September Personal Progress

 to Marlee for receiving her Faith ribbon! And Sister Higgins for receiving her Divine Nature ribbon! Jenna is SO close to receiving her Choice and Accountability ribbon and Sister Nielson says she is close to getting a ribbon too... Good luck!

This month, your personal progress calendar experience was a reminder to work on an experience in Choice and Accountability, of your own choosing. Thanks to Jenna for a fun ice cream activity last month! And exercising your AGENCY, you each decided which C&A experience you would like to complete. Most of you chose #2, how is that going?

Our activity last night was so great for me! I love both of the books we read, "Daughter of a King" and "The Parable of the Princesses". I want you to know that I really do have a testimony that we are spirit daughters of our Heavenly Father and that he truly loves us and wants us to return back to him. He has provided so many tools to help us on that journey back to him and becoming more like our Savior.

Please read your "letter to a friend" often. Sometimes we can get down on ourselves and forget our divine nature and individual worth, but encourage and remind yourself of WHO YOU ARE the way you would a dear friend!

Happy personal progressing! Love, Sister Chambers

SUMMER Personal Progress Updates

Summer is a GREAT time to work on personal progress! Despite being busy with family vacations, outdoor activities, spending time with friends, camps and jobs you have MORE time than you think you do!

Here is a re-cap of what we have been working on this summer:

 June- calendar experience, Knowledge #7. If you attended camp, did you make sure this experience was completed? At camp you are always learning about First Aid and gaining survival skills- make sure this experience gets signed off!!

June- mutual activity, Divine Nature #2. We read 2 conference talks and discussed the importance of womanhood. You were also supposed to work on developing a feminine attribute. Which one did you choose?

July- calendar experience, Divine Nature #4. Memorizing the sacrament prayers. I truly feel that this can be a blessing in your life as your focus on the meaning of the sacrament and keep our Savior in your thoughts continually.

 July- mutual activity, Integrity #1. The City Creek Ward young women don't "WAFFLE"! I hope the play on words (waffle as a VERB) and our discussion helped you girls decide to keep Heavenly Father's commandments and make decisions that will bring you closer to him. Your challenge was to choose something to get rid of in your life, that bring you closer to the Savior. What did you choose?

August- calendar experience, Divine Nature #5. This experience is to help you learn obedience to your parents and develop the desire within you to continue to be obedient. (I was not so good at this when I was your age...)

 August- mutual activity, a Choice and Accountability Ice Cream social! Jenna and I have been working together on this activity and I am so excited for it! (I wish it was happening THIS week!) I am not quite sure which experience you girls individually will be able to complete by attending and participating... still working on that! Please come and bring a friend if you like!

Se-"reese"-ly "Bursting" with Happiness- "3" Cheers to You!

More goodies to add to our treat basket!

I hope you girls have been busy so you can pick out your favorite!

See you tomorrow night!

Happy personal progressing!

Sneak Peek!

Young Women, Here is the craft we will be making tomorrow night for mutual!

I made my sample today and am eager for tomorrow night!

I hope you all can come!

Love, Sister Chambers

Mid-May Personal Progress Updates

Hello Young Women!

I have loved seeing some of the pictures you girls took while at the Logan temple last week!

It reminded me... I spoke with a few of you about making those trips part of your personal progress experiences! One idea that a young woman and I had about the trips was JOURNALING about the experience at the temple. Her and I agreed that for her, 4 journal entries would count towards 1 personal progress experience (one of the optional/create your own) in most any of the values. If you think this would work for you- START! Or if you have another idea about how these temple trips could contribute to completing personal progress- let me know!

 What a great opportunity it is for you girls to be attending the temple so often, almost once a month!

Also, for our personal progress mutual in April we wrote letters of appreciation to someone in our life. How were your notes received? I wrote my note to that "unknown" girl at my son's preschool that listened to the Spirit and helped me to remember the Lord is mindful of me. (I shared the story that night...) I was unsure of how to get the letter to her, but I tried my best and am assuming/hoping that it was received! I haven't heard from her, I didn't expect to (she wouldn't likely not know how to get back to me!). But I feel so happy that I was able to let her know what a bright spot she was in my day. Unfortunately sometimes we don't let people know when they have blessed our lives!

