New Updated Apostle Printables

I have posted these printables (found at sugardoodle.net) before but I was asked for updated versions including Elder Andersen. Enjoy!


Apostle Memory Cards by Kerri Madura (Matching Game)


Apostle Cards by Melanie Day (Include Fun and Informative Facts About the Prophets/Apostles)

Between Heaven and Earth - Temple Worship

"This video recording features religious scholars of various faiths describing ancient and modern temples. They discuss the importance of temple worship from the time of Adam to our day and provide insight into the purpose of temples. The video also includes the testimony of several members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles regarding temple work."

In addition to this video I just wanted to share one of my favorite stories from this last General Conference about temples. This story was told by Elder Gary E. Stevenson. I love the simple reply of a young child that reminds us of the guide and director the temple can be.

"I remember a warm, sunny afternoon when spring was trying to nudge its way through a long winter in Cache Valley, Utah. My father, whose Saturdays were always filled with chores for his grandsons, stopped by our home with an offer to “go for a ride.” Always happy to ride in Grandpa’s truck, our four- and six-year-old sons scurried into the back jump seat, and I joined my father in the front. Our drive took us through the streets of downtown Logan, which wrap around the Logan Temple, prominently situated on a hill, centered beautifully in the city. As we moved further away from the city, we turned from paved, busy streets to seldom-used dirt roads, where we crossed old bridges and weaved through trees far into the country. We were far from any other traffic and all alone.

Realizing his grandsons were in a place they had not been before, my father stopped the truck. “Do you think we are lost?” he asked the wide-eyed boys as they gazed out the windshield across the valley. Followed by a moment of silent assessment came the profound reply of a young child. “Look,” he said, pointing his finger, “Grandpa, you are never lost when you can see the temple.” Our eyes turned, focusing with his, seeing the sun glistening off the spires of the Logan Temple, far across the valley.

You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the “mist of darkness.”1 It is the house of the Lord.2 It is a place where covenants are made and eternal ordinances are performed."

If you live in or near Utah (or are willing to travel) there is currently a temple open house that you can attend to see the inside of an LDS temple. Click HERE to read more about the open house and to make reservations to attend the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple Open House. The Open House runs from Monday, June 1 - Saturday, August 1, 2009.

A New Apostle and A New Apostle Song

"Elder Neil Linden Andersen was named an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 4 April 2009."



Here are a few highlights from his biography:

• He was named a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy in April 1993, at age 41.


• He speaks French, Portuguese and Spanish in addition to his native English.


• Elder Andersen served as a mission president in the France Bordeaux Mission and as president of the Tampa Florida Stake.


• Elder Andersen was born in Logan, Utah, and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, on a dairy farm where he remembers doing "typical Idaho farm work, from morning to night.”


• In high school, he excelled in student government, serving as governor of Idaho Boys State.


• He graduated from Brigham Young University, where he was a presidential scholar, and earned a masters of business administration from Harvard University.


• Elder Andersen and his wife, Kathy Williams Andersen, are the parents of four children and 12 grandchildren.
  
  To learn more about Elder Neil L. Andersen you can read his entire Biography in the LDS Newsroom.
  

Now enjoy the new version of the Apostle Song with Elder Andersen officially added.

The Apostle Cards by Melanie Day have also been updated to include Elder Andersen.

New Apostle Song

The Official NEW Apostle video is out with Elder Andersen added. To read more about Elder Neil L. Andersen and to see the Apostle video with him added click HERE. If you would like to see the old versions with Elder Wirthlin and the other with a surprise ending continue on with this post. Thanks! I hope this helps.

I am sure many of you have seen and enjoyed the old version of the apostle song:

Since the passing of Elder Wirthlin a new version of the video and song has come out with an interesting ending. We will have to wait for a more complete version in April or May. I will be sure to post it when it comes out. Enjoy!!!:

Apostle Printables

New updated apostle games and cards (including Elder Andersen) can be found HERE.

Apostle Cards and Apostle Cards 2 by Melanie Day

These cards are great. There is a picture of each member of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles (I am sure that they will be updated when the new apostle is called and I will post them again then) along with a few interesting facts about each of them.

Memory Game by Anonymous

You match their picture with their name and symbol. Each Apostle has a symbol to help remember their name. For example, President Packer has a Back-"Pack" and Elder Oaks has a oak leaf.

Apostles Coloring Page from LDS.org

Apostles Crossword Puzzle by Rachel Woods on lds.about.com

I hope you find some of these fun or helpful!

