Friday, May 28, 2010
BE HAPPY!
"Be happy. I meet so many people who constantly complain about the burden of their responsibilities. Of course the pressures are great. There is much, too much, to do. . . . [but] the gospel is good news. Man is that he might have joy. Be happy! Let that happiness shine through your faces and speak through your testimonies.”
"In all of living have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed,not just endured."
“Deal with the problems as wisely as you can. Make your decisions. You may be right; you may be wrong. Hopefully, you will be right because you have prayed earnestly over the matter and you have discussed it with your associates. But once these decisions are made, put them behind you and do not worry about them. Turn around, stand tall, put your head up, and look forward to the marvelous opportunities that you have.”
~~~ Gordon B. Hinckley
"In all of living have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed,not just endured."
“Deal with the problems as wisely as you can. Make your decisions. You may be right; you may be wrong. Hopefully, you will be right because you have prayed earnestly over the matter and you have discussed it with your associates. But once these decisions are made, put them behind you and do not worry about them. Turn around, stand tall, put your head up, and look forward to the marvelous opportunities that you have.”
~~~ Gordon B. Hinckley
Thursday, May 27, 2010
the Lighthouse of the Lord
My brothers and sisters, today, as we look at the world around us, we are faced with problems which are serious and of great concern to us. The world seems to have slipped from the moorings of safety and drifted from the harbor of peace.
Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, dishonesty, and a host of other ills cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings, and shattered dreams.
My counsel for all of us is to look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing.
I love the words found in Psalms: “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; . . . I will call upon the Lord . . . so [I shall] be saved from mine enemies.”
The Lord loves us, my brothers and sisters, and will bless us as we call upon Him.
~~~~ Thomas S. Monson
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Duty
This is a troubled world. Discord and disaster are everywhere. It sometimes feels as though mankind itself may be hanging in the balance.
Foreshadowing our day, the Lord said, “The heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve.” We should take great comfort in this promise.
For those who eschew evil and live good lives, who strive for a brighter day and keep the commandments of God, things can get better and better even in the face of tragedy. The Savior showed us the way. From Gethsemane, the cross, and the tomb, He rose triumphant, bringing life and hope to us all. He bids us, “Come, follow me.”
President Thomas S. Monson has counseled: “If we are to walk with head held high, we must make our contribution to life. If we are to fulfill our destiny and return to live with our Father in Heaven, we must keep His commandments and pattern our lives after the Savior. By so doing, we will not only achieve our goal of eternal life, but we will also leave the world richer and better than it would have been had we not lived and performed our duties.”
In the Holy Bible are these inspired words: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Foreshadowing our day, the Lord said, “The heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve.” We should take great comfort in this promise.
For those who eschew evil and live good lives, who strive for a brighter day and keep the commandments of God, things can get better and better even in the face of tragedy. The Savior showed us the way. From Gethsemane, the cross, and the tomb, He rose triumphant, bringing life and hope to us all. He bids us, “Come, follow me.”
President Thomas S. Monson has counseled: “If we are to walk with head held high, we must make our contribution to life. If we are to fulfill our destiny and return to live with our Father in Heaven, we must keep His commandments and pattern our lives after the Savior. By so doing, we will not only achieve our goal of eternal life, but we will also leave the world richer and better than it would have been had we not lived and performed our duties.”
In the Holy Bible are these inspired words: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Priesthood Blessing for the Healing of the Sick
Elder Dallin H. Oaks --
Faith is essential for healing by the powers of heaven. The Book of Mormon even teaches that “if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them” (Ether 12:12). In a notable talk on administering to the sick, President Spencer W. Kimball said: “The need of faith is often underestimated. The ill one and the family often seem to depend wholly on the power of the priesthood and the gift of healing that they hope the administering brethren may have, whereas the greater responsibility is with him who is blessed. . . . The major element is the faith of the individual when that person is conscious and accountable. ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole’ [Matthew 9:22] was repeated so often by the Master that it almost became a chorus.”
President Kimball even suggested that “too frequent administrations may be an indication of lack of faith or of the ill one trying to pass the responsibility for faith development to the elders rather than self.” He told about a faithful sister who received a priesthood blessing. When asked the next day if she wished to be administered to again, she replied: “No, I have been anointed and administered to. The ordinance has been performed. It is up to me now to claim my blessing through my faith.”
