Simple Gifts at Christmas Time

Simple Gifts at Christmas Time

Our recent Relief Society Christmas Program was themed, “Simple Gifts.” As I reflected on our past year at this Christmas season, I recognized many simple gifts in our lives.

These United States: This summer we had a chance to drive to Washington State, where we held the Flake Family reunion, visited Danielle, Steve and grandbaby Alexa, in Portland, then back to St. George. We then continued across the vast United States as we moved Lindsey and her new husband, Carlton Taylor out to Philadelphia, PA where Carlton will be attending Dental School for four years. It is awesome to get an up close and personal look at each state as we drove through. We enjoyed a day trip to NYC to see all the sites and to attend the Manhattan temple. Carlton is from Pleasant Grove, UT and a recent graduate of BYU Hawaii. Carlton and Lindsey both served in the Vancouver, Canada mission. He is a welcome addition to our family.

Missionary Service: Dawson will mark his one year of service in the California, San Jose mission this month. Not only is he growing as he studies and shares the gospel message, but our family receives blessings from his service as well. Danielle serves as a ward missionary in Portland and Carlton and Lindsey have been instrumental in several baptisms in their Philadelphia ward already. Andrew, 16, is fellow shipping a non-member and sets a great example to all.

Temple Blessings: My mom and dad continue to have good health and are able to serve weekly in the Logan temple. Dan’s mother lives across the street from the St. George temple and works there weekly and spends the rest of her time indexing records for the church. (She’s addicted!) We all fight over who gets to do the dishes at her home because you get to stand and look across the road at the temple while you wash them. We were able to help put the lights up on the temple grounds recently and enjoy our monthly ward temple nights on a more regular basis now that Dan is in the ward bishopric. Our ward has been abundantly blessed as we average about 40 people in attendance each month on temple night.

Pay It Forward: We were given free tickets to the recent BYU vs U of U game from friends whom we had provided service for recently. This week I donated money to help needy students at my school have a little Christmas and the same day we were driving down a busy road and Dan spotted a bill on the side of the road. I hesitated to pull over for what was most likely not anything; but it turned out to be a $100. bill… just what I had donated.

Service: I continue to enjoy the joy of serving as compassionate service leader and feel the joy of welcoming new babies, caring for the sick and being blessed by helping to lift a neighbor’s burden. Our family always enjoys our tradition of serving lunch at the Soup Kitchen on Christmas Eve. May you find someone you can lend a hand to this Season of Giving.

Family and Friends: Our greatest gifts are those of our friends and loved ones. Thank you for your examples, goodness, and love and for sharing treasured lifelong memories. We sincerely hope that you will recognize the simple gifts that you are blessed with at this Holiday Season and all year long.

Much love, Dan and Shelly Flake and family (more news and photos at danflakefamily.blogspot.com)

Andrew's Name

I framed a picture of Andrew's "10 Cross Country Team and needed a place to hang it in his room. When I looked at this picture that has been hanging on the wall for 12 years, I realized that Andrew has grown and maybe it was time to put the picture away. The picture lists the things that the name Andrew stands for. As I read it, I realized that it pretty close to who my Andrew has grown to become:

Andrew

Expression
God is with me
Personality
Righteousness is his attribute
Natural
Talent soars like an Eagle
Instinctive
Not afraid to laugh or cry
Emotional
Has an appreciation of music
Reputation
Continually gives to many
Physical
Great muscle tone--stays in good shape
Mental
Quick at heart and cunning
Goal
To pursue happiness

Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot Story

Bishopric Message

As the air cools and the leafs begin to change into vibrant colors of red, yellow, and orange, it takes me back to my childhood memories and the joy I found at the change of the seasons. One particular memory, I hold close to me, was when I was a young 12 year old boy. I had only been a deacon for a short time when I found out about the annual Ward Turkey Shoot. I was excited for the opportunity to be able to win my family a turkey.

During this time my family had fallen on hard times financially. My father was in the construction business and in the early 80’s interest rates were in the 20% range causing construction too basically to dry up. My father and mother moved 5 boys into a home that we had build out of leftover lumber. We had no sheetrock on the walls, concrete floors, no hot water heater, and we all slept in one room near the only source of heat we had in our home, a wood burning stove. As boys we felt like we were on one big extended camp out, having to bathe in a large pot of water we heated on the stove, chipping ice out of the toilet in the morning, and living off of our food storage. Being older now, I understand the pressures of providing for a family and can scarcely imagine the fear and uncertainty my parents had to experience during this time. The uncertainty of where the next meal would come from, if we had enough wood to heat through the winter, and all of the other fears that financial doubt brings.

