How Does One Propagate a Succulent?

 

   To answer that question we couldn't resist these cute pictures of Megan Blackwell explaining it to the sisters of Relief Society in their monthly evening activity.  Most sisters knew what a succulent was (a plant that needs a small amount of water,) but the question was asked--What does if mean to propagate? She had to answer a lot of other questions too, but Megan explained everything and it was a delightful presentation. Propagate means to create another plant from a leaf or cutting.

 

    Christy Mecham who is the RS Activity Coordinator, set up the event and came up with a good selection of succulents for the sisters to plant in little containers to take home.  In this picture you see the sister missionaries dipping into the soil to prepare for planting their cute little green succulents.  Above them are some "succulent cupcakes" made by Jill Disch for everyone to enjoy.

Young Men Help Needy Pomegranate Farm

   It was hard work, but six Young Men and their leaders spent several hours picking up brush and hauling it out of a pomegranate orchard in the foothills. The brush was there as the result of  pruning the small trees by Cliff Kerr, Mark Wilcox and Mike Lewis. There is hope for harvesting some pomegranates this year from an orchard that has been neglected.

      After the work was finished, the young men  enjoyed donuts brought by youth leader Riley Broughten.  Other adult leaders working with the boys were Eric Fairbanks, Colby Holden, and Chene Mogler. Brother Kerr said he much appreciated their help and enjoyed getting to know them better, as well as having a great out-of-doors experience.

 

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.

Eric Fairbanks New Bishop's Counselor

   

      Sunday, March 21, Eric Fairbanks (left) was sustained as first counselor to Bishop Eric Holden and ordained to the office of High Priest.  He replaces Tyler Burton who is moving with his wife to Las Vegas. Brother Fairbanks and his wife Suzanne have three children. Suzanne is first counselor in Relief Society.    

   Brother Fairbanks was ward mission leader before being called to the Mokelumne River Ward bishopric. Previous callings he has held in his adult life are executive secretary, young men's president twice, and ward mission leader several times.  When asked how he felt when he was called to the bishopric he said "shocked and overwhelmed! But I know that my family will be blessed for it," he added.

    When Bishop Holden announced in Sacrament meeting that Brother Fairbanks would be his new counselor, he said he had prayed about who the counselor should be and it was very clear who Heavenly Father wanted it to be.  As first counselor, Brother Fairbanks will be over the Teacher's Quorum, Primary, and parts of Relief Society and Young Women.

Amazing Genealogist Dolores Hansen Dies

       Ward member Dolores Hansen passed away February 28 at the age of 88.  She had been a first grade teacher for 24 years.  According to her friend Priscilla Quanstrom, her moto was that all children must learn to read before moving to the second grade. She believed that reading is the key to success.  Joyce Dickerson added that she told  her students "When you learn to read, you can do anything in life that you want, but you must be able to read.  Your report card is like your paycheck."

   As a young girl Dolores became interested in family history and at about age 20 she began genealogical research.  After settling in Lodi she was able to volunteer at the Family History center in Stockton. Even when she became ill, Dolores did not give up on her family history and with the help of a few sisters made trips to the Lodi Family History Center where she entered names into Family Search.

This picture taken by her friend Ardell Gillingwater is just part of one room holding her many finished family history books.  If you were to go into her house, you would see stacks and stacks of genealogy binders, all through the house with only a path to weave your way to another part of the house. She had Loren Perry build extra bookshelves to contain some of these binders. She had stacks of binders for each branch of the family. "Her volumes speak loudly of her zeal to go until she dropped," Priscilla said. At the library over the years she had read miles and miles of microfilm. in her later years she was mostly known for her genealogy work which she pursued with relentless energy.  

     After her death, another friend, Rita Caldwell, was invited along with Priscilla and Ardell to help dress Dolores in her temple clothing before being sent to Seattle to be buried  near her father and mother. Saana Boyer and Marcie Ramos also helped as well as Lisa Clegg and Tami Woods from the Relief Society presidency.  Left to right: Dolores's close friends Rita Caldwell, Priscilla Quanstrom, and Ardell Gillingwater.

  Rita wrote expressing what it means to help dress a friend for burial.  Here is what she said:

   Being invited to help dress a dear sister in her temple clothing is a sacred opportunity to do one last service and say one last farewell. It is seeing her beyond the cares of this life designed to give experience to refine our character so that we can become more like Jesus Christ. With loving hands we dress her in garments representing eternal life. Our hearts are full as we remember her high goals of teaching every first grader to read, to prepare records of generations of her family, to protect her sons from whatever threat she perceived, and to be grateful for all the help she received.

   The dressing completed, Priscilla suggested we sing a song.  We stood together and sent Dolores home with "God Be With You Till We Meet Again," --by His counsels guide uphold you, with His sheep securely fold you, God be with you till we meet again.

Sisters Celebrate Relief Society's Birthday

    The celebration birthday party for the Relief Society is usually a highlight of the year.  Normally it consists of a formal dinner in the cultural hall with the Elders and High Priests cooking and serving.  There's always a nice program after.  But this is another COVID year and none of those things are possible.

   Ward RS activity director, Christy Mecham, came up with a great solution.  She planned a Zoom program that was all video previously recorded and put together on PowerPoint to be shown on the evening the normal celebration would be held.  Here is a brief outline of the program. 

     Spiritual messages were delivered by Sister Bronwyn Webb (left) and our sister missionaries, Hermana Flores Rendon and Sister Caldon.

Ann Kerr (left) gave a demonstration on how to make homemade bread and cinnamon rolls. Cindy Parker (center) showed how to make strawberry freezer jam, and her daughter Cayman (right) shows frozen rolls to use with her mom's freezer jam "because it's quick and easy" she says. Yum!

Young women, future Relief Society members, added a spiritual dimension with their beautiful singing.

    Cathy Leonard says the cinnamon rolls are extra delicious with cream cheese added to the frosting recipe.  Three sisters who have each been vaccinated for COVID decided to watch the celebration together.  They finished with a sweet treat in  the kitchen.

On the screen is Tami Woods, second counselor in the Relief Society, who gave some closing remarks and said the prayer.