Elder Wirthlin Will Be Missed

Here is the article that is found in the LDS Newsroom:

SALT LAKE CITY 2 December 2008 Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, the oldest living apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died last night, age 91.

Elder Wirthlin had gone to bed at his Salt Lake City home, and died peacefully at about 11:30 pm of causes incident to age. His oldest daughter, Jane Wirthlin Parker, was present. A member of the family had been staying and caring for Elder Wirthlin, whose wife, Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, died in 2006.

He had continued to work at his office right up until the Thanksgiving holiday.Funeral arrangements will be announced.

To read his biography click on this link---> Elder Wirthlin's Biography.

This is great video of Elder Wirthlin's Testimony,

especially during this Christmas Season.

I am so glad we all had the opportunity to hear Elder Wirthlin speak in this last General Conference in such an uplifting, happy, encouraging, and funny way. It was a wonderful talk.

I couldn't resist posting an entire section (Learn to Laugh) of his talk below because it will forever be one of my last great memories of Elder Wirthlin. I had the opportunity of attending that session and I remember having a great laugh during his talk and now I am reminded of the determination I had to laugh more and to groan less. That is definitely something I can work on. I am grateful for his great counsel.

I will miss Elder Wirthlin a lot. I will miss his great attitude. I will miss his stories that showed his unwavering spirit of obedience. What a great man and what a great Apostle of the Lord.

Come What May, and Love It

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness.

Over the years I have learned a few things that have helped me through times of testing and trial. I would like to share them with you.

Learn to Laugh

The first thing we can do is learn to laugh. Have you ever seen an angry driver who, when someone else makes a mistake, reacts as though that person has insulted his honor, his family, his dog, and his ancestors all the way back to Adam? Or have you had an encounter with an overhanging cupboard door left open at the wrong place and the wrong time which has been cursed, condemned, and avenged by a sore-headed victim?

There is an antidote for times such as these: learn to laugh.

I remember loading up our children in a station wagon and driving to Los Angeles. There were at least nine of us in the car, and we would invariably get lost. Instead of getting angry, we laughed. Every time we made a wrong turn, we laughed harder.

Getting lost was not an unusual occurrence for us. Once while heading south to Cedar City, Utah, we took a wrong turn and didn’t realize it until two hours later when we saw the “Welcome to Nevada” signs. We didn’t get angry. We laughed, and as a result, anger and resentment rarely resulted. Our laughter created cherished memories for us.

I remember when one of our daughters went on a blind date. She was all dressed up and waiting for her date to arrive when the doorbell rang. In walked a man who seemed a little old, but she tried to be polite. She introduced him to me and my wife and the other children; then she put on her coat and went out the door. We watched as she got into the car, but the car didn’t move. Eventually our daughter got out of the car and, red faced, ran back into the house. The man that she thought was her blind date had actually come to pick up another of our daughters who had agreed to be a babysitter for him and his wife.

We all had a good laugh over that. In fact, we couldn’t stop laughing. Later, when our daughter’s real blind date showed up, I couldn’t come out to meet him because I was still in the kitchen laughing. Now I realize that our daughter could have felt humiliated and embarrassed. But she laughed with us, and as a result, we still laugh about it today.

The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable.

He then went on to share three more things that can help through times of trial:

Seek for the Eternal

The Principle of Compensation

Trust in the Father and the Son

To read the entire talk click on the title above.

I hope we all will strive to follow the counsel of Elder Wirthlin.

Jesus Washing the Apostles’ Feet

I really like this picture and story of our Savior. I think it so perfectly depicts his humility and selflessness. It amazes me that just prior to Him suffering for all of us he was thinking about washing His apostles feet. He is our perfect example.

LDS Gospel Art Kit

After Jesus had eaten the Last Supper with His Apostles, He removed His outer robe and put a towel around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and, one by one, began to wash and dry the Apostles’ feet. (See John 13:4–5.)

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter asked the Lord why He was washing his feet. Jesus told Peter that he would not understand then but that he would know later. Peter said, “Thou needest not to wash my feet” (Joseph Smith Translation, John 13:8). “Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (John 13:8). Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head” (John 13:9). Jesus told him that He needed only to wash his feet (see John 13:10; Joseph Smith Translation, John 13:10).

Jesus told His Apostles that they were not all clean because He knew one would betray Him (see John 13:10–11).

When Jesus finished washing the Apostles’ feet, He said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14–15).