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lds-yw-digest           Friday, May 29 1998           Volume 01 : Number 088




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Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 02:39:21 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (lds-yw) Waiting To Get Endowed

Ask your Bishop if he is planning a Temple Preparedness Class soon.  It
usually runs at the same time as Gospel Doctrine on Sunday and has 8 or 12
lessons.  Talk to your Bishop about the Temple ordinances.  There is much that
is not to be talked about outside the Temple.  But he should be able to tell
you basic information.  There is also a great book by Boyd K. Packer called
The Holy Temple that explains a lot about the purpose of the ordinances.
There is a booklet that goes with the class series that your Bishop may be
able to get if he can't set up the class series.     Just understand that a
lot of what you learn will happen inside the Temple itself, and that is the
way it is intended.  That is so that the Spirit can teach you.  Be humble and
teachable.  It will be beautiful and overwhelming!

Misty in Hollister

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 02:45:52 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (lds-yw) My Value Files

Could you please send me your C&A files too?  Thanks SOOO much.

Cheryl
Sherwood,OR

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 04:36:07 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (lds-yw) Waiting To Get Endowed

I agree... the scriptures with emphasis on Moses...

But let me tell you about the SECOND best book about the Temple (after the
scriptures). It is one of my favorite books... by my ALL - TIME favorite
speaker at Educ. Week. It is House of Glory by Michael S. Wilcox. It is
wonderful & is exciting to read. Wish I had had it years ago... You'll learn
so much. Trust me. It made me sooooo appreciate the Temple all the more and
was instrumental in me "catching the vision" of what a tremendous blessing
Temples are on SO MANY LEVELS!
Read it. Today. You'll be glad you did. I promise. (This goes for ALL of you
out there... give yourself a gift & go buy it for yourself... you deserve it!
▄ How's that for a commercial?!?)

Stacey

P.S. That parable of the keys that I've seen floating around on this list....
it's from this book!

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 04:40:06 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: FW: (lds-yw) Father's Day Ideas

In a message dated 98-05-28 17:56:55 EDT, you write:

<< I
 have a truffle poem I have used at Christmas if anyone is interested I will
 post it to the list. >>

I'd love it ▄ Thanks!!!

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 08:04:20 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (lds-yw) I need a story

In a message dated 98-05-28 14:51:09 EDT, you write:

<<
 A few days ago someone posted a story about judging people by their
 appearance.  It was about a young man who had long hair and did not
 dress very well and a bishop who dressed very nicely.  Does anyone
 remember the story?  Could you re-post it or send it to me directly at
 [e-mail] >>

Is this the story you were looking for?

HIS NAME IS JOHN
His name is John. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it,
jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four
years of college. He is brilliant. Kinda esoteric and very, very
bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative
church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not
sure how to go about it. One day John decides to go there. He walks in
with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has
already started and so John starts down the aisle looking for a seat.
The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people
are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. John gets
closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there
are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although
perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this
had never happened in this church before!) By now the people are really
uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the
church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward John. Now the deacon
is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, a three-piece suit, and a
pocket watch. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly.
He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone
is saying to themselves, "You can't blame him for what he's going to
do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to
understand some college kid on the floor?"

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is
utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are
focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The people are
thinking, "The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon
does what he has to do." And now they see this elderly man drop his
cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits
down next to John and worships with him so he won't be alone. Everyone
chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control he says, "What
I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen,
you will never forget.
Author unknown

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 08:15:47 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (lds-yw) Father's Day Ideas

In a message dated 05/28/98 12:36:17 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
[e-mail] writes:

<< How can camp cost only $5?  Don't they eat?? >>
We have 30 girls.  Camp costs are figured in the budget.  Last year we used
any leftover  $ in the budget and prepaid camp for the next year.  We charge
the girls $5 to cover gas and mostly to get a committment from them that they
will attend.

I know (in our stake at least), the wards budget for the next year is
calculated based on Sacrament meeting attendance for the year.  So now there
is another reason to attend sacrament meeting (hee hee).

Christine

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 11:13:59 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: (lds-yw) YW Files Individual Worth (2 of  4)

BTW, one thing that always comes to my mind on Divine Nature is something I
heard John Bytheway say - and I don't know how you'd display it, but it's a
neat idea. He talked about people who have done their genealogy back for
generations and generations and have a pedigree chart as long as they are
tall. Then he held up an index card and said our spiritual genealogy fits on
the card. It starts with our name and only has Heavenly Father and Heavenly
Mother. That's where we get divine nature.

