The Enrichment Cottage
 

Presidency Messages & HFPE

Here is an idea about making the 1st Sunday presidency messages and monthly enrichment nights all tie together into a theme.

This year we have been doing the theme “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord”, and we have covered a different “room” in each house- as suggested by some sisters last year. We have found it to be very successful because anything can fit with that “theme”.

We have a bulletin board with a silhouette of a house and each month we have unveiled a new “room” that will help make our house a home.

The First Sunday messages have tied in beautifully with each room- and it has really been a great way to bridge over to enrichment night. The theme has also been wonderful because we have REGULARLY had the opportunity to bring food storage into this whole theme.

For example, we are in the “bathroom” for the month of July, we remind the sisters to pick up additional bathroom supplies during the month while they are shopping.

The presidency message this month was “Finding His Image in your Countenance” and the enrichment night is “Washing Away Anxiety-How To Deal With Stress” It all ties in so well even with it being so different.

Anyway, we have had such great success with this theme and I really appreciate those that shared this with us last year.

I guess I am wanting to see what other ideas have worked for other wards out there. We are a small ward with many converts. I appreciate any input on what has worked well for you…

-Brandon

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On November 17, 2008
At 1:42 am
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Relief Society Jeopardy!

by: Monica White

We have a great ward that is willing to try anything! For our Relief Society birthday party, we played “Relief Society Jeopardy!” with a twist of several games shows! One sister was “Alexis Trebeck”, one was “Vanna White” and one was “Roberta Roddy” Then we had several of “Barker’s Everyday Beauties” These characters acted out a short script to explain the game.
The teams “buzzed in” with game buzzers from games like Taboo. Then we answered questions about the Relief Society Jeopardy style.

The winning teams won items like a day at the spa (bubble bath), a trip (local bus tickets) and a new car (toy cars). It was a ton of fun and we learned about church history!

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Scripture Dinner

(The sisters get an individual menu. The main dish is a casserole with the meat added at the last minute.)

Menu

Choose One:

Judges 4:19 (milk)
Genesis 24:17 (water)
Amos 9:14 (wine = grape juice or grape Kool-Aid)
Choose One:

Jonah 4:6 (gourd = squash)
Genesis 41:5 (corn)
2 Chron 7:20 (root = carrot)

Choose One:

Exodus 12:18 (unleavened bread = pita)
Numbers 11:9 (manna = couscous)
Amos 9:9 (grain = rice)
Choose One:

Leviticus 25:7 (cattle = ground beef)
Nehemiah 3:3 (fish = tuna)
Ezekiel 17:23 (fowl = chicken)

Choose One:

Leviticus 24:5 (cake)
Deut 26:2 (fruit)
Jeremiah 24:1 (figs = fig Newton’s)
Choose Two:

Zechariah 9:13 (sword = knife)
Numbers 7:14 (spoon)
Exodus 20:25 (lift up tool = fork)

Choose One:

2 Samuel 12:3 (cup)
Job 37:18 (glass)
2 Kings 4:6 (vessel = paper cup)

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Applying The Relief Society Declaration Part 3

by: Alison B.

Applying The Relief Society Declaration part 3

8. Stand for truth and righteousness.

Strengthening families——-A Vibrant Testimony-The How To’s.
Spiritual Development——-Ask, Seek, Knock-Become the Woman You Should Be
Increasing patience———-Solving Problem’s the Lord’s Way
Balanced Lives—————-Strong Women in the Scriptures pg. 139 RS
1977
Temple Blessings————Preparing For the Temple-Invite the YW
Friendship and Family T.-Teaching Children Responsibility -bk
Service————————–Be A Faithful Witness pg 20 RS 1978
Self-Reliance—————–The Word of Wisdom Diet-bk
*Personal and Family D.—Calligraphy 101-also Enrichment classes
Sacrifice and Consec.—–Pulling Down Blessings From Heaven-bk

9. Sustain the Priesthood as the authority of God on earth.
( I have to admit I had a ball coming up with a connection from these classes to the men!)