I believe I understood, in a small way as a 12 year old boy, that our family had needs that my parents were struggling to meet. For this reason I had the delusions of winning the turkey shoot out and bringing home the grand prize, a nice plump, juice turkey, something my family had not enjoyed the year prior. I began to beg my father to buy me some bullets so that I could participate in the turkey shoot. This in my parents mind was an expense that they could not afford. Through my persistence, and the overwhelming love my father had for his sons, he took his chain saw and pawned it so that my brother and I could participate in the turkey shoot. I did not know, at the time, of the great sacrifice he made until much later in life.

I remember the day like it was yesterday, the night before I could barely sleep. I remember praying most of the night asking our Father in Heaven to bless me with the so called “Dead Eye” gift. We arrived at the designated site and got ready. The rules were gone over, the young men ages 12 to 18 would shoot first and then the adults. We would each get 10 clays to shoot at, and the winner would receive a turkey. When my turn came around, I remember my heart beating so hard I thought it would jump right out of my chest. I cracked open my old battered single shot 20 gauge, which immediately fell into two pieces, everyone laughed at my mishap, except me. With huge tears welling up, I struggled to get my gun back together, then I felt my father’s hand on my shoulder and he calmly helped me fix my gun. He then said some words of comfort and encouragement and left me to do my best. I quickly said one last prayer and said, “Pull!” to the man throwing the clays. The clay flew far and straight. I took aim and squeezed the trigger and I hit it. The next nine were thrown to the right and the left, high and low, and when my turn was over I had hit all 10 clays. I watched in great anticipation as the last few young men would hit 8 out of 10 or 9 out of 10 but in the end I was the only one who had hit 10 out of 10.

Words cannot express the joy I felt inside, I was trembling so badly I could hardly hold the turkey that had been awarded to me. But to my surprise they had put together a box of food that would constitute they rest of a fabulous thanksgiving dinner. This box would go to the winner of the shoot out between the youth and adult winners. I went first once again. I said a quick prayer, and began the quest to win my family, not only the turkey, but all the good stuff that goes with such a fine bird. The clays seemed to be moving faster to the right and left and some went so low and fast, if you were not quick enough, they would hit the ground before you even had a chance to shoot. Once again I was able to hit 10 out of 10. My challenger stepped up and was not about to be outdone. He made quick work out of his first 9 clays. As I stood there, praying for a miracle, I saw the last clay fly straight and far. I knew he would hit this one for sure and we would have to move to a shoot out. The problem with this was that I was out of bullets. He took a quick aim and just before he pulled the trigger, it seemed as if something was said to him and he hesitated and he shot just under the clay. With tears in my eyes I not only carried the finest turkey man has ever known, I carried the finest fixings anyone could hope for, home to my family.

I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers. I am grateful for parents who taught me the value of sacrifice and a father who taught me importance of providing for your family. I am grateful for the brother, who I am convinced listen to the still small voice, which allowed a young man to provide for his family. I pray that during this season of thanksgiving, we remember those loved ones, who make all the difference in our lives and show our gratitude to them and to our loving Father in Heaven in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Brother Kelly Taysom & the Bishopric

Don't Shoot the Birdies

Dan conducted the testimony meeting today in church and started by sharing a story about when he was a deacon and had a little Daisy bb gun. He and the boys would get together and go out and shoot things. After growing tired of shooting up beer cans and glass bottles they would occasionally shoot the little birdies.
Dan remembers sitting in their church in Tennessee listening to Gen. conf. They didn't have the big screen TV's only the sound coming in on live broadcast and the quality wasn't very good. But he remembers hearing Pres. Kimball in his little scruffy voice giving a talk and telling the boys not to shoot the little birdies. From that time on, Dan has never shot birds or animals just for fun.
He said that be believed that Pres. Kimball was a true prophet and wanted to follow him. Today he knows that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of the Lord and that we should pay special attention to the words that he tells us. Dan said that he felt a little urgency in their message this time and that we better get with it.
Dan also related a story about being a missionary in Bountiful and he was out walking in the snow when a car came and pulled over and it was a kind general authority (Boyd K. Packer) who gave them a box of chocolates and wished them Merry Christmas. Dan recalled that he was a speaker who always talked about morality and keeping clean. Dad did not mention Packer by name. There has been a controversy this week about the message that he delivered in conf. last week about the fact that gay people are not born that way. "Why would a loving Heavenly Father do that to his children?"
This was Dan's subtle way to show support for Packer without getting involved in the controversy.