~~" Each of us comes into this world separately, one by one. This is not an
accident. I think it's the Lord's way of reminding us of the infinite worth of
each soul."

Dwan. J. Young  (May 1982 Ensign, page 93)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPENCER W. KIMBALL LEARNS FROM A FRIEND

Harold B. Lee and Spencer W. Kimball had much in common and were close
friends.  Elder Kimball followed Elder Lee in joining the Quorum of Twelve
Apostles, so they were always next to each other in seating and in seniority,
which helped develop the kinship.  They even shared the same birthday; Elder
Kimball was actually four years older than Elder Lee, but had great respect
for the man who was his senior in the Quorum.

The following story was told by Sister Norma B. Ashton, wife of Elder Marvin
J. Ashton:

"President Kimball said he always admired this friend so very much; in fact,
he almost envied President Lee for his talents.  He took every occasion to
tell Elder Lee how he felt.  Often he would say, 'Harold, I wish I could play
the organ as you do.'  'Harold, you speak so well.  I wish I could do as
well.'  'Harold, you can see the gist of a problem in such a short time.  I
wish my mind were so clear.'  Then, related President Kimball, in one of their
weekly meetings in the temple President Lee made a fine presentation to the
other members of the Twelve.  As they walked out of the temple together, again
President Kimball turned to his friend and said, 'You did a magnificent job
with your report this morning. I wish I could do as well as you do.'  'Well,'
said President Kimball with a twinkle in his eyes, 'I guess Harold had had
enough.  He stopped, put his hands on his hips, and, looking me straight in
the eye, said, 'Spencer, the Lord doesn't want you to be a Harold B. Lee.  All
he wants is for you to be the best Spencer W. Kimball you can be.'  With a
smile on his face, President Kimball said, 'Ever since then I have just tried
to be
the best Spencer W. Kimball I can be.'  And would you say that he has been
very successful doing that?  That is an answer for all of us.  All the Lord
asks of us is to be the best we can be with what we have."

("For Such a Time as This", talk at BYU Women's Conference; reprinted in
_Woman to Woman_ (Deseret, 1986), pp. 16-17)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     In these days directly ahead of you is the decisive decision.  Are you
going to yield to the easy urge to follow the crowd, or are you going to raise
your head above the crowd and let them follow you?  Are you going to slip off
into the mediocrity, or are you going to rise to the heights which your
Heavenly Father set for you?  You could stand above the crowd and become a
leader among your people so that some day they would call your name blessed,
or you can follow the usual demands and urges and desires and
lose yourself in the herd of millions of folks who do not rise to their
potential.  The decision is yours and yours only.  No one else can fashion and
order your life.  We, your friends, can suggest and encourage and help you,
but you are now in these months and this year or two setting the bounds and
the limitations on your life.

(The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 147)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PERSONAL RADIATION

     There is one responsibility which no man can evade; that responsibility
is his personal influence.  Man's unconscious influence is the silent, subtle
radiation of his personality - the effect of his words and his acts on others.
This radiation is tremendous.  Every moment of life man is changing, to a
degree, the life of the whole world.
     Every man has an atmosphere, which is affecting every other man.  He
cannot escape for one moment from this radiation of his character, this
constant weakening or strengthening of others.  Man cannot evade the
responsibility by merely saying that it is an unconscious influence.  Man can
select the qualities he would permit to be addicted.  He can cultivate
sweetness, calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility, and
make them vitally active in his character.  And by these qualities he will
constantly affect the world.  This radiation, to which I refer, comes from
what a person really is, not from what he pretends to be.  Every man by his
mere living is radiating either sympathy, sorrow, morbidness, cynicism, or
happiness and hope - or any one of a hundred other qualities.
     Life is a state of radiation and absorption.  To exist is to radiate to
exist is to be the recipient of radiation.

(Pres. David O. McKay: BYU address, April 27, 1948.  Printed in Church
News, May 16, 1948)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Who? Mx?

     Xvxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl,
     It works quitx wxll, xxcxpt for onx of thx kxys
     Thxrx arx forty-onx kxys that function, but
     Just onx kxy not working makxs thx diffxrxncx.
     Somxtimxs it sxxms that a Branch is
     Likx my typxwritxr--that not all thx kxy
     Pxoplx arx working propxrly.

     You may say, "Wxll, I am only onx pxrson:
     I don't makx or brxak a Branch."
     But a succxssful Branch, to bx xffxctivx,
     Rxquirxs thx activx participation of xvxry mxmbxr.
     So thx nxxt timx you think your xfforts arx not
     Nxxdxd, rxmxmbxr my old typxwritxr and say to
     Yoursxlf, "I am a vxry kxy pxrson in our Branch,
     And I am nxxdxd vxry much!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Self We Want To Be

If we but shape our destiny,
We can become the self we want to be,
Not driven by whim, nor base desire,
But by the inner soul's Celestial fire.

