Inspiring Stories From Modern Prophets - John Taylor

 Inspiring Stories of Modern Prophets - John Taylor

(This is one of my favorites.)

In his midteens he had joined the Methodist Church. “One day, while going to fulfill a preaching assignment [he was a local preacher], he remarked to a companion, ‘I have a strong impression on my mind, that I have to go to America to preach the gospel!’” (Paul Thomas Smith, “John Taylor,” in The Presidents of the Church, ed. Leonard J. Arrington [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1986], p. 77).

In 1832, while crossing the ocean, his ship encountered a storm so severe that the captain and his crew feared the ship would sink at any moment. But John Taylor remained unshaken. “The voice of the Spirit was still saying within him, ‘You must yet go to America and preach the gospel.’ ‘So confident was I of my destiny,’ he remarks, ‘that I went on deck at midnight, and amidst the raging elements felt as calm as though I was sitting in a parlor at home. I believed I should reach America and perform my work’” (Roberts, The Life of John Taylor, p. 29).

(At this point, I am thinking:  how little we mortals understand of the Lord's plans for us.  John Taylor fully believed he was traveling to America to preach Methodism.  Really, he was going there to learn Mormonism, and to become the future prophet!)

When John Taylor left England in 1832, he emigrated to New York, and then after a few months he went to Upper Canada where he continued to preach in the Methodist Church. 

John continued to preach, but he felt something was missing in his religion. He later wrote: “A number of us met together for the purpose of searching the Scriptures; and we found that certain doctrines were taught by Jesus and the Apostles, which neither the Methodists, Baptists, … nor any of the religious sects taught; and we concluded that if the Bible was true, the doctrines of modern Christendom were not true; or if they were true, the Bible was false. … In addition … , we prayed and fasted before God; and the substance of our prayers was, that if he had a people upon the earth anywhere, and ministers who were authorized to preach the Gospel, that he would send us one” (in Journal of Discourses, 23:30).

Parley P. Pratt was sent in answer to that prayer.  On his mission to Canada, Parley met John Taylor and introduced him to the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel.

Inspiring Stories of the Modern Prophets - Joseph F. Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, and Heber J. Grant

Inspiring Stories of the Modern Prophets - Joseph F. Smith

Joseph F. Smith and his company had stopped to camp one afternoon when a band “of drunken men rode into the camp … , cursing and swearing and threatening to kill any ‘Mormons’ that came within their path. … Some of the brethren when they heard them coming had cautiously gone into the brush down the creek, out of sight. Joseph F. was … gathering wood for the fire. [He walked up to the campfire to deposit his wood. One drunken ruffian with a pistol in his hand said] that it was his duty to [kill] every ‘Mormon’ he should meet. … In a loud, angry voice [he demanded from Joseph], ‘Are you a … Mormon?’

[Joseph ignored the gun aimed at him,] and looking the ruffian in the eye … boldly answered, ‘Yes siree; dyed in the wool, true blue, through and through.’

“This [surprised] the man; and … he grasped [Elder Smith’s] hand and said,

“ ‘Well, you are the … pleasantest man I ever met! Shake, young fellow, I am glad to see a man that stands up for his convictions’ ” (Smith, Life of Joseph F. Smith, p. 189).

The man seemed to be the leader of the group, for when he rode off the rest followed him. President Smith said he fully expected to be shot when he admitted being a Mormon, but he did it anyway.


Inspiring Stories of the Modern Prophets - Heber J. Grant




President Grant tells the following experience:

“ ‘I remember as a young man I had $50.00 in my pocket on one occasion which I intended to deposit in the bank.

When I went on Thursday morning to fast meeting—the fast meeting used to be held on Thursdays instead of Sundays—and the bishop made an appeal for a donation, I walked up and handed him the $50.00. He took five of it and put it in the drawer and gave the $45.00 back to me and said that was my full share.

“ ‘I said, “Bishop Woolley, by what right do you rob me of putting the Lord in my debt? Didn’t you preach here today that the Lord rewards fourfold? My mother is a widow, and she needs $200.00.”

“ ‘He said, “My boy, do you believe that if I take this other $45.00, you will get your $200.00 quicker?”
“ ‘I said: “Certainly.”
“ ‘Well, he took it.