The Temple is our Ultimate Target

Dan was asked to write a message for the first edition of the LV II ward email newsletter.... Bishopric Message With the deer hunt approaching, and knowing that there are many hunters in our ward boundaries anxious for that opening morning, I thought this story would be appropriate. You may have heard the story of the hunter who took his wife hunting for her first time. Although reluctant at first the hunter found out after only a few short lessons at the shooting range that his wife was actually a very good shot. She was accurate at long distance and could even hit a target on the run; a regular Annie Oakley. On opening morning he situated his wife on a ridge overlooking a valley below. His plan was to move down through the valley driving deer in the open where his crack shot wife would shoot the deer. The plan worked well, for it had only been a few moments and he heard the recoil of his wife’s gun. Quickly, the hunter ran to where he heard the shot. As he got closer to his wife, he heard her screaming: "Get away from my deer!" Confused, the hunter raced faster towards his screaming wife. And again he heard her yell: "Get away from my deer!" Now within sight of his wife, the hunter was surprised to see a guy standing there with his hands high in the air. The guy, obviously distraught, said, "Okay, lady, okay!!!! You can have your deer!!! Just let me get my saddle off it!" Obviously a discussion about what the ultimate target should have been was neglected. Truly a silly story; but how often as we go through the routine of the day or the week, do we forget what our ultimate target is. What are we really living for? I hope that this month’s issue of the Ensign will give each of us an answer to what should be the ultimate target for our family. It is an issue totally devoted to Temples and the importance of them in our lives. Pres. Howard W Hunter explains that “All of our efforts in the church lead to the Holy Temple. All of our effort in proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the Saints, and redeeming the dead lead to the holy temple. This is because the temple ordinances are absolutely crucial; we cannot return to God’s presence without them. Do everything you can to prepare yourselves and your families to enter the temple. “ We encourage all members of our ward family to become “A Temple Motivated People”. Please take the time with your families to study this Ensign Issue, review the council from General Conference, and plan an opportunity this month to go to the temple and experience the spirit of our Heavenly Father that resides there. Next ward Temple night is October 9th at 7:20pm. Hope to see you there. -Brother Dan Flake and the Bishopric

General Conference Notes

I took 12 pages of notes during the Oct. 2010 General Conference this year. It was awesome to be able to attend the Sunday afternoon session live in the conf. center. Martha had 2 extra tickets that she had brought out from TN; but their were 3 of us. I asked an usher outside of the conf. center if he had any advice for us for obtaining another ticket. He told us to go to door #20 and they'd take care of us. Well, they didn't really want to do it, but I smiled and they wrote us a pass and we were in! It is also cool that our stake leaders took up 30 Senior kids to the Saturday afternoon session. Most had never attended conf. live before and they had a great experience.

Fall 2010 General Conference by the Numbers (From the notes mom took during conf.)

Saturday Morning

5 New Temples

1. Hartford, Connecticut

2. Tijuana, Mexico

3. Indianapolis, Indiana

4. Lisbon, Portugal

5. Urdaneta, Philippines

Pres. Monson

· All young men to serve missions

· More older couples to serve

Jeffrey R. Holland

• · Green Jello, quilts and funeral potatoes
• · Being a helper is just as important as being a leader

Rosemary Wixom:

· Take my hand

· Anchor your children on the path of life

· The world will teach our children if we do not

· Be Intentional in teaching

· Have a victory tunnel at the end of every game

Claudio Costa

We Believe in a Prophet of God

“First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

“Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

“Third: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

“Fourth: The prophet will never lead the Church astray.

“Fifth: The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

“Sixth: The prophet does not have to say ‘Thus saith the Lord’ to give us scripture.

“Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

“Eighth: The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.

“Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.

“Tenth: The prophet may be involved in civic matters.

“Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

“Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

“Thirteenth: The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.