For there lies within our inner spirit,
A still small voice, if we'll but hear it.
Its purpose is to guide aright,
To bless with wisdom truth, and light.

We dull that voice by sinful ways,
By pride of heart and worldly praise,
By seeking pleasures of the flesh,
Entwining our souls in Satan's mesh.

We tune our inner souls to God
by holding to the Iron Rod
And as we sorrow much for sin,
Behold, the voice of God beams in

To gently lead us with His sheep,
To green pastures and peaceful sleep,
Where all may learn His saving grace.
And meet our Savior face to face.

What joy, what joy will then be ours,
When we are freed from Satan's powers
To shape our lives eternally
Toward God's highest destiny.

James H. Lee Heart Thoughts by Jim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesus knows that His kingdom will triumph, and He wants you to triumph with
it. He knows in advance every strategy the enemy will use against you and the
kingdom. He knows your weaknesses and He knows your strengths. By personal
revelation you may discover some of your strengths through a careful and
prayerful study of your
patriarchal blessing. In prayer you can ask Him to reveal to you your
weaknesses so that you can amend your life. ("In His Steps," Church
Educational System Devotional, Anaheim, California, 8 February
1987.)--Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.214
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Certainly what we are is more important than what we have or what is said of
us.
Marvin J. Ashton (May 1979 Ensign, page 68)
Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is
the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.
Thomas S. Monson  (May 1987 Ensign, page 68)
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we
are powerful beyond measure.  It is our Light, not our darkness, that most
frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?  Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel
insecure around you...

As we let our Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do
the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically
liberates others."

- -- Nelson Mandela
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"MYSELF"
by Edgar A. Guest

I have to live with myself, and so
I want to be fit for myself to know;
I want to be able as days go by
Always to look myself straight in the eye;
I don't want to stand with the setting sun
And hate myself for the things I've done.

I don't want to keep on a closet shelf
A lot of secrets about myself,
And fool myself as I come and go
Into thinking that nobody else will know
The kind of a man I really am;
I don't want to dress myself up in sham.

I want to go out with my head erect,
I want to deserve all men's respect;
But here in the struggle for fame and pelf,
I want to be able to like myself.
I don't want to think as I come and go
That I'm bluster and bluff and empty show.

I never can hide myself from me,
I see what others may never see,
I know what others may never know,
I never can fool myself --- and so,
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self-respecting and conscience free.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we mature spiritually under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, our sense of
personal worth, of belonging, and of identity increases.
James E. Faust  (May 1989 Ensign, page 33)


I think one thing that's important is to explain the difference between
Individual Worth and Divine Nature.  That's something we just had to do
because the girls were so confused about it.  I brought two sisters up and
explained that they came from the same parents, therefore they both share the
same genes and have some of the same characteristics of their parents.  It's
nothing they have control over, they inherit those genes as they are born.
They may have their mom's nose, their dad's funny big toe, or their mother's
sense of humor, etc. We talked about this for a minute and explained their
Divine Nature.  For Individual Worth I talked about how these sisters shared
the same genes, but each had their own individual talents and abilities.  They
were completely different from each other, in every sense of the word. That's
what our individual worth is about.  We are all daughters of our Father in
Heaven and have inherited His divine qualities, but we each have our own
individual things that set us each apart.


"Piece By Piece, We Work Together"
by Debbie Anderson (1985)

"What are we?" said the pieces, observing around
The patches of red and of blue.
"Just old scraps thrown in, with nothing profound
Sitting here with nothing to do."

Then in came the hands of the seamstress,
Searching the box to find
The hues of red here, blue scattered there,
And needing some to combine.

Up from the bottom sweetly waiting,
Came the little brown patch so fair.
All her life never anticipating
That "she" had something to share!

The patch didn't see what the seamstress knew,
That each piece played it's own part
To combine with the others and become the whole,
Softly covering and warming the heart.

So like in a box we pieces all sit,
Thinking how we are very alone,
Then the hand of the master arranges the fit
His marvelous work to be shown.