“ ‘While walking from fast meeting to the place where I worked, an idea popped into my head. I sent a telegram to a man asking him how many bonds of a certain kind he would buy at a specified price within forty-eight hours. … He wired back that he wanted as many as I could get. My profit on that transaction was $218.50.

“ ‘The next day I walked down to the bishop and said: “Bishop, I made $218.50 after paying that $50.00 donation the other day and so I owe $21.85 in tithing. I will have to dig up the difference between $21.85 and $18.50. The Lord did not quite give me the tithing in addition to a four to one increase” ’ ” (Presidents of the Church [Religion 345 student manual], pp. 176–77).

Inspiring Stories of the Modern Prophets - Joseph Fielding Smith

When Joseph Fielding was eight years old and was baptized, his father gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon. Money was scarce and it was a defective copy purchased at a reduced rate. Nevertheless, Joseph Fielding remembered:

“‘When I was a small boy, too young to hold the Aaronic Priesthood, my father placed a copy of the Book of Mormon in my hands with the request that I read it. I received this Nephite Record with thanksgiving and applied myself to the task which had been assigned to me. There are certain passages that have been stamped upon my mind and I have never forgotten them’” (Smith and Stewart, Life of Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 57).

Two years later, “by the time he was ten years old he had read the Book of Mormon through not just once but twice” (Smith and Stewart, Life of Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 57).

As a young man, Joseph Fielding enjoyed reading the scriptures so much that he would sometimes leave a ball game early or hurry to finish his chores in order to get back to his studies. He could often be found in his father’s study, the hayloft, the shade of a tree, or walking home from his clerking job at ZCMI department store reading and studying the scriptures.



Emergency Prep

http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2009/04/72-hour-kit-grab-and-go-container-ideas.html

I found this blog that gives lots of good tips for emergency preparedness.  I do have wheat, rice, canned goods, baking supplies, a big barrel of water and bottled water in our basement, but it's nowhere near a year's supply.  Maybe two months' worth. 

I decided to start with the 72-hour emergency packs.  I am trying to think long-term, since so many things get rancid fast (trail mix, cheese-n-crackers packs, etc.)  So, I got us each a little honeybear bottle (950 calories each--very compact and long lasting food source), and some tuna cans, evaporated milk cans, and canned beans (high protein sources).  I also got us each a $1 can opener because I read that the easy-open pop top cans are quick to explode on their own.  Plus, a can opener can be a handy tool for many things.  I also bought bottled water, and will put six bottled in each duffle bag.  I'm on my way.  I just feel better, having started.

These 72-hour duffles will be portable, so any kid could take it and run if there was a flood, earthquake, etc.  Next, I'm going to put a plastic bin with each person's name on it, to keep by our basement food storage supplies.  This will have longer-term stuff:  bedding, more water, first aid supplies, etc.

I hope we will never have to use these.  But creating them gives me a feeling of power against the unknown and a feeling of trying to help protect my family.  It gives me the ability to watch scary true news on t.v. without panic.  I will do whatever I can, and then I will trust the Lord to do the rest.  Spiritual preparation is just as important as physical.  Without faith, hope, and love, we are lost!

Well, I've been filling my own spiritual bucket. I've been reading stories from the lives of the modern-day prophets --and they are so inspiring.  I think, next, I will either find links to these stories and put them here, or type in a few.  They are so great.

That was easy to find online!  Here's one to begin:

Inspiring Stories:  From the Life of President George Albert Smith

In November 1945, President Smith called on Harry S. Truman, then president of the United States. President Smith described the visit this way:

"When I called on him, he received me very graciously -- I had met him before -- and I said: 'I have just come to ascertain from you, Mr. President, what your attitude will be if the Latter-day Saints are prepared to ship food and clothing and bedding to Europe.'

"He smiled and looked at me, and said: 'Well, what do you want to ship it over there for? Their money isn't any good.'

"I said: 'We don't want their money.' He looked at me and asked: 'You don't mean you are going to give it to them?'

"I said: 'Of course, we would give it to them. They are our brothers and sisters and are in distress. God has blessed us with a surplus, and we will be glad to send it if we can have the co-operation of the government.'

"He said: 'You are on the right track' and added, 'we will be glad to help you in any way we can.'

