President's Message

Dear Sisters,

It is always such a wonderful opportunity to listen to our leaders at conference time. We are able to be renewed and hear the words of apostles and prophets as we are truly instructed from heaven. Each talk was a beautiful sermon of learning for us. Elder Eyring's Sunday morning talk was on becoming like our 'Perfect Example', even Jesus Christ. We were instructed as to how we can “become more like Jesus,” he said:

"You have felt it in your family when you asked the pardon of your spouse or forgave a child for some mistake or disobedience. These moments will come more often as you try to do the things you know Jesus would do. Because of His Atonement for you, your childlike obedience will bring a feeling of love of the Savior for you and your love for Him. That is one of the gifts that is promised to His faithful disciples. And this gift can come not only to you alone but also to the loving members of your family. The promise was given in 3 Nephi, and all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

I hope you will go out today looking for opportunities to do as He does and to love as He loves. I can promise you the peace that you felt as a child will come to you often and it will linger with you. The promise is true that He made to His disciples: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you."

May we challenge you to find ways to become more like Him. We promise that as you do this, love will increase in your relationships and your love for the Savior will grow. It is true that by small and simple things, great things come to pass. May we also challenge you to read the talks presented at conference. Study and learn from them all that you can. May you know of our love for each of you. We are blessed by your associations and recognize your divine worth in the sight of God. You are truly daughters of our Heavenly Father.

With all of our love,
Shannon, Lori, Sammy and Jan

Gratitude

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

- William Arthur Ward

"A happy home is but an earlier heaven. President George Albert Smith asked, 'Do we want our homes to be happy? If we do, let them be the abiding place of prayer, thanksgiving and gratitude'."

- Thomas S. Monson

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."

- Albert Schweitzer

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.”

- Margaret Cousins

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."

- Epictetus

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?"

- William A. Ward

"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily."

- Gerald Good

“The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.”

- Eric Hoffer

"Mercies and blessings come in different forms--sometimes as hard things. Yet the Lord said, 'Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things' (D&C 59:7). All things mean just that: good things, difficult things - not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful because He knows being grateful will make us happy. This is another evidence of His love."

- Bonnie D. Parkin

“Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality.”

- Alfred Painter