If we work together and arrange by his hand,
The finished product will be
The beautiful child by his gentle command,
Seeking the Lord eternally.

~~~~
My Son
The upstate NY man was rich in almost every way. His estate was worth
millions. He owned houses, land, antiques and cattle. But though on the
outside he had it all, he was very unhappy on the inside. His wife was growing
old, and the couple was childless. He had always wanted a little boy to carry
on the family legacy. Miraculously, his wife became pregnant in her later
years, and she gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped,
but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the boy was five, his mom
died. The dad drew closer to his special son. At age 13, the boy's birth
defects cost him his life and the father died soon after from a broken heart.
The estate was auctioned before hundreds of bidders. The first item offered
was a painting of the boy. No one bid. They waited like vultures for the
riches. Finally, the poor housemaid, who helped raise the boy, offered $5 for
the picture and easily took the bid. To every-one's shock, the auctioneer
ripped a hand written will from the back of the picture. This is what it said:
"To the person who thinks enough of my son to buy this painting, to this
person I give my entire estate." The auction was over. The greedy crowd walked
away in shock and dismay. How many of us have sought after what we thought
were true riches only to find out later that our Father was prepared to give
us His entire estate if we had only sought after His Son alone? (Shared by
Duane E. Berry)


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Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 11:13:52 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: (lds-yw) YW Files: Individual Worth (1 of 4)

Individual Worth: Thoughts & Stories

Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a
family with eighteen children.  Eighteen!  In order merely to keep food on the
table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by
profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other
paying chore he could find in the neighborhood.

Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder's
children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but
they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send
either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.

After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys
finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down
into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he
attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed  his
studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the  academy,
either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by
laboring in  the mines.

They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church.  Albrecht Durer won  the
toss and went off to Nuremberg.  Albert went down into the dangerous  mines
and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy
was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his
oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he
graduated, he was beginning to earn
considerable fees for his commissioned works.

When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive
dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant  homecoming. After a
long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose
from his honored position at the head of the table to drink  a toast to his
beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to
fulfill his ambition.  His closing words were, "And now,
Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn.  Now you can go to
Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you."

All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert
sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head  from side
to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, "No...no ...no ...no."

Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks.  He glanced  down
the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close  to
his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is
too late for me.  Look ... look what four years in the mines have done to my
hands!  The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and  lately
I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand  that I cannot
even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make
delicate  lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother ...
for me it
is too late."

 More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of
masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors,  charcoals,
woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but
the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of
Albrecht Durer's works.  More than merely being familiar with it, you  very
well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.

One day, to pay  homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht
Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and
thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply
"Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his
great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands."

 The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second  look.
Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one, no one, ever
makes it alone!

             -Author unknown

Here's the Ind. Worth Index and story the Pam requested:


If you can get hold of a June 1995 Ensign check out the article "Our Divinely
Based Worth" by Barbara Day Lockhart.  It is a great article about worth being
something that you have and don't have to earn.  I used it to teach the YW
about individual worth.

I had a class at BYU with Dr. Lockhart where most of the class could not
accept this concept.  We spent the better part of a week discussing it and
still most of the students felt that they had to "do" something to have worth.

