Youth Service Project A Success at DeBenedetti Park

   For the joint Young Women/Young Men activity this month, Bishop Holden contacted the City of Lodi’s Parks Department, indicating our desire to do a park cleanup project. The original plan was to clean at Lodi Lake.  The Parks Department was surprised and impressed at the willingness to help and mentioned that DeBenedetti Park was in more need of their service. DeBenedetti is mostly used for soccer games, but with Covid-19 having shut down the soccer programs, the fields have been a bit neglected.

    The Young Men and Women with their leaders met at 9 am, opened with a prayer, grabbed a donut and a water bottle and paired up. Armed with gloves, trash bags and trash pickers from Bishop’s truck, they spread out.

   One of their most interesting find was a snake carcass, but mostly they found bag after bag filled up with food containers and cigarette butts.

   The weather was perfect with a slight breeze to keep them cool. Young Women's secretary Kaela Burke commented, "It was impressive how many kids willing showed up at 9 am on a Saturday morning and how hard they worked to beautify our town. It’s hard not to feel close to our Heavenly Father while giving service with happy faces."

What's Your Favorite Quote?

     This is the first Relief Society activity in over a  year that actually took place "in person" instead of watching something on Zoom. The meeting was held on the outdoor pavilion and sisters enjoyed a nice spring breeze as favorite quotes were shared and explained.  Four sisters shared their quote with the entire group, then everyone else shared theirs with those sitting at their table , all the while eating the delicious cream pies that awaited them.

    The sister in the upper left picture is Cyndi Parker who told about the Parker quote, "The Parkers can do anything."  She didn't think she could do it, but just a few weeks after having her first baby, she bicycled across the Golden Gate Bridge with the extended family.  In the upper right picture Judy Wilcox shows a quote she embroidered in Primary.  It says "Greet the day with a song, make others happy, and serve gladly."  She has tried to do this throughout her life.

Three Friends Baptized on Same Day

     Andrew Boyer and Nathan Merrill of Mokelumne River Ward, along with Grant King of Vineyard Ward were baptized April 10 and confirmed April 11. All of them were born the month of March 2012 and have been buddies their entire lives.  

     They had first planned to be baptized in March of 2020 but had to postpone due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  So they have been waiting and waiting and were very happy to finally be baptized together.

     This was the first baptism to be held in the font inside the stake center since the pandemic began over a year ago. Baptisms to this point were usually held in a member's swimming pool or spa.  Due to a larger amount of people attending a baptism for boys from three different families, the program was held in the chapel with masks and social distancing in place. Then each boy and his family were taken to the font.  On the program a special song was sung by five young girls, all sisters of the boys.  Jenny Haynes gave a talk on baptism, and Cindi Brink spoke on the Holy Ghost.  After the service and baptisms, the three families and friends gathered on the outside plaza for sandwiches and desserts.

From left: Adopted grandfather Dave Gillingwater baptized Grant King;  Andrew Boyer was baptized by his brother James Boyer; Nathan Merrill was baptized by his step-grandfather Glenn Weeks.

    Since all the boys were nine years old they were considered "convert baptisms."  They had the privilege of being taught five missionary lessons by the Elders from Vineyard Ward and the Sisters from Mokelumne Ward. Sister Caldon and Hermana Flores were also witnesses for the baptism of Nathan Merrill.

Research by Janet Cook Shows Importance of Families

    Sister Janet Cook has been working hard the last several years on a degree from BYU Idaho.  She's almost finished.  The degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Family History. This degree includes a lot of Research Methodology, writing argument proof reports and other types of research and reports.  She wants to become a Certified Genealogist!

   A major report she just finished compared three different women through several periods of time.  She interviewed each one several times and recorded the various events of their lives.  Each one had different things to confront and solve, but Janet saw a common theme among the three.  It was family.  Here is the conclusion she reached to end the report:

    Three women at different times in the world showed us that every person is unique. Three women knew what they wanted and despite turn of events in their lives and a change in their social roles, continued on their path. Some historians perceive that the American family's future is a territory without clear guidance. Like it or not, today we are all pioneers, picking our way through unchartered territory. The old rules are no longer reliable guides to work out modern gender roles and build a secure foundation for marriage. Wherever it is that people want to end up in their family relations today, even if they are totally committed to creating a so-called traditional marriage, they have to get there by a different route from the past. Three women, three eras, and three families paving their way for future generations.

Primary Presidency Sponsors Easter Walk

 

        What a sweet and enjoyable activity Primary leaders set up for anyone in the ward, not just children. The activity lasted the whole week before Easter, set up around the parking lot on the East side of the chapel. There were ten stops in the picture trail, each numbered.  Each stop had a picture, a story, or scriptures, and some had QR codes to scan with a smart phone to open videos and/or songs about Easter.  An invitation on the first stop said, "We hope this special walk can bring you closer to our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  Enjoy and have fun!"

    This picture is proof that people of any age enjoyed the walk.  This is Joanne Tyler who went with a friend, learned how to take a picture of a QR code with her phone's camera and enjoyed a video about Christ.

   The last stop produced a recipe for Resurrection Rolls which like empty tombs and taste great.  What an excellent, creative project for Easter.

SISTERS OF FAITH -- Featuring Shaunee Cook

   Tammy Woods of the Relief Society presidency came up with the idea of featuring one sister a month to share her faith related experiences. Shaunee Cook was chosen to be the first, following an excellent talk she gave in Sacrament meeting.  Here are some clips from her talk.

   At the age of 15 I stopped going to church and became inactive.  I remember my mother fighting so hard for me to get up every Sunday and go back to church, but every day I would refuse, and after a very long time she finally gave up.  In those two years my soul became empty, my heart became motionless, my passions ceased and doubt became rampant.  I  started to question myself and everything. Then one day I started to, for first time, read the Book of Mormon with my heart and soul, and not just my head.  After some time, and deep readings that had touched my soul, I prayed to the Lord and asked it it were true.  I received a strong feeling that it was.  Then I began my tearful conversation with the Lord.  This would mean pouring out my heart with every doubt, fear, and question, hoping that he would suddenly appear in front of me, telling me all of what my heart desired as he did to prophets in the past.  I asked, sitting on my bedroom floor, "Why do I need to go to church?  I am not needed there and no one would care if I was there or not."  There was a small pause.  He did not appear before me, like I had wanted, but he did give me an answer.  I heard the most gentile voce coming in my head and heart.  He said, "It is true. No one may need you there or care if you go, but I NEED YOU THERE."

     Shaunee's words to those who have wondered:  You are never lost.  If you have family or friends who have decided to not be connected as affiliated with the church, or have just fallen away--the Lord is forever with them.  He is always there and will continue to be there, guiding and cheering us on.  We just need a moment to hear him.

Elder Daley Leaves for Mission

     Due to the Pandemic, Tyler Daley's Mission Training Center was in his home. At the conclusion of that time he greeted friends and family at a surprise drive-by parade in front of his house. Elder Daley is going to serve in the Missouri St. Louis Mission.  He flew directly there from the Sacramento Airport on March 23.  

   Note the sign below held by his mother Cori, and posing with his brother, sister and father.   We're sure Elder Daley will be a great missionary in St. Louis and we look forward to hearing his experiences.