Family Bucket List- Summer 2014!

Chapter 22. Wholesome Family Recreation

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, respect, love, compassion work, and wholesome recreational activities."

Bucket Lists are loads of fun! So why not sit down with you family, kids, husband, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, whoever wants to take part in this awesome adventure and make your own!

Family unity stems from togetherness. We have to spend time together, if we plan to build relationships that will last through the eternities. Memories go a long way in life, and help you draw close to the people you experience them with. When I was 16, I hiked Half Dome in Yosemite with my Dad and two younger sisters. It was probably one of the best experiences of my life thus far, but it would not have been very special if it was just me at the top of rock by myself. Family makes the difference.

Take the time to make your bucket list, and let each child turn in ideas about what you can do! It doesn't have to fall under any guidelines or rules, just list everything out! You don't even have to complete the list, in fact, you should keep adding to it!

Once again, Pintrest can help you make a project out of this idea if you'd like! Just type in Bucket List into the search bar and tons of ideas will come up!

I threw together some ideas of what I would like to do with my husband before the year ends! Let's see how many we can actually accomplish between our busy schedules!

Leah + Pedro Bucket List 2014

-Visit San Francisco

-Visit San Diego Zoo

-Buy a new car

-Visit New York City

-Have a picnic in the park

-Go rock climbing

-Visit a Spanish ward

-Run a half marathon together

-Go wakeboarding

-Go on a weekend camping trip

-Have a movie marathon all night

-Have a beach bonfire with family and friends

-Visit downtown LA

-Cook a full course Mexican meal

-Stargaze in the desert

-Teach Pedro how to ride a dirtbike

-Go shooting in the desert

-Go to the World Cup 2018

-Visit another country

-Meet Pedro's family members who are still in Mexico

-Visit Catalina

-Kayaking in Sunset Beach

-Paddle boarding

-Ride the hot air balloon in Irvine Park

-Visit 1,000 steps beach in Laguna

-Visit Top of the World Park again

-Go to Griffith Observatory

-Do the Hollywood Sign Hike

-Hike Half Dome

-Go Backpacking

-Learn Spanish/Teach English in another country

We did get to go beach camping in April with my family at Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu! This was also where we got engaged last summer as well! Check that off the list!

So far that is what I have come up with! I am sure that Pedro will want to add his ideas as well! Summer is a great time to work on you bucket list!

Wholesome Family recreation will help you children draw inwards to the family unit. It will help them build memories that they will one day want to pass down to their own families. Keep the family unit and the principle of the family strong by instilling these principles in your own kids at an early age! I promise that these memories will stick with them and will often become topics of conversation in future family get-togethers!

Check out this site on family activities from LDS.org!

LDS Family Activites

Faith in Family Life: Bringing the Family Back to the Table

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith and prayer."

This chapter talked all about restoring faith back into the family unit. I think that this is something that needs to become a priority in everyone's life during this time in the world. I know so many people who are quickly loosing faith in the marriage and family. I have friends who refuse to get married, refuse to have children, and refuse to create a family of their own, all due to the facts of bad experiences, the responsibilities, and the finances. I seriously have watched the family unit lose its popularity with my generation day by day. There are so many reasons and excuses why people are not interested in having their own spouse and family. Personally, I know that these people are missing out. Missing out on the joys and happiness that come with children, and the love of your life by you side through thick and thin. Just the other day, I was speaking with my grandmother who told me, "The more children you have, the happier you will be." She had six kids, and would have had even more if her husband did not pass away so soon. My mother agreed with this statement, and said that it proves to be true because she had six kids too and is pretty dang happy!

I was able to work on something that helped me strengthen my own family this week based on my readings. I was able to work on having family dinner more often. Now, if you know my husband, you know how busy he always is. He is always running off to a new soccer game, working, or sleeping. He is one busy guy. I am busy as well, working full time, and going to school full time also, so needless to say, we do not always have a lot of time for family dinner in the kitchen, sitting down around the table, enjoying our "free" time. Yeah, that doesn't happen a lot for us. So I decided to make a goal to plan dinners! Sunday nights will now become the dinner planning/scheduling meeting between my husband and me. I have a planner and a wall calendar that will help me stay organized and stay on schedule.