She has also developed a "Worth Index" that allows a person to see where they
feel their worth comes from.  My YW enjoyed doing the index and learning more
about themselves.  If anyone would like a copy of this I could send it at a
Word Perfect attachment.  (Carol, I am in Provo if you want to get a copy from
me, privatly e-mail me you phone number and I can get it to you).
~

I thought I would share a success story with you.  I few weeks ago I was
sustained as the second counselor.  One of my initial objectives was to do
something to bring more unity to the YW of our ward.  The released Presidency
had not been holding combined activities with all the YW in our ward.  We have
about 50 YW.  As a new counselor, I wanted to get to know more than just the
Beehives, so I talked our new Presidency into having a combined activity once
a month.  I volunteered to be in charge of the first one.  We decided that we
would focus on our value of the month at our combined activity.  We also have
a guest speaker every fast Sunday that focuses on the value of the month.

    Our value for May was Individual Worth.  I combined several ideas from the
list plus a couple of my own for this activity.

    First, we did the "Caring Cans" activity.  This is where each girl and
leader gets a #10 can to decorate for someone else.  This took the most work.
Our President's husband works at a hospital and he had the food services at
the hospital save cans for us.  I washed the cans.  Then I figured out a list
of who each person would give to.  This was the hardest part.  I wanted the
girls to each give to someone other than their best friends.  On the Sunday
before our activity, I had the cans for each class in a large garbage bag.
Each can had a letter of explanation and the name of the giver and the
recipient attached to it.  I gave the bags of cans to the class presidents and
they handed them out at the end of YW.  Also, I had a couple of sample cans
made to give the girls some ideas.  The Presidency took the cans around to the
girls and leaders who were not there on Sunday.

    For the activity:

    We used the Primary room.  I made a paper for each girl with her name on
it, the value statement for Individual Worth and a cute clip art.  These were
printed on bright paper.  We taped them around the room.  As the girls came in
we handed each of them a pencil and had them autograph the papers of all the
girls.  We had a banquet table for all the cans to be placed on.

    After everyone came, we started our activity with the story of the
Carpenters Tools Conference.  We had a "grandmother" who all the girls love do
the story.  She was so funny.  She made up a different voice for each tool.
The girls loved it.

    Then I talked about how all of us are important and unique in Heavenly
Father's kingdom.  We each have an important mission to fulfill.  If we look
for the good in others it will help us all to build up the kingdom.   Then we
all sat on the floor in a circle (leaders too).  I had a big ball of yarn.  I
said that we were all going to think of something nice to say about someone
else in the circle then throw the ball to them.  The only rule was that you
had to pick someone who wasn't your best friend.  This was so nice.  It seemed
like the girls with more self-confidence were so good about picking some of
the shy or troubled girls.  The only problem with this activity was that
someone had to be the last one picked.  But luckily it was most of the leaders
who were chosen last.

    After all the girls were connected in a web of yarn, I talked to the girls
about the destructiveness of evil speaking and gossip.  We talked about how
good we felt when someone said something nice about us.  Then we talked about
how hurtful gossip is and I started to cut strands of the yarn.  I talked to
them about how even one girl can ruin the unity of the entire ward by saying
mean things.

    Then we had our YW President read the book "You Are Special" by Max
Lucado.  If you haven't seen this book look for it at your local bookstore.
It is published by Crossway Books.  It is not an LDS book, but has a very
profound message about the labels that others give us.  It's message is that
God does not give us labels and our only real sense of our worth comes as we
develop a relationship with him.  The book is a child's picture book and takes
under 10 minutes to read.

    Then we let the girls hand out their cans.  The cans were so cute.  Each
one was so different and this reinforced our idea of appreciating other's
differences.  We only had 2 girls out of 50 who didn't come through and bring
a can.  As a Presidency, we had made extras in case of an emergency.  If I did
this again, though, I would have someone checking off the cans as they come in
so you would know ahead of time who won't have one.  Then you could get their
name on the extra cans and they would never know that their person didn't make
one for them.

    For refreshments, we had different kinds of popcorn.  The girls finished
autographing while they ate their popcorn.  Each girl put their autographed
list in their can and took them home.  The cans will stay on their front porch
for a month.  Then we can all leave goodies for each other.  Now I just hope
they follow through and no one feels left out because they don't get much in
their can.

    I had many girls tell me how much they liked this activity.  It was a lot
of work for me but I feel like every minute of the preparation was worth it.

CONFERENCE OF THE CARPENTERS TOOLS
One day the carpenter's tools had a conference.  Brother Hammer was in the
chair.  Upon bringing the meeting to order, he said that he understood that
there were
complaints among his fellow tools and he thought it would be good to discuss
it openly
together.  "Yes, Brother Saw, what is your complaint?"  Brother Saw stood up
and said
"It's that little Bro. Pencil.  He gets on everyone's nerves, he is so small.
He can't
