Heart to heart

 

"It is exciting to realize that even though the Lord has all things at his disposition...

His greatest interest is still the happiness of each of us."

John B. Dickson

 

 

"Even though the tasks of life become heavy, and although sorrow thrusts a drooping burden upon us, the light that emanates from our Savior beckons us on, undismayed."

Joseph B. Wirthlin

"The Savior's loving warmth and healing touch lift us and give us strength to endure."

   

"He is your Savior, your Redeemer, your Shepherd. He knows and loves you perfectly.

How well do you know Him?"

  

"'Words do not convey meanings; they call them forth.' I speak out of the context of my experience, and you listen out of the context of yours, and that is why communication is difficult."

David O. McKay

 

"Needed are...souls filled with compassion, that we might communicate not only eye to eye, or voice to ear, but in the majestic style of the Savior, even heart to heart."

President Thomas S. Monson

 

"When the time comes for you to sacrifice for that which you believe, will you have the faith to make that sacrifice? Will you commit to do anything the Lord asks, even if it means putting aside a lifelong goal?"

 

"We cannot control what others choose to do, and so we cannot force our children to heaven, but we can determine what we will do. And we can decide that we will do all we can to bring down the powers of heaven into that family we want so much to have forever."

Henry B. Eyring

"Ignorant of the plan of salvation, many simply do not know what the journey of life is all about. Therefore, modern selfishness and skepticism brush aside the significance of the Savior..."

Neal A. Maxwell

     

“How grateful we should be that a wise Creator fashioned an earth and placed us here, with a veil of forgetfulness of our previous existence so that we might experience a time of testing, an opportunity to prove ourselves in order to qualify for all that God has prepared for us to receive.”

Thomas S. Monson

… They have become accustomed to exaggerating their small imperfections and underestimating great blessings and have lost the capacity to rejoice.”

Quentin L. Cook

“While the Lord insists on our repentance, most people don’t feel such a compelling need. They include themselves among those who try to be good. They have no evil intent. Yet the Lord is clear in His message that all need to repent  not only from sins of commission but from sins of omission as well.”

Russell M. Nelson

"A house does not have to be perfect to be a home of joy, a child does not have to behave perfectly to love and be loved, and every moment of life does not have to be perfect to be of value. Too often, I realize, we fail to see the glorious reality of the simple joy that abounds in the seemingly mundane routine of day-to-day living. Instead, we tend to idolize the past, idealize the future, and devalue the present....

What better way to show our appreciation to Heavenly Father for what we have than to embrace our lives,

albeit 'ordinary' and 'unexciting,' with joy?"

Winnie Dalley

 

 

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Truffles

 

ingredients

• 1/2 cup white chocolate chunks
• 2 cups white chocolate almond bark
• 1/3 cup gingersnap cookie crumbs, plus more for garnish
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin purée
• 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs, plus more for garnish
• 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of fine salt
• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened

directions

Melt 1/2 cup of the chocolate in a double boiler over medium-low heat or in the microwave for about 1 minutes. Stir often to keep the chocolate from burning. Transfer to a large bowl. Add gingersnap crumbs, pumpkin, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, zest, cinnamon, salt and cream cheese and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Transfer to a shallow bowl, cover and chill until just solid enough to roll into balls, about 2 hours.

Line a large sheet tray with parchment paper. Melt remaining 2 cups white chocolate almond bark and transfer to a small, deep bowl. Roll 1 heaping teaspoon of the pumpkin mixture into a ball in your hands, then drop into the chocolate. Working quickly, gently spoon chocolate over to coat. Using a small spoon or fork, lift the truffle out of the chocolate, shake off excess and transfer to prepared sheet tray. Dollop a bit of extra chocolate on any parts that remain exposed, then sprinkle a few gingersnap or graham cracker crumbs over the top, if you like.

Repeat process with remaining pumpkin mixture and chocolate, then chill truffles until chocolate is completely set, about 1 hour.

 

 

Her Price is above Rubies

 

"Rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.

 

Zechariah 2:10

 

 

It is time to give ourselves to the Master and allow Him to lead us into fruitful fields where we can enrich a world filled with darkness and misery. Each of us, no matter who we are, no matter where we serve, must arise and make the most of each opportunity that comes. We must follow the counsel given by the Lord and His servants and make our homes houses of prayer and havens of security and safety. We can and must deepen our faith by increasing our obedience and sacrifice. In this individual process a miracle will take place. The Relief Society will begin to stretch and reach out to the millions in need. It will continue to become an organization that brings relief and rejoicing. This will happen one sister at a time. We will unite in our righteousness and truly partake of the fruit of the tree of life together. The fruits of our labors can heal the world, and, sisters, in the process they can heal us too!

 

It is my humble prayer that each of us will leave this meeting determined to devote our lives to Christ. I promise you that as you do so, you will have every reason to rejoice, for the Lord "will dwell in the midst of thee" (Zech. 2:11). This I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

Mary Ellen Smoot

 

I haven’t  lived all my wonderful Yet!

 

 

I haven’t  lived all my wonderful Yet!

 

 

I haven’t  lived all my wonderful Yet!

 

 

I haven’t  lived all my wonderful Yet!

 

 

Proverbs 3:15

She is more precious than rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

 

Proverbs 31:10

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Italian Wedding Soup

 

 

Italian Wedding Soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 carrots, peeled and chopped fine

2 ribs celery, chopped fine

1 medium onion, chopped fine

2 bay leaves

Salt and pepper

1 pound ground pork/veal/beef combined

1 egg, beaten

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup grated Parmesan

1/3 cup bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

6 cups chicken broth

2 cups water

1 1/2 cup dried pasta (I use tiny shells, but your choice)

1 pound fresh baby spinach

Directions

1. Heat oil in a deep large saucepan over medium heat and add carrots, celery, onion and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper, cover pot and cook veggies for 5 minutes, stirring now and then.