“Fourteenth: [Follow] . . . the living prophet and the First Presidency . . . and be blessed; reject them and suffer.”⁸

David M. Mc Conkie

· Talks to teachers in the church

· Help them discover the truth for themselves

· What matters most is the attitude of the teacher “Attitude is not taught but caught”

· Teach by the spirit

· The handbook has the answers

· You have a sacred trust

D. Todd Christofferson

Five Parts of Consecrated Life:

1. Purity “Spotless before me”

2. Work “Work hard to find wholesome leisure”

3. Respect your body

4. Service

5. Integrity

Pres. Uchtdorf

· Slow down and steady the course

· False: The faster we move the better we are

· It is rather easy to be busy

· Our to do lists are too long

· Good virtue over done can be a “vice”

· Focus on the things that matter most. Better or Best. Forgo others

· “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo De Vinci

· Turn our ways to his ways

· Vince Lombardi’s first day of practice says, “This is a Football” Teaches the basics.

Four Key Relationships

1. God No man cometh to me but through Christ.

2. Family Take time for family.

3. Fellow Men- Be sensitive to the needs of others.

4. Ourselves “some people can’t get along with themselves”

1. No man cometh to me but through Christ. Be still and know that I am God

2. Take time for family. Talk.

3. Sensitive to needs of others.

4. Some people can’t get along with themselves.

Be wise! Rejoice! Refocus on what matters most. Simplify. Be humble!

Saturday Afternoon

Robert D. Hales

Agency: to choose and cat on our own. Choose to come unto Christ

Story of varnishing the floor and painted himself into a corner. Repent, re-sand, re-varnish

Get out of debt. Righteous choices liberate us. Come out of the dark corner through the atonement. Every knee shall bow!

Quintin L. Cook

· Block out evil from our lives. Be in the world, not of the world. Need to greatly increase religion in our homes.

· Wilberforce Witherspoon, together with other leaders, set out to reform public morality. He believed that education and government had to be morally based. “His . . . vision of moral and spiritual enrichment was what he lived for, whether in defending the institution of marriage, attacking the practices of the slave trade or emphatically defending the Sabbath day.” With great energy he helped mobilize the country’s moral and social leaders in a nationwide struggle against vice.

· Integrity, honesty, reform morality, preserve light, home and morality.

Richard Edgely

Peace, protection, Faith, come, knock, choose faith, awake, arise, experiment—action verbs. We are responsible for our own faith. Let us choose. Awake!

Kevin Duncan

Don’t look to the arm of the flesh. Research God’s and the prophet’s words on the internet. My word will be fulfilled.

(He listed the 14 Prophet principles again!)

Gerrit Gong:

Temple mirrors of eternity remind us that each human being has “divine nature and destiny”; that “sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally”;and that, growing together in love and faithfulness, we can give children roots and wings!

Neal Anderson

*The Lord Alerts Us to Dangers Ahead.

*The Lord has not left us alone in our quest to return to Him. Listen to His warning words alerting us to the dangers ahead: “Take . . . heed, watch and pray.” “Beware lest ye . . . be deceived. “Be watchful and careful.” Beware lest ye also . . . fall from your own steadfastness.”

*Mighty change of heart. How to be a disciple of Christ. Be not ashamed.

Richard G. Scott:

Righteous character is most valuable. You receive no witness until after the trial by fire. Not always immediate. That is how character is built. Satan cannot take away your testimony or character. God causes your faith to mold your character.

Four Principles that produce strength:

1. Faith in Lord Jesus Christ

2. Repentance

3. Obedience leads to strength of character

4. Unselfish service

Sunday Morning

Henry B. Eyring

Alma: Oh that I were an Angel

Build trust in God and his servants so we will obey.

Trust comes from knowing God. Be still and know that I am God.

Listened to Pres. Benson’s advice and got out of mortgage debt. Might not be possible but would be best.

Boyd K. Packer

· Proclamation to the world

· Satan cannot begat life, He is impotent. He desires everyone else to be miserable.

· Pornography is a plague. It is spiritually fatal.

· Innate tendencies to do evil are not born in us. Why would our father do that?

· Can you vote on the law of Gravity? Moral standards cannot be voted upon.

· We must protect the family.

· Angel’s will coach you and the Priesthood will guide you.

· Repentance is like detergent. Even stubborn stains can be removed.

· Don’t look back like Lott’s wife!

· Repentance will bring peach and happiness.

Jay Jenson The Holy Ghost and Revelation

“President Thomas S. Monson exemplifies this important role of being led to do good. He follows the example of the Savior, “who went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). He has taught the importance of not ignoring a spiritual prompting from the Holy Ghost to visit someone and to minister to him or her and to rescue the one.

But sometimes there is no one like President Monson, no home teacher, no caring sister available to minister in time of need. In those situations I have come to find solace and direction from the Comforter, another role of the Holy Ghost.”

Sister Mary Cook

· We should never do anything that we don’t want our kids to do.