be found when he's needed and when he's doing service, he is so blunt at times
that he makes very bad impressions.  He certainly needs to be sharpened up a
bit around here if he expects to be of any use", fumed Brother Saw.  Little
Brother Pencil slowly rose to his feet and said "All right, perhaps I am a
little blunt at times.  It's only when I spend too long a time in service that
I'm like that but at least I'm not like Brother Drill and his family of small
bits.  They are always going around in circles and really, Bro. Drill seems
just a bit boring."

Brother  Drill and his family of small bits stood up and replied, "Yes, I know
we have
reputation for going in circles but at least we are not like Bro. Plane.  You
really have to
push him to get him to do anything at all.  And then all of his work is on the
surface.   There certainly is no depth to his work like there is to ours."

All eyes turned to Bro. Plane to see what he would say.  Quickly Bro. Plane
spoke up.
"Brothers, I guess I'm not the only one around here that has to be pushed to
do anything
or that has no depth to his service.  Brother Sandpaper is worse than I am."
Brother
Sandpaper was somewhat new in their midst.  "Besides, look how rough he is.  I
just can't stand being next to him.  He just rubs me the wrong way.  How he
could
accomplish any good in his service being so rough, I'll never know."

That remark made Brother Sandpaper really angry.  "Brother Plane is just
jealous, that's
all!  And while everyone is complaining, I'd like to complain about Brother
Rule.  He
makes me grit my teeth always measuring others by his standards as though he's
the only one who is right around here.  How about Bro. Level?  He is so
exacting!  And
there's Brother Compass and Brother Tape Measure and that Brother Punch
doesn't finish what he starts most of the time."
Well, the tools were really getting hot.  Their tempers were flaring.  All
seemed to have
legitimate complaints against one another, but just then, when some were even
getting ready to walk out of the carpenters hall, some thinking that they were
not
useful or needed, why who should walk in but the Master Carpenter from
Nazareth.  He had come to perform his work for the day.  His Father had asked
him to build a house
that they could both dwell in and he was now almost finished with it.  He put
his work
clothes on and started to finish the work his Father had given him to do.  He
used every
tool.  Now someone else appeared on the scene.  It was the carpenter's Father.
How
thrilled and pleased He was to see what His Son had accomplished.  "How did
you do it
my Son?  asked the Father.  "I put to good use all of the tools that I bought
and how I
love every  one of them.  I paid a high price for them Father, but they are
well worth it.
See the hammer over there?  He is so useful for both the work of tearing down
and
building up.  He is very effective in service because he really hits the nail
on the head.
He's a very solid worker, I must say. Then there is the saw.  He's really
pretty sharp and really puts his teeth into the work, constantly going back
and forth in one area at a time for very effective service.  I certainly am
happy to have my pencil.  Although he's not very big and I have to sharpen him
from time to time, just like some of the other tools, he is very useful in the
correcting and marking work.

Father, here is another tool I just couldn't be without.  Big drill and these
small bits of his family.  They are all so good at reaching deep into the
heart and are always leaving the way open for additional work.  And just look
at this plane.  He is so handy to
have around in service.  He's such a smooth worker and doesn't bite off more
than he can handle at one time.  He certainly is good at overcoming obstacles
as well.  And do you see Brother
Level over there?  He has a good eye for balance and is very levelheaded.  And
although
little Bro. Punch is very small, with the assistance of Brother Hammer, he
does an
excellent job of driving his point home.  Although Brother Tape Measure is
small in size
he is always extending himself to meet various circumstances and like Brother
Rule are
accurate in their statements.  Even my new tools like Brother Sandpaper, I
wouldn't want
to do without him.  Although there is a certain roughness, he will wind up
with smooth
results.  So you see Father, it is because of having all these variety of
tools that I'm
thankful and with their service I will finish your house.  Let me show you
around the rest of the building."

Well, upon their leaving, all of the carpenters tools started rejoicing
because of hearing the commendations of the Master and seeing how pleased his
Father was with what
they all had accomplished together.   Brother Hammer now again rose in the
midst and said "Brothers, I perceive that all of us are needed.  For although
we all may have our weak points at times, and we do not do things exactly the
way others think we should, whether we are old or new, large or small, we are
all important tools in the hands of the Master Carpenter."
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Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 11:14:12 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: (lds-yw) YW Files: Individual Worth (4 of 4)

I have 3 thoughts on Individual Worth.  They are all author Unknown so I hope
they are not copyrighted.

1.   The Littlest Screw
There was once upon a time a village that was beautiful and well kept.  The
people were very proud of their village and loyal citizens.  They held a
meeting one day to decide what type of monument could be erected on the town
square -- a final touch -- something both useful and lovely.  They thought for
sometime and finally decided to erect a beautiful, impressive clock.

They sent for the best materials -- for they wanted the finest clock they
could have.  The materials needed should be able to stand all kinds of weather
and not tarnish, rust, or warp -- the very finest of clock makers was brought
