Meet the RS 1st Councelor

Jill Bodily

Thanks so much for sharing with us Jill. We are excited to get to know you!

1.  Tell us about you and your family. (for example...where are you from? What is your career?  Where did you go to school/major? Are you married? What does your husband do? Do you have any children? What are their ages? etc.)

I was born in Thousand Oaks, California.  We lived there for 5 years. Then we moved to St. George, Utah, where I grew up.

I moved to Arizona two years ago with my family so that my husband, Kevin, could attend Midwestern University. He is in the Dental program.  We moved here from Frederick, Colorado.  We lived in Colorado for 11 years while Kevin was working as a computer programmer at IBM.  Colorado was so good to us. We are now enjoying this exciting and challenging adventure that has us here in Arizona.  We have four children: Cole-about to be 11, Ethan-age 7, Isabel(Izzy)-age 5, and Ashton-age 3.

I met Kevin while we where attending Utah State University.  We were both juniors, I was in the pre-Veterinary program, but my last year I decided that was not the path for me and changed to Dental Hygiene.  We were married for one year while attending USU.  When Kevin graduated, he was offered a job at IBM and we moved to Colorado.  I never finished my degree, but have a very fulfilling career as a mother and wife.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I have thought if I were to go back to school, I would love to learn about Landscape design.  I love being outside and and growing beautiful plants.

2.  If you had an hour free time, what might we find you doing?

If I ever have an hour of free time during the day, I wouldn't know what I'd do. I can't sit still! If I have free time at night, I love to relax with a good movie.

3. Share an experience that has strengthened your testimony or why the gospel is important to you?

Moving to Arizona was a really challenging experience for me.  I had to leave my friends and a place I loved a lot to come to a place that for me meant uncertanty.  Going from a very comfortable income to no income, with my kids uprooted--just so many trials all at once.  I knew that this move would bring hard times, I just didn't know how hard it would hit me.  However, through all that I went through over the last two years, I learned that My Heavenly Father is very much aware of me.  I have felt his loving arms around me through my struggles. I know without a doubt that He answers prayers and will be there for us if we ask Him. 

4.  What are your following favorites:

• Dessert: I don't have just one...I just love dessert!
• Hobbies: Gardening, yard work and slalom skiing, I just wish I had a boat so I could go all the time!
• Scripture: Ether 12: 27 
• Hymn: If I had to pick just one: The Spirit of God

Nutrition Lecture

Here is a recap, by Stephanie Bennion, from the Nutrition Lecture that was given last Wednesday:

Last Wednesday Sister Dana Cox gave an informative, informal lecture on family feeding structure. This kind of information is so applicable to pretty much everyone! We all eat and unfortunately this necessity of life that is meant to be a pleasure becomes a confusing and frustrating daily event for many people. Some stand-out thoughts I will remember include:

• Trust your child. Children are born with an intuitive ability to eat when they're hungry and self-regulate themselves (no mind battles over food for them). Unfortunately that self-regulation can disappear between ages 3-5 largely through interference of adults.
• It's easy to overestimate what a child can realistically eat. The general rule is 1 T per age of the child. That's not very much!
• The Ellyn Satter approach was the framework for our discussion. Her "Division of Responsibility" for feeding toddlers through adolescents is: The parent is responsible for what food is presented, when, where the child eats and the child is responsible for how much and whether they eat.
• It's important to emphasize to children how food makes you feel. Think about the refreshing/cleansing effect of fresh fruits and vegetables versus the filmy, greasy feel of more processed foods.
• I like Dana's family rule for Halloween candy: Eat what you want but no tummy aches! This allows children to learn to recognize how they feel in response to eating. Also, before leaving the table instead of saying "are you full?" ask "are you hungry?" or "are you satisfied?" ("full" can imply making yourself "filled up" and going over your level of satisfaction).
• We are a child's biggest exemplar. It is important that we show children how to eat and like good food. Our attitudes, even subliminally, can be picked up by children.

A follow up discussion/lecture is a possibility for the upcoming fall. Stay tuned for that and in the meantime don't hesitate to discuss this topic with Sis. Cox - she is passionate about it and loves sharing ideas with others. Thanks Dana and thank you those who attended!

Thanks for sharing Stephanie!

Below you will find Dana's notes from the meeting:

Ellyn Satter's Division of Responsibility in Feeding

Parents provide structure, support and opportunities. Children choose how much and whether to eat from what the parents provide.

