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Tag: LDS

  • Top 5 LDS Songs and a Giveaway!

    Top 5 LDS Songs and a Giveaway!

    Music sets the mood in the Home

    I love listening to music throughout the day. Either from my Pandora account or CD’s I’ve collected throughout the years. Music can turn a rough day into a bearable day, and a good day into a Great Day!  Especially if you’re listening to the right kind of music.
    A lot of the music I listen to is LDS themed. (Learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).  The language is clean, the words uplifting, and the spirit it brings into your home really does make the day better.

    My Top 5 Favorite LDS Music Songs

    1. Window to His Love by Julie De Azevedo
    2. Michelle by Julie De Azevedo
    3. Consider the Lilies
    4. I Feel My Savior’s Love
    5. Anything by The Piano Guys

    New LDS Music Store

    yourldsmusicstore.com is a new online store for all LDS music.  I’ve been browsing around their site, and really love the selection of music they have. I hope they continue to add more, as some of my favorites are yet to be found on there.
    They have many free downloads as well as albums you can purchase and download to your computer. 

    Connect With YourLDSMusicStore

    Facebook  ~   Twitter  ~  Pinterest
     

    Rhoades CookBook Giveaway

    Giveaway Extended through the Weekend!
     
    With the Launch of their new website, YourLDSMusic store is giving away a Rhoades Home Baked Cookbook here on Home Maid Simple
    Home Baked Cookbook - Softcover
     
    All you have to do is comment here with your Favorite Christmas Song, and best email to contact!
    Giveaway is open to US residents. Ends on 12/16 at midnight.
    Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond.
     
    
  • I’m donating to…. #GivingTuesday

    I’m donating to…. #GivingTuesday

    I have been looking forward to today for quite some time now. We’ve had Thanksgiving and followed it up with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.

    Today marks the first and hopefully annual Giving Tuesday. Today we encourage you to get involved and give back. No matter how small, there is something you can do today to give to someone else.

    World Homeless Day

    Here are some ideas to get you started

    • Take your neighbor some home made goodies. Stay and chat.
    • Offer to pick up an elderly’s groceries.
    • Help a mom – hold open the door, push her groceries to her cart, smile at her kids, compliment her mothering.
    • Donate to your favorite charity
    • Pick an angel to help this Christmas

    If you have kids, encourage them to give as well. I find leading by example is the best though. If you are giving, they will want to give too. Enjoy the good feelings you will get as you serve your fellow humans.

    I’ve recently learned about an easy way to donate to your favorite charity, that costs you nothing! 
     
     
    When you sign in to goodsearch you can pick you favorite charity. Then everytime you use Goodsearch to search the internet, a penny is donated to your charity. You do nothing but what you already do – search the internet! 
     
    I signed up this morning, and am donating my searches to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. You can learn more about why I chose this charity on my Sponsor Page.  It is a cause near and dear to my heart.
     
    In addition to using GoodSearch today, I am also donating a portion of my last months earnings from this blog (approximately $50) to another cause 
     
     
    LDS Charities was established in 1996.  They span all across the world helping in many different areas including Wheelchairs, Clean Water, and Immunizations.  I can’t think of a better way to help people then giving them the things they need to live and grow healthy.  I was recently listening to a couple who had just returned from Cambodia serving a mission with LDS Charities. Did you know that one of the leading causes of death among those unable to walk (in Combodia) are snake bites?  That took me by surprise.  By providing them with wheelchairs, these people can avoid the snakes better, and their quality of life is improved so much. 
     
     
    What will you do today to Give back?
     
    I’d love to hear your ideas.
  • When a joke isn’t funny – Think About It!

    When a joke isn’t funny – Think About It!

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    Your hosts for this weekly meme are
    Tim and Angi’s Blog

    This weeks topic
    What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

    Next week’s topic
    Has education become more about temporary results and grades than long term success and knowledge?

