February RS Message

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As we celebrate Valentine's Day this month may we commit ourselves to increase our love each day of the year. We would like to share with you:

Twenty Ways to Make a Good Marriage Great

By Richard W. Linford, Ensign, Dec 1983, 64

1. Night and Morning Prayer . . . to say thanks, to ask for help in your marriage and family, to worship together.

2. A Weekly Planning Meeting . . . to discuss the calendar, talk over needs and problems, decide priorities and next steps. (Write decisions in a journal, including goals and discussion topics, and reasons for each.)

3. A Daily Phone Call or Personal Conversation . . . to say . . . I love you, . . . to touch base, to discuss the day, to show you care.

4. A Weekly Date . . . to a favorite park, a concert, the library, the gym; or staying home for a candlelight dinner, a game, or a mutual hobby.

5. Patience Regardless . . . of missed meals, tardiness, forgotten favors, a thoughtless remark, impatience.

6. Daily Service . . . helping with house or yard work, mending a piece of clothing, taking a turn with the sick baby, fixing a favorite meal. (Write it down. Do it!)

7. A Budget . . . to tie down income and expenses, help set financial goals, and give you control over your finances.

8. Listening . . . not only to what is said, but also to what is meant.

9. Regular Attendance . . . at church . . . and where possible . . . the temple.

10. Daily Scripture Reading . . . to learn the gospel, to receive inspiration for yourself and your marriage, to become more like Jesus.

11. Working Together . . . caring for a garden, painting a bedroom, washing the car, scrubbing floors, building a piece of furniture, writing a poem together, team teaching a class.

12. Forgiving Each Other . . . always learning from each other, trying a different way, being the first to make peace.

13. Courtesies . . . like saying please and thank you, not interrupting or belittling, not doing all the talking, continuing the niceties of courtship.

14. Soft and Kind Words . . . of tenderness, compassion, empathy.

15. Learning Together by . . . reading to each other, discussing ideas, taking a class.

16. Respecting . . . opinions, ideas, privacy.

17. Supporting Your Spouse’s . . . Church callings and righteous goals.

18. Caring for Your Spouse’s Family by . . . enjoying their company, praying for them, serving them, overlooking differences.

19. Occasional Gifts . . . such as a note, a needed item . . . but mostly gifts of time and self.

20. Loving with All Your Heart. “Thou shalt love thy wife [thy husband] with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her [him] and none else.” (D&C 42:22.)

February Wise Stewards Finance Tip

February has come and the Christmas decorations are packed away (hopefully). You might still be keeping some of your New Year’s resolutions, and you may already be eyeing a certain box of chocolate for that special someone, but do you have your taxes done? Taxes aren’t due until April 17^th, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get them done early. If you do your taxes yourself there are some great ways to save time and money. Before you go out and buy an at home tax program for your computer, check out the IRS website. Go to www.irs.gov and click on the “Free File” icon. If you made under $57,000 last year you can use software programs by some of the same companies that sell them in the store, for free. E-filing is free for anyone regardless of how much you made, and you can find online tax forms at the IRS website as well.

Now that I’ve put a bug in your ear about taxes, let’s get down to the really important stuff. Have you picked out a Valentine’s present yet? How about a plan to get out of debt?! It may not be easy to gift wrap, but it could have a more positive effect on a relationship than a stuffed toy or some perfume. Whether you’re married or single, having a solid financial plan is beneficial to anyone. Being in good financial standing when you’re single is tough, but doable. Staying in good financial standing after you’re married should be just as important a goal. In Elder Marvin J. Ashton’s Guide to Family Finances, Elder Ashton quotes, “The American Bar Association has indicated that 89 percent of all divorces can be traced to quarrels and accusations over money. Others have estimated that 75 percent of all divorces result from clashes over finances.” Having good communication and positive goals is essential to a good marriage, but this is especially true regarding your family finances. So if you are married and a financial plan isn’t a romantic enough Valentine’s present for you to give, go ahead & wrap it up with some candy hearts. I bet they’ll both be appreciated.

February Newsletter Announcements

Mark your calendars for Stake Conference, February 4^th & 5^th. Special meeting on Sunday morning for youth at 8am. Make sure to come early Sunday morning for the choir prelude at 9:30am. It will be a spiritual treat!

YW News – New Beginnings will be Wed, February 1st in the Relief Society room. Young Women (and girls who turn 12 this year) and their parents are encouraged to attend. Sunday dress requested.

Valentine Adult Dinner – Saturday, Feb. 18^th at 6:00pm. Nursery will be provided by the youth.

Choir practice will be Sunday mornings, 11am at Sister Beck’s home starting Feb 19^th.

January Relief Society Message

Happy New Year!

We are excited to spend some time discussing The Relief Society Declaration this year. We will be discussing different aspects of it each month in the first Sunday lessons. Last Sunday Sister Hunsaker started us off by teaching about seeking spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. In February, the topic will be "Finding nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood". We hope that we will all be strengthened as we learn together.

The Relief Society Declaration

We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

v Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.

v Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

v Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.

v Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

v Delight in service and good works.

v Love life and learning.

v Stand for truth and righteousness.

v Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.

v Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation.

January Finance Tip

Wise Stewards 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.

It’s a new year! What a great time to get a new start! As you work on your resolutions for this year, don’t leave the kids out. Share your goals with the family. You’ll be more likely to achieve them if someone else is watching. Better yet, make family goals this year. Make it a goal to save up for something fun or important and let each family member do their part to help. Little ones can save their pennies too and feel like they’ve done something very important.

Discuss tithing in family home evening and share your progress with each other every week. This is a perfect opportunity to share your testimony of the importance of tithing and the blessings received from Heavenly Father from paying it. Your example is the most important thing you can show your kids to help them develop healthy habits. This can include healthy eating and exercise, scripture reading and prayer, and yes - money habits. Being open and honest about the rewards and consequences of your money habits and developing good habits will bless your children’s lives for years to come. If you don’t have children or they’ve grown and gone, you can share goals with others around you. We can all benefit from a good example and we can all use encouragement from each other.

January Newsletter Announcements

Relief Society Super Saturday - Jan. 28 from 10am to 1pm. Crafts, quilting, and food. Come and enjoy a good time together!!!

Mark your calendars for Stake Conference, February 4th & 5th. Priesthood Leadership is Saturday, 4pm and the adult session follows at 7pm. Sunday morning’s session is at 10am with a choir prelude at 9:30am. Come early for a great seat and enjoy the spiritual uplift from listening to the choir.

2012 Primary Theme – “Choose the Right”

2012 Mutual Theme - “Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations” (D&C 115:5)

The youth had two combined activities in December. They went to the Salt Lake Temple to see the lights and also helped with the ward’s Sub for Santa. Both activities helped the youth reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
YM - Basketball season has started and games are Saturday mornings. Practices are following youth night until 9:15. See Bro. Thomas for more info.

Congratulations to the Allreds on the birth of their baby girl last month.