· If our example is confusing then we lose the confidence of our kids. We can’t have one hand on the rod and one on the world.

· Purity through the Savior

· Dress modestly. We respect our bodies as temples of God.

· Chastity in dress and actions

· Model Good media choices and personal priorities

Dallen Oaks

Two lines of Inspiration

1. Priesthood line

2. Personal line

Missionaries are called through the Priesthood but must receive individual inspiration.

Families need both.

President Monson

· Remember to give thanks for blessing

· Attitude of Gratitude

· To live with gratitude is to touch Heaven

· Permeates souls now and forever.

Sunday Morning (We attended live)

L. Tom Perry

The Priesthood of Aaron. 25 years ago to his grandson, not to his Great grandson who is a Deacon. The stories in the scriptures will never grow old. From the story of Daniel I’ve taught my Grandson:

(1) keep his body healthy and clean,

(2) develop his mind and become wise,

(3) be strong and resist temptation in a world filled with it, and

(4) trust in the Lord, especially when you need His protection.

President Ezra Taft Benson once said: “Give me a young man who has kept himself morally clean and has faithfully attended his Church meetings. Give me a young man who has magnified his priesthood and has earned the Duty to God Award and is an Eagle Scout. Give me a young man who is a seminary graduate and has a burning testimony of the Book of Mormon. Give me such a young man, and I will give you a young man who can perform miracles for the Lord in the mission field and throughout his life”

Live worthy of the Priesthood, young men.

David A. Bednar Receive the Holy Ghost. Simple yet significant.

1. Sincerely Desire

2. Appropriately Invite

3. Faithfully Obey

4. Testimony

“If they will follow the Spirit of the Lord they will go right” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 98).I pray we will sincerely desire and appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our daily lives.

Larry Lawrence

To the parents of Youth:

There are no easy answers. Be strong and of good courage. We need courageous parents. If a child is on the railroad tracks would you ignore it. No—move them! Don’t worry about your present good will. Alma gave early intervention to Corianton. Parenting is not a popularity contest. Say “I just don’t feel good about it” and that is enough! Recognize the spirit. Be united as parents. Have the courage to support each other. Show respect to your spouse and their feelings. Council kids to put off “being a couple.” When morality is involved we have the right to speak up. Avoid sleepovers. Protect children. Parents need the courage to say yes to leaders.

Do:

1. Prayer

2. Scripture

3. FHE

4. Family Dinner together

5. PPI’s - Council with them in private interviews.

Practice these to create invincible children. Be courageous parents!

Per G. Malm

In downtown Gothenburg, Sweden there is a hollow tree, but is it empty no! The tree was full of waste. The trunk was weakened a little here and there. Through the atonement we can have our lives filled with light. Don’t waste the days of our probation. Lift our vision daily to have a view of eternity. Peace is a gift of God that comes through the spirit. The tree was finally destroyed by fireworks from within. Beware of things that will destroy from the inside out, whether big or small! They can have an explosive effect and cause spiritual death. Peace, I leave with you!

Jairo Mazzagardi

· What is sin? It can enter slowly and sneakily

· Rise early

· Set a curfew

· Great joy comes from making good choices and staying strong

Mervyn B. Arnold

· What have you done with my name?

· We are free to choose but not free to choose the consequences.

· Cow bloated when he ate the wheat on the other side of the fence. Fences protect us.

· Wickedness never was Happiness!

· Would you think it, do it, or say it if the Savior was beside you?

M. Russell Ballard

· Fly fishermen use lures which are a perfect deception. Lucifer tries to ensnare us.

· Drugs can hijack the brain.

· Stay away from what will entrap you. Not one drink or one sniff.

· Avoid gambling, pornography, addiction to video games, texting that relinquish our agency.

· There is a way to escape—Repentance. Pray with all energy of heart.

· Set aside pride and experience a mighty change of heart. Get help!

Pres. Thomas S. Monson

· We live in a troubled world

· Read and reread these messages.

· Endure to the end—we must!

· He will help us. Obey his commandments for peace and safety.

“We live in a troubled world, a world of many challenges. We are here on this earth to deal with our individual challenges to the best of our ability, to learn from them, and to overcome them. Endure to the end we must, for our goal is eternal life in the presence of our Father in Heaven. He loves us and wants nothing more than for us to succeed in this goal. He will help us and bless us as we call upon Him in our prayers, as we study His words, and as we obey His commandments. Therein is found safety; therein is found peace.”