"I have thought of that a good many times. After we had sat there a moment or two, he spoke again: 'How long will it take you to get this ready?'

"I said, 'It's all ready.'

"The government you remember had been destroying food and refusing to plant grain during the war, so I said to him:

" 'Mr. President, while the administration at Washington were advising the destroying of food, we were building elevators and filling them with grain, and increasing our flocks and our herds, and now what we need is the cars and the ships in order to send considerable food, clothing and bedding to the people of Europe who are in distress. We have an organization in the Church that has over two thousand homemade quilts ready'." [George Albert Smith, in Conference Report, October 1947.]

More photos

Family Friends Seeking a Baby

This winter, I took a baby massage class from a friend of mine who is also a nurse.  She can't have any more babies on their own, but the family really wants more.  (They have three adorable little boys.)  They have created a blog to try to find a pregnant birth-mother who wants to give her unborn baby a good home.  I want to help them. 

So, please, if you know of anyone who needs a good home for their baby, check out this family's website.   http://www.mhzberg.blogspot.com/
 

http://www.mhzberg.blogspot.com/

General Conference Weekend

Saturday, C.E. and I went to the giant conference center in Salt Lake City to see the annual young women's general broadcast.  There were tens of thousands of 12-18 year old women and their mothers together there.  Beautiful.

I loved it.

Friday night we're going to Salt Lake City again, to the missionary reunions.  I loved my mission so much and I love hearing from my mission president and his wife.  They are like parents.  My mission president is now a temple sealer, and he married Scott and me in the Timpanogos Temple three years ago. 

He also writes books

prolifically, and they are great.

        

I remember being a kid and being soooo bored during the conference talks.  Wow.  I remember it well.  It was torture.

How things change!  Now I bask and I soak in the talks, and wish I could memorize the words.

So, this weekend I am thinking about faith.  You can't just get faith once and that's it for life.   I have to keep living it, probing, pondering, asking, moving forward, practicing, trying, hoping, learning, and feeding my little faith so it becomes mighty some day.  Like a plant, it can wither away if neglected. I have seen it happen to people, and it is sad.  This weekend is our weekend of extreme faith.  Twice a year, at general conference-- I wish it were oftener. 

Saturday and Sunday, for hours, off and on, we'll get  the broadcast from General Conference on the internet or on t.v. or from my sister's house.  My life is better for it and I can't wait.

 So, there's what's on my mind today.

http://lds.org/pages/why-conference-matters?lang=eng

My Sister's Salad

My sister makes a salad that is so good that I called her for the recipe this week because I had to bring a salad to a birthday luncheon.  So I am sharing.  (I ate a very similar salad at another luncheon the same week, and they'd added roasted slivered almonds rather than cottage cheese to theirs, which was yummy, too.)

Don't toss the ingredients until right before you are eating.  It gets soggy fast.

My Sister's Salad

* 1/2 head lettuce
* equal amount of spinach
* 1/2 pkg. bacon (fried and turned into bacon bits)
* 1 cup swiss cheese
* 1 cup cottage cheese
* 3/4 cup white vinegar
* 1/2 c. olive or other oil
* 3/4 c. sugar (you might try honey instead)
* 1/2 t. salt
* 2 t. poppyseeds
* 1/4 c. red onion, chopped
* more red onion, in circles, to decorate the top

Baby Time

If there is anything this baby would rather be trying to eat than a dalarhast, I don't know what it is. 

 This is the same dalarhast my other kids used to chew on.

 We were checking out the snowfall today. 

 And playing with the flying angel frog.

 The flying angel frog is much more amusing when I play with him for the baby to watch.

I love photography and babies together.

Genealogy Jewelry

I had this genealogy jewelry made for my mother's 69th and her sister's 70th birthdays.  I think it's such a great idea that I wanted to share it.  The woman who makes these lives in Spanish Fork, and does stained glass, too, and even worked on the temple stained glass projects. She uses beveled glass for both the front and back, and as you can see, the charm has two photos, reversible.  It cost me $35 for this size, (smaller ones for $25).  The boutique lady said to feel free to advertise for her, so if anyone wants these, call or email her with your order at kjking101@yahoo.com or (435) 671-6589
I would sell these or make these if I knew how, had time, was a businesswoman, etc. 