Words of Blessing
Another part of a priesthood blessing is the words of blessing spoken by the elder after he seals the anointing. These words can be very important, but their content is not essential and they are not recorded on the records of the Church. In some priesthood blessings—like a patriarchal blessing—the words spoken are the essence of the blessing. But in a healing blessing it is the other parts of the blessing—the anointing, the sealing, faith, and the will of the Lord—that are the essential elements.
Ideally, the elder who officiates will be so in tune with the Spirit of the Lord that he will know and declare the will of the Lord in the words of the blessing. Brigham Young taught priesthood holders, “It is your privilege and duty to live so that you know when the word of the Lord is spoken to you and when the mind of the Lord is revealed to you.” When that happens, the spoken blessing is fulfilled literally and miraculously. On some choice occasions I have experienced that certainty of inspiration in a healing blessing and have known that what I was saying was the will of the Lord. However, like most who officiate in healing blessings, I have often struggled with uncertainty on the words I should say. For a variety of causes, every elder experiences increases and decreases in his level of sensitivity to the promptings of the Spirit. Every elder who gives a blessing is subject to influence by what he desires for the person afflicted. Each of these and other mortal imperfections can influence the words we speak.
Fortunately, the words spoken in a healing blessing are not essential to its healing effect. If faith is sufficient and if the Lord wills it, the afflicted person will be healed or blessed whether the officiator speaks those words or not. Conversely, if the officiator yields to personal desire or inexperience and gives commands or words of blessing in excess of what the Lord chooses to bestow according to the faith of the individual, those words will not be fulfilled. Consequently, brethren, no elder should ever hesitate to participate in a healing blessing because of fear that he will not know what to say. The words spoken in a healing blessing can edify and energize the faith of those who hear them, but the effect of the blessing is dependent upon faith and the Lord’s will, not upon the words spoken by the elder who officiated.
Faith is essential for healing by the powers of heaven. The Book of Mormon even teaches that “if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them” (Ether 12:12). In a notable talk on administering to the sick, President Spencer W. Kimball said: “The need of faith is often underestimated. The ill one and the family often seem to depend wholly on the power of the priesthood and the gift of healing that they hope the administering brethren may have, whereas the greater responsibility is with him who is blessed. . . . The major element is the faith of the individual when that person is conscious and accountable. ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole’ [Matthew 9:22] was repeated so often by the Master that it almost became a chorus.”
President Kimball even suggested that “too frequent administrations may be an indication of lack of faith or of the ill one trying to pass the responsibility for faith development to the elders rather than self.” He told about a faithful sister who received a priesthood blessing. When asked the next day if she wished to be administered to again, she replied: “No, I have been anointed and administered to. The ordinance has been performed. It is up to me now to claim my blessing through my faith.”
Words of Blessing
Another part of a priesthood blessing is the words of blessing spoken by the elder after he seals the anointing. These words can be very important, but their content is not essential and they are not recorded on the records of the Church. In some priesthood blessings—like a patriarchal blessing—the words spoken are the essence of the blessing. But in a healing blessing it is the other parts of the blessing—the anointing, the sealing, faith, and the will of the Lord—that are the essential elements.
Ideally, the elder who officiates will be so in tune with the Spirit of the Lord that he will know and declare the will of the Lord in the words of the blessing. Brigham Young taught priesthood holders, “It is your privilege and duty to live so that you know when the word of the Lord is spoken to you and when the mind of the Lord is revealed to you.” When that happens, the spoken blessing is fulfilled literally and miraculously. On some choice occasions I have experienced that certainty of inspiration in a healing blessing and have known that what I was saying was the will of the Lord. However, like most who officiate in healing blessings, I have often struggled with uncertainty on the words I should say. For a variety of causes, every elder experiences increases and decreases in his level of sensitivity to the promptings of the Spirit. Every elder who gives a blessing is subject to influence by what he desires for the person afflicted. Each of these and other mortal imperfections can influence the words we speak.