I wanted to share some of my suggestions that have helped me plan more meals for my husband and me. Pintrest has become my new best friend once again, there are so many hidden gems on that sight that can help any woman become a superstar.

The first thing I found was meal templates. You can simply print out some cute meal templates that will remind you what is for dinner each day, or you can pair it with a craft and make a whole project out of it. Here is the sight I looked at and found some ideas from, http://www.pinterest.com/explore/meal-planning-templates/

Now for me and my husband, we always have problem with making way too much food for just the two of us, and we are not big on left overs. Pintrest has a solution! We can type in 'meals for two' or 'easy dinner for two' and problem solved! If you have a family of 4, 8, 10, 12 or more, just type it into Pintrest and you'll find what you need!

Dinner time is so important. Everyone deserves a nice meal and some good company to end the day with, so don't neglect it. Include the kids and let them take part. Pintrest has suggestions for that too! Get everyone involved and make it a weekly routine! You will be able to watch relationships flourish within your own family. Some of my favorite memories with my sisters, brothers, and parents have occurred in our family kitchen, working together to create a great meal and then enoying it around the table!

So, check out Pintrest and get a head start on family dinners. Make it goal, and then make it habit. Make it a priority. Family dinners will make such a difference in the life of every family member! So get to the kitchen and start cooking!

Restoring Faith in the Traditional Family

Chapter 18: Faith in Family Life

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles  on principles of faith and prayer"

"Faith in family life".... The title of this chapter says it all. I can see people around me loosing more and more interest in having a traditional family almost on a daily basis. It's sad, but it's truthful, and there should be something done.

In this chapter of the text, three dimensions are discussed. Dimension one: Religious community and family. Dimension two: Religious practices and family and Dimension three: Religious beliefs and family.

Each dimension attributes faith and religion to reasons why the family is considered safer than those who do not practice any religious at all. Dimension one hits on key factors including, "Religious community and marital fidelity", "Religious  community and avoidance of pornography, violence and conflict",  "Religious community and mothering" and "Religious community and fathering" Dimension two hits on "The religious practice of prayer in marriage." and "The religious practice of family rituals". Dimension three talks about, "Religious beliefs and parenting". Each giving valid points of research and study as to why religion can play such a large role in guiding families to a successful life together that is filled with faith, unity, and happiness.

Having gone through a very hard struggle with my family, when I was only eleven years old, I can see how religion can build strong families. We were constantly praying together, fasting together, pleading to the Lord together to help get answers to our prayers. We relied on the priesthood powers of my father, grandfather, uncles and close family friends to help us get through the most hectic time in our lives. I know that my testimony of families was built strong and firm throughout that year. My parents had one of two choices...#1. fight, argue, hate one another and God, blame each other or #2. come together, mourn together, cry together, pray together, fast together... Thankfully, with their knowledge of the gospel, and with a combined faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they chose choice #2, which instantly taught me that when families and faith in Christ are combined...absolutely nothing is impossible. Being young, I had many questions, but I never questioned the faith that my parents showed, or their love for the gospel. They cherished and continue to cherish the eternal family they have created because of their decision to pursue faith and knowledge of the plan of salvation. All in all, 10 years later, our little struggle... named Scott Johnson Hicken, it now a healthy and happy kid...something that could not and would not have happened without two things...Family and Faith.