The Word of Wisdom Chef

Chilaquiles -from simple.healthy.tasty. blog


Sometimes I think of the word of wisdom** as a list of don'ts:  no coffee, alcohol, drugs, etc.  But if you really read it, it's a lot more like to-do list than a do-not-do list.

Well, D.H. and I were reading a book his friend had loaned us, the other night (Word of Wisdom: A Modern Interpretation by Widtsoe) and we got really inspired.  So for the past 4 days, we have been trying to live the word of wisdom better-- more whole grains, more veggies, less meat, more thankfulness, less crap (i.e. white sugar/white flour).  I do think we are both sugar addicts, to some extent.  I hate the habit-forming qualities of sugar.  I hate the feeling that nothing else is yummy after I've had a piece of candy.

Well, I was proud of both of us.  I've had no cookies or candies or junk for four days; D.H. didn't eat doughnuts with his co-workers this morning.  (He said it was hard not to; I told him to think about diabetes and cancer; that's harder!  Well, he had a banana and some oysters while the guys were eating doughnuts.)

So, I've used no white flour or white sugar in my recipes this week, using whole wheat flour (white wheat) and honey instead, and I've been doing some vegetable-based meals, which I've found online, mostly, to cut down on the meat.  My top favorites for the week, and how to make them, follow:

1. Chilaquiles
2. Veggie Enchiladas
3. Berry-Rhubarb Cobbler
4. 5-Grain, Oats, and Flaxseed Breakfast

Chilaquiles  (I used about half of the ingredients that this recipe called for and it turned out!)

Green Cabbage, finely sliced

corn tortillas cut with scissors and made crisp in broiler

olive oil

corn

olives, sliced

tomatoes, chopped

fresh cilantro, chopped

can of kidney beans and/or black beans

salsa

onion, chopped

green bell pepper, chopped

jalapeno, chopped (optional)

chili powder

cumin

Mexican seasoning

This is the recipe I found, and changed some of it.  I just threw stuff in:

So: Take a large frying pan, olive oil, onions and peppers, spices. Add the corn and beans and any other veggies. Then chips, salsa and olives and stir just until coated and warm. Put large handfuls of raw sliced cabbage on top and top that with cilantro and tomatoes. You could squeeze a little lime on it too, and serve on brown rice if you feel like it.

Veggie Enchiladas

So for this one, I just poured a large can of enchilada sauce (red) over my whole-wheat tortilla rolls, in a pan, (I'd rolled the tortillas up with no-added-fat refried beans, some chopped red peppers, some cilantro.)  I cooked it on low-med. in the oven for a long time, and added cheese to melt on the top right at the end.  YUM! 

Berry-Rhubarb Cobbler

I just threw in a pile of frozen blueberries, strawberries, rhubarb to mostly fill the pan.  Then I mixed up: a lot of honey, about the same amount of oats-and-whole-wheat-flour, mixed (I use white whole wheat kind for full nutrients but less weird texture), then added cinnamon and a hefty chunk of real butter (no weird chemicals).  I put the concoction over the berries and baked it.  It was good.  A.J. said it wasn't sweet enough, so we poured some powdered sugar over his helping.  

5-Grain-and-Flaxseed Breakfast

I just bought some 5-grain cereal and divided it with oats, half and half.  Then I sprinkled in a bunch of flaxseed.  I microwaved it in a bowl with water for 5-6 minutes, stirring halfway through, and added honey and cinnamon and milk or soymilk.  Super filling, super healthy.  I did not think of snacking before lunch time.  So filling!

I really want to continue this path.  I need more easy, good, yummy recipes so the whole family will be okay with it.  I did find a blog that I liked, called Simple. Healthy. Tasty.   I am sure there are others to discover.

**The Word of Wisdom

Doctrine and Covenants 89

1 A Word of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—

 2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—

 3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.

 4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

 5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

 6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

 7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.

 8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.

 9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

 10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

 11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.

 12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;

 13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

 14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

 15 And ^athese hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

 16 All grain is good for the ^afood of man; as also the ^bfruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—

 17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

 18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

 19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

 20 And shall ^arun and not be ^bweary, and shall walk and not faint.

 21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the ^adestroying angel shall ^bpass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

--D & C 89

March B.of M. Primary Reading Assignment (Sugardoodle)

 (This post is for primary workers, my sugardoodle friends-- sorry so late.)

