January 2016 Overview

Pillar: God

Theme: A Compassionate Heart

Time Period: 

Scripture:

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; 
slow to anger, and of great mercy.
Psalm 145: 8

Memorization:  

THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD
paragraph 6

HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

November 2015 Overview

Pillar: Property/Work

Theme: An Honest Heart

Time Period: 

Scripture:

Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.  

Job 27:5

Memorization:  

THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD
paragraphs 4 & 5

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

WE DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

October 2015 Overview

Pillar: Liberty

Theme: An Enduring Heart

Time Period: 

Scripture:

As many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved.

Doctrine & Covenants 20:25

Memorization:  

THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD
paragraph 3

IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

September 2015 Overview

September 2015 Overview

Pillar: Individual: Life and the Pursuit of Happiness

Theme: A Listening Heart & A Heart Led by God

Time Period: 

Scripture:

And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.

Doctrine & Covenants 1:5

Memorization:  

THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD
paragraphs 1 & 2

WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

2015-2016 Theme & Scripture

2015-2016 Theme & Scripture:

You were born to lead, you were born for glory!

"Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom 

for such a time as this?"  

---Esther 4:14

April 2015 Overview

Theme: Being a Responsible Citizen

Secondary Theme: Forgive Others - The Power of Grace and Mercy

Principles: 
If I want to rid my heart of anger and resentment, then I will forgive others.

If I want forgiveness to have value, then I must give it away.

If I forgive, then I am giving up my bitterness and am no longer consumed by unproductive thoughts of revenge and rage.

If others are critical of my goals and dreams, then I will forgive their lack of vision and I will forge ahead.  

If I forgive myself, then I will erase doubts, fears and frustrations that have kept my past in my present.

If I forgive myself, then my life has just begun.

If I forgive those who do not ask for forgiveness, forgive those who criticize me and forgive myself, then I will be able to greet each day with a forgiving spirit.

Time Period: 

Scripture:

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."

--- Ephesians 4:32

Memorization:  

Lo, Now, My Guest

by Robert Louis Stevenson

LO, now, my guest, if aught amiss were said,

Forgive it and dismiss it from your head.

For me, for you, for all, to close the date,

Pass now the ev'ning sponge across the slate;

And to that spirit of forgiveness keep

Which is the parent and the child of sleep

Field Trip to the State Capital!

We had a great time at the Capital today!

March 2015 Overview

Theme: Individuality

Secondary Theme: Choose Happiness - Possessing a Grateful Spirit



Principles: 
If I understand that happiness is a choice and the end result of certain thoughts and activities, then I am a happy person.

If I laugh out loud when I wake up in the morning, then excitement will begin to flow through my bloodstream and I will feel and be different.

If I want enthusiasm to to fuel my world, then I will laugh throughout the day.

If I want people to follow me, then I must be enthusiastic.

If I smile at every person I meet, them I can create bonds, break ice and calm storms.

If I display a good attitude, then I am telling others what I expect in return.

If I want to remove the dark clouds of despair from my life, then I will have a grateful spirit.

If I have a thankful heart, then the seeds of depression can not take root.

If God gives me blessings, then I must remember to be grateful.

If I laugh, smile and show gratitude, then I am choosing to be happy.


Time Period: 

Scripture:

"Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks."

---Doctrine & Covenants 98:1

Memorization:  

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today,

at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at

least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t

die; so, let us be thankful.

Celebrating India!

We had a small cultural celebration today at lunch for our study of Gandhi and India.
We tried some Indian food and looked at pictures from Elder Cloward's mission in India.

Here is the link to Elder Cloward's blog with the pictures if you would like to look at them with your family... elderkaidencloward.blogspot.com

Here are the recipes for the food that we tried today:

Lentil Dal

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup onion, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled, minced
2 teaspoon cumin seed
2 teaspoon turmeric, ground
1/2 teaspoon red pepper, crushed
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups cauliflower florets, chopped
2 cups tomatoes, chopped
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup dried lentils
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced
3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion, ginger, cumin, turmeric, red peppers, and garlic.
3. Saute 2 minutes.
4. Add cauliflower and tomatoes; saute 1 minute.
5. Stir in broth and lentils; bring to a boil.
6. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until lentils are tender.
7. Stir in lime juice, cilantro, and salt.


Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala 

Ingredients:

2 pounds chicken thighs boneless, skinless
1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
2 cups diced tomatoes
1 TBSP fresh ginger root minced
3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 large yellow onion or white, thinly sliced
1 TBSP + 2 tsp garam masala
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp kosher salt (less for finer grain)
1/4 tsp red chili flakes
1 TBSP sweetener of your choice
2 TBSP butter or coconut oil
Optional: cilantro for garnish

Directions:

Prep and clean the chicken thighs (remove excess fat and skin), place in a bowl and coat in 1 tablespoon of garam masala.  Place chicken in the slow cooker.  Thinly slice half an onion and lay on top of the chicken thighs.  In a sauce pan, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter with the minced ginger root and garlic on medium heat.  When the garlic and ginger sizzles, add the coconut milk and crushed tomatoes.  The spices go next — 2 teaspoons of garam masala, the coriander, cumin, salt, red chili flakes and sweetener.  Simmer for just a few minutes, until the spices are well mixed and the sauce starts bubble.  Pour the sauce over the onions and chicken thighs already waiting in the slow cooker.  Cover and set the slow cooker to low.  Cook for 3 to 4 hours.  Serve over cooked Basmati Rice.

Hyderabad at sunset

February 2015 Overview

Theme: God

Secondary Theme: Persist - Persevering with Faith until the End

Principles: 
If I want to achieve the outcome I want, then I will choose to persist without exception.

If persist without exception, then I focus on results.

If I am stronger than most people, then I won't quit when exhaustion sets in.

If I want to be better than average, then I will compare myself to my potential and not to other people.

If I want to achieve the results I desire, then I understand that I won't necessarily enjoy the process but I will continue on and keep my eyes on the outcome.

If I have faith in God, then I will believe in the future that I do not see.

If I hold on to that faith, then I will receive the reward of one day seeing the future that I believed in.

Time Period: 

Gandhi & Non-cooperation

Scripture:

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

---Ephesians 6:18

Memorization:  

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

― Maya Angelou

Apprentice Book for the Month:

"Soul Surfer" by Bethany Hamilton

Please spend some time this month reading "Soul Surfer".  We will be discussing it during Leadership class in March.