This scripture is the 2012 LDS Mutual Theme. I decided to design a print in a bright, warm color since it is all about shining and light!

I have been holding on to this project for 10 months now :0} I made this pattern up in January...or actually, over Christmas Break last year, for the youth in our church. Arise and Shine Forth was the theme for 2012. Here is my moment of truth...I made these samples, then decided they needed another piece of wood, about 1/8" in the shape of the oval part of the sun to go on top................................10 months later Still not done! I am really good at never getting around to some things. With our Young Women in Excellence this Wed. I decided I needed to get these out and finish the project. I know this is super late in the year, but I have all these printables if anyone wants them ;0} I made them for 2x4's, about 11" long, I made them for 2x3's, just over 8" long, and today, I made some smaller ones for 6" pieces cut from 2x3's. I went a little black and white because we are using them on the tables as part of the centerpiece. We are painting the blocks all the value colors and I figured a grey would be better than orange. Here are the suns for each size. You can copy the file or just email me and I will send you the whole she-bang! I cut these sunrays from 1" pine on my band saw{a scroll saw would work great too}, and the sun centers from 1/8" wood, also cutable on either saw. So there you have it, a sunny reminder to Arise and Shine Forth! I will be back with the sea or mini ones when I finish with them. I actually haven't started cutting yet...Oh, that reminds me, I need to order another blade!

The new youth theme for 2012 for our church is Arise and Shine Forth. I am SO excited for this year! As I have searched around different ...

This week we decided to expand on Integrity Value Experience #2 by creating a time capsule. I remember doing this when I was a Laurel. I have until 2017 to open mine so I do not remember what is in it. I ended up looking in various places and books for inspiration. I basically generated work sheets the girls could fill out that would journal who they are now and who they would like to become. We discussed the assessment portion of the value experience as we filled out each paper. Here is what I came up with: Conduct a self-assessment of your personal integrity. Ask yourself the following questions: Do I avoid gossip, inappropriate jokes, swearing and profanity, and being light-minded about sacred subjects? Am I completely truthful, morally clean, honest, dependable, and trustworthy in my schoolwork and other activities? Pray daily for strength and for the guidance of the Holy Ghost to help you live with integrity. Write in your journal the things you can do to improve your personal integrity and at least one new habit you want to develop. Basically I typed these up in my Word program with a cute font and a quote to support each question being asked, and then put together a packet for each girl to fill out. The quotes are as follows: What qualities do you want to develop in yourself? "Your success in marriage will depend largely on your ability to focus on improving yourself rather than trying to reshape your spouse. It will depend more on being the right one than finding the right one." ~Elder Lynn G. Robbins What qualities do you want in a husband? "In selecting a companion for life and for eternity, certainly the most careful planning, thinking, praying, and fasting should be done to be sure that of all the decisions this one must not be wrong. In true marriage there must be a union of minds as well as hearts." ~President Spencer W. Kimball How many children do you want to have? "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord, Jesus Christ." ~The Family: A Proclamation to the World How would you like to get married? "The noblest yearning of the human heart is for a marriage that can endure beyond death. Fidelity to a temple marriage does that. It allows families to be together forever." ~Elder Russell M. Nelson What do you want to accomplish in this life? "It's in the doing not just the thinking that we accomplish our goals." ~President Thomas S. Monson What are the things that make you special? "We should remember that saying 'I love you' is only a beginning. We need to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to show it." ~Elder David A. Bednar Who are the people you spend time with most? "True happiness comes only by making others happy." ~President David O. McKay What is happening in your life right now? "You hold in your hands the happiness of more people than you can imagine." ~Elder Henry B. Eyring What do you believe in? "Our firm personal testimony will motivate us to change ourselves and then bless the world." ~Elder Dieter F, Uchtdorf What do you want to tell your future self? "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." ~Proverbs 31:26 Then I had them decorate a manila envelop to store their packet in. We also taped them really good to prevent any peaking from happening. And because I love to bake so much, we actually made my Grandmother's Coconut Bread before we started the packet. That way the house smelt of delicousness while we journaled. Once it was done baking, we had a warm delightful treat to share. (We also took pieces of the bread and extra time capsules to the girls who couldn't make it that night.)

This last Sunday, our young women sang the Jenny Phillips and Tyler Castleton song, Arise and Shine Forth, which is the theme song for the 2012 Young Men Young Women Theme, taken from Doctrine and Covenants, 115:5. Anyway, as I was directing them and trying to get them to sing out, we have such lovely voices in our group, I was really touched by them, their spirits, and the truth of the words they were singing. So to thank them, I decided to make them a little something. I'm not terribly cool these days, so I'm not totally sure what color combos they will like, so I made a bunch. I need some feedback on which are the cutest. or the ugliest. The digital papers were designed by Summer Driggs.

Here’s your daily dose of what matters most! When we are filled with the light of Christ, we shine! Here’s how we can add more light, drop by drop. Scripture Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.—Matthew 13:43 Quote […]