I am planning on writing one more letter to a wonderful woman I have always admired... 

I hope that your goals of serving others and helping them to "feel well about themselves" is going AWESOME!

I am looking forward to our activity in a week and a half- a CRAFT and SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT. What could be better?

Happy personal progressing! Love, Sister Chambers

(photo credit: Marlee Higgins Facebook page)

April and May Personal Progress Updates

Happy April!

This month, your calendar experience focused on the sacrament. As part of your "Come Follow Me" curriculum in April you learned about the apostasy and restoration. Part of the restoration was bringing back the sacrament as Jesus had taught it to his disciples. 

It is Faith experience #4. Did you read the scriptures pertaining to that experience? Have you set a pattern of pondering the sacrament prayers and journaled about your baptismal covenants? If not- that's okay! You can still complete this experience. The tidbits each day on the calendar can be a source to help you- but you can complete these experiences whenever it is best for you. I know you girls are sure busy!!

 And for our mutual activity in April you had the opportunity to work on 1 or 2 experiences in personal progress. Divine Nature #3: strengthening a family relationship AND Individual Worth #3: helping to build others and make them feel of worth. These experiences will largely be done by yourself, so I am sorry- we did not get to sign off these experiences that night. But I gave you some handouts to help you be successful. I hope that you will read over them several times and that you will ask yourself the questions I included and that they will help you to know WHO you can serve and love and WHAT you can do to serve and love.

 In fact, I have felt that those experiences can be so beneficial for you, that on May's calendar I will include tidbits to remind you of the goal to strengthen relationships and lift others. So no new calendar experience for May- just continuing from the mutual activity in April. I want you to be successful. So if you haven't yet started, you still can!

Since the calendar experience for May won't be centered on the "Come Follow Me" curriculum- our mutual activity will be! The theme for the month of May is "Prophets and Revelation". For May we will be working on Choice and Accountability #5. (And according to my notes, no one has yet completed that one!) That experience centers on learning more about the Holy Ghost- our revelator. We will also be making a craft to help us remember the prophets and their counsel. It will likely be similar to this...

or this...

 But instead of holding pictures we will be using them to hold our favorite quotes from conference so that we can always remember the prophets and their counsel! (Of course if you choose to use it to hold a picture that is fine too.) Perhaps a quote such as this...

Does this sound familiar to anyone? (Maybe from the movie we watched at our personal progress mutual?)

Happy personal progressing! Love you girls! 

Sister Chambers

Personal Progress Recognition

 Dear Young Women,

Have you wondered how you will be recognized for completing three personal progress experiences? I have decided to create a basket full of goodies for you to choose from. Here are what the gifts are....

For each three personal progress experiences you complete, you will get to pick a gift from the basket! As the number of gifts dwindle I will replace them with new things.

Congratulations to Jenna, Emma, and Marlee who have been completing personal progress experiences and get to choose from our new basket of goodies tomorrow!

Happy personal progressing! Love, Sister Chambers

March Personal Progress Update

Hello Young Women!

I am looking forward to our St. Patrick's Day personal progress activity this Tuesday. Thanks to Marlee for helping to plan the activities. Come ready to "hunt for treasure"! (Perhaps you will find a pot of gold...)

 This Tuesday's activity will help you to accomplish another experience in the value of Faith. If you completed February's calendar experience (Faith #6), March's calendar experience (Faith #5), and this mutual activity (Faith #2)- that will be 3 FAITH EXPERIENCES COMPLETED IN 2 MONTHS!

Also, remember that for every 3 experiences completed I want to recognize you with a small gift!

Happy personal progressing! Love, Sister Chambers

Pictures!

 New Beginnings, January 2015.

 Game Night and "Fear Factor" mutual activities, February 2015.

