Do you ever feel that feeling when you mess up that it's just not worth it now? For me it's when I’m trying to eat healthy and then I slip up and eat that bowl of ice-cream and then I think “Well I’ve already broken my goal to eat healthy so I might as well finish off this box of cookies, or eat this bag of chips” or whatever it might be.

Even as I tell you thing, I am thinking what a stupid way to think.  Why does it have to be an all or nothing mentality?

Sometimes we can get ourselves in this mode with our gospel study.  When we miss gospel study for a few days, sometimes we allow it to become a week or a two or a whole summer.  We think we either have to go back and catch up on all the reading that we missed (which sounds overwhelming) , or we think it's just too hard to get going again.

In today’s episode we talk about changing the way we look at our relationship with gospel study.  It’s not about checking the box, it's  about changing who we are, and there are lots of ways to do that.

Join us for our last episode of our Simplifying Summer  Scripture  Study Series to learn what to do when you just don’t feel like getting back on the wagon train.

For a copy of our free download, the perfect CFM lesson plan, click here.

Today my daughter Hailey sent me a link to a SUPER CUTE you-tube video. 

I’ve been thinking about it all morning, replaying it over and over in my head, and to be completely honest, I may have even re-watched it more than once.

The video has a message that struck deep in my heart, but I don’t think that was what was even intended. 

 This video left me with a smile on my face and a change of attitude for the day.

What is it about this video that has left such an impression on me?

Let me tell you about his video.  

Its a video of this little 3 or 4 year old boy dressed to go rollerblading.  

He has on his blades, a helmet, and crash pads for his hands and knees.  But that’s not what is so cute.

What is so cute is this little  boy singing while he’s holding on to the side of the car so he won’t fall down on his rollerblades.

He’s making up a tuneless song that goes something like this...

"Today is gunna be a great day,

Today is gunna be a smiley day,

Today is gunna be a Jesus day,

I can do hard things

And I can by myself

Its hard to get me up

Its hard to go down hill

It’s ok to fall down

I can do hard things

Today’s going to be awesome, Today going to be awesome!"

Why do I tell this story?  

Because today we talk about how to simplify your summer scripture study and teach eternal truths through music!

Music is fun, music is memorable, and music is easy.  You can make tunes up while you practice your roller blading!

Join us for this part 3 of How to Simplify Your Summer Scripture Study.

Click here to watch the video of happy roller bladder!

https://fb.watch/6BIg11xOJe/

Growing up I loved stories.  I remember during those long summer days when you were staying up late and playing outside all day long, my mother would often make us lay down for an afternoon nap.  The only way Mom could get us to hold still  long enough to fall asleep was to read us a few stories.  This is where I learned the childhood classics of the Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the 3 bears, or Tortoise and the Hare, Brer Rabbit, and even nursery rhymes.

Stories that taught me the importance of building a strong house, the idea that slow and steady wins the race and the beauty of twinkling stars.

Today is our second episode in our series “Simplify Your Summer Scripture Study”.  Today we look at the power and simplicity of using stories to teach the gospel to our children and how we can use stories to reinforce our monthly theme.

I hope I’m not the only one who feels bombarded with the craziness of summer.  Don’t get me wrong, I love summer time, but at the same time, It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed the “Lazy Days of Summer”.

Trying to keep up with regular family scripture study can be a challenge during the summer but with a few tips and tricks you can still successfully teach your family and enjoy your summertime fun.

This podcast is the first in a series of several short episodes, giving you quick and easy tips on how to simplify your summer scripture study.  Today we talk about the single most important thing you can do to make your summer gospel learning simple yet meaningful.

As intentional parents, we care about how we can influence and teach our children.  Research shows that STORYTELLING is on of the most effective ways to influence, teach, and inspire.  

In today’s episode, we talk about the power of storytelling in connecting with and teaching our children.  

We explore how and why stories stick, and how we can use them more effectively in our teaching.

Join us today, as we explore the Power of Stories.