At this time in my life, I have so many friends of different faiths, and a lot of them, unfortunately, do not believe in traditional marriage. One very close friend recently told me that she was going to move in to an apartment with her long term boyfriend. It was hard to accept this, knowing that they will not be married while living together. My husband and I have discussed this, and we think that we can try to kindly turn them away from the idea, and help show them the true importance of marriage first and foremost. It has been a struggle, and we have been lost for words at times. But we know that the Lord will help us defend marriage and family life. We are working at it, and trying to help others see the importance, and with faith and diligence, we know that someday our labors will be fruitful. 

Nothing better than being surrounded by family, especially on your own wedding day!

We Are Still a Family

Plan of Salvation

A Sacred Calling: Fatherhood

Chapter 13:“Honor Thy Father” Key Principles and Practices in Fathering

One of my very favorite Mormon Messages ever!

It secretly excites me to watch my own husband become a father in our future together. 

As you can tell, this chapter is based on fatherhood and the divine roles of being a father. The Family, A Proclamation to the World provides a guideline to fathers and tells them about the responsibilities they are to fulfill for their families.

It states,

"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." 

Now a days, a good Dad can be a rare find among the world we live in today. But, I must say, that I do know some of the cream of the crop, fathers, uncles, husbands, grandfathers, cousins, friends, bishops, etc. The church has provided me with faithful and righteous men in my life, who have been able to be examples to me and bless me with their priesthood. I am so entirely grateful for each and every one of them and the roles they have played in my life, no matter the size, especially including my own father. I love you Dad. 

In his talk titled, "Fatherhood, An Eternal Calling" Elder L. Tom Perry stated,

"Satan, in his carefully devised plan to destroy the family, seeks to diminish the role of fathers. Increased youth violence, youth crime, greater poverty and economic insecurity, and the failure of increasing numbers of children in our schools offer clear evidence of lack of a positive influence of fathers in the homes. A family needs a father to anchor it."

"Each person born into the world begins a journey that is often attended by confusion, challenges, and personal risks. The external world of stresses and threats to wellbeing sometimes intrudes upon immediate world of family life. For fathers, a primary life and preparing them over time for the external world  that they will have to navigate as they grow....The image of a father figure as a protective figure is common in scriptural symbolism. Indeed, the ultimate protective figure is the Savior, Jesus Christ, who protects and heals His children from death, sin, and suffering as they come unto Him....One definition of protecting in fathering might be to arouse one's sense of responsibility and actively woe to ensure that children avoid risks or personal harm by modeling positive behaviors, mentoring children in personal abilities, and monitoring their behaviors and environments." (pg. 146)

My Father-

            I have been blessed with a father who has been very involved. He is the head of my family’s household and is a very righteous priesthood holder. My father and I have a different kind of relationship, as in we often bump heads and are very sarcastic with one another. Even so, because of his constant involvement and support for the family, I have always known that he loves my mother, my siblings and me. My father was very stern while I was growing up. He taught my siblings and I the meaning of hard work. He also really liked to teach what he calls, “life lessons” about actions and consequences, and cause and effect.

            My father is a very outgoing man, who has many hobbies. He has instilled a love for the outdoors in me. He has helped me realize that life is not always easy, but we have to keep working hard. He taught me what kind of man I deserve, just through the example he set while I was growing up. He is always happy to greet me, and always walks me out with a kiss and wave as I drive away. My father is everything that a Dad should be, and I know that I am blessed. He has had trials, and he never let us children know about them. He gave us a worry free childhood, even if he had been laid off of his job, or hardly had any money to feed us. Overall, I am thankful for my father. I know that he is the man he is now because of his father and because of his dedication to the gospel. I love him with all of my heart.

Father-daughter dance with my Dad the reception after our wedding!

Love this guy!

My Husband and Future Family-

            When my husband and I decide to have children, we definitely plan to have him be an active and involved father in their lives. My husband adores children and is someone who will definitely dedicate his life to his own someday. My husband loves to play soccer and is a very talented player, we know for sure that he will be directly involved with our children in this aspect. He wants to teach them and pass down his talent and skill, as well as help them find a love and passion for the sport as well.

