Strengthening our Families...

The following article came from the Church News entitled, "Essential Ingredient"

By the end of the day, this typical Latter-day Saint family is just barely hanging on. One child is racing to soccer practice, another to piano lessons. A third has a school project due in the morning. The dad, who is called to serve with the youth in the Church, has only a few minutes after work before he needs to be to the meetinghouse.

And the mother is trying to help the younger child with homework in between driving the older children to their many activities. Something has to give. Let's hope it is not family dinner.

Researchers at one of America's most prestigious universities have called family dinner an essential ingredient in the recipe for raising happy, healthy children. In addition, family dinner is a predictor in keeping children away from unhealthy behaviors. More than a decade of research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University has consistently found that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs. "If I could wave a magic wand to make a dent in our nation's substance abuse problem, I would make sure that every child in America had dinner with his or her parents at least five times a week.," said Joseph A. Califano Jr., chairman and president of the center (http://casafamilyday.org/familyday).

According to researchers, frequent family dinners are associated with lower teen substance abuse. Compared to teens who have five to seven family dinners in a typical week, teens who dine with their families fewer than three nights in a typical week are two times more likely to have tried marijuana, more than twice as likely to have tried alcohol," according to the center's 2006 report, "The Importance of Family Dinners." (part 3).

The report also found that frequent family dinners are associated with higher academic performance. Teens who have dinner with their families five to seven times in a typical week are more likely to get A's and B's in school compared to teens who dine with their families fewer than three times per week.

Further, academic performance is associated with substance abuse risk; teens who report receiving grades of C or lower are at twice the risk of substance abuse as those who report receiving all A's or A's and B's (Church News, "Family dinner," Sept. 8, 2007)

All in all, there are numerous benefits to family dinners. Families that eat together have children who:

1. Eat healthier meals.
2. Are less likely to become overwieght or obese.
3. Are more likely to stay away from cigarettes
4. Are less likely to drink alcohol.
5. Are less likely to try marijuana.
6. Are less likely to use illicit drugs.
7. Are less likely to have friends who abuse prescription drugs.
8. Will get better grades in school.
9. Will talk to their parents more.
10. Will be more likely to tell parents about serious problems.
11. Will be more likely to feel that their parents are proud of them.
12. Will live in a home where there is less stress and tension. (http://children.webmd.com/guide/family-dinners-are-important).

"Remember, the family is one of God's greatest fortresses against the evils of our day," said President Ezra Taft Benson during the April 1986 General Conference. "Help keep your family strong and close and worthy of our Father in Heaven's blessings. As you do, you will recieve faith and strength which will bless your lives forever."

President Spencer W. Kimball once compared activities associated "with the saving of the family" to an umbrella. "If the umbrella is not opened, it is little more than a cane and can give little protection from the storms of nature. Likewise, God-given plans are of little value unless they are used." (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball p. 334).

The First Presidency declared, in a Feb. 11, 1999, letter, that "however worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform. Family dinner is one of those things.

In a day when experts have warned against what they call overscheduled children, it seems the best thing parents can do for their children is to stay home and sit down for regular meals. Research confirms it will do them more good than soccer and piano combined.

So when you are at the end of your wit's trying to meet the demanding daily needs of your family, it may be helpful to remember the catch phrase promoted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse: "What your kids really want for dinner is you!"

February Visiting Teaching Message

For additional study helps on the February Visiting Teaching message, "Guardians of the Hearth," listen to this informative message from the Mormon Channel.
Go to: http://mormonchannel.org/player/89029

“Tie Yourself To Relief Society...” A great quote from Sister Beck:

“My parents, who had been my neighbors, announced that they would be moving to another part of the world. I had relied on my mother’s nurturing, wise, and encouraging example. Now she was going to be gone for a long time. This was before email, fax machines, cell phones, and web cameras, and mail delivery was notoriously slow. One day before she left, I sat weeping with her and asked, “Who will be my mother?” Mother thought carefully, and with the Spirit and power of revelation which comes to women of this kind, she said to me, “If I never come back, if you never see me again, if I’m never able to teach you another thing, you tie yourself to Relief Society.

Relief Society will be your mother.”

Julie B. Beck

“Fulfilling the Purpose of Relief Society”

Sugars Handouts

Ladies, I sincerely hope you forgive me for taking so long. I apologize.
Finally, though, here are the handouts from the Sugars class from the September meeting.

Click here to access them!

February Presidency Message - From Sister Barbara Chamberlain

We wish to express our sincere thanks to all who helped with, or attended our Women's Conference. It was absolutely a very spiritual and delightful presentation. All who attended were certainly blessed for being there. The group, "One Clear Voice" blessed our lives with their beautiful music and inspirational stories and thoughts. One of my favorite songs was entitled, "Because I Know You." And it brought to my mind that we as a Stake Relief Society are so happy for being able to know and work with you sisters. "Because we know you," our lives are made better.

On March 17, 1842, 20 women gathered and heard the Prophet Joseph Smith announce the official establishment of the Relief Society Organization. One hundred seventy years later, more than 6 million sisters around the world still strengthen each other and build the kingdom of God.

This year it seems even more appropriate to celebrate "The glorious heritage of Relief Society," which ties back to the ancient church during the time of Jesus Christ. This year marks 170 years since Relief Society was once again established in this dispensation. The purposes of Relief Society have remained constant through all time, says Relief Society General President, Julie Beck.

So once again, may we thank you and each Relief Society presidency for all you do in the great work of this organization. In each ward you are helping to further the great work of Relief Society. We love you and appreciate you more than we can express.

We encourage each Relief Society sister to read the lessons from our manual before coming to your Relief Society meetings. In the January Ensign there was a beautiful article on President George Albert Smith. This article focused on the love President Smith had in his heart for all people. President Smith believed that "if we truly have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it will manifest itself in our lives - particularly in the way we treat one another. President Smith said that we can "meet our problems in the spirit of love and kindness towards all. What a joy, what a comfort, what a satisfaction can be added to the lives of our neighbors and friends through kindness."

May each of us not judge those around us but treat everyone with love and kindness. We love you sisters and all you do in your wards. May the Lord continue to bless you and your families as you serve.

With love and thanks,

Barbara Chamberlain

We sure enjoyed Stake Women's Conference with each of you on Saturday! Below are some photos taken that day. Thank you to all who helped make our Women's Conference a huge success! We felt truly blessed by the spirit we felt through words and music from One Clear Voice and also from the company and food we enjoyed. We have a wonderful group of Relief Society sisters in our stake!

Stake Women's Conference Photos