Latter-day Saints

The next popular feature from my site that I will be highlighting is this list of 101 Family Home Evening Activities. Family Home Evening (FHE) is an unique aspect of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which greatly benefits its members and any others who put it into practice.

In conjunction with this list is the very popular and extensive list of Family Home Evening Games that I have created over the years. Although at times it can be hectic and crazy, I love having Family Home Evening with my family. It takes effort to organize, plan, and hold regular FHE but the rewards (though often not seen for many years) is well worth it.

Learn more about Family Home Evening by browsing through these FHE articles and resources.

Previous Popular Feature: Meal and Menu Planning

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One of my favorite scriptures is 2 Nephi 2:25. The reason it is a favorite of mine is because it has personal significance to my life. Several years ago I went through horrible suffering, pain and grief. Not physical, but emotional, mental, and spiritual, due to a situation I never envisioned would happen yet did. I struggled with fear, guilt, and depression (not something I normally have a problem with) and my faith was thoroughly tested.

After about a year of going through this, I was particularly struggling with my feelings one night. After praying to God for comfort this scripture came into my mind:

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25).

At first I was surprised and a little irritated. I sarcastically thought, "This is what you've sent to comfort me?" Fortunately, I began to think about the words of the scripture and came to realize two things: 1. Happiness was a choice: "men... might have joy" (emphasis added) 2. Not only did the Lord want me to be happy but I was "allowed" to be happy. I didn't have to keep holding on to those negative, unhappy feelings. The Lord didn't require it of me. It was "okay" and "right" for me to move forward with my life and choose to be happy.

This was a huge turning point in my healing and recovery. Happiness truly is a choice. We can either turn to the Lord and trust Him or we could turn away from Him in bitterness, hurt, and anger. He Loves us and He wants us to be happy, that is why He created this world and His plan of happiness for us.

Learn How to Be Happy in this detailed article or read about having Faith in Jesus Christ.

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This is a list of quotes about faith from some of the members of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The quotes on faith are from the following general church leaders:

• Thomas S. Monson, President
• Henry B. Eyring, 1st Counselor
• Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2nd Counselor
• Boyd K. Packer
• L. Tom Perry
• Dallin H. Oaks
• Richard G. Scott
• David A. Bednar
• Quentin L. Cook
• Neil L. Andersen

See these other lists of quotes for great quotes by our general church leaders including our prophet, apostles, and Relief Society leaders.

• Gratitude Quotes
• Charity Quotes
• Favorite First Presidency Quotes
• Favorite Twelve Apostle Quotes
• Joseph Smith Quotes
• Relief Society Quotes

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Not only is this one of the most popular features on my website, but it's one of my personal favorites as well... probably because I still use this meal and menu planning every day. Although I revised it not too long ago, the overall idea is still the same. This is how my menu planning goes:

1. Plan meals for two weeks and write meals on dry erase menu chart (see back for ideas and add new ideas to back with permanent marker)
2. Add ingredients to shopping list
3. Go to store and purchase items on shopping list
4. Prepare for each meal by thawing any frozen foods and setting out ingredients ahead of time
5. Make and enjoy dinner
6. Clean up and store any leftovers for lunches or the following meal
7. Wipe off meal from menu

Although this may appear simple, that's the beauty of it! I like things to be as simple and easy as possible. When I start to feel stressed or overwhelmed it's usually because I've complicated things more than they need to be.

I also keep things flexible. When I don't feel like making (or eating) a particular meal I skip ahead to one later in the week and use it instead. Then a few days later I usually end up making the meal I skipped earlier. This is especially helpful if something unplanned comes up, thus throwing off the plan, but instead of being a problem I just use that day's meal idea later in the week or add it to the next two week menu plan.

What ideas for meal and menu planning have been successful for you and your family? Share them with us in the comments!

Previous Popular Feature: LDS Dating Sites

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Whenever the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds a temple there is always a free open house for the public before the temple is dedicated with a prayer. During the open house anyone can come and tour the temple and see the beauty of the temple, both on the inside and outside. Volunteers help with the open house and provide tours and answer questions about temples, temple work, family history, our beliefs, and more.

