Everyone Plays a Piece

"There are times when you might feel aimless
You can't see the places where you belong
But you will find that there is a purpose
It's been there within you all along and when you're near it
You can almost hear it." 

He is Glorious! You are His child! You are a child of God!

Turn the Radio Off and Turn This On...

Okay so the radio has a slew of Christmas music playing right now, mostly all of the commercialized stuff, Santa, and some old songs you hear every year and don't get me wrong I like a good dose of Christmas music but this, this is good! Enjoy!



Obviously don't forget the classic Christ-centered Hymns but I love instrumental bits of goodness.

Morning Devotional: Saved By the Bell Style

So lately we've started a new little routine in the mornings.  It is quite simple really.  We sing a few songs, usually one non-churchy song which has lately been the "ABCs" or a classic from a few years back, maybe some of you will recognize it, "B--B-B--B-B-B! B--B-B--B-B-B - GO BAYSIDE!"  I know it is silly, but you gotta love it! One day my husband randomly sang it and both of our kids loved it, sometimes it even ends up being added into the mix at FHE. Our 14 month old will even say "B-B-B" in a little bit of a rhythm.  We usually end in saying Baby for our daughter, instead of Bayside, and then proceed to do the letters of all of our names and end with our last name.  Then after our more up tempo song we do one or two church songs which has lately been "I am a Child of God" or a random song listened to on one of our Primary CDs.

After our silly and peaceful singing we each say our individual prayers.  Then following this I started out having our son read a verse of scripture but have recently turned to reciting an Article of Faith.  After a little over a week our 3 year old has the 1st Article of Faith down and we are about to move on.  It is fun to see him get so excited about getting it.

It has been a great addition to our day and especially a great way to start our day.  It helps us to stop and remember what is most important and reminds us to always start the day off with a prayer and with happy family moments, even if it does mean bringing back Zack Morris and the gang.  :)

What does your family do to start the day off right? 

MM: I Am a Child of God

"What a wonderful song that is. And what a great truth it teaches. You have an earthly father. He is your mother’s dear companion. I hope you love him and that you are obedient to him. But you have another father. That is your Father in Heaven. He is the Father of your spirit, just as your earthly father is the father of your body. And it is just as important to love and to obey your Father in Heaven as it is to love and obey your earthly father.

We speak with our earthly father. He is our dear friend, our protector, the one who usually supplies our food and clothing and home. But we also speak to our Father in Heaven. We do this with prayer. I hope that every night and every morning you get on your knees and speak with your Father in Heaven...It is not asking too much, is it, to take a few minutes of each day to speak with your Father in Heaven when you know that you are a child of God?"
(Gordon B. Hinckley, “You Are a Child of God,” Ensign, May 2003, 117)

Sacrament Meeting Was Missing Something

So I attended a ward other than my own this last Sunday. It was a good meeting, somewhat interesting, but good. But as the meeting kept rolling and then came to a close it was obvious the meeting was lacking. It was a fast and testimony meeting but even with the testimonies that were shared something was missing.

I sat near the back in the cultural hall. As always the meeting began with an opening hymn and there was not a book in sight in the back where I sat. I don't recall exactly what song was played. It was not an unusual hymn but one that we don't all know the words to without a book in front of us. I sat and hummed along but wished I could sing the words.

Then the sacrament hymn rolled around and again it wasn't an unusual song choice but still not one of the most common. Again, I looked around for a book and again I began to hum along. No one near me had a hymn book and thus no one sang along. Although those in front had books I felt as if there were only a handful of people singing this hymn about our Savior. The room felt quiet and the words could not be heard.

The meeting closed with yet another hymn of less than familiar words and yet again I hummed along. In some ways I felt robbed of a portion of the meeting that I must so often take for granted. I felt an inner battle and desire to sing out. Because I was unable to participate in the meeting by singing the Hymns and because others didn't take the opportunity to participate I felt that I couldn't fully wrap myself in the Spirit of the meeting.

I have never to this point fully realized the power that the Hymns have in our meetings and in our lives. I missed them last week and I fully enjoyed the Spirit that they brought to the meeting this week as I sung out.

Life Is O'erflowing with Beautiful Things

My little boy loves this video. We have watched it every day since we discovered it on the Friend's main page. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have. It has brought some fun snuggly moments and of course it is a great message of the the many beautiful things we have to be thankful for.