to the town to do the work.

Finally, it was finished and all the people came to see the clock and as each
went around the clock looking at the exquisite workmanship, they each
commented on the huge, impressiveness of the main spring that made the clock
run.  And each time something was said about the big spring a little screw
located just above the spring wiggled and twisted and in envy said, "I'm not
important, I'm not needed.  No one notices me."  The day went on and more and
more people came to see the clock and over and over again the little screw
would comment and wiggle and twist and feel very much unnecessary and unhappy.
Toward the end of the day just as the last few people were viewing the clock,
someone made a remark about the main spring.  And it was the last straw for
the little screw-- it gave a twist and jerk and came right out of its place
and as it fell to the base of the clock said, "No one notices me -- I'm not
important."  But when the screw came out, the big main spring also fell our of
place.  You see, the whole clockwork
depended on the little screw.

2.  My Mother Says
My Mother says she doesn't care
About the color of my hair
Or if my eyes are blue or brown
Or if my nose turns up or down
My Mother says these things don't matter.

My Mother says she doesn't care,
If I'm, dark or if I'm, fair
If I'm thin or if I'm fat
She doesn't' fret o'er things like that
She says these things don't really matter.

But if I cheat or tell a lie
Or do mean things to make folks cry,
Or if I'm rude or impolite,
And these things really matter.

It isn't looks that make one great
It's character that seals our fate.
It's what's within our hearts you see
That makes or mars our destiny
And that's what really matters.

3. Curriculum Fable
One time the animals had a school.  The curriculum consisted of running,
climbing, flying, and swimming, and all of the animals took all of the
subjects.

The duck was good in swimming.  Better, in fact, than his instructors;  and he
made passing grades in flying but was practically hopeless in running.
Because he was low in this subject, he was made to stay in after school and
drop his swimming class in order to practice running.  He kept this up until
he was only average in swimming.  But average is acceptable, so nobody worried
about that.  Except the duck.

The eagle was considered a problem pupil and was disciplined severely.  He
beat all the others to the top of the tree in the climbing class, but he had
used his own way of getting there.

The rabbit started out at the top of the class in running, but he had a
nervous breakdown and had to drop out of school on account of so much made-up
work in swimming.

The squirrel led the climbing class, but his flying teacher made him start his
flying lessons from the ground up instead of the top of the tree down, and he
developed charley horses from over-exertion at the take off and began getting
C's in climbing, D's in running.

The practical prairie dogs apprenticed their off-spring to a badger when the
school authorities refused to add digging to the curriculum.

At the end of the year an abnormal eel that could swim well, and run, climb,
and fly a little, was made Valedictorian.

Source Unknown.

INDIVIDUAL WORTH
When you understand your worth as a daughter of God, you will have a greater
desire to turn your weaknesses into strengths and radiate the light of Christ.

You are Special
I found a book called "You Are Special" by Max Lucado.  It is a story about a
man named Eli who made puppets.  All that the puppets do all day is put
stickers on each other.  There were two types of stickers, stars and gray
dots.  Stars were given to the puppets who had smooth wood or were talented.
Gray dots were given to those who could do little.  Punchinello was ashamed
because all he ever got was gray dots.  One day he meets Lucia and finds out
why she has no stickers at all.  He learned that she visits
her maker every day and that the reason why the stickers don't stick to her is
because they don't matter to her.  What matters is what her maker thinks.

I plan to read this story to the YW.  I bought my book at Border's Books but
I'm sure you could get it at any bookstore.  I plan to put stickers on the
girls during opening exercises.  Smiley stickers for the girls who lead the
music etc.  Stickers that have X's for those that come late, etc.  Then I plan
to read the story and talk about how it is important to improve our
relationship with Heavenly Father.    Mary Ann in Texas


Sisters,
This letter is long, but if any of you are giving a lesson or doing an
activity on "Individual Worth" this might be worth reading.  Last week I
posted information about
 on individual worth activity that we did that was very successful.  As part
of that
activity, we read the book "You Are Special".  I returned the book to it's
owner and
now I can't remember the name of the author. But, the book is available at
Deseret
Book.  It's probably available elsewhere because it isn't an LDS book (but it
could
be).

My sister is the second counselor in her ward's Relief Society.  She is giving
a lesson next fast Sunday and has developed a lesson around this book.  I am
including her notes for her lesson in case any of you want to do this with
your YW.  The pictures in the book are BEAUTIFUL.

I had no intention of sharing this lesson but for some reason today, the
Spirit keeps
telling me that someone on this list needs this information.

The book is a picture story about wooden puppets.  The puppets go around
giving each
other stickers.  They get grey dots for being chipped, broken, saying dumb
things,
etc.....you get the picture.  But the good singers, athletes, smart puppets
get gold
stars.  Punichello, is a puppet who gets lots of grey dots.  He doesn't feel
too good
about himself.  Then he meets Lucia.  She is beautiful.  But no stickers will
stick
on her.  Punichello wants to be like her and not have stickers on himself.
She tells