MARCH Book of Mormon Trail Guide

            Easy (ONE sticker) option*  96 verses

Week one:  March 6-122 Nephi Chapter 3:1-15; 24-25 (that's 17 verses)

Week TWO:  March 13-19 2 Nephi Chapter 4:1-13; 20-25; 34-35   (that's 21 verses)

Week THREE:  March 20-26 2 Nephi Chapter 5:1-27  and Jacob 2: 18-21 (that's 31 verses)

Week FOUR  March 27 - April 2  Enos (that's 27 verses)

* The one-sticker option can also be fulfilled by finding the picture in the gospel art kit and asking someone to tell you the story that goes with the art, or by reading the story in the Illustrated Book of Mormon Reader. Or, just listen to the audio Book of Mormon version at http://lds.org

HARDER (TWO sticker) option     110 Verses !

WEEK ONE: March 6-12  2 Nephi Chapter 3:1-15; 24-25 (that's 17 verses)

Week TWO:  March 13-19  2 Nephi Chapter 4 (that's 35 verses)

Week THREE:  March 20-26 2 Nephi Chapter 5:1-27  and Jacob 2: 18-21 (that's 31 verses)

Week FOUR  March 27 - April 2   Enos (that's 27 verses)

Thought for the day

Photos This Week

 Here are the funny bath boys.  I think it's funny that one is pinkish white, roly-poly and blue eyed, and the other is tanned, even in mid-winter, dark eyed and skinny.  They make each other laugh so hard, too, even seven and a half years apart in age!

 Here's Baby H. on his way to visit his brother's second grade class.

 Second graders waiting to go back in after recess.

 Baby H.

 A.J. and Baby H. love to play in the box that our dishwasher came in.

 Blurry, but beautiful.

 He loves this flying routine.  So does the baby.

 Hejda!

 Can't get enough of that little smile.

 Here's how Baby H. looks when he is really tired and there's a lot of noise going on around him so he can't relax.  A.J. explained it this way:  "His cheeks can't hold his smile up."

 Baby blues.

He has probably eaten six times in the past month since we started him on stage one foods.  I offer him rice cereal, bananas, pears, peaches, and he just mostly makes faces and tells us he prefers to nurse.  So, we're taking it slowly.  I am going to buy fresh peas and green beans next, and try that.  But I am not in a hurry. 

Ten Commandments of Co-Parenting

I'm posting these "Ten Commandments of Co-Parenting" and adding an eleventh of my own*, because co-parenting has been on my mind lately.  Most of the time, my ex-spouse and I are flexible, workable, and genuinely respectful toward each other, and we put the kids' needs first.  Rarely (like once every three years, which included yesterday) we argue, and it isn't something I am proud of.  (But at least, it wasn't in front of the kids.)

One of my best friends is a co-parenter, and she has the worst ex-spouse I've ever heard of in my life.  Her ex lies and distorts reality --horribly and regularly-- to their kids, aiming to get the kids to hate their mother.  It halfway works.  It breaks my friend's heart over and over and over. 

I am so grateful that my ex and I do not say bad things about each other to our kids.  We "get it," that doing so would hurt the kids.  Lots of people just do not get that simple truth.  They justify immature and dishonest behavior out of a sense of vigilante justice.  It's sickening.

Anyway, I thought I'd post this, as a nice little reminder for me and anyone else out there doing the divorced, co-parenting experience. 

Ten Commandments of Co-Parenting

by Lynn Nelson, Public Education Director, University of Minnesota 1995

1. Resolve conflicts without putting kids in the middle. This requires being objective about your children’s needs (and not confusing them with your own) and compromising when the situation warrants. Stick with a conflict until it’s resolved; don’t let a problem fester and then punish the other parent passive-aggressively or be difficult in unrelated situations.

2. Treat the other parent with respect. This goes a long way toward easing your relations with your former partner. It also provides a good model for your children; more than we are willing to admit, our children imitate our behavior. Disrespect toward the other parent will be played out by the child. It’s important for a child’s healthy development to have respect for authority figures, including both parents.

