New Baby Boy!

Enoch Samuel Benson was born on March 10th!  He was 7 lbs 14 oz and mom and son are doing well.  We are so happy for the Benson clan and  look forward to knowing and loving Enoch Samuel Benson.

March RS Meeting---Feeling RAGGEDY about Visiting Teaching?

Fun at our Rollin' in the Dough Finance Mtg

Helpful Financial Links

Here is a collection of resources to help you in your financial management.

TALKS FROM OUR LEADERS

Finances

One for the Money: Guide to Family Finance 

The Sanctifying Work of Welfare

Providing in the Lord's Way

The Lord's Richest Blessings

The Law of Tithing 

Providing for Our Needs**

Let Him Do It with Simplicity 

Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually 

God Will Pour out a Blessing, Ensign 

Welfare Principles, Church Handbook of Instruction

All is Safely Gathered In 

VIDEOS

Becoming Provident Providers

Tithing Funds the Lord's Work

Jesus Teaches about the Widow's Mites

HELPFUL TOOLS

Financial Calculators 

Online management tool: Mint

LDS Budget/Debt Worksheets

100 Savvy Money Saving Tips by Category 

BabyCenter Family Finance Basics

American Family Finance Statistics 

Summary of Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps

Smart Couples Finish Rich, a review of David Bach's book 

Deciphering Your Bank Statement

How to Write a Personal Financial Plan

Goals, Insurance, Investments, Retirement, Estate Planning 

Dollar Store Deals: What to buy and what to skip

Walmart Coupons

QUOTES/OVERALL SUMMARY

PAY A FULL & HONEST TITHE

“The payment of tithing helps us develop a submissive and humble heart and a grateful heart that tends to “confess … his hand in all things” (D&C 59:21). Tithe-paying fosters in us a generous and forgiving heart and a charitable heart full of the pure love of Christ. We become eager to serve and bless others with an obedient heart, submissive to the Lord’s will. Regular tithe payers find their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ strengthened, and they develop a firm, abiding testimony of His gospel and of His Church. None of these blessings are monetary or material in any way, but surely they are the Lord’s richest blessings. I testify that as we pay our tithing faithfully, the Lord will open the windows of heaven and pour out upon us His richest blessings.”  --CARL B. PRATT, of the Seventy

AVOID DEBT & HIGH INTEREST

“Interest never sleeps nor sickens nor dies; it never goes to the hospital; it works on Sundays and holidays; it never takes a vacation; it never visits nor travels; it takes no pleasure; it is never laid off work nor discharged from employment; it never works on reduced hours; it never has short crops nor droughts; it never pays taxes; it buys no food; it wears no clothes; it is unhoused and without home and so has no repairs, no replacements, no shingling, plumbing, painting, or whitewashing; it has neither wife, children, father, mother, nor kinfolk to watch over and care for; it has no expense of living; it has neither weddings nor births nor deaths; it has no love, no sympathy; it is as hard and soulless as a granite cliff. Once in debt, interest is your companion every minute of the day and night; you cannot shun it or slip away from it; you cannot dismiss it; it yields neither to entreaties, demands, or orders; and whenever you get in its way or cross its course or fail to meet its demands, it crushes you.” –PRESIDENT J. REUBEN CLARK, 1938

“Invest wisely. Avoid speculations and get-rich-quick schemes.” –M RUSSELL BALLARD

DISTINGUISH BETWEEN NEEDS & WANTS,

LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS

“Self-reliance is a product of provident living and exercising economic self-discipline. From the beginning the Church has taught that families—to the extent they can—need to assume responsibility for their own temporal welfare. Each generation is required to learn anew the foundational principles of self-reliance: avoid debt, implement principles of thrift, prepare for times of distress, listen to and follow the words of the living oracles, develop the discipline to distinguish between needs and wants and then live accordingly.” –H. DAVID BURTON

“If there is any one thing that will bring peace and contentment into the human heart, and into the family, it is to live within our means. And if there is any one thing that is grinding and discouraging and disheartening, it is to have debts and obligations that one cannot meet.” –PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT

“Exercise self-discipline by telling ourselves “We can’t afford it” and refusing to take on further credit obligations.

Please be patient and carefully control your purchases so that you will not become enslaved to your creditors.” –M RUSSELL BALLARD  

HAVE A PLAN & SET GOALS 

FOR YOUR MONEY & YOURSELF

“Brothers and sisters, let us discuss the second key, planning, which means to think out beforehand how we intend to reach our goals in life. Do we all have a plan to increase our value where we are employed? Have we taken the time to write down specific goals, and have we designed a plan of action to become more effective and productive? –M. RUSSEL BALLARD

“Brothers and sisters, every one of us has the potential to improve and increase his earning capacity. We are far better off if we can improve and become more valuable on our full-time jobs than if we attempt to hold two jobs or to have mothers leave home to join the work force.” 

HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE &

LOVE TO WORK  

"Remember, a good attitude produces good results, a fair attitude fair results, a poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude. Too many people in our country today are developing the attitude that government is obligated to care and provide for them. In many ways, government has fostered this attitude, but the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know better."

TIPS FROM ELDER M. RUSSELL BALLARD  

"Providing for Our Needs"

The first key is to have a positive attitude toward ourselves.

