I’m now the education counselor for our ward’s Relief Society and have been asked to make sure we have enough of the new “Daughters in My Kingdom – The history and work of Relief Society” manuals, as well as make sure each sister gets one. Of course I did cute labels with the sisters names on them and put them on the books, making it easier for me to know who has gotten their manuals and who hasn’t gotten them. I also wanted to design a bookmark to go with the manual, cause just like each of you, I like to “make more work for myself.” Well, that’s what my hubby says. LOL I’m excited about reading it and wanted to do something to help us focus on the manual a little more. I designed these and used the manual cover art as a starting point, so they could match, and added the quote. I LOVE THEM!!! Anyways, once I got them printed, I knew I had to share them with all of you.

It was hard trying to figure out what quote to use, because I wanted it to peak our interest but also say something amazing. Anyway, here’s the quote I picked out from the manual.

“The world’s greatest champion of woman and womanhood is Jesus the Christ.” – Daughters of My Kingdom, Page 3

I thought this was the perfect quote! Hope you like them.

Download the Daughters of My Kingdom Bookmark:
Click the image below to see the large image then just right click and download it to your computer. You can distribute them in Relief Society or even just print one for the sisters you Visit Teach.

Instructions:
1. Download the 4×6 JPG file.
2. Print in Color at your favorite photo printing store in 4×6. (i.e. costco, walmart, etc..) I printed on matte photo paper, choosing the glossy may be a little too shinny because of the fingerprints.
3. Cut them in half, so each bookmark is really 2″x6″
4. Optional: Round the corners, using a corner punch.
5. Optional: Punch a hole at the top above the “flourish.”
6. Optional: Put ribbon through.
7. Distribute as desired.
I didn’t laminate them because they are very nice on the photo paper. You’ll see!

Relief Society Sunday Lesson Activity: We separated the sisters into 6 groups, gave each a slip with the size of family they each had and a FHE agenda to plan out what their family’s FHE would be like. Each sister helped give feedback for their FHEs. They also each got different manuals and magazines to plan their FHE around and they did great. Then at the end the group leader, presented the lesson agenda to the rest of the RS so that we could get great ideas from them. Some sisters even named each member of their family. LOL Because of this exercise, I know each of the sisters in our RS knows HOW to plan an FHE. Now we just have to be committed and do it!

So, I know this isn’t related to the Visiting Teaching message this month, but as sisters in Relief Society, you know that we, “dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.” So I wanted to share this with each of you to help you in this journey.

This is the handout and agenda I created with the information found on FHE.LDS.org, yep, that’s right there’s a Family Home Evening website from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Tons of great stuff there to help us each have a successful FHE. My favorite thing on the home page of their site, are the cookies, it’s true! I of course used some super cute graphics from Lettering Delights to spice it up a bit, cause we all love to use cute things. Ok maybe just me. Use this to plan out your FHEs every week and I promise it will run smoother.

Tons of great things found on that site like…

• Family Home Evening Resource Book
• Quick Tips and Ideas
• Lessons by Topic
• Activity Ideas
• Videos
• Music
• Gospel Art Book
• Teaching Helps

A few quotes which I loved in reference to Family Home Evenings.

“If there was a need [96] years ago, that need is certainly much greater today. We have a family home evening program once a week [Monday night] across the Church in which parents sit down with their children. They study the scriptures. They talk about family problems. They plan family activities and things of that kind. I don’t hesitate to say if every family in the world practiced that one thing, you’d see a very great difference in the solidarity of the families of the world” (interview with President Gordon B. Hinckley, Boston Globe, 14 Aug. 2000).

“It is the responsibility and blessing of each of us to strengthen our families and homes. Each of us is in a different family situation. Some families have a mother and father with children at home. Some couples no longer have children at home. Many members of the Church are single,  and some are single parents. Others are widows or widowers living alone. No matter what our family looks like,  each of us can work to strengthen our own families or help in strengthening others.” (His Arm Is Sufficient, Barbara Thompson, 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency)

“Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls.” (More Diligent and Concerned at Home, Elder David A. Bednar, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles)

Planning a FHE: Use the Scriptures, Scripture Stories, Family Home Evening Resource Book, Magazines, Manuals & the FHE companion DVD

Download Family Home Evening Agenda:
Download this month’s Family Home Evening Agenda (2 pages are included in the PDF file) and give them to the sisters you Visiting Teach & families Home Teacher or anyone for free by clicking either the previous text link or the link image below.

Instructions:
1. Download PDF file. (click on either images above to download the 2 page PDF file)
2. Print double-sided in black & white.
3. Cut in half, each sheet should now be 5.5″x8.5

Remember that the Family Home Evening Program isn’t just something we are “suggested” to do, we have been COMMANDED to do it! In section 21 verses 4–6 [D&C 21:4–6], the Lord states: “Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.” So if we don’t have FHE, well you read it right there, hell will prevail against our families.