Personal Progress "Stuff"

My dear Young Women,

I have already enjoyed so much my calling as your personal progress advisor! I love reading through my personal progress book and prayerfully considering activities that we can do together to help you accomplish personal progress.

New Beginnings was a lot of fun- I want you to know that I REALLY do know that personal progress will bring color into your world!

 I wanted to recap the personal progress activities that we have already done, to make sure you are on track and completing the ones you would like to.

Remember: each month on the calendar there will be days devoted to personal progress "tidbits" and if you complete each task, you will have an experience completed by the end of the month. Look on the back of the newsletter to find out which experience you will complete! They will correlate with the monthly "Come Follow Me" curriculum.

 January calendar experience: Individual Worth #1

January PP mutual activity: New Beginnings

February calendar experience: Faith #6

I had your young women leaders pass out a copied picture that depicts that plan of salvation (you will need it for this experience). You can also get it here.

February PP mutual activity: Integrity #3

I will try to plan activities and experiences that will help everyone complete personal progress. However, you are all in different phases of the program. So if one month the mutual activity doesn't help you complete an experience, the next one will!

Remember: for every 3 experiences you complete you will get a reward. I want to recognize your accomplishment. Don't be shy- let me know!

Love, Sister Chambers

Frozen Party Pictures

 Snow/Ice Monster (Missy), Olaf (Marlee), Elsa (Noel), Anna (Sara), Sven (Jenna)

A Mighty Change of Heart

Dear Young Women,

In two weeks we will be having our "Frozen" party. 

As a presidency we are so excited for this event. We LOVE the movie "Frozen" as well as its theme- a mighty change of heart.

 To introduce our party, here are some thoughts from Elder Marvin J. Ashton from a talk entitled, "The Measure of our Hearts"...

I would like to share some thoughts about measurements. A measurement is a standard by which we determine the capacity or dimension of a person or object. A measurement gives us a basis for comparison.

If I say, “She is a three-point student,” you have a pretty good idea of this person’s scholastic ability. A measurement may also be an estimate of what is expected.

Human measurement, of course, is subject to human fallibility. My generation, for example, was taught that a person’s I.Q. was supposedly a fixed measurement of a person’s capacity to learn. Such a notion is now generally discredited by the teaching profession. Interestingly, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught in the nineteenth century: “We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, p. 51.) He was obviously ahead of his time!

We also tend to evaluate others on the basis of physical, outward appearance: their “good looks,” their social status, their family pedigrees, their degrees, or their economic situations.

The Lord, however, has a different standard by which he measures a person. When it came time to choose a king to replace King Saul, the Lord gave this criteria to his prophet Samuel: “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; … for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7.)

When the Lord measures an individual, He does not take a tape measure around the person’s head to determine his mental capacity, nor his chest to determine his manliness, but He measures the heart as an indicator of the person’s capacity and potential to bless others.

 Why the heart? Because the heart is a synonym for one’s entire makeup. We often use phrases about the heart to describe the total person. Thus, we describe people as being “big-hearted” or “goodhearted” or having a “heart of gold.” Or we speak of people with faint hearts, wise hearts, pure hearts, willing hearts, deceitful hearts, conniving hearts, courageous hearts, cold hearts, hearts of stone, or selfish hearts.

The measure of our hearts is the measure of our total performance. As used by the Lord, the “heart” of a person describes his effort to better self, or others, or the conditions he confronts.

A question I suggest to you is this: How do you measure up?

 

As your leaders we hope that you will come to our "Frozen" party! It will be a night of "Frozen" fun as we watch the movie, eat snacks, and learn about a mighty change of heart.

Temple Ordinances and Covenants

Dear Young Women, 

Saw this cute printable that reminded me of our great lesson today about the temple and the ordinances there! Also a preparatory quote for next week's lesson with Sister Jones!

Also...

I was so touched by the comments today about how you girls feel when you are in the temple and also the impressions you have received about the sacredness of performing temple work for the dead. You are such special young women! I bear my testimony of the holiness of the temple and that the ordinances performed there are powerful and that when we keep our covenants we are also made powerful.