Strengthening Families——-Crock-pot cooking and recipe share
Spiritual Development———Superwoman, Molly Mormon, and YOU
*Increasing Patience———–Building Shelves in Your Home
Balanced Lives——————Humor As A Coping Mechanism
Temple Blessings————–Telling Isn’t Teaching-Teach Your Child
Friendship and Family T.—-Comfort Decorating-Your Bedroom
*Service—————————–Estate Planning/Wills
*Self-reliance———————-Frugal Gardening/Simple Home Repairs
Personal and Family D.——Weights For Women
Sacrifice and Consec.——–Follow the Brethren pg. 23 RS 1978 and a talk of Elder Eyrings-

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

Strengthening Families——-Making A Good Marriage better
Spiritual Development———–Learning Self-discipline
Increasing Patience————Turn Your Weaknesses into Strengths pg. 78 RS 1977
*Balanced Lives——————Once A Month Cooking
Temple Blessings—————Temple Trip
Friendship and Family Ties–Planning for Sunday-clothes, food, etc.
Service——————————Involvement in Your Child’s School
*Self-Reliance———————Dehydration Techniques
Personal and Family D.——Family Traditions-A Quarterly Activity based on the book “Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions
Sacrifice and Consec.——-How to Be Happier

President Packer has asked us to include one basic class each month. We will call these Life-skills. Once learned they are yours for life.

* denotes a life skill class.

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On November 16, 2008
At 11:36 pm
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Applying The Relief Society Declaration Part 2

by: Alison B.

Applying The Relief Society Declaration

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

Strengthening Families———-A Year’s Holidays w/ A Christ-like focus.
*Spiritual Development————-Clutter Free! by Don Aslett
Increasing patience…————The Art of Communicating
*Balanced Lives———————Basic t-shirts to sew
Temple Blessings—————–Filling Out Family Group Sheets
Friendship and Family T.——-Maintaining Friendships-pg 129 RS 77
Service——————————–Developing Christ-like Love
*Self-Reliance———————–Bread making By Hand
Personal and Family D.——–How To Be A Perfect Wife and other Myths-bk
Sacrifice and Consecration—Joy in the Sabbath-Sunday Sundaes

5. Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

Strengthening families———Cooking when you don’t have time.
Spiritual development———-A spirit of Thanksgiving
Increasing patience————-Trust in God-pg.49 RS 77
Balanced lives——————–Making time for exercise
Temple Blessings—————Family Councils-how they work
Friendship and family T.——Likening the scriptures to our families.
Service——————————Time to listen
*Self-reliance———————–Relish and pickling skills
Personal and family D.——–Somebody’s watching mother’s example
Sacrifice and consecration———Are you having FHScreaming? How to’s

6. Delight in Service and good works.

Strengthening families——–Communicating w/ your teenager
Spiritual development———The Healing power of the Savior: Our wounds,
sorrows, and disappointments
*Increasing patience———–Sign language 101 w/ enrichment meetings
*Balanced lives——————Caring for furniture, rugs, and upholstery
Temple Blessings————Temple ready
Friendship and family T.—–Caring for elderly parents
Service—————————–Get a wish list from Access housing
*Self-reliance———————Learning to crochet leper bandages
Personal and family D.——Grandmothers can make a difference
Sacrifice and consec.———Community service and you

7. Love life and learning.

*Strengthening families——–Photography 101
*Spiritual Development———Pressure canning w/out fear
Increasing patience————How to have a 36-hour day-bk
Balanced lives—————— Go back to school?
Temple blessings—————What you can learn from the temple
Friendship and family T.—–Learning about yourself through journal-writing
*Service—————————–Filling out tax forms
*Self-reliance———————-Introduce your family to whole-wheat
Personal and family d.——-Revitalizing your body through yoga/nutrition/the outer you A 3-month class
Sacrifice and consec———Working miracles w/ your memory

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Relief Society Centerpieces

Our September centerpieces were lunch boxes and apples. We had all different kinds of lunches boxes i.e… Hello Kitty, Spiderman, Star Wars, Dragon tales. Just what the moms had at home for their kids. We had tied balloons to them but they can be done without the balloons. It was a fun idea for a back to school theme. You could alternate a basket of apples with lunch boxes ( we just did both on each table) one lunchbox with a few apples on the table.

-Greta Johnson

Filed under : Calling Assistance, Relief Society
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On November 3, 2008
At 3:02 am
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Dinner and Treat Ideas

For our Home, Family and Personal Enrichment nights, table decorations (we have a meal every Enrichment). We’ve asked 4 sisters to be responsible for decorating a table. They are to bring things that represent themselves and/or family. They’re not to tell anyone and we will have a contest to see who can guess which table belongs to which person. We will also have place-cards at each setting with a prompt that that person will share with the table.

-Contributed by: Mischelle

Share yours! Leave a comment!

We have done several things that have worked successfully in our ward. Here are a few of them:

Trail Mix– each person signs up to bring one cup of their favorite snack, such as raisins, chocolate chips, pretzels, marshmallows, nuts, coconut, raisins, etc. Dump it all in a large bowl and mix together. It makes a great snack that takes almost no clean up or prep time. Everyone loved it!

Ice Cream Sundaes– The RS provides the ice cream and we send around a sign up sheet for the toppings. Yummy in hot weather!