Fortunately, the words spoken in a healing blessing are not essential to its healing effect. If faith is sufficient and if the Lord wills it, the afflicted person will be healed or blessed whether the officiator speaks those words or not. Conversely, if the officiator yields to personal desire or inexperience and gives commands or words of blessing in excess of what the Lord chooses to bestow according to the faith of the individual, those words will not be fulfilled. Consequently, brethren, no elder should ever hesitate to participate in a healing blessing because of fear that he will not know what to say. The words spoken in a healing blessing can edify and energize the faith of those who hear them, but the effect of the blessing is dependent upon faith and the Lord’s will, not upon the words spoken by the elder who officiated.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Week One Menu (and recipes!)
Here's a sample of a one-week menu from the Watson house:
Breakfast - Cream of wheat, cereal, toast, oatmeal, or yogurt (your choice - my kids get their own breakfasts - these are the things available)
Lunch - leftovers, soup, sandwich (your choice - it's usually just me and Kirsten home for lunch, so I keep it simple)
Dinner:
Day 1 - Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup, crusty rolls (your family's favorite brand)
Day 2 - Ham, steamed broccoli, baked paprika tomatoes
Day 3 - Chicken Pot Pie
Day 4 - Garlic Lover's Pot Roast
Day 5 - Goat Cheese Pesto Pizza, roasted Asparagus
Day 6 - Spaghetti
Day 7 - BLTs, broccoli slaw
Recipes -
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup - 2 quarts water, 8 chicken bouillon cubes, 6 1/2 cups uncooked wide egg noodles, 2 cans (10 3/4 oz. each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted, 3 cups cubed cooked chicken (or 2 large cans of chicken meat), 1 cup sour cream, minced parsley (fresh or dried) In a large saucepan, bring water and bouillon to a boil. Add noodles; cook, uncovered, until tender, about 10 minutes. DO NOT DRAIN. Add soup and chicken; heat through. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream. Sprinkle with parsley.
Baked Paprika Potatoes - Canned whole potatoes - enough for your family; melted butter - enough to coat potatoes thoroughly; paprika - sprinkle over potatoes until coated. Bake with ham until browned, stirring a few times.
Chicken Pot Pie - 1 (8.5 oz) sheet frozen puff pastry, 3 cups chicken broth, 4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts cut into 1" pieces, 3 carrots-sliced, 6 red potatoes-scrubbed and sliced, 1 cup thinly sliced celery, 1 cup milk, 1/3 cup flour, 1/2 cup frozen peas, salt and pepper to taste, 1 egg-lightly beaten. In a large saucepan, combine broth, chicken, carrots, potatoes, and celery. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. In a jar, combine the milk and flour. Close the jar and shake until smooth. Stirring constantly, pour the flour mixture into the chicken mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and stir until thickened (about 1 minute). Stir in the peas. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pour the mixture into a 9x13. Unfold the puff pastry and place over the filling. Brush the top of the pastry lightly with the egg. Bake 10-15 minutes til the pastry puffs and is shiny golden brown. makes 6-8 servings.
Garlic Lovers' Pot Roast - 1 boneless beef chuck roast (about 3 pounds), 10 cloves garlic-peeled and cut in 1/2 lengthwise, 2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper,
2 tbl. vegetable oil, 1 cup chopped onion, 1 cup peeled and chopped carrots, 1 cup chopped celery, 2/3 cup water
Using the tip of a sharp paring knife, make 20 evenly spaced small slits about 1 1/2 inches deep all over the pot roast. Using your fingers, insert the garlic cloves as deep into the slits as possible. Season the roast on all sides with the salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat. Add the oil and carefully add the meat. Sear the meat on all sides until very well browned, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Add the vegetables, carefully add the water and cover the pot. Reduce the heat to low to medium-low and cook until the roast is very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours, turning 2 or 3 times during the entire cooking time, adding a little more water, and wine if desired, as needed so that a little liquid always is on the bottom of the pan. Transfer the meat to a platter and let rest 10 minutes. Slice or pull the meat apart into serving pieces and drizzle the pan juices over the top.