him to go and visit Eli.  Eli is their maker.  To make a long story short.

Punichello visits Eli. Eli calls him by name and says," How good to see you,
come and
let me have a look at you." Punchinello is shocked that Eli knows his name.
Eli says,
"of course I do, I made you".

This is significantàjust as Eli knows Punchinello by name of all the thousands
of
Wemmicksà..God the Father knows us by name.

Eli goes on to tell Punchinello that he is special

Punchinello responds by stating all the things he can't do

- -After he elaborates on all his weaknessesà.Punchinello says, " How can I be
special,
why do I matter to you"

- -Eli looks at Punchinello and puts his hands on his shoulders and speaks very
slowly,
"because you are Mine, that's why you matter to me. This is exactly how
Heavenly
Father feels about each of us.  He would love
to put his hands on our shoulders and look us in the eye and remind us of His
love
for us, simply because we are His. The story ends by Eli telling Punichello to
visit
him every day.  As Punichello visits Eli the stickers start to fall off.


HERE ARE HER LESSON NOTES

Relief Society Lesson  -  You Are Special

Read book through page 15

Ask sisters to tell what kinds of labels do we give people todayHave a gray
dot and a gold star taped to the chalkboard

Examples of gray dots:  gangs ( put into category by type of clothing)
inconsiderate,
Aren't wearing the "in" clothing, hairstyles, kids misbehave at church,
fat, out of shape,
Etc.

Examples of gold stars:  beautiful, thin, in hairstyle, great musical
ability, great speaker, good athlete, etc.

Tell me which of these would be harder to live with and why?

What if you aren't as confident with your gold stars or your perception of
your abilities is less than how others perceive you?   Is this difficult in
it's own way?

Does anyone have an example when someone had you labeled as being really
good at something when you felt inferior or less capable than their
perception?

Sometimes we aren't allowed to make mistakes if our lives our filled with
gold stars.

Read the rest of the book

Points to consider: -God's opinion is the only thing that truly matters
- -When we focus on God's feelings about us, we don't fear gray dots, and we
don't go in search of gold stars.

- -This isn't news to any of usàlogically we know this principle to be true.

- -So how do we internalize this principle so that it becomes a part of our
hearts and governs our choices and responses


Key to application of this truth:
- -Lucia visited Eli everydayàand Eli was her maker and is symbolic of our
maker

- -Punchinello had doubt as to whether or not Eli would want to see him.  He
was covered with gray dots and was very insecure with who he was (could be
representative of sin)
- -He decided to take Lucia's advice and go see Eli.

- -When he got there he wanted to turn around and run away

- -As he turns to leave he hears his name

- -Eli calls him by name and says,"How good to see you, come and let me have
a look at you."

- -Punchinello is shocked that Eli knows his name.

- -Eli says, "of course I do, I made you".
This is significantàjust as Eli knows Punchinello by name of all the
thousands of Wemmicksà..God the Father knows us by name.

- -Eli goes on to tell Punchinello that he is special

- -Punchinello responds by stating all the things he can't do

- -After he elaborates on all his weaknessesà.Punchinello says, " How can I
be special, why do I matter to you"

- -Eli looks at Punchinello and puts his hands on his shoulders and speaks
very slowly, "because you are Mine, that's why you matter to me.
This is exactly how Heavenly Father feels about each of us.  He would love
to put his hands on our shoulders and look us in the eye and remind us of
His love for us, simply because we are His.

Above is the basis of the lesson.  The following are quotes for you to use
as inspired.

George Q. Cannonà.."We humble people; we who feel ourselves sometimes so
worthless, so good-for-nothing; we are not so worthless as we think.  There
is not one of us but what God's love has been expended upon.  There is not
one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us
that He has not desired to save, and that He has not devised means to save.
There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning.
We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes, and in the eyes
of others, but the truth remains that we are the children of God, and that
He has actually given His angels - invisible beings of power and might  -
charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping.

Marion G. Romneyà.."The truth I desire to emphasize today is that we
mortals are in very deed the literally offspring of God.  If men
understood, and accepted this truth and lived by it, our sick and dying
society would be reformed and redeemed, and men would have peace here and
now and eternal joy in the hereafter.

Marvin J. Ashtonà.."As children of god we are somebody.  He will build us,
mold us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up, our arms out, and
walk with Him.  What a great blessing to be created in His image and know
of our true potential in and through Him!  What a great blessing to know
that in His strength we can do all things!"

In Closingààà.. -Eli gives Punchinello advice.  "Just come see me everyday
and
Let me remind you how much I care."

Eli represents Heavenly Father and we need to go to Him everyday so that He
can remind us of how much he cares.

What are some of the ways we can go to Heavenly Father everyday?
- -Prayer  (He can't tell us how much he cares if we don't listen)
- -Scriptures (ponder what we read)
- -Patriarchal blessing (God is specific with His love for us)

Before you bear your testimony you can read this if you like

Page 54 of June 1995 ensign the entire section under "Peace which passeth
all understanding"


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End of lds-yw-digest V1 #88
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