2. While the veggies cook, combine meat, egg, garlic, cheese, crumbs and nutmeg.

3. Uncover pot and add broth and water and bring to a boil. When soup boils, reduce heat a bit and start rolling the meat mixture into very small meatballs, dropping them in the soup as you go.

4. When you are done with the meatballs, add the pasta, stir, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

5. When pasta is tender, stir in spinach. When spinach is wilted, the soup is ready. Taste, adjust seasonings, light some romantic candles and serve.

 

His infinite love for us

"…The ground must be carefully prepared for our foundation of faith to withstand the storms that will come into every life. That solid basis for a foundation of faith is personal integrity."

Henry B. Eyring

The world today speaks a great deal about love, and it is sought for by many. But the pure love of Christ differs greatly from what the world thinks of love. Charity never seeks selfish gratification. The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of others.

Ezra Taft Benson

In a profound sense, a family is not alone. When it is consecrated to the Lord's work,

his Spirit will always be with them.

Barbara B. Smith

We are now in a day of trial to prove ourselves worthy or unworthy of the life which is to come.

John A. Widtsoe

  

Your character is yours alone to build. No one can injure your character but you.

David B. Haight

How important it is to know how to disagree without being disagreeable.

Marvin J. Ashton

The moment a man or woman becomes angry they show a great weakness.

Wilford Woodruff

Thanksgiving to be truly thanksgiving, is first thank, then giving.

John H. Vandenberg

"Hands that work are more blessed than Lips that pray"

Howard W. Hunter

There is one thing more serious than merely to not believe, and that is to not care.

Sterling W. Sill

Life is a mission and not a career.

Stephen L. Richards

Most fears in the end are fears of oneself and can be conquered by bringing in the Lord as an ally.

Arthur Henry King

Good conduct without the ordinances of the gospel will neither redeem nor exalt mankind.

Boyd K. Packer

"Spiritual healing…comes from bearing and hearing humble testimonies. A witness given in a spirit of contrition, thankfulness for divine providence, and submission to divine guidance is a powerful remedy to help relieve the anguish and concerns of our hearts."

James E. Faust

"…However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don't have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines."

Jeffrey R. Holland

"Part of the reason the Savior suffered in Gethsemane was so that he would have an infinite compassion for us as we experience our trials and tribulations. Through his suffering in Gethsemane, the Savior became qualified to be the perfect judge. Not one of us will be able to approach him on the Judgment Day and say, 'You don't know what it was like.' He knows the nature of our trials better than we do, for he 'descended below them all.'"

Glenn L. Pace

"God the Father is merciful and has infinite love for you despite your faults. Only the voice of Satan will cause you to feel of no value. In contrast, the Holy Ghost will cause you to feel 'godly sorrow' unto repentance in a manner that fills you with hope of positive change."

Anthony D. Perkins

"True disciples are those who go beyond simple believing. They act out their belief…. Disciples follow the Divine Master. Their actions speak in symphonic harmony with their beliefs. They know who they are. They know what God expects of them. They mirror inner peace and certainty concerning the mission and resurrection of Christ. They hunger and thirst after righteousness. They know they are here on this earth for a purpose. They understand life after death. They believe that the transcendent event in the ministry of the Christ was the Atonement, culminating in the Resurrection."

James E. Faust

"There is no need for you or me in this enlightened age, when the fulness of the gospel has been restored, to sail uncharted seas or travel unmarked roads in search of the fountain of truth. For a loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing map obedience! His revealed word vividly describes the blessings that obedience brings and the inevitable heartache and despair that accompany the traveler who detours along the forbidden pathways of sin and error."

Thomas S. Monson

"Unwinding a habit that you have allowed to entangle you can be difficult. But the power is in you. Do not despair. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that 'all beings who have bodies have power over those who have not.' You can resist temptation!"

Boyd K. Packer

"Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal voyage without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him guidance to ensure our safe return. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice; and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, which contain the word of the Lord and the words of the prophets—provided to us to help us successfully cross the finish line."

Thomas S. Monson

"It was in Gethsemane that Jesus took on Himself the sins of the world, in Gethsemane that His pain was equivalent to the cumulative burden of all men, in Gethsemane that He descended below all things so that all could repent and come to Him. The mortal mind fails to fathom, the tongue cannot express, the pen of man cannot describe the breadth, the depth, the height of the suffering of our Lord nor His infinite love for us"

Ezra Taft Benson

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 large eggs

2 cups creamy peanut butter

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 cups jam (your choice of flavor!)

1/2 cups salted peanuts, chopped into small pieces

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350.

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray, line it with parchment paper, and then spray the parchment with cooking spray and flour it.

Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Turn the mixer to low and add the eggs, vanilla and peanut butter and mix until combined.

Sift the flour and baking powder together. Turn the mixer back on to low speed and add the flour mixture until just combined.

Spread 2/3 of the dough into the baking pan, spreading to the edges (use your hands, it's easiest that way!) Spread the jam evenly over the dough.

Drop small chunks of the remaining dough over the jam. You'll have some spots where the jam shows through, but don't worry about that. Scatter the peanuts over the top and bake for 45 minutes or until the dough is golden brown.

Cool completely and then cut into squares.