            My husband is also very passionate about the gospel. When our future children reach the age of

 accountability, he will be directly involved in helping them become righteous members of the church.

He will be able to baptize and confirm them into the church. He will also be able to pass on the 

priesthood to our sons someday as well. He will be able to share with them the gifts and blessings of the

gospel. For our daughters, he will be able to provide priesthood blessings at any given time, in order to help them come closer to the spirit.

The father's of today bear a large burden in raising the next generation and trying to keep them faithful and help them become a covenant people. Father's can make or break the family with his choices and where he sets his priorities. We should be concerned about the way we treat the men in our lives and help them realize their divine potential  to become a righteous father's who will provide, preside and protect. 

Thanks for reading!

-Leah

Keeping the Spark

Chapter 7:The Warm, Happy Marriage: Cold, Hard Facts to Consider
"Marriage between a man and woman us ordained or God" The Family, A Proclamation to the World

This chapter often digs into intimacy and what it means within the bonds of marriage, and how important it is for a husband and wife to draw closer together.

Elder Parly P. Pratt stated

“Our natural affections are planted in us by the Spirit of God, for a wise purpose; and they are the very main-springs of life and happiness—they are the cement of all virtuous and heavenly society—they are the essence of charity, or love; …

“There is not a more pure and holy principle in existence than the affection which glows in the bosom of a virtuous man for his companion; …

“The fact is, God made man, male and female; he planted in their bosoms those affections which are calculated to promote their happiness and union” (Writings of Parley Parker Pratt, 52–53).

President Spencer W. Kimball

“Your love, like a flower, must be nourished. There will come a great love and interdependence between you, for your love is a divine one. It is deep, inclusive, comprehensive. It is not like that association of the world which is misnamed love, but which is mostly physical attraction. When marriage is based on this only, the parties soon tire of each other. There is a break and a divorce, and a new, fresher physical attraction comes with another marriage which in turn may last only until it, too, becomes stale. The love of which the Lord speaks is not only physical attraction, but spiritual attraction as well. It is faith and confidence in, and understanding of, one another. It is a total partnership. It is companionship with common ideals and standards. It is unselfishness toward and sacrifice for one another. It is cleanliness of thought and action and faith in God and his program. It is parenthood in mortality ever looking toward godhood and creationship, and parenthood of spirits. It is vast, all-inclusive, and limitless. This kind of love never tires or wanes. It lives on through sickness and sorrow, through prosperity and privation, through accomplishment and disappointment, through time and eternity” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, 130–31).

Much easier quoted, than written in my own words :)

This semester, I have been taking two courses that have covered family and marriage life, and to be honest, things look pretty dim in the world based on marriages. The divorce rates are high. The separation rates are high. The co-habitation rates are high. The domestic abuse rates are high. Everything that should be low, is high. I think it goes to show what a selfish world we are living in. When I was preparing for marriage last summer, I took a course through my singles ward. We focused on entering the temple and becoming a spouse. We were able to receive insight and advice from our Bishop's wife, a truly wonderful woman. We were able to discuss the needs and desires in a marriage. She strained the responsibility to fulfill those needs, intimate or not. Speaking with my mother, days before my own wedding, she stressed to me the importance of pleasing your husband. She reminded me that thoughtful and selfless service will truly help love grow. Now, being married for a short while, I have seen how serving your spouse in many different ways can be beneficial. The spark can easily grow dim, allowing for feelings of lost love or attraction to fill the voids. It doesn't take much to remind your spouse that they are appreciated or that they look beautiful. Keeping a marriage warm and happy is doable, we just need to stop focusing on ourselves and think as the Lord would think. 

This is the engagement picture we used in our invitations to our Wedding! Just thought it might be nice touch to this post!

In one of my other courses, I was able to share some of my thoughts with my instructor about marriage trends today, and I think that apply here as well.