Songs of Motherhood

So I received links to both of these videos from a few friends of mine and decided to post them here. I think all of us who are mothers can definitely relate and get a good chuckle out of this.

I watched these videos yesterday morning. Shortly after watching them I started my work out in my pajamas, a work out consisting of jogging/dancing with my little boy (it is the only way it gets done). Then mid work-out and still jogging I poured some milk into a sippy cup and trying to speed the process up I held the refrigerator door open with my foot and slid the milk in and handed the cup to my little boy. Then continuing on doing a punch here and a jumping jack there I eventually ended up on the floor doing leg raises all the while flipping over the letters that belonged to a puzzle my little boy was working on. While in the middle of doing all of this the songs popped back into my head and I chuckled - Oh the multi-tasking of a mother...do we really even need to work out? Sometimes I don't think so.

Hope you enjoy these funny and relatable songs by Hillary Weeks:

Scripture Mastery Songs

One of my friends posted a comment about how her family has been memorizing scripture mastery verses and I thought it was a great idea. It reminded me of these great scripture mastery songs that an LDS seminary teacher wrote especially for use in the seminary classroom. However, they can also be great tools for all of us and are free to download at this link - LDS Scripture Mastery Songs. A lot of them are really catchy and many are sung to common tunes. Hope you enjoy!

Operation NICE

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

So my sister pointed me in the direction of this blog. It is filled with experiences of others' acts of kindness as well as assignments to do specific NICE things. I really enjoyed the site and thought I would share it here---->Operation NICE

I also like the kindness corner at one of my favorite websites, Sugardoodle.com---> Kindness Corner.

Reading these sites made me think of this thought provoking hymn - Have I Done Any Good?

1. Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed. Has anyone’s burden been lighter today Because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus] Then wake up and do something more Than dream of your mansion above. Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, A blessing of duty and love.

2. There are chances for work all around just now, Opportunities right in our way. Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,” But go and do something today.’ Tis noble of man to work and to give; Love’s labor has merit alone. Only he who does something helps others to live. To God each good work will be known.

[Chorus] Then wake up and do something more Than dream of your mansion above. Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, A blessing of duty and love.

Text and music: Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909, alt.

There are opportunities right in our way so let's wake up and do something more - let's go and do something today.

Are we Christians?

Elder Holland
But even as we invite one and all to examine closely the marvel of it, there is one thing we would not like anyone to wonder about—that is whether or not we are “Christians.”

2 Nephi 25:23,26
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ...and we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ.

This talk by Elder Holland perfectly expresses

our love for the Savior and our belief in Him.

The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I Believe in Christ

What a perfect song to express our belief and testimony in the Savior.

I do believe in Christ. I know that He is our Savior and our Redeemer. I know that He is the Son of God. He is our perfect example and He is the only Way to follow. He is at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and we worship Him as well as the Father. We are Christians.

Praise to the Man - Joseph Smith

I chose this song this week because on Monday our family had the opportunity to go to the Church History Museum. We had a good experience there. I especially felt the Spirit as I was looking at some of Joseph Smith's belongings. I felt the Spirit witness to me that the Prophet Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God and that he did see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. He did restore the Gospel to the earth and he did translate the Book of Mormon. I know this to be true.

Praise to the Man

There may be some misconceptions that we worship the Prophet Joseph Smith. However, we praise and honor him for restoring the Gospel to the earth and we have gratitude toward him for the many hardships and afflictions he had to face in order to do so but we worship our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Click here to read the Joseph Smith - History
Click here to enter the Joseph Smith Site

Elder Ballard answers the question:
Do you worship Jesus Christ in your Sunday services?

Elder Ballard answers the questions:
Was Joseph Smith a prophet? Are prophets necessary today?

I am Like a Star

What a wonderful and simple song this is.

We need to let our light shine and be examples to all those around us.

I am like a star shining brightly,

Smiling for the whole world to see.

I can do and say happy things each day,

For I know Heav’nly Father loves me.
Words and music: Patricia Kelsey Graham, b. 1940. © 1981 IRI

Matthew 5:14-16

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a

candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Come Thou Fount

I'm Trying to Be like Jesus

We had a Family Home Evening lesson on this song last night.

It was a good reminder to always be striving to be more like Jesus.

Apostle Song

Here is a video of the First Presidency and the Apostles.

Our little boy just loves this video.

It is a great way to help children and/or adults

learn who the Apostles and Prophets are. Enjoy!