Love, Sister Chambers

Family History Focused

Dear Young Women,

Today is the beginning of our family history focused activities.

I hope that you are excited to learn more about your ancestors and will allow the Spirit of Elijah to work upon you. I know that family history is important and have recently gained a strong testimony of the importance of finding those who need their temple work done.

I have been working on familysearch.org and finding family members who need their temple ordinances performed. Friday night Brother Chambers and I were able to attend the temple. I took all of the names I had gathered so far- 139 in all! We were able to be sealed for about 20 couples and now have sealings to perform for children to parents, as well as baptisms, confirmations, initiatory and endowment.

I hope I can count on your girls to help me get the baptisms and confirmations completed!

What a neat experience it was to know that I was helping someone of my own family to have something so special. Being sealed to your spouse for eternity is a special gift from our father in heaven and I felt so happy to be able to serve as proxy so my ancestors can receive that gift.

What great service family history is as we find those who need their temple work done and then to help as we can, to perform those ordinances by proxy.

What a spiritual next two weeks we will have as a young women's group as we focus on family history and the temple!

Love, Sister Chambers

What does it mean to take upon myself the name of Jesus Christ?

Dear Young Women-

Tomorrow I was to teach the lesson, "What does it mean to take upon myself the name of Jesus Christ?" However, with all of you young women out of town I will not have that opportunity. I still wanted to share a few thoughts regarding the lesson.

What does it mean to take upon myself the name of Jesus Christ?

Let's look in the scriptures to see what we can find regarding that question...

Why it is important to take upon ourselves the name of Christ: (Mosiah 5)

 1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them.

 2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

 3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.

 4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.

 5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.

 6 And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.

 7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.

 8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.

 9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.

 10 And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God.

 11 And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.

 12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.

 13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

 14 And again, doth a man take an ass which belongeth to his neighbor, and keep him? I say unto you, Nay; he will not even suffer that he shall feed among his flocks, but will drive him away, and cast him out. I say unto you, that even so shall it be among you if ye know not the name by which ye are called.

 15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

When we choose to enter into a covenant with God that we will do his will and be obedient to his commandments all the days of our lives, then we have taken upon ourself the name of Christ. Taking upon ourself the name of Christ, serving him to the end of our days, is the only way we may obtain eternal life.

Some things to think about....

When has the Spirit touched your heart and you had no more desire to do evil (like the people of King Benjamin)?

Are your thoughts and actions in accordance to what our Heavenly Father and the Savior would have you do?

 Do you understand the importance of covenanting to take upon the name of Christ?

We should strive to be like Jesus Christ: (3 Nephi 27:27)

27 And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.

Some things to think about....

What could you do to be a better example of Jesus Christ?

Taking upon ourselves the name of Christ is part of our baptismal covenant and the ordinance of the sacrament: D&C 20: 37, 77

37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church. 

 77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

Some things to think about....

If you have not yet been baptized, would you like to be?

When you partake of the sacrament each week do you remember the covenant you have made to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ?

How can you use the sacrament each week to better fulfill your covenant?

 When we are baptized, we covenant to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. We renew this covenant when we partake of the sacrament. We fulfill this covenant by putting the Lord first in our lives, by striving to think and act as He would, and by standing “as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places”.

I hope you girls know that I love you and am willing to do anything to help you improve your relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love them and have learned through this lesson the importance of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. I hope I can be a better example for you as one who follows the Savior.

Love, Sister Chambers

Girl's Camp-June 2014 "Keepers of the Flame"

Sisters in Zion!

Keepers of the Flame......

All-American Girls!

United in Faith....

Beautiful Daughters of God!

It has been a pleasure to attend Girl's Camp with such an inspiring, amazing, and wonderful group of young women!  Thank you for your Christlike examples, your loving service, and your burning testimonies as you remain "Keepers of the Flame".  I love you all very much! Love, Sister Higgins