Veggie Tray– We had people bring various vegetables, chips and dips and had a great healthy snack and had lemonade to drink.

Contributed by: Liz Brown

I am always looking for new ideas but these are a couple that we have done:

Pasta Bar: Relief Society provided the noodles and we had a sign up sheet for different sauces. (Marinara, clam, Alfredo, etc…)

Potato Bar, Taco Salad, and Bread bowls with soup. Yummy and we always get a great attendance when we have sign up sheets!

-Contributed by: Nicole Hepworth

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12 Hats of Womanhood Handout

1.. MAID: “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.” (D&C 88:119)
*”And let all things be done in cleanliness before me.” (D&C 42:41-42)
*”Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

2.. SEAMSTRESS: If you have sewed, you know that it is easier if you have a pattern to follow.
*”The gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s pattern for righteous living and eternal life. It makes possible goal setting and lofty priorities…there are patterns for al worthy things if we will search for them. “And behold, it must be done according to the pattern which I have given unto you.” (D&C 94:2)…In all our phases of life, it is expedient that we have correct patterns to follow… To gain exaltation and happy daily life, we must follow a pattern of righteousness. Our self esteem and success can best be measured by how we follow the patterns of life…Instead of our being commanded in all things, we are give a pattern in all things.” (Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, Nov. 1990, 20-22)

3.. GARDENER: Planting and cultivating character.
*President David O. McKay often quoted C.A. Hall, “We sow our thoughts, and we reap our actions; we sow our actions and we reap our habits; we sow our habits and we reap our characters; we sow our characters and we reap our destiny.” *”We need to organize ourselves according to gospel principles and chart a right course as we journey toward eternal life…Character…is a reward derived from honest toil
in overcoming difficulties.”
(Good Habits Develop Good Character, Delbert L. Stapley, Ensign, Nov 1974).

4.. Graduation: “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” (D&C 88:118)
*”We must go on growing. We must continually learn. It is a divinely given mandate that we go on adding to our knowledge.” (Stand a Little Taller, Jan 21)

*”There is a great potential within each of us to go on learning. Regardless of our age, unless there be a serious illness, we can ready, study, drink in the writings of wonderful men and women. It is never too late to learn. (Stand a Little Taller , Sept 25 ) *See also D&C 88 : 78-79

5.. Detective: As you seek for clues to live a happy life, you must seek for truths. If you search for clues in the scriptures you will find the answer to your prayers. *”Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (D&C 88:63)
*”Seek for the real things, not the artificial. Seek for the everlasting truths, not the passing whim. Seek for the eternal things of God, not for that which is here today, gone tomorrow.
Look to God and live, as the scripture enjoins us.” (Stand a Little Taller, July 10)

6.. Helmet: “Wherefore lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up you loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand. Stand, therefore having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you; Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I will reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen.” (D&C 27:15-18)

7.. Athlete: If you just think about jogging for 20 minutes, it doesn’t produce the same results as if you actually get your shoes on and get out the door and jog for 20 minutes. You must get out and do it. The Nike theme is “Just do it”. The Kimball theme (As in Spencer W.) theme is “Do it.”
*”And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.” (Mosiah 4:27) . *”Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided…but be diligent unto the end.” (D&C 10:4).
*”Just take things one day at a time, otherwise you’ll be overwhelmed.” (Stand a Little Taller, July 12).

8.. Nurse: You are a nurse to heal wounds of the soul. AS you seek to heal others, you will magically become whole.
*”…Succor the weak, lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” D&C 81:5)

*”We then that are strong out to bear the infirmities of the weak.” (Romans 15:1) *”Try to forget your own pain as you work to alleviate the pain of others.” (Stand a Little Taller, Feb 3)

*”The best medicine for despair is service.” (Stand a Little Taller, April 1)

9.. Chauffeur: Just as a chauffeur serves others by taking them places, we can serve others by helping them travel to higher places.

*”Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”
(Matthew 24:26) *”One of the greatest challenges we face in our hurried, self-centered lives is to follow the counsel of the Master “to do it unto one of the least of these, my brethren.” Take the time today to reach out, to help someone less fortunate, to strengthen and lift a brother or sister in need.” (Stand a Little Taller, May 30)
*”If for nothing else than an expression of gratitude for the Savior’s resplendent gift, can we help and care for each other? Imagine the cumulative, magnifying, multiplying effect if each one of us helped strengthen just one or two others during the next twelve months. It would be impossible to measure the influence–for those we help, and for us as well.” (No Doubt About It, Sheri Dew, p 77)

10.. Party: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” (Stand a Little Taller, Sept. 8) *”It is important that we all learn to laugh at ourselves. And important dimension in learning to laugh at ourselves lies in not being afraid to make a mistake…Balance in large measure is knowing
the things that can be changed, putting them in proper perspective, and recognizing the things that will not change. And balance also lies in attitude.
May our attitude be one of achieving balance and wisdom and understanding in all that we do.” (The Need for Balance in Our Lives, James E. Faust, Ensign, March 2000, 3-5)

11.. Cook: We must nourish ourselves physically and spiritually.