First and foremost, I feel like I see more and more people treat marriage as a casual relationship, something that will not and does not have to affect them for the rest of their lifetime, if so be the case. Many people go in to a marriage, knowing that there is an easy way out at the signature of a document. I feel like people do not place enough time and effort into choosing a worthy spouse that is compatible and in tune with the other person. President Thomas B. Holman stated in the September 2002 Ensign, “Prophetic counsel teaches us that finding a marriage partner takes spiritual sensitivity, maturity, and preparation—including preparing ourselves to be the right spouse.” Not only are we jumping into the arms of anyone who proposes marriage to us, but we are not focused on the kind of spouse we should be. So many times, I hear or read about how someone else wronged an individual. We are so quick to place blame on others instead of accepting our own responsibilities. I think that this is another idea that factors into divorce and its affect on children. We often see divorcees blaming one another, teaching their children that this is an acceptable practice when things do not go our way. Overall, there are so many different actions that can affect young children. We know that we set an example for them with each action we do, and each word we say. It is so important for us to prepare and plan to have a successful marriage instead of being consistently casual with our thoughts about having a spouse, being a spouse, marriage and divorce.

Thanks for reading!

Love, 

Leah

Learning to Live Through Marriage

Chapter 3: Foundational Processes for an Enduring, Healthy Marriage
"Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other." The Family, A Proclamation to the World

This chapter opens with a great quote from President Spenser W. Kimball,

 "While marriage is difficult, and discordant and frustrated marriages are common, yet real, lasting happiness is possible, and marriage can be more an exultant ecstasy than the human mind can conceive. This is within the reach of every couple, every person."

Such an inspiring quote that should be shared with all, married and non-married. This is the kind of quote that I feel should be shared with the youth of the church in order to help them see the realistic side of marriage and also understand its potential. 

We soon learn about 'foundation processes' within a marriage in this reading. Foundational processes are "actions couples take in relation to each other to help their marriage flourish." There are many foundational processes that we can come up which have been to us throughout the years of our very own church attendance. In fact, the Proclamation guides us in a very straight path of foundational processes that can take place as well.

Teaching the youth about foundational processes can be a beneficial lesson, before being married. While I was a youth, I didn't think much more about being married other than happiness and great fun, and little did I know...things get tough. Marriage takes so much compromise and hard work. In my opinion, we do not prepare the youth enough for life after the temple marriage. We focus so much on getting to the temple, (which is definitely the #1 priority!) but we sometimes fail to neglect the rest of happily ever after....

This chapter provides six insightful foundational processes that I really liked and would like to share them.

Foundational Process #1: Personal Commitment to the Marriage Covenant

Elder David A. Bednar states, 

"The Lord Jesus Christ is the focal point in a covenant marriage relationship. Please notice how the Savior is positioned at the apex of this triangle. with a woman at the base of one corner and a man at the base of the other corner. Now consider what happens in the relationship between the man and the woman as they individually and steadily come unto Christ and strive to be perfected in Him. Because of and through the Redeemer, the man and woman come closer together." (pg. 28)

Foundational Process #2: Love and Friendship 

C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity states,

"Love as distinct  from "being in love" is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately  strengthened by habit...They can have this love for each other even at those moments when they do not like each other...It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run; being in love was the explosion that started it." (pg. 28)

Foundational Process #3: Positive Interaction

President Gordon B. Hinkley stated,

"I have witnessed much of the best and much of the worst in marriage...Faultfinding replaces praise. When we look for the worst in anyone, we will find it. But if we will concentrate on the best, that element will grow inside until it sparkles." (pg. 32)

Foundational Process #4: Accepting Influence From One's Spouse

"Accepting influence refers to counseling with and listening to  one's spouse, respecting and considering his or her opinion as valid as one's own and compromising when making decisions together." (pg. 32) 

Elder Russell M. Nelson stated,

"Husbands and wives, learn to listen and listen to learn from one another."