If a temple is being built near you, or if you will be traveling this summer to a place where a new temple is being completed, check to see if there will be an open house so you can go through and see the amazing beauty of our temples. Once a temple is dedicated only members of the Church who posses a temple recommend are able to enter the temple and perform sacred ordinances (eternal work) for the living and the dead.

The Church has a page for temple open house reservations which also posts upcoming dates. Here are the latest announcements for future temple open houses:

• Manaus Brazil Temple: Friday, May 18, 2012 - Saturday, June 2, 2012 (excluding Sundays)
• Buenos Aires Argentina Temple: Saturday, August 4, 2012 - Saturday, August 25, 2012 (excluding Sundays)
• Brigham City Utah Temple: Saturday, August 18, 2012 - Saturday, September 15, 2012 (excluding Sundays and Saturday, September 8th)

There are currently 33 temples that have been announced, are being constructed, or under renovation. See the Church's list of temples to see which locations have temples, are building, renovating, or will be constructing an LDS temple near you.

See the Temple category to learn more about our amazing, beautiful temples, including how families can be together forever.

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If you're not a regular follower of news about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you may not have yet read about the governors of the state of Missouri and the state of Kansas releasing proclamations after the completion of the Kansas City Missouri Temple. Each proclamation makes positive statements about the contributions of the Church, its history, and its members to each state.

You can read more about the announcement in the LDS Newsroom as well as see copies of each proclamation with the official seal of each state: Mormons, Kansas City Missouri Temple Recognized in Governors' Proclamations.

If you know the history of the Church of Jesus Christ then you will realize this is an amazing event. If not, take a few minutes to learn more about the history of the church with these articles:

• Who was Joseph Smith?
• Who was Brigham Young?
• Who Were the Mormon Pioneers
• Pioneers Travel West
• More about the History of the Church

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One of the most popular features on my site is my list of Top 10 LDS Dating Websites. I actually have quite a bit of personal history with LDS dating online because I met and married both my ex-husband and my current husband online through an LDS dating website.

It's funny because you'd think I would have learned my lesson the first time, which I did, and that lesson was: Don't Jump Into Marriage! Being the naive girl that I was, I thought, "If it's right everything will work out." Wrong! You have to go through the proper dating and courtship process. It's also important to understand how BOTH men and women work. Studying books on dating and marriage completely changed me and my way of thinking which later led to the wonderful, happy, healthy marriage I have now.

Yes, finding love on the Internet is possible, but you have to take your time to properly date, both multiple people and later exclusively with one person until you advance into courtship and later marriage.

Read these online dating success stories (including my story) or share your own!

Previous Popular Feature: How to Make a 72 Hour Kit

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These excellent quotes about budgeting are from general LDS Church leaders who continually counsel each person and family to use and follow a budget. There's a quote for each of these specific topics:

• Budget to Live Within Your Means
• A Better Manager of Your Resources
• A Carefully Planned Budget for Every Family
• Follow Advice of Prophets to Budget
• Budgeting with Your Spouse
• Family Budgeting

After reading this fabulous quotes check out these additional budgeting resources:

• Budget Worksheets
• Debt Elimination Calendar
• Budgeting Software Review: You Need a Budget
• Meal Planning for Two Weeks
• Poll: Do You Use a Budget?

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In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have a list of 13 Articles of Faith which clearly summarize our basic beliefs. Children in our primary organization often learn and memorize the 13 articles before they turn 12 years old and move on to Young Mens or Young Womens.

Have you ever memorized the 13 Articles of Faith? Vote now!
Previous poll: Do You Use a Budget?

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One of the most popular features on my site is the article, How to Make a 72 Hour Kit. Along with that is the blog entry, 72 Hour Kit Warning, where over one hundred comments, questions, answers, and ideas have been posted by users to help prepare and protect your 72 Hour Kit.

Poll: Are You Prepared with a 72 Hour Kit?

See additional Food Storage and Emeregency Preparedness resources including basic articles on why it's important to store food, what to take when you escape, and 15 Emergency Items to Keep in Your Car.

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