*”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; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.” (D&C 89:20)
*”And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them.” (1 Nephi 17:3)

12.. Nightcap: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (D&C 101:16)
*”Our lives become extremely busy. We run from one thing to another. We wear ourselves out in thoughtless pursuit of goals which are largely ephemeral. We are entitled to spend some time with ourselves in introspection, in development, in thinking, meditating, pondering
things.” (Stand a Little Taller, Sept. 6)
“Remind yourself each night before retiring that you are not just a bundle of labels or roles…You are a child of God and a unique and beautiful woman with a separate destiny to fulfill.” (LDS Mother’s Almanac, Janene W. Baadsgaard, p. 450)

QUEEN: May you so live that you will be worthy to wear the crown of eternal life on your head. “If thou art faithful thou shalt have a crown of immortality and eternal life.” (D&C 81:4-6)
“Keep my commandments continually and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive.” (D&C 25:15)

So, when it is time to choose which hats to wear throughout each day, remember this:

Have faith
Answers will come
To everything there is a season
Spirit will guide

Remember what President Hinckley said, “The course of our lives is seldom determined by great, life-altering decisions. Our direction is often set by the small, day-to-day choices that chart the track on which we run. This is the substance of our lives-making choices.” (Stand a Little Taller, Jan 12).
~Compiled by Lynette Lewis, Submitted (with permission) by Valerie Jackson

*****************************************************************************
This is the handout in it’s entirety. She presented the 12 hats (not in any
order, she actually started with the party hat first. Then she ended by putting on a crown and talking about that a little, but by that point we were all crying!!! She did a wonderful job of compiling and presenting this material. I hope this is helpful. It’s basically just an outline, more could be added to it, but I also think each hat could be presented and the quotes and scriptures read~ that would make a nice program too.

~Valerie in Utah

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On June 2, 2008
At 3:33 pm
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12 Hats of Womanhood

Compiled by Lynette Lewis,
Submitted (with permission) by Valerie Jackson

(This was printed on a “rainbow” paper)

Just as this paper has many colors, there are many hats of womanhood.

You can’t be everything to everyone all the time, But you can be something to someone some of the time. How do you choose?

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “The course of our lives is seldom determined by great, life-altering decision. Our direction is often set by the small, day-to-day choices that chart the track on which we run. This is the substance of our lives–making choices. (Stand a Little Taller, Jan 12)

“Time is really all we have. And every individual has an equal portion of it. The trick is to get more out of what is available to us.” (Stand a Little Taller, October 15)

How do you choose? You must live to be worthy of the Spirit!

[The following quotes regarding the Holy Ghost are found in the book, No Doubt About It, by Sheri Dew, p. 108-109]

Lorenzo Snow said that it is the “grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint…to have the manifestations of the spirit every day of our lives.” (in Conference Report, April 1899. 52).
His sister, Eliza, who was present at the founding of the Relief Society and served as its second general president, said this about the gift of the Holy Ghost: “Is it not our privilege to so live that we can have this constantly flowing into our souls?” (Women’s Exponent, 15 Sept. 1873, 63).

President Gordon B. Hinckley has said: “There is no greater blessing that can come into our lives than…the companionship of the Holy Spirit.” (Boston Massachusetts Regional Conference, 22 April 1995).

President Joseph F. Smith said that “it is the right and privilege of every man, every woman and every child who has reached the years of accountability, to enjoy the spirit of revelation, and to be possessed of the spirit of inspiration…It is the privilege of every individual member of the Church to have revelation for his own guidance, for the direction of his life and conduct.” (Gospel Doctrine, 34)

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Overnight Gingered Fruit Bowl

Prep time: 25 minutes (ready in 8 hours 25 minutes)

3 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger

3 tablespoons lime juice

3 tablespoons honey

2 cups cantaloupe balls

2 cups honeydew melon balls

3 cups cubed fresh pineapple

1 quart (4 cups) fresh strawberries, halved or sliced

2 bananas, sliced
In large bowl, combine ginger, lime juice and honey; mix well. Add cantaloupe, honeydew melon and pineapple; stir gently to mix. Cover; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight, stirring once or twice.

Just before serving, stir in strawberries and bananas. Makes 20 (½ cup servings)

Filed under : Recipes, Relief Society
By admin
On May 30, 2008
At 3:12 am
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