Attitude is an important part of the foundation upon which we build a productive life. In appraising our present attitude, we might ask: “Am I working to become my best self? Do I set worthy and attainable goals? Do I look toward the positive in life? Am I alert to ways that I can render more and better service? Am I doing more than is required of me?”

Brothers and sisters, let us discuss the second key, planning, which means to think out beforehand how we intend to reach our goals in life. Do we all have a plan to increase our value where we are employed? Have we taken the time to write down specific goals, and have we designed a plan of action to become more effective and productive?

The third key is to practice self-discipline both at our work and as we attempt to reduce our expenses in our homes. Regarding the latter, Church leaders should set the example by seeing that stake and ward financial requests are kept to a minimum. Members should—

1. Avoid debt-pooling where exorbitant fees are charged. We may want to consolidate debts using a bank or credit union loan that can be repaid at a sensible interest rate over a reasonable length of time. We may need to stop using our credit cards.

2. Exercise self-discipline by telling ourselves “We can’t afford it” and refusing to take on further credit obligations.

An argument was overheard one day. One spouse said, while scolding the other for extravagant spending, “How many times do I have to tell you that spending money before you get it is economically unsound?”

“Oh,” said the other spouse, “I don’t know about that. This way, if you don’t get the money, at least you have something to show for it.”

Please be patient and carefully control your purchases so that you will not become enslaved to your creditors.

3. Make a budget and stick to it.

4. Cut expenses by distinguishing between wants and needs. Economize by controlling the use of goods, services, and energy.

5. Increase homemaking skills and have family members complete home and car repairs, when feasible.

6. Invest wisely. Avoid speculations and get-rich-quick schemes.

February RS Meeting--Rolling in Dough!

Let's Build on a Solid Foundation

January RS Meeting

UPDATE: 
Many of you have expressed interest in this activity. It was held about about 4 years ago, and we are no longer consistently monitoring this blog. I was finally able to track down the original documents and have included them as images here for reference. I apologize if this does not meet your needs. Thanks for your patience. 

2013 Relief Society Theme

We are excited to announce our new RS theme for the year 2013.

Let's be wise and build upon a strong foundation together!

New Baby!

Sisters--

Let's welcome Bradley Feleti Aiono into the world and into our ward. This new son of Kate and Dallin Aiono was born on December 31st. He was 7 lbs 13 oz and was 20 inches long and he is no doubt as beautiful as his parents. Kate, Dallin and Bradley are all doing well.

Welcome, Bradley! We are looking forward to getting to know you!

2012 RS Meeting Summary

Thanks to all those who came out and supported our additional Relief Society Meetings.

Here is an overview of all the fun we had!

2012 RS Meeting Summary

As sisters we are of one heart and one soul as we . . .

February—Introduce Theme: One Heart One Soul

•Traveling heart basket

•Huge puzzle piece heart, put up as a sister described what she “puts her heart into” 

March—Legacy of Sisterhood RS Birthday

. . . Rejoice in the blessing that is Relief Society

•Pasta dinner at color coded tables for sisters

•Conversation-starter questions at each table

•Musical number/Message on the importance of VT

April—Parenting Mini Classes

. . . Strive together to love and serve our children

•Financial planning/Healthy Activity ideas/Literacy mini classes

May—Service Auction (2nd annual)  

 . . . make sincere effort to love and serve one another.

•Invited Laurels

•Established point system/claim certificates to bid on

•Food signup and bidding sticks

 June—Stake RS Meeting

•Scratched this month’s activity to support Stake Meeting

 July—Exercise Classes

. . . encourage each other to be healthy and strong in mind and body.

•Aerobics class and yoga class

•Each sister brought a healthy food to swap with someone else

•Focus on bountiful baskets for healthy eating

August—Pop in our Marriage  

. . . focus support each other’s efforts to build sweet forever relationships with our husbands.

•Collected date ideas ahead of time and that night, complied and passed out to all sisters

•Asked the men to write down things about their wives “match game” idea the night of activity

•For sisters who were single or husband’s didn’t fill out, they got a quote about marriage and asked for insight

•Sign up for “pop” desserts

September—Missionary Work

. . . work together to spread the gospel and support our missionaries

•Passed up 101 ways to support missionary work & BOM to every sister on Sunday and ahead of time

•Asked Elders to give a thought/testimony and encouraged sisters to pass out a BOM

•Had missionary name tags for every sister

•Wrote encouraged notes “thumb body loves you” to our ward elders

•Nice message from Ensign from Melissa Ogden

 October—Craft Night

 . . . teach each other important things that we know.

•Royal night—princess craft for each station: fall wreaths, growth charts, family tiles

•Pumpkin pie and apple crisp

November—Service Tea Party

 . . . reach out and serve in our communities.

•Tea party theme, with hygiene kits and guest speaker and author Debbie Potts 

December—Progressive Dinner 

 . . . celebrate together the birth and life of our Savior.

•Sisters rotated through houses to enjoy a snack and a Christmas message in Lakewood Village

**Note that most of these activities are posted on our blog. Each month has an invitation posting, and a recap posting. Just search for a date or keyword of the activity you want and it should pop up! Sorry they aren't hyperlinked to make your life easier.