The Division of Responsibility for Infants:

· The parent is responsible for what

· The child is responsible for how much (and everything else)

The parent helps the infant to be calm and organized and feeds smoothly, paying attention to information coming from the baby about timing, tempo, frequency and amounts

The Division of Responsibility For Toddlers through Adolescents:

· The parent is responsible for what, when, where

· The child is responsible for how much and whether

Parents' Feeding Jobs:

· Choose and prepare the food

· Provide regular meals and snacks

· Make eating times pleasant

· Show children what they have to learn about food and mealtime behavior

· Not let children graze for food or beverages between meal and snack times

· Let children grow up to get bodies that are right for them

Fundamental to parents' jobs is trusting children to decide how much and whether to eat. If parents do their jobs with feeding, children will do their jobs with eating:

· Children will eat

· They will eat the amount they need

· They will learn to eat the food their parents eat

· They will grow predictably

· They will learn to behave well at the table

Copyright 2012 by Ellyn Satter. Published at www.EllynSatter.com

Southern Hospitality Relief Society Meeting

Dear Sisters,

We hope all of you made it to the Relief Society Meeting last night.  It was a great night of service!  We made head wraps for women with cancer and headbands for children in the hospital. We also enjoyed a home cooked southern meal. Recipes to follow soon.

Thank you to everyone for your service and a big thanks to the sisters who prepared this meeting for us. We are all so grateful to have this opportunity to serve.  Thank you!

Don't forget this Tuesday!

Come join us June 12th at 6:30 pm for a home cooked southern meal and an amazing opportunity to serve!  We will be making head wraps for women going through cancer treatments and headbands for children who are in the ICU.

If you have felt, soft fabric, or t-shirts that you would like to donate for making the items, please bring them!  A children's class will be provided. See you soon!

Revelation from God to his Children

Dear Sisters,

Thank you to Lora Johnson for teaching a wonderful lesson Sunday about receiving revelation from God in our own lives. Here is a brief summary:

Heavenly Father guides us individually and as a church through the Holy Ghost.

At the beginning of the lesson Lora talked about a powerful experience that George Albert Smith shared in a conference talk about an airplane flight to Salt Lake City. She had a sister summarize the story. This is what she said:

He talks about the flight he was on and how it was really foggy. He couldn't see anything. He thought to himself...How are they flying this plane? We are going to crash. He was really nervous. He asks the pilot, how are we not getting lost? This is really scary. The co-pilot explained that in this head peace they can hear a beep if they get off course of the beam and they hear humming if they are on course. Then they arrived safely.

President Smith closed his story by saying the following:

"Not only has the Lord given us the advice already recorded in the scriptures to guide us but he has placed a leader in this Church, one of his sons who has been chosen and ordained and set apart to be the President. He is our pilot and he will be directed by a voice that will enable him to lead us where we should go. If we are wise we will not set up our judgement against him but will be happy to honor him in his place as long as the Lord Sustains him."

Lora asked us all to think about the fog in our own daily lives. She said the beam is the path to our eternal life and the humming is the Holy Ghost letting us know we are on the right path.

Lora shared this quote by George Albert.

"My advice to you is to get the Spirit of God and keep it and the only way we will retain it is by living near him, by keeping his commandments. Listen to the still small voice that will always direct you if you are worthy of it in a path that means eternal happiness."

Lora asked us all to pray to receive our own revelation about the truths of the church and the commandments. She said we are entilted to know these things. Through prayer and keeping the commandments you will grow closer to Heavenly Father and will be able to receive personal revelations and hear the still small voice to keep you on the path of happiness.

For the complete lesson visit here.

Becoming Truly Converted

Dear Sisters,

Thank you to Sarah Allred for teaching a wonderful lesson on Sunday about being truly converted to the Gospel. Here is a brief summary:

The Gospel is all encompassing and should permeate every aspect of our lives. We need to strive to be truly converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ask yourself this question, “How has your life changed as you have become more or less converted to the Gospel?”

Many sisters shared how their lives have changed as they have become converted to the Gospel. Some of the things that were shared are listed below:

• The Gospel has brought happiness that I never knew existed and that happiness grows each and every day as I strive to live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
• The Gospel brought me exposure to good women who taught me so many great things and most importantly taught me how to be a good mother.
• Remember that conversion is a process. The Gospel has great depth and you understand more as you experience different things in life. Each experience gives us insight and hopefully makes us more humble and grateful for all that we have. Conversion is not one great event, but in the process of life.
• If you want to know if the Gospel is true, live like you believe it and you will get your answer.
• For helps in making decisions that will lead you on the path of true conversion, ask yourself, “In what choice am I going to fine lasing happiness?”