I pray that we will all try our hardest and even summon the powers of Heaven, through prayer, to help us continue this wonderful tradition in our homes in order to keep our families together forever! In the name of Him whom we love to serve, even our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Being a part of Relief Society has certainly helped me change for the better! I will be honest, I was one of “those” young single sisters who didn’t think she would ever “fit” into Relief Society. Trust me ladies, everyone “fits” into Relief Society. “Fitting in,” to me means, making a difference for good, means going out of my comfort zone to help someone else feel comforted. The declaration and focus of Relief Society extends much further than our RS meetings on Sundays. It starts in our homes, comes with us to work and school and if we let it, it can be infused into our lives. Keep in mind that, our Relief Society meetings are very important, because it is the time when we can all meet to recharge our batteries, learn more about Jesus Christ and His gospel, develop new skills, and where we can learn from others just like us who are trying to do the same. We can all “fit” into Relief Society first, by accepting the assignment to be a Visiting Teacher. Visiting Teaching to me helps me feel “needed” and how can I be needed? by serving. I have to be the friend they never knew they needed. Sometimes I feel like I don’t “need” more friends (I really don’t), but Visiting Teaching isn’t about me, it’s about those sisters needing Christ. I may not need more friends, but the sisters I Visit Teach need me, because the Lord needs me to be there for them, to be their friend, but more importantly to be their friend in the gospel. Serving them the way Christ would serve them if he were here. One of my goals this year is to be a better friend to the sisters I Visit Teach, the one they never knew they needed.

I wanted to design something that would help us “invite” more sisters to Relief Society Meetings & Activities. Something that would feel warm and inviting and show that it’s not scary. We’re all trying to become better and learn more of Christ, like Mary and Martha and we have the same Eternal goals, to become exalted and return to live in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with our families and friends. There are also plenty of chairs shown in the postcard, so that not only could the sister we’re inviting feel like there is “room” for her but possibly room for her friends & family too. I used a silhouette of some comfy chairs from Lettering Delights instead of hard ones because, to help portray to the wonderful feeling we get when we’re in Relief Society.

Download VT Printable Sheet:
Download this month’s Participate in Relief Society 4×6 Card for Visiting Teachers by clicking either the link to the left or the image links below. There are 3, English, Spanish & Portuguese!

Instructions:

1. Click on image & download it. (it’s a jpg)
2. Print it 4×6 (you might need to adjust your printer settings because if printed at 100% it might be too big), in color on thick cardstock.
3. Recommended: take/upload the image (jpg file) to your local print shop and have them print it 4×6 on regular photo paper like you would regular pictures. Cosco, Walmart, Target… whatever you want!
4. Optional Recommendation: Add a little note to the back and let your sisters know you’d love to see them for Relief Society on Sunday or even for an activity coming up.

View Treat Tuesdays or View all Gift Ideas

March 2011 Visiting Teaching & Home Teaching Gifts

February 2011 Visiting Teaching & Home Teaching Gifts Feb 2011

Today’s Treat printable is from a, personally most needed, message from this years 179th Semiannual General Conference. It was given by Elder Russell M. Nelson and it’s titled, “Ask, Seek, Knock.” I’m sure you will all remember when he said:

“access information directly from heaven, without hardware, software, or monthly service fees.”

It was so clever and true! I loved that he compared prayer and personal revelation to technology and cell phone plans. I’m sure we can all relate to high phone bills, but luckily prayer won’t cost us a penny! This inspired the handout. I went straight to the source of costly plans, yet super cool cell phones, AT&T, for inspiration on what I could do. Mainly because I like the iPhone. (LOL)

Here’s their ad:

Here’s the one for you to use:

What do you think? I had to make it a bit chunkier in order to print it 4×6. I don’t know why I like 4×6, just do. Anyways, here are the files for you to print it, if you want to.

Download VT Printable Sheet:
Download this week’s Treat Tuesday iPrayer (short or long versions) PDF for Visiting Teachers or Home Teachers by clicking either link or image below. There are 2 different ones. The 2nd one has a long quote, which could help give more meaning and instruction.

Instructions:

1. Print in Color or B&W on plain white cardstock.
2. Cut out to 4×6″ (3up)

P.S. I know the Spanish and Portuguese sisters love these handouts too, I am always thinking of you. Unfortunately, it does take time to translate, copy, paste, re-edit, re-save and upload the files for you. So I do apologize! If you’d like to make my job easier just post the translation of the text into a comment and I can get to it sooner. Thanks for your love and support!

View all Treat Tuesdays or View all Gift Ideas

November’s Pre-Made Visiting Teaching Kit! (just in time for a busy holiday season)
Jennifer has spotlighted 3 messages from October’s General Conference to include in her super cute FALL Visiting Teaching Kits. The holidays get so busy! Order yours and then you won’t even have to worry about your ink/toner running out at last minute. (LOL. Like mine does to me all the time, but it’s not really that funny at the time.) It comes with a fold out decoration and on the back has four pockets. In the pockets are the three talks from General Conference and in the last pocket a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Cake.