Healthy Latter-Day Saints

When I look around in my ward, or in other wards I’ve been in, I have thought a lot about how many of us are not taking very good care of ourselves. We are overweight like the rest of the nation, or we don’t exercise and take care of our bodies. As Latter-Day Saints, we should be the healthiest people we know! No matter what the latest fad diet is that is out there, we already have a recipe for success when taking care of our earthly bodies. It is the word of wisdom. The word of wisdom is more … Continue reading

Do Latter-day Saints Need New Year’s Resolutions?

With a new year comes the opportunity to resolve to change and improve ourselves. Every year, I struggle with whether or not to make New Year’s resolutions. Several things deter me, not the least of which is the fact that too many of my past resolutions have fallen flat. This year, however, I struggled with whether or not Latter-day Saints need new resolutions each January. We had a wonderful lesson in church a few months back regarding the power of the atonement. Since then, I’ve pondered ways to draw on the power Christ put forth in the garden of Gethsemane … Continue reading

Inspiration on the Word of Wisdom

I have been thinking about the word of wisdom a lot lately. In primary last week, I taught a lesson on the word of wisdom. It was fun, but I have also been thinking about how maybe I was just scraping the surface of what that revelation is all about. I feel like over the past couple of years, my life has been confusing when it comes to food. I have had to make several changes in my diet to breastfeed my children who have allergies and food intolerances. That made me aware. I have watched documentaries that changed both … Continue reading

LDS Holistic Living Conference

Did you know about the LDS Holisitic Living Conference? I didn’t either until last year when a friend of mine told me about it, and now, it is coming up again this weekend. I’m hoping I get the opportunity to go. If not this year, then definitely next year. What is it all about? Well, it is a one day conference dedicated to teaching members of the church about living healthier lives, both physically and spiritually. While the church does not officially endorse this conference, it is full of good information for any member of the church that wants to … Continue reading

Pot Luck Wake Up Call

I’ve been a Mormon my whole life, and therefore, I know what a pot luck is. I love a good pot luck. I do. But, it seems like in this day and age, when we know so much more about health, and food, that we should be having a little bit healthier food at our potlucks. Don’t you think? Every time we have a ward get together it seems we have the same thing…little smokies, small chicken salad sandwiches on white bread, cream cheese roll up surprise, and a fruit plate. Then, let’s not even mention the lots and lots … Continue reading

Thankful for Relief Society

I love Relief Society. I always have really. It was not a difficult transition for me to make from Young Women many years ago. Sometimes, however, we forget the purpose of Relief Society. Visiting Teaching can help remind us of that. This past week, I got to go visiting teaching. I was telling a good friend who is not LDS about Visiting Teaching. I explained that we visit other women in the ward and share a message with them. She was surprised to find out that I had yet another responsibility like that in the church. Being a Mom of … Continue reading

Memorize Scriptures

When was the last time you memorized a scripture? For me, I know exactly when it was. It was on my mission. I’ve been home for almost 11 years now. In Sunday school this past week, the teacher gave us a challenge. We were talking about Christ being tempted by Satan after he had been fasting 40 days and 40 nights. We were talking about how he was tempted with every type of temptation that we face in this life. The physical temptations, the pride, and the temptation of power. Each of our temptations in this life can be placed … Continue reading

Confessions of a Foodie Mom: Food as Atmosphere?

Last night I had dinner at my parents’ house, along with my husband and kids, my sister and her husband and kids, and my aunt. There were 13 of us in all. Italian food is Mom’s specialty, what I remember from growing up. I’m allergic to perfumes and fragrances. (This is relevant, really.) My mom was too, so I didn’t grow up with them. Once when I had to leave a party because of heavy fragrance, I wondered aloud to my husband, “Why do people need to use this stuff, anyway?” “Well,” said my husband, “didn’t you ever have a … Continue reading

Senior Missionary Series: Putting in Your Papers

It used to be that mission papers were filled out by hand, but not so any more. With the progression of technology, you now apply for your mission online. Your bishop will give you the website address, and he will go in and authorize you to be a user on that site. This way, no one can just hop on the site and play around. Only persons seriously sending in their papers can have access. Once on the site, you’ll be asked to fill in all your personal information, and then you’ll be asked a series of questions about your … Continue reading

Gospel Questions: What about Those Latte-Drinking Mormons?

A non-member friend recently asked me: Is it true I can’t drink tea, coffee, alcohol and be a Mormon? And why did the missionaries tell me I couldn’t drink coffee, but my Mormon friend goes to Starbucks every day for a latte? As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have what is called “The Word of Wisdom.” This is a revelation that was given to Joseph Smith which gives us guidelines about the care and nourishment of our bodies. In this revelation, we are counseled to stay away from coffee, tea, alcohol and tobacco. There … Continue reading