Foundational Process #5: Respectfully Handle Differences and Solve Problems

"Every couple, whether in the first or the twenty-first year of marriage, should discover the value of pillow-talk time at the end of the day-the perfect time ti take inventory , to talk about tomorrow. And best of all, it;s a time when love and appreciation for one another can be reconfirmed." (pg. 33)

Foundational Process #6: Continuing Courtship Through the Years

President David O. McKay stated,

"I should like to urge continued courtship, and apply this to grown people. Too many couples have come to the altar of marriage looking upon the marriage ceremony as the end of courtship instead of the beginning of an eternal courtship." (pg. 35)

I think that all of these quotes hit the nail right on the head, and they are all things we can work on in our own marriages, and teach the youth to help them gain a better grasp on how marriage will be when they enter into the sacred covenant. 

Elizabeth Vandenberghe gave a talk titled "Happiness, Health and Marriage" that also gives great insight! Take a look!

Hppiness, Healthm and Marriage- Elizabeth Vanderberghe

Being young newlywed, Pedro and I have had some struggles, all of which we did not expect to hit us so soon. We have had conflicts that have affected us both in different ways, but the most important thing about that is, we are a team now. We have to rely on one another, and I can honestly say that my Pedro is rock solid. I do not want to brag or anything, (haha) but he is awesome. His testimony never waivers. He has a strong grip on who he is and what he can accomplish, and at times, when I am struggling, he is there and always will be. Now, we are certainly not perfect, like I said challenges and trials have already seeped into our lives, even after being married for only ten months. Even so, we know that the Lord is pleased with us for taking the high road. Marriage is not so popular now a days. Friends and even some family thought that Pedro and I were crazy for getting married so young and only having an engagement of five months, but I can full-heartledly say that I would do it again and again. Marriage is hard, and we must work at it, but with a dedicated companion and dedication from yourself as well, you will make it and it will be beautiful.

Pedro and I after our sealing in the Los Angeles Temple last September. The best day of my life!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Leah

I Love to See the Temple, I'm Going There Some Day!

Chapter 1: Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage
Throughout this course, I have been studying from the textbook titled, "Successful Marriages and Families. Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives" edited by Alan J. Hawkins, David C. Dollahite, and Thomas W. Draper. It has been a great textbook to study from, and it really works hand in hand with The Proclamation itself. There is PLENTY of useful information and advice inside for raising a faithful family. Throughout my blog journey, I will be sharing some of my findings from the text and relaying them here! 

This particular post is about the very first chapter in the text titled, "Young Adulthood and Pathways to Eternal Marriage."

Now, I am a newly wed, and just recently have joined hands with my eternal companion to continue on our path together! I feel like I can relate to this chapter because I am a fairly young adult (22!) and I was just married in the temple! Perfect, right?! So that being said, I'd like to share some of my favorite quotes from this chapter with all of you!

The chapter begins with a quote directly from The Family, A Proclamation to the World,

"Marriage...is ordained of God... God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife... Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan." This was a great precursor to the chapter and really helped me have the necessary  principles fresh in my mind before going on to read.

The chapter explains the changes in adulthood and marriage, stating that many of the traditional practices have drastically changed, including dating and courtship, average ages of marriage and so on. I really thought that the paragraph titled "Getting Ahead Before Getting Wed" was dead on for the generation we are living in right now. "Coupled with a sense of pessimism about their chances for marital success, many young people now see their young adult years as a time to pursue their personal interests and become independent  financially. Simply put, the emerging adult culture today encourages young people to "get ahead before getting wed" and to be careful not to let marriage alter or interrupt one's educational and career plans." (Text pg. 4)

I think that this idea is more and more prevalent, even among some active young members of the church. Marriage may be a dying art in some opinions, but that's where the Proclamation comes in. We know and understand that "marriage is ordained of God" and that it also a commandment. Parent's have a responsibility to be a representative of marriage to their children and to teach them that it is an essential part of the plan of happiness. 

While researching this topic, I was able to find a wonderful general conference talk by President