I often get asked the question, "How old should my children be before I can start teaching them the gospel?"  The answer might surprise you.  Sister Joy D. Jones in her conference address from April 2021 entitled Essential Conversations, tells us  that “There is a uniquely special time in children’s lives when they are protected from Satan’s influence.  It is a time when they are innocent and sin free.  It is a sacred time for parent and child. “

That being the case, we can’t wait until their 8 before we begin the teaching process. We need to start as early as possible!

In this episode Dixie Christensen shares with us how she is finding ways to teach her four small children ranging from 1 -6.  Much of her teaching centers around using a theme and creating experiences to help her children relate what they are learning to their own lives.

Listen to Dixie as she shares real life examples of how to take advantage of this sacred time.

Our youth have been saved and prepared to come to earth at this time when Satan has great hold upon the hearts of men.  They have been taught in the premortal life all of the things they need to succeed during their time on earth.

As parents, it is our sacred responsibility to help our children remember these things they were taught.  We must take advantage of the  natural experiences our children have to help them connect what they are experiencing to the eternal truths they already know.

In this episode, Verity Simmons shares some enlightening examples of how she uses natural, yet essential conversations to help teach the gospel to her young family.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/32709_eng.pdf?lang=eng

"To treat them as children spiritually, as the world might treat the

same age group, is therefore and likewise an anachronism. I say once

more, there is scarcely a youth that comes through your seminary or

institute door who has not been the conscious beneficiary of spiritual

blessings, or who has not seen the efficacy of prayer, or who has not

witnessed the power of faith to heal the sick, or who has not beheld

spiritual outpourings of which the world at large is today ignorant.

You do not have to sneak up behind this spiritually experienced

youth and whisper religion in his ears; you can come right out, face

to face, and talk with him. You do not need to disguise religious

truths with a cloak of worldly things; you can bring these truths to

him openly, in their natural guise. Youth may prove to be not more

fearful of them than you are. There is no need for gradual

approaches, for “bedtime” stories, for coddling, for patronizing, or

for any of the other childish devices used in efforts to reach those

spiritually inexperienced and all but spiritually dead."

The Charted Course of the Church in Education

Let's face it.  Summer is a difficult time to be totally consistent and diligent about family gospel study.  But what if that were Okay?  Summer may be difficult for regular sit down scripture reading and lessons, but it is the perfect time to strengthen your family in different ways!  Embrace summer and the opportunity to connect with your children and strengthen your family by playing together, working together and spending time with extended family and friends.  Plan now what you want to accomplish this summer.  With realistic expectations and a general plan, you may find that Summer is even better than you anticipated!

What do you want your children to be when they grow up? 

 Last week we had a zoom call with our Fearless Mother’s of Faith group. I asked a few of them a similar question.  One of the Mom’s said she wanted her children to be resilient, and self reliant, another wanted her children to be confident in their talents were and use those talents to serve others;  and still another mentioned how she wants her children to understand their personal mission for this earth life and to accomplish that mission.

All of these things are great desires.  Very much worth striving for.  But what is the method or the system or the path they are going to use to help their children get there?  It won’t just happen on its own!

In today’s episode, we talk about how the  the Children and Youth Guidebooks that the church has provided us, can help our children become all that they are meant to become. We talk how we can simply integrate this program into what we are already doing in our gospel study, and how we can ensure that our children are developing their own  unique gifts

This past year, a friend of mine lost her son to suicide.  It rocked their whole existence.  It shook my foundation as I wondered what had happened to make this sweet, fun loving boy, feel the need to take his life?

Unfortunately, I’m sure many of you listeners have stories similar to mine. The stresses and pressures faced by our youth today are unprecedented.

As intentional parents, what are we doing to help our children develop the emotional resilience they need to deal with these extreme pressures?

In today’s episode, Corrine Kendall is back to share her insights as a Jr. High counselor on how we can help our children deal with anxiety, depression and even suicidal tendencies.

Whether it is one of our own children, or a child of someone we know, we all have a responsibility to understand what our youth are faced with and what we can do to  help .

The SafeUT Crisis Chat and Tip Line is a statewide service that provides real-time crisis intervention to youth through live chat and a confidential tip program – right from your smartphone.

Find them online at https://healthcare.utah.edu/hmhi/safe-ut/  or download the app  SafeUT onto your smartphone