3. Observe appropriate boundaries. When it comes to your kids, it’s sometimes difficult to tell yourself what they’re doing with the other parent “is none of my business.” But if an activity won’t harm them physically or psychologically, it probably is none of your business. Recognize it’s okay, maybe even good, for children to learn different ways of doing things. It’s almost certain that the other parent won’t do everything your way.

4. Communicate regularly with the other parent. Has the child eaten? Does he or she need more sleep or a bath? When children are older, both parents need to know about school activities, sports events and trips out of town. It’s good to get into a regular habit of checking in with each other on the days when parenting is shared. A worst-possible scenario is that lack of communication could lead to a child not being picked up after school or day care, or important medical treatment being disrupted.

5. Demonstrate positive conflict resolution. Don’t try to hide conflicts when they arise. Children generally know more about what’s going on than we give them credit for. Use conflict as an opportunity to show kids how to resolve issues in a responsible manner. Paul puts it this way: “Don’t step into the ring without taking time to cool off.”

6. Share with your co-parent what you need from him or her to do a good job of parenting. Everyone has different requirements for support. Be sure to be clear with the other parent about yours, and take time to inquire about his or hers. Guessing isn’t very productive.

7. Don’t allow all of the parenting tasks to fall to one parent. Typically, things that are out of balance don’t work well. Work at sharing parenting chores as equally as possible. Don’t hoard tasks and act like a martyr, and don’t expect the other parent to be in charge of all of the communicating, all of the extra purchases for your child or all of the discipline.

8. Be consistent - to the extent possible – in disciplining, feeding and caring for your child. This makes transitions from one household to another easier, thus minimizing the outbursts from children after visits with the other parent. Respect each other’s parenting approaches, and recognize that while consistency is optimal, differences are okay. Children are able to distinguish that something that’s okay at Dad’s house may not be okay at Morn’s, not because one parent is bad or wrong, but because the two parents are different.

9. Help your children recognize the other parent with appropriate gifts or cards. These express your children’s sentiments and make them feel good about themselves when they’re praised for their thoughtfulness. Take the time to help your children make or pick out holiday and birthday gifts for the other parent. Recognizing Mother’s and Father’s Day are particularly important because other relatives aren’t involved in celebrating these days.

10. Don’t punish your in-laws by keeping your kids from them after a divorce. Your in-laws are probably as disappointed as you and your former partner about the dissolution of your relationship. Grandparents can be a child’s greatest cheerleaders; don’t hurt your children and yourself by cutting off visits with them. In many cases, grandparents also provide back-up child care; this-isn’t something any single parent should give up willingly.

Lynn Ingrid Nelson and Paul Blanco are the committed co-parents of 7-year-old son, Nicholas.
University of Minnesota Children Youth and Family Consortium. Permission is granted to create and distribute copies of this document for noncommercial purposes provided that the author and CYFC receive acknowledgment and this notice is included.
        11.* (Added by Mamma C)  Invite your co-parenting partner to important events that the child is experiencing. This includes baptisms, graduations, recitals, performances, sporting events, etc.  Invite the co-parent, even if having him/her there is not what you actually would prefer.  Your child comes first!

For Primary Workers: Sharing Time Game

This is for the primary workers (my friends from Sugardoodle).  (I couldn't post this whole game on sugardoodle.net)

CLUES FOR THE GAME:  THREE (PROPHET) CLUES AND A QUOTE

JOSEPH F. SMITH
-WHEN I WAS FIVE, MY FATHER WAS KILLED WITH MY UNCLE, JOSEPH SMITH.
-WHEN I WAS 14, MY MOTHER DIED.
-WHEN I WAS 15, I WENT ON A MISSION TO HAWAII.
-QUOTE:  "To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman."

