the end, we need to be eager to please God and worship Him with fervor and passion. This means that we maintain faith in Jesus Christ by praying, studying the scriptures, partaking of the sacrament each week, and having the Holy Ghost as our constant companion. We need to actively help and serve others and share the gospel with them. . . . In our homes we need to talk of, rejoice in, and preach of Christ so that our children - and we ourselves – will desire to apply the Atonement in our lives.” (Ensign, Nov. 2009 p. 99)

Pres. Uchtdorf taught us that “enduring to the end is exalting and glorious, not grim and gloomy. This is a joyful religion, one of hope, strength, and deliverance… By doing our best to endure to the end, a beautiful refinement will come into our lives. The blessings that come to us from enduring to the end in this life are real and very significant, and for the life to come they are beyond our comprehension.” (Ensign, Nov. 2007 pp. 20, 21)

May we remember that our lives are the accumulation of many small and simple things – the choices that we make each day. May we choose wisely and follow the Savior. “And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (D & C 14:7)

Thank you to all who supported the Relief Society Cantata last month: the food committee, singers, pianists, readers, and especially Sister Savage. It started the holiday season on a spiritual note for all who attended.

December Newsletter Announcements

Ward Christmas Brunch
Sat, Dec 17^th, 10am - noon
Breakfast and fun activities! Invite your neighbors.

2012 Schedule

Sunday Meetings – 1 – 4 pm
Youth Night – Wednesdays
Relief Society Evenings – 2nd Tuesday
Cub Scout Pack Meeting – 4th Tuesday

Young Men News – In November, the scouts camped out under a full moon in Cedar Fort: the perfect backdrop for Capture the Flag. Saturday they left early to beat the snow storm and had breakfast in the Savage garage. For their combined activity, they gathered food for Christmas. Thanks to the youth for braving the cold and to each of you for donating. They also visited the downtown Family History Center for a scavenger hunt set up by the missionaries where they worked on the Genealogy Merit Badge and learned what resources are available to help find our ancestors.

Young Women News – MaKayla is now part of Color Guard at Kearns High. The YW did an excellent job sharing their spiritual growth at YW in Excellence. They recited The Living Christ, which they worked on memorizing this year. Emily received her Honor Bee award. Sister Bowers received her Young Womanhood medallion.

December Newsletter Finance Tip

In his April 2004 Conference talk entitled Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin outlines five key steps to financial freedom. This month we’ll look at:

· First, pay your tithing.

· Second, spend less than you earn.

· Third, learn to save.

· Fourth, honor your financial obligations.

· Fifth, teach your children to follow your example.

Are you honest in your dealings with your fellow men? You probably recognize this as one of the questions from your temple recommend interview. As a child it’s an easy question to answer. As we get older and are influenced by the ways of the world it becomes a matter of integrity. It’s no longer just a lack of deceit, but turns into a matter of doing what’s right even though no one is watching.

From an economical standpoint we understand that failing to honor one’s financial obligations has a ripple effect that spreads across the board to many people. Many companies expect and write off losses, or translate them into higher fees for others. Its common sense to think that paying back your obligations helps to keep commerce running efficiently. It also goes without saying that defaulting on an obligation spreads the consequences of one person’s poor choices or mistakes onto others. With so many companies claiming to have the “easy way out” of debt, we may forget that consequences are still there, not the least of which can be a loss of integrity. Paying back a debt can be a difficult ordeal, but even a child learns quickly not to make the same mistake when the consequences are unpleasant.

If we remain stalwart as Job (Job 27:5 till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.) we will have peace of mind and be able to answer the question of honesty without question.