Sister Allred presented a personal poll for us to take to tell us where our conversion is at. The questions are as follows:

1. Have I experienced or witnessed acts of deity in my life? When you do experience such things, which you will recognize as you live close to the Spirit, make sure to record it in your journal. If you record such experiences they can buoy up your testimony and anchor you in times of trials.
2. Is your perspective one of hope or fear of the days ahead? Read and study D&C 122 and look for ways in which the Lord was able to change Joseph Smith’s perspective.
3. When I see someone else not living the Gospel, is my attitude one of sadness or judgment?
4. Do you, like King Benjamin’s people, have no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually?

Let us all strive a little more to more fully converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Meet the New RS President

Dear Sisters,

Over the next month we will be spotlighting the new RS presidency in an effort to get to know them a little better. The new presidency is: Krista Stone (President), Jill Bodily (1st Counselor), Sarah Allred (2nd Counselor), and Julie Gundersen (Secretary). Each of these sisters has great spiritual strength and each has so many wonderful things to offer our Relief Society. We hope that you each take the opportunity to get to know each one of these sisters personally.

So, let's start out by getting to know Sister Krista Stone, the new RS President.

1. Tell us about you and your family. (for example...where are you from? What is your career? Where did you go to school/major? Are you married? What does your husband do? Do you have any children? What are their ages? etc.)

I am from Ogden Utah. I did my undergraduate work at Weber State University Majoring in Criminal Justice. I then attended and graduated from BYU Law School. My specialty was Criminal Law and I have worked as a Criminal Defense Attorney and as a Prosecuting Attorney. Currently, I am using my skills and background to be a great wife to my husband Jim and mother to my three kids (Carly 16, Kelsey 13, Brady 10). We moved to Arizona when Jim got a job offer to work for Swift Transportation and we have been here sweating it out for 13 years.

2. If you had an hour free time, what might we find you doing?

If I had any free time you wouldn't be able to find me at all because I would be off shopping at Marshalls or TJ Maxx or Target or Home Goods......! If I was trapped at home and had any free time I would definitely be reading. This is a hypothetical question right, who has any free time?

3. Share an experience that has strengthened your testimony or why the gospel is important to you?

I am so very blessed to have grown up in the church so I have had so many great testimony building experiences. Recently, I have been able to share the gospel with a friend and she has asked me so many deep and thought provoking questions. I have searched the scriptures, researched timelines, and emailed stories and articles to help share my beliefs with her but I think I am the one that has really benefited the most. I have been able to really ponder about some of our foundational principals and write down those thoughts and my testimony as I share information with her. I have never before shared so much of my personal thoughts and feelings about the gospel and it has been one of my very favorite testimony building experiences.

4. What are your following favorites:

Dessert-coconut cream pie or chocolate ANYTHING.

Hobbies-painting and refinishing furniture, reading, and shopping

Scripture- 3 Nephi 19-21

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Hymn- As Sisters In Zion!!!

Thank you for sharing with us Sister Stone.

Happy Happy Birthday to...

June 1: Laurie Martin and Dorothy McVey

June 6: Dina Wakley

June 8: Kristin Walledom

June 10: Alexis Perry

June 13: Ginger Lupa and Pamela Bradley

June 14: Tifney Tipton and Kay Lynne Hall

June 15: Lorraine Grant

June 22: Elizabeth Savioa and Flo Montierth

June 27: Genile Webb

June 30: Valarie Ziegelhoefer

We hope you all have a fabulous birthday this month!

It is nice to be remembered on your birthday, so if you get a chance call these sisters on their special day and let them know how much they are loved and appreciated.

New Updates

Dear Sisters,

We have updated the activities schedule and the lesson schedule located under the headings at the top of the page. The schedules will be kept up to date and we hope that you can use them as a resource in the future (just in case you misplace your newsletter). Have a wonderful week.

Love,

Ashley and Kate

A Little Southern Hospitality

Come join us next Tuesday, June 12 at 6:30pm for our Monthly Relief Society Meeting where we will be enjoying a home cooked Southern meal! We also have the amazing opportunity to serve women who are undergoing cancer treatments and children who are in the ICU. We will be making head wraps for women with cancer and headbands for the children in the hospital. If you have any materials that you would like to donate for use in making these items (i.e. felt, soft fabric, t-shirts, etc), make sure to sign up on Sunday. A children's class will also be provided. Please mark your calendars for this great night of service and an opportunity to get to know some sisters in the ward. We hope to see you there!