Goat Cheese Pizza - 2 ready made pizza crusts, 1 jar basil pesto, 1 log goat cheese. Spread pizza crust with olive oil. Pour on desired amount of pesto and spread close to crust edge. Crumble goat cheese on top. Bake at temperature recommended on pizza crust directions, or at 375 until goat cheese begins to brown. (note - goat cheese won't melt like regular pizza cheese)
Roasted Asparagus - 1 lb asparagus spears (thick spears are best for roasting), 1-2 Tbsp olive oil, Kosher Salt, black pepper, Lemon juice (optional). Preheat oven to 400°F. Rinse clean the asparagus. Break the tough ends off of the asparagus and discard. Lay the asparagus spears out in a single layer in a baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over the spears, roll the asparagus back and forth until they are covered. Sprinkle with salt, and pepper. Place pan in oven and cook for 8-10 minutes, depending on how thick your asparagus spears are, until lightly browned. Drizzle with a little fresh lemon juice before serving.
Spaghetti - hamburger, Italian sausage, tomato sauce (2 large cans for every 1 tomato paste), tomato paste, garlic, onion, marjoram. This is my grandmother's recipe and I just make it to taste - we like a lot of hamburger and sausage, not too much garlic, onion, or marjoram. Or you can skip making it yourself and just buy your favorite spaghetti sauce! (skip the hamburger, and Italian sausage on the shopping list and add your jar of spaghetti sauce)
Broccoli Slaw - (in the Hickory Stake Relief Society Cookbook!)
Shopping list:
Produce - asparagus, broccoli, grapes, purple onion, lettuce, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, red potatoes
Meat - ham, bacon, hamburger, Italian sausage, chuck roast, chicken
Dairy - sour cream, goat cheese, milk
Bakery - pizza crusts, bread
Frozen - rolls, broccoli, peas
Canned - chicken (2), cream of chicken soup (2), whole potatoes, basil pesto, soups, tomato sauce (2 for every one tomato paste), tomato paste, chicken broth
Dry Goods - egg noodles, raisins, cereal, oatmeal, cream of wheat
Misc - sunflower seed, mayonnaise
I hope this isn't confusing to you - let me know (Candice Watson) if you have any questions about any of the recipes or shopping lists or anything.
Is there anyone who would be willing to share a week's menu, recipes and shopping list?
Breakfast - Cream of wheat, cereal, toast, oatmeal, or yogurt (your choice - my kids get their own breakfasts - these are the things available)
Lunch - leftovers, soup, sandwich (your choice - it's usually just me and Kirsten home for lunch, so I keep it simple)
Dinner:
Day 1 - Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup, crusty rolls (your family's favorite brand)
Day 2 - Ham, steamed broccoli, baked paprika tomatoes
Day 3 - Chicken Pot Pie
Day 4 - Garlic Lover's Pot Roast
Day 5 - Goat Cheese Pesto Pizza, roasted Asparagus
Day 6 - Spaghetti
Day 7 - BLTs, broccoli slaw
Recipes -
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup - 2 quarts water, 8 chicken bouillon cubes, 6 1/2 cups uncooked wide egg noodles, 2 cans (10 3/4 oz. each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted, 3 cups cubed cooked chicken (or 2 large cans of chicken meat), 1 cup sour cream, minced parsley (fresh or dried) In a large saucepan, bring water and bouillon to a boil. Add noodles; cook, uncovered, until tender, about 10 minutes. DO NOT DRAIN. Add soup and chicken; heat through. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream. Sprinkle with parsley.
Baked Paprika Potatoes - Canned whole potatoes - enough for your family; melted butter - enough to coat potatoes thoroughly; paprika - sprinkle over potatoes until coated. Bake with ham until browned, stirring a few times.
Chicken Pot Pie - 1 (8.5 oz) sheet frozen puff pastry, 3 cups chicken broth, 4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts cut into 1" pieces, 3 carrots-sliced, 6 red potatoes-scrubbed and sliced, 1 cup thinly sliced celery, 1 cup milk, 1/3 cup flour, 1/2 cup frozen peas, salt and pepper to taste, 1 egg-lightly beaten. In a large saucepan, combine broth, chicken, carrots, potatoes, and celery. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. In a jar, combine the milk and flour. Close the jar and shake until smooth. Stirring constantly, pour the flour mixture into the chicken mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and stir until thickened (about 1 minute). Stir in the peas. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pour the mixture into a 9x13. Unfold the puff pastry and place over the filling. Brush the top of the pastry lightly with the egg. Bake 10-15 minutes til the pastry puffs and is shiny golden brown. makes 6-8 servings.