    So what is too serious to be joked about?  Can a sense of humor go too far? I do believe it can. I love a good joke like the next person. Laughing is a great release of chemicals especially for anyone suffering depression.
    For me personally a joke has gone too far when it brings others down. Race, Religion, and Disability are my big no’s. They just shouldn’t happen. I remember my brother saying some racist jokes when we were kids. At the time, it was funny. I have since learned better. It is rude and tears others down.  When one of my other brothers was in middle school he was often taken advantage of. Kids could get him to do just about anything if he thought they would be his friends for doing it. Because of this, he highly offended someones religion and lifestyle by saying something someone else told him to. I won’t repeat it, because it’s in the past, and it was just wrong. These kids took advantage of my brothers need for friends to belittle someone else.  Mark was accused at one point of making fun of a kid with a disability. We don’t know why this accusation was thrown out there, but it wasn’t true. Mark’s dad has Parkinsons, so he knows especially how hard those who have physical limitations fight to do the best they can.
    Right now, however the biggest issue I am personally facing is my religion. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Commonly referred to as a Mormon.  With the upcoming elections here in the USA, and Mitt Romney running, my faith has been brought quite center stage. If you didn’t know it yet, Mitt Romney is a member of my faith as well. Sadly, I have seen my church drug through the mud.  We get attacked on all sides almost constantly. Actually ever since our church was established we’ve been persecuted.  There have been quite a few shows with little references to Mormon culture.  Some are horribly inaccurate and insensitive. But, some are extremely funny. Take this clip from the show Cheers. I find it quite hilarious.
    Where do I draw the line?  When something I hold very sacred is made fun of, is called names, and thrown around like a piece of meat. You hurt me when you do that. Please respect me. Respect that I have a faith in something I believe is the truth.  I will respect you. You can worship as you please, and I will not make fun of you. I just ask the same in return.
    I find it intriguing that Catholics wear a cross to remind them of the Crucifixion.  I think the little hats those of the Jewish faith wear are a wonderful outward symbol of their faith. 
    You don’t have to agree with what I believe. Just please respect me. Respect my faith, and please don’t make fun of something that someone else holds very sacred.
    Now it’s your turn! We’d love to hear your
    opinion on the topic, or anything else! Below are the rules for this linky.
    The ground rules:
    1) No Giveaways or reviews please, we want to stick
    to our topic or whatever thought provoking topic you have decided on your own.
    We want to get to know you personally not what you like or give out right?
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    Make sure that you follow all the hosts! (Mumfection, Home Maid Simple, Tim and
    Angi’s). Pop in and let them know you’re following via GFC and/or Facebook (or
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    3) Only thought provoking posts, which is
    why we always have a great topic for you prepared in case you are just having a
    blank day.
    4) Make sure your post has our Think About it Thursday
    button!
    5) Have fun, make some friends, follow, comment thoughtfully and
    above all else be respectful!
    6) Lastly, we would love it if you
    suggest some topics for us to discuss! Who knows if we pick your topic, we may
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  • Sentimental Sunday – Personal Reflection

    This past week I have been doing a lot of personal reflection.
    The main thing I have begun to notice is that I am a lot like my mom, and I couldn’t be happier. There are so many times I remember getting up to find my mom had already been awake for quite some time, and she had her scriptures out; reading and pondering them.
    It took me a long time, but I am now in the habit of getting up every morning (sometimes with the kids, sometimes before) and reading my scriptures. It has made an impact on my days. In my personal opinion there couldn’t be a better way to start each and every day.
    I also remember walking in on my mom praying a lot. For the past few years, I have not turned to the Lord as often as I know I should, but in the last little bit, this too has become a new priority in my life. I want my children to have those same memories of me, and that example that my mom gave me.  To feel close to the Spirit and know that we are never alone, is a gift I treasure.
    The one thing I have not been as diligent as my mom, is journal writing. I do consider blogging to be a bit of my personal journal, but I also have a real hard cover with blank pages journal. I should take more time to write in it.
    Another item from my personal life I began pondering is my wall displays. I love having pictures on my walls. There has been one item though that since the day I got married has moved and been hung in every home we’ve lived in.  It is The Family: A Proclamation To the World.  It states
    We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
    All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
    In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. 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.
    The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
    We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
    Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (    Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
    The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
    We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
    We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

    Isn’t that amazing? This was also hung in my parents house for as long as I can remember along with a picture of Christ. I too have a beautiful painting titled “Oh Jerusalem” hanging in my home. It is one of my favorite pictures of Christ as he looks out over Jerusalem longing for them, but because they refused Him, He could not do anything. 

    I don’t often talk about my faith here, so I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into who I am, and what I believe. If you’d like to learn more about my faith please visit lds.org or mormon.org