LORENZO SNOW
-I JOINED THE CHURCH AT AGE 22.
-I SERVED AS A MISSIONARY MANY TIMES.  MY MISSIONS WERE IN OHIO, ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY, MISSOURI, GREAT BRITAIN, ITALY, ENGLAND, SWITZERLAND, MALTA, HAWAII, AND THE NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES.
-I WAS THE 5TH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
-QUOTE:  "I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS THE TESTIMONY OF YOUR GRANDFATHER, THAT HE TOLD YOU WITH HIS OWN LIPS THAT HE ACTUALLY SAW THE SAVIOR, HERE IN THE TEMPLE, AND TALKED WITH HIM FACE TO FACE" -FROM HIS GRANDDAUGHTER

SPENCER W. KIMBALL
-I WAS BAPTIZED IN A HOG-SCALDING TUB ON MY 8TH BIRTHDAY.
-MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS 11.
-I HAD SURGERY ON MY VOCAL CORDS, SO MY VOICE WAS VERY QUIET.
-I WAS THE 12TH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH
-QUOTE:  "DO IT"

HOWARD W. HUNTER
- I WAS BORN IN IDAHO.
-I WAS BAPTIZED IN A SWIMMING POOL.
-I WAS THE 14TH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.
-I WAS ONLY THE PROPHET FOR ONE YEAR.
-QUOTE:  "IT IS THE DEEPEST DESIRE OF MY HEART TO HAVE EVERY MEMBER OF THE CHURCH WORTHY TO ENTER THE TEMPLE."

BRIGHAM YOUNG
-I  WAS BAPTIZED IN A POND AT AGE THIRTY.
-I SERVED ONE MISSION TO CANADA AND ANOTHER ONE TO GREAT BRITAIN.
-I LED THE SAINTS WEST TO THE SALT LAKE VALLEY.
-QUOTE:  "I FEEL LIKE SHOUTING HALLELUJAH, ALL THE TIME, WHEN I THINK THAT I EVER KNEW JOSEPH SMITH."
GORDON B. HINCKLEY
-MY DEAR MOTHER READ TO ME OFTEN AND I ALWAYS LOVED BOOKS
-I WAS SCARED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND MY PARENTS HAD TO MAKE ME GO.
-MY WIFE'S NAME WAS MARJORIE.
-I WAS THE FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH
-QUOTE:  "WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.  GOD IS AT THE HELM."

GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
-I WAS BAPTIZED IN A CREEK IN SALT LAKE CITY.
-MY WIFE WAS NAMED LUCY AND SHE HELPED ME WITH MY MISSIONARYWORK
-I WAS THE 8TH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.
-QUOTE:  "IF YOU WILL STAY ON THE LORD'S SIDE OF THE LINE YOU WILL… HAVE NO DESIRE TO DO WRONG; BUT IF YOU CROSS TO THE DEVIL'S SIDE OF THE LINE ONE INCH, YOU ARE IN THE TEMPTER'S POWER, AND IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL, YOU WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO THINK OR EVEN REASON PROPERLY.."

DAVID  O. MCKAY
-I WAS BAPTIZED IN A CREEK WHILE MY FATHER WAS SERVING A MISSION IN GREAT BRITAIN.
-I SERVED A MISSION IN SCOTLAND.
-I BECAME AN APOSTLE WHEN I WAS 32.
-I BECAME THE PROPHET WHEN I WAS 77 AND LIVED TO BE 96 YEARS OLD.
-QUOTE:  "EVERY MEMBER A MISSIONARY."

JOHN TAYLOR
-BULLETS  WOUNDED ME WHEN I WAS WITH JOSEPH AND HYRUM SMITH AT CARTHAGE JAIL, BUT I SURVIVED.
-MY WIFE WAS NAMED LEONORA.
- DURING MY MISSION TO FRANCE AND GERMANY, I HAD THE BOOK OF MORMON PUBLISHED IN FRENCH AND GERMAN.
-I BECAME THE THIRD PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH AT AGE 71.
-QUOTE:  "I FELT THAT THE LORD HAD PRESERVED ME BY A SPECIAL ACT OF MERCY."

THOMAS S. MONSON
-I ENJOY SCOUTING.
-I GRADUATED FROM BOTH THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH AND FROM BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY.
-MY WIFE IS NAMED FRANCES.
-QUOTE: "FAITH PRECEDES THE MIRACLE."

JOSEPH SMITH
-WHEN I WAS 17, THE ANGEL MORONI VISITED ME 4 TIMES TO GIVE ME DIRECTIONS FROM HEAVENLY FATHER
-I TRANSLATED THE BOOK OF MORMON INTO ENGLISH
-I WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.
-QUOTE: "WHAT CAN MAN DO IF GOD IS MY FRIEND?"