Garlic Lovers' Pot Roast - 1 boneless beef chuck roast (about 3 pounds), 10 cloves garlic-peeled and cut in 1/2 lengthwise, 2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper,
2 tbl. vegetable oil, 1 cup chopped onion, 1 cup peeled and chopped carrots, 1 cup chopped celery, 2/3 cup water
Using the tip of a sharp paring knife, make 20 evenly spaced small slits about 1 1/2 inches deep all over the pot roast. Using your fingers, insert the garlic cloves as deep into the slits as possible. Season the roast on all sides with the salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat. Add the oil and carefully add the meat. Sear the meat on all sides until very well browned, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Add the vegetables, carefully add the water and cover the pot. Reduce the heat to low to medium-low and cook until the roast is very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours, turning 2 or 3 times during the entire cooking time, adding a little more water, and wine if desired, as needed so that a little liquid always is on the bottom of the pan. Transfer the meat to a platter and let rest 10 minutes. Slice or pull the meat apart into serving pieces and drizzle the pan juices over the top.
Goat Cheese Pizza - 2 ready made pizza crusts, 1 jar basil pesto, 1 log goat cheese. Spread pizza crust with olive oil. Pour on desired amount of pesto and spread close to crust edge. Crumble goat cheese on top. Bake at temperature recommended on pizza crust directions, or at 375 until goat cheese begins to brown. (note - goat cheese won't melt like regular pizza cheese)
Roasted Asparagus - 1 lb asparagus spears (thick spears are best for roasting), 1-2 Tbsp olive oil, Kosher Salt, black pepper, Lemon juice (optional). Preheat oven to 400°F. Rinse clean the asparagus. Break the tough ends off of the asparagus and discard. Lay the asparagus spears out in a single layer in a baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over the spears, roll the asparagus back and forth until they are covered. Sprinkle with salt, and pepper. Place pan in oven and cook for 8-10 minutes, depending on how thick your asparagus spears are, until lightly browned. Drizzle with a little fresh lemon juice before serving.
Spaghetti - hamburger, Italian sausage, tomato sauce (2 large cans for every 1 tomato paste), tomato paste, garlic, onion, marjoram. This is my grandmother's recipe and I just make it to taste - we like a lot of hamburger and sausage, not too much garlic, onion, or marjoram. Or you can skip making it yourself and just buy your favorite spaghetti sauce! (skip the hamburger, and Italian sausage on the shopping list and add your jar of spaghetti sauce)
Broccoli Slaw - (in the Hickory Stake Relief Society Cookbook!)
Shopping list:
Produce - asparagus, broccoli, grapes, purple onion, lettuce, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, red potatoes
Meat - ham, bacon, hamburger, Italian sausage, chuck roast, chicken
Dairy - sour cream, goat cheese, milk
Bakery - pizza crusts, bread
Frozen - rolls, broccoli, peas
Canned - chicken (2), cream of chicken soup (2), whole potatoes, basil pesto, soups, tomato sauce (2 for every one tomato paste), tomato paste, chicken broth
Dry Goods - egg noodles, raisins, cereal, oatmeal, cream of wheat
Misc - sunflower seed, mayonnaise
I hope this isn't confusing to you - let me know (Candice Watson) if you have any questions about any of the recipes or shopping lists or anything.
Is there anyone who would be willing to share a week's menu, recipes and shopping list?
Friday, May 21, 2010
We live in a noisy, contentious world, where it is possible to be viewing or listening to information, music, or even pure nonsense virtually every waking hour. If we want to have the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we must find time to slow down, ponder, pray, and live so we are worthy to receive and act upon His promptings. We will avoid major mistakes if we heed His warnings. It is our privilege as members to receive light and knowledge from Him even to the perfect day.
-- Elder Quentin L. Cook
-- Elder Quentin L. Cook
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