The Divine Gift of Gratitude

Following are highlights from an inspirational talk presented by the Prophet Thomas S. Monson during the October 2010 General Conference.

THE DIVINE GIFT OF GRATITUDE

Thomas S. Monson
Ensign October 2010

Do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.

We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude.

A grateful heart then comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort – at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it.

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.

It is my prayer that in addition to all else for which we are grateful, we may ever reflect our gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to live’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do our spirits go when we die? That gospel brings to those who live in darkness the light of divine truth. He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to die. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved.

Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His words. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.

*Note: Please read the remainder of this talk for a great example of gratitude. It’s located in the October 2010 Ensign.*

As we pass the holiday season, let us remember to show gratitude to those we love and those around us. What a better way than to make a special treat and share with those around us who mean so much to us.

This post composed and presented by Jackie Burnett.

Colfax High School presents “Hello Dolly”

Colfax High School presents “Hello Dolly”

Colfax High School presents the musical, “Hello Dolly” at the dates and times shown below. The Colfax Ward has numerous students in the play and we hope you will attend this fabulous production!

As noted below, Friday's performance has moved to Tuesday evening!! CHS has several football players in the play, one who cannot be replaced....and the football team has a playoff game on Friday evening.

DAY DATE TIME Thur Nov. 21 7:30 PM Fri No Showing -------------- Sat Nov. 23 7:30 PM Mon Nov. 25 7:30 PM Tues Nov. 26 9:30 AM & 7:30 PM Wed Nov. 27 9:30 AM & 7:30 PM

Limited seating is available for the Tues and Weds 9:30 AM performances.

TICKETS:

• Adults: $6.00
• Seniors/Students: $4.50
• Children under 12: $4.50

Tickets are available at the door for all performances. To reserve seats for Saturday night and for advanced ticket sales call (509) 397-2177.

Our Commitment to the Food Pantry

A proverb is a simple and concrete saying, popularly known and repeated, that expresses a truth based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity.

...There but for the grace of God go I

1. A recognition that others' misfortune could be one's own, if it weren't for the blessing/kindness/luck bestowed by fate or the Divine.
2. Man's fate is in God's hands.
3. More generally, our fate is not entirely in our own hands.

Many people are not aware that the Colfax Ward has made a pledge to the local Food Pantry that we will provide assistance and volunteers when specific needs are phoned in to our Ward Humanitarian Specialist (Patti Wilkinson).  What we loosely refer to as the "Food Pantry" is officially a service of the Council on Aging and Human Services, located in Colfax and serving Whitman County. They are a private, non-profit, public-benefit organization committed to enhancing lives and supporting communities with transportation and nutrition services. 

Many times it is not possible for members of our ward to assist, either with time or with food donations. But as your time and budgets do allow, please remember our friends and neighbors in need and consider giving to the Food Pantry.   

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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Help with Cleaning at the Food Pantry:
Need volunteers to assist with Pantry Cleaning on 4 upcoming Tuesdays. This is a one-time 1-2 hour commitment. Any time between 10:30AM - 1:30PM. Need two volunteers per day (some slots already filled):

November 5th: Mary Wiley and  ______________
November 19th: Amanda Pederson and ______________________
December 3rd: Beth Moxley and _______________________
December 17th:  _______________________ and _____________________

Please contact Patti Wilkinson at 509-635-1156 or patti@smarttouring.com

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Help with Thanksgiving Day Baskets
November 25th and November 26th. For times, details and sign-up, call the Food Pantry at 509-397-4305 

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Tom's Turkey Drive
Volunteer in two-hour shifts during the following days and times. (Families are encouraged!):

November 22nd: 8AM - 8PM
November 23rd: 8AM - 6PM

For details and sign-up, Call the Food Pantry at 509-397-4305. 

THIS TUESDAY: Relief Society Thanksgiving Feast

Colfax Ward Relief Society Thanksgiving Feast

Tuesday November 12th, 6:30 PM

Please join with your sisters in giving thanks and sharing with others, this Tuesday at 6:30 at the church. A Thanksgiving Feast will be served, and we will join in a Service Project to compile Meals-in-a-Bag to donate to our local food pantry. 

Invite your friends! Sisters are encouraged to go in on a bag with a friend, to help defray costs of buying all the ingredients necessary to make up a complete Meal-in-a-Bag. Lets see how many bags we can make up!

Click on the image below for a printable handout for the Relief Society Service Project, including a complete shopping list of ingredients for each meal-in-a-bag. 

Or shop from the following list to complete your Meal-in-a-Bag:

Pasta Bag

• 1 bag pasta

• 1 jar spaghetti sauce

• Parmesan cheese, non perishable

• 1 can green beans

• 1 brownie mix

Taco Soup Bag

• 1 pouch Bear Creek Bean Soup mix

• 1 can diced tomatoes

• 1 can kernel corn

• 1 can black beans

• 1 jar salsa

• 1 bag tortilla chips

• 1 cookie mix

Chicken and Rice Bag

• 1 can cream of chicken soup

• 2 cans chicken

• 1 can green beans

• 1 small bag rice

• 1 box Jello

• 1 can fruit

Strawberry Angel Food Dessert

Strawberry Angel Food Dessert

Ready in 15 minutes

Ingredients
1 (10 inch) angel food cake
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced
1 (18 ounce) jar strawberry glaze

Directions
1.  Crumble the cake into a 9x13 inch dish (or decorative glass bowl).

2.  Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Mash the cake down with your hands and spread the cream cheese mixture over the cake.

3.  In a bowl, combine strawberries and glaze until strawberries are evenly coated. Spread over cream cheese layer. Chill until serving.

This is a 5-star recipe found on allrecipes.com

The Three Tenets of Relief Society

“We’re all at different places on the path. But we can work together to help each other “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, have a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.” —Carole M. Stephens, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

The Relief Society has been established by our Heavenly Father to organize, teach, and inspire His daughters and prepare them for the blessings of eternal life by helping them increase their faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and help those in need.

The Three Tenets of Relief Society are restated here:

• Increase faith and personal righteousness
• Strengthen families and homes
• Help those in need 

With this understanding of the ultimate purpose of Relief Society, can we strive to be more effective and Christ-like in our Visiting Teaching? As you visit with your sisters, ask yourself questions pertaining to the three tenets. Questions such as:

• "Am I helping this sister increase their faith in Jesus Christ and faith in the church?"
• "Are there concerning issues in this sister's home? How is her personal well being? How are her family relationships? Could she benefit from additional attention or TLC?"
• "Are their temporal needs that she and her family have? Do they have enough food? Are there any home repair items that the brethren should be made aware of?"  

Visiting teaching is an important spiritual responsibility to fulfill. It is not just a monthly visit; it is ministering. Let us watch over and strengthen sisters in their individual needs, both temporal and spiritual.

Autumn Food Bank Needs

Our Patti Wilkinson keeps in contact with the Colfax Food Bank and brings to us the monthly list of food and grocery needs. Thank you sisters for your continued generosity in helping those less fortunate in our community.