Relief Society Lesson -- Covenants

Here's a list of my overheads from my lesson today.

Covenants

Russell M. Nelson

Of the Quorum of the 12 apostles

October 2011 General Conference

One of the most important concepts of revealed religion is that of a sacred covenant.

A covenant is a sacred promise with God.

Abrahamic Covenant

Jesus the Christ would be born through Abraham’s lineage.

Abraham’s posterity would be numerous, entitled to an eternal increase, and also entitled to bear the priesthood.

Abraham would become a father of many nations.

Certain lands would be inherited by his posterity.

All nations of the earth would be blessed by his seed.

And that covenant would be everlasting-even through “a thousand generations.”

Children of the covenant have the right to receive His doctrine and to know the plan of salvation.

They claim it by making covenants of sacred significance.

They keep the covenant by obedience to His commandments.

The greatest compliment that can be earned here in this life is to be known as a covenant keeper.

Upcoming Idol Eyez Public Shows

Michael mentioned that his band, Idol eyez, is playing the Bellevue Fourth of July shindig again this year. (Juliet said it was really fun last year)  So, since we are thinking about going to it, I decided to look up some information about it.

While I was on the Idol eyez band website I noticed that they are also playing the Bellevue city Live At Lunch again this year also. The only time I've seen Idol eyez was at last year's live at lunch in Bellevue.  (it was really fun with our entire family there) 

If any of you are interested in attending either of these two shows, here are the details:

Bellevue Family Fourth
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
6:45 PM-8:15 PM (according to the band’s website) http://www.idoleyezband.com
Downtown Park in Bellevue

for more information click on the link below
http://www.bellevuedowntown.org/events/familyfourth/schedule.html

Live at Lunch
Thursday, August 23, 2012
12 noon-1:30 PM
Bellevue Galleria

for more information click on link below
http://www.bellevuedowntown.org/events/liveatlunch/liveatlunchschedule.htm

Preserve Marriage Washington

As most of you know, I volunteered to circulate a petition for Preserve Marriage Washington. So that we will at least have the opportunity to let the people vote on such an important matter as same-sex marriage.

As you know, Gov. Gregoire recently passed a same-sex marriage law here in Washington. Without the people’s vote. I’m pleased to say that we had enough signatures to get on the ballot this November. Here is part of a letter I received via e-mail today.

Dear Washington Marriage Champion,

Preserve Marriage Washington and Referendum – 74 has been officially certified to this fall’s ballot! Thank you to all the volunteers across the state that made this possible.

Great job Washington. Preserve Marriage Washington handed in 247,311 signatures on your behalf last Wednesday – a record number and more than twice the required amount – and today the Secretary of State completed their review. PMW extends its thanks and appreciation to the Elections Division for their professional, thorough, and timely work.

But now is not the time to rest.

Visit www.PreserveMarriageWashington.com to sign up as a volunteer (you will be connected to a local grassroots leader to get plugged in),

Thank you to all who signed my petition. If any of you would like to help in the future in this endeavor, go to their website listed above.  And don't forget to vote in November!

That's my two cents.

Seems Logical to Me

I read this article a couple days ago and thought it was blog worthy. I’m just going to include the first few paragraphs of the article. If you’d like to read it in its entirety you can go to Deseret news.com and find it.

Studies challenge widely held assumptions about same-sex parenting

By Lois M. Collins, Deseret News
Published: Saturday, June 9 2012 10:01 p.m. MDT

The oft-cited assertion that there are "no differences" in outcomes between children of same-sex parent households and those of intact biological families may not be accurate, according to a new study published Sunday in the journal Social Science Research.

Adult children of parents who have been in same-sex relationships are different than children raised in intact biological families on a number of social, emotional and relationship measures, according to research from the University of Texas at Austin.

Among other things, they reported lower income levels, poorer mental and physical health and more troubled current romantic relationships. The study found 25 differences across 40 measures. The research does not address why the differences exist.

The article explains that it did not study why these differences exist. Only that they do. It seems pretty logical to me, and it should to any person with a working brain, that the reason that children of same-sex couples don’t fare as well as children in intact nuclear families is because they are deviating from the plan of Heavenly Father.

The world (Satan) will try to tell you that it doesn’t matter. But obviously it does. Scientific research doesn’t lie. In fact, the researchers conducting the study said they weren’t looking to aid any particular political party or group. They just wanted to find the facts.

Interestingly, children from stepfamilies and even single parent families tended to fare better in all areas than children of same-sex parents. To me this is completely logical. It just proves that the closer you follow God’s plan the happier, better off you will be in all areas. Emotionally, psychologically, physically, socially, spiritually.

That’s my two cents.

Never a Dull Moment

There’s never a dull moment with Dad behind the wheel. Whether it’s going through the drive-through at a fast food restaurant, or trying to get to an unfamiliar location on time, or whatever it may be. There are countless stories that could be told. Here’s the most recent one.

We were driving to the courthouse in Kent to witness Kylee’s adoption. Dad was driving, Lisa was in the passenger seat and Mom was sitting behind me on the bench seat. We found the courthouse okay but parking was another story (thankfully we got there 15 minutes early). We went to the parking structure, as instructed, drove to all levels only to find that there were no available parking spaces.

So we decided we better drop Mom off at the front of the courthouse and go find parking elsewhere. We drove around to the front of the courthouse only to discover that there was no loading/unloading zone. So we had to just stop in the middle of a busy street. Thankfully, there was a red light that was holding traffic back. But time was of the essence. So, mom tried to exit as quickly as she could. As soon as she got out, Dad shifted into gear and started driving off. The van door was only halfway closed. One thing about our van is the door has to be completely shut before you start moving or it will open up all the way again. Which is exactly what happened.

It just so happened that we had gone shopping at Sam’s Club on our way to the courthouse and had a watermelon on the floor. Well, you can imagine what happened next. Yep, the watermelon rolled out of the van and started rolling down the street.

As this is all unfolding, Lisa was yelling at Dad that the door was open and the watermelon was going to fall out. Then she said, “the watermelon fell out! It’s rolling down the street!” So Dad stops the van. Lisa jumps out running in her dress and heels down the sidewalk in front of the courthouse to retrieve the watermelon rolling down the street. All this time Mom is watching everything unfold and just shaking her head.

Lisa grabbed the watermelon and ran back to the van. Shut the door and we took off again. Laughing our heads off! Luckily, the watermelon only had a small crack in it J . We found overflow parking at the events center and still made it to the courthouse on time. These are the kind of adventures you have when riding with Dad in a vehicle.

Kylee's Adoption Finalization

Today was a special day for our family. Little Miss Kylee Jane officially became part of our family.

Her adoption was finalized at the Kent, Washington courthouse. I was lucky enough to be able to be present for this important occasion. Along with Mom, Dad, and Lisa.

Now we are excited that little Kylee will be able to receive her name and blessing in church. And also be sealed to her family now in the Temple.

I had more pictures selected to put on this blog but it kept freezing up and I had to keep starting over. So I'm lucky to get this many on.