CitizenLink Report: Celebrating Our Religious Freedom at School

At the beginning of each new year,
Students are given the right
To voice beliefs that they hold dear
And be a beacon of light!

Each year on January 16th, the president issues a proclamation, declaring it Religious Freedom Day. It started in 1993 with George H.W. Bush when Congress asked him to recognize a day celebrating one of our most basic rights.

According to the Constitution, your children can talk about their beliefs at school and include them in homework assignments and classroom conversations. They can even bring their Bible to school for free reading times.

How Can I Repent?

Yesterday is now gone
So how can I repent?
Turn all that I've done wrong
Over to the Lord's atonement

"Although we are redeemed unconditionally from the universal effects of the Fall, we are accountable for our own sins. But we can be forgiven and cleansed from the stain of sin if we “apply the atoning blood of Christ” ( Mosiah 4:2). We must exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized for the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."https://www.lds.org/topics/atonement-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

Mosiah 4

Chapter 4

King Benjamin continues his address—Salvation comes because of the Atonement—Believe in God to be saved—Retain a remission of your sins through faithfulness—Impart of your substance to the poor—Do all things in wisdom and order. About 124 B.C.

 1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.

 2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

 3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.

 4 And king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to speak unto them, saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people, I would again call your attention, that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words which I shall speak unto you.

 5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—

 6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—

 7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.

 8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.

 9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

 10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

 11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

 12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

 13 And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.

 14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.

 15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.

 16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

 17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

 18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

 19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

 20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

 21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

 22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.

 23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.

 24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.

 25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.

 26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

 27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

 28 And I would that ye should remember, that whosoever among you borroweth of his neighbor should return the thing that he borroweth, according as he doth agree, or else thou shalt commit sin; and perhaps thou shalt cause thy neighbor to commit sin also.

 29 And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.

 30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.

The Challenge of Belief

In the beginning

With Adam and Eve

Was contradiction

That challenged belief



By transgressing

God's laws in their hearts

The first family

Must depart to start



Not knowing all things

We come unto truth

The spirit this brings

Conviction's our proof



How do you explain

Your witness as proof?

To make sacred plain

Makes light of the truth



It is in the struggle

The challenge of faith

That we become humble

And receive God's strength



If this man had come with an honest heart,

seeking to "know for himself"

answers would have come,

the spirit would have helped.



Opposition only serves to strengthen faith in the long run

With the supposer ever searching and never coming to know...

It is not for man to "attack" churches and expose faults

but to seek what good they offer by the truths that are taught.

Mormon Apostle Jeffery R. Holland on BBC

Loving Light

So wanting light in my life

I went where it was bright

I felt something warm within

It was love come from Heaven

The Gifts of Christmas are Here to Enjoy

I
Out of the tenderest feeling
That comes at Christmas time
This is our best chance for healing
The pains of a world unkind

Take pleasure in nature
Wonder at this grand earth
Welcome in a stranger
And share what you have learned

Speak of your love.  Show that you care
Dismiss suspicion- invite trust
Be selfless, gentle, kind, and share
The world with Christ-like eyes, thus

II
Mend up a quarrel, forgo a grudge
Forgive an enemy and seek to befriend
Try to understand, of others don't judge
Give a soft answer with thanks in the end

Apologize first, express gratitude
Lift with laughter and moments of joy
Yes, manifest loyalty's meek attitude
The gifts of Christmas are here to enjoy

Speak of your love.  Show that you care
Dismiss suspicion- invite trust
Be selfless, gentle, kind, and share
The Lord, living, is within us

“This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again." 3. 

Howard W. Hunter, “The Gifts of Christmas,” Ensign, Dec. 2002, 18–19.

Remembering the "Unbroken" spirit of Louis Zamperini

Forgive and heal

Through Christ, in faith

For hate does kill

You of your strength

Louis Zamperini -- The Remarkable Man Behind UNBROKEN

Do not give up

You can achieve

Walk even run

Towards your belief

Look Into My Eyes

Look into my eyes
I hope His light is there
I love Jesus Christ
His love and tender care

Look inside my eyes
I hope you see Him there
I love Jesus Christ
His love and tender care

Crunchy Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hope you are having a wonderful time with family.  These cookies are unique as they have shredded wheat in them.  I think they are the healthiest chocolate chip cookies you can find and they are huge!  1/3 scoop per cookie.
thanks yourldsblog for the pdf.

http://www.yourldsblog.com/2014/12/10/crunchy-chunky-chocolate-chip-cookies-24-days-christmas-blogger-cookbook-kelly-miller/

Merry Christmas

Thoughts from this book...

When God has an important work

He sends a small infant to the earth:

Through Enoch was Zion's translation

And Queen Esther's courage saved a nation

Then, so great, a forerunner was sent

John, a cousin, of promised descent

To prepare the way of the Lord

Who to Heaven would open the door

And so in the days of King Herod

Was born the virgin birth, son of our God

In the heavens was given the grand sign

Jesus would change the fate of mankind

Like the wise men who saw His star,

Bore great gifts, and traveled afar

Every knee will bow and confess

In celebration of one, Jesus

May we like the wise men

Seek the gift of God's love

And celebrate in Him

Who was sent from above

In spirit let us journey

To where the wee babe lay

From God's words we can read

Ponder, and pray

Then cherish a new infant

And marvel much within

Where it is we all come from

Each with a purpose given

Through eyes of small children
The Christ child can be seen
They, so fresh from heaven
Still shine with where they've been



Fastened with golden ribbons
Draped along just so
The ornaments and pineboughs
Set the lamp aglow

The centerpiece now bright
Warmed each heart to bind
Unto that holy night
And the baby...ours to find

The night was filled with music
We recreated the ancient scene
Wearing robes, sheets, and tunics
And with new eyes Jesus was seen



Like that star once lit
Be Christ's light to share.
Help, serve, and lift
Those in need of care

While others slept
The star shone everywhere
Be His light and lift
The lost sheep and show His care





He lifts us from despair
And perfects us through our gifts
Changes come as we share-
Service is love, which uplifts

Jesus is the reason

For the Christmas season

All time is marked by Him

He stands preeminent

He will make the earth pristine

And breathe new life into us

He will put down false doctrine

He is our reason to trust



The wise
Still seek the babe
Through eyes
Which search with faith
Look up
And celebrate
In love
For God is great!

Faith is more than mere belief
It's holding on while letting go
Of failings, fears, and grief
For the more you trust, you grow

Gathering up steam
Like a locomotive
The end crash, it would seem
Is about to give

There is only one
Who can save us now
The living Son
Only knows how

Turmoils will cease
When He comes again
We will know peace
Let us prepare more, then!



'Tis the season to decorate
And think on joyous things
To forgive all those who hate
For the spirit that this brings



Be generous
This is Christmas Day
Jesus is with us
In a special way

Tis the season to go home
Or at least visit in your heart
And rejoice within with hope
That family bonds will not part

Miracles happen

This time of year

We can touch heaven

As it feels near

Through His breath of life

Our hearts are made warm

Our joy comes alive

Through the Christ-child born

#sharethegift

The First Noel - Lexi Walker - Christmas Music Video

Through eyes of small children

Christmas can be seen

They, so fresh from heaven

Shine from where they've been

Jerusalem Old City & Bethlehem Walking Tour - Visiting the Holy Land 201...

The sun rises upon this land
In a way that is bright with glory
Gold gleams above before the sand
In honor of love's greatest story

Addiction: You Will Be Freed

Satan works at his fly and lead

To hook you into addiction

But you can be transformed and freed

The atonement is your protection

Jesus is the Greatest Gift

https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/jesus-christ?lang=eng&start=81&end=120&order=

Jesus is the greatest gift
Ever for man to know
For truly He does uplift
The graves open to show

Unto resurrection
Offering eternal life
He in condescension
Redeemed us and paid the price

Laborers in the Vineyard

With all the laborers about
The vast vineyard was still yet in need.
One more hour, time was running out!
More hands were sought and worked hard indeed!

Later, the laborers were gathered in
To receive of their promised pay.
They were paid all the same in the end
For the vintner had but this last day!

The Savior was know for teaching in parables. In this video, Jesus gives the parable of the laborers in the Vineyard.

Matthew 20: 1-16

1. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4. And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7. They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12. Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14. Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

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Highlights: The Laborers in the Vineyard

It's not the hour of the day

That determines your pay

But that you did arrive

Ready to labor and strive

He Had the Touch

Jesus was extraordinary!
He had God's perfect touch
His mission was to carry
In His heart, each of us

Mary Did You Know

The artist showing baby Jesus being kissed by Mary is Liz Lemon Swindle.  Her work is beautiful.  I feel the spirit, the love, the joy of this special message and want to answer...



She oft kissed the Son of God 

and loved Him like no other. 

Each day she did live in awe 

that she was His own mother.

Do You Have Room (for the Savior)?

Can you spare a small space

To let the Savior in?

To welcome and embrace

His holiness within


additional thoughts by Subolagoso

For it is by His grace
That mankind is made holy
One day, then to embrace
The Father, in full glory!

A Glimpse of Heaven

Having been born of love
And so like Heavenly Father
We're given a glimpse of
What the Heaven's have to offer

Christ as the Centerpiece

Focusing on the Lord

With love towards one another

They worshiped and adored

The Son of Heavenly Father

Dawn's Glory

Every man can know

That the troubling night

Will fade its strength and go

At daybreak to take flight

Have faith and hang on

To the truths that you hold

Soon comes the bird's song

Dawn's glory to behold

There is a Brightness

There is a  brightness
That can be seen
A halo to witness
One is now clean

"I went to Las Vegas to baptize and confirm that widow. And my wife and I were her companions when she first went to the temple. In all those sacred moments of covenants, there seemed to me to be a brightness about her, just as I felt when I looked down with love on my first great-grandchild. "

https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2014/12/the-light-and-the-life-of-the-world?lang=eng

I thought it interesting that the thing that brought light into this widow's heart was seeing the sister missionaries standing at her door and she could almost see halos around them. Then Eyring says the same thing about the widow.  Maybe this is circular? Those with light recognize light and obtain more light looking toward the more perfect day.

The Duty of All

The duty of all
Is to give thanks for the laws
Of Almighty God
And prayerfully pause

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington

Walk with Me

Walk with Me and know
Who you really are
Your path, I will show
You are to go far!

Walk with Me and be
More like me each day
There are souls in need
And laws to obey

What would it be like to walk with the Savior?  What would He say? How would He guide us to live out our daily lives?

Altering the Ego

But a long time ago
Not that far away
A man with an ego
Complained all the day

He was quick to lecture
Always with a frown
Sometimes... with conjecture
To dismiss those around

But, there was one who stayed
Who knew the mood would pass
And for him always prayed
For she knew of his good past...

Is that not each of us?
In some way we are lacking
And are in need of trust
With someone for us backing

Is that not each of us?
From goodness we have come
And we've a friend named Jesus
Who gives up not on one

Please Come Back

Please come back
To faith in Christ
Find His path
So filled with Light

The Weak Link

The chain broke
From one weak link
I awoke
With faith to think


Pondering the chains of bondage and how hard it is to think your way out of them. 

Jacob's Ladder Prayer Rock Gift Idea

Jacob saw a ladder
From Heaven coming down
He learned that prayers matter
God's angels are around

Keep this rock on your bed
To remind you every night
That a prayer must be said
To find angels 'round you, nigh

Then, place this rock on the floor
To greet you the next day
To remind you once more
That God hears when you pray

Then work with the angels
Helping others to see
When you pray God answers
As you seek His blessing

We read this story in devotional recently and I am thinking of giving prayer rocks for Christmas.  One side will say, "Prayer,"  and the other will have a ladder on it.

Jacob 28:10-17 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.  And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Links to find a printable board similar to Chutes and Ladders.  No Chutes in this game, though!
http://intheleafytreetopsthebirdssing.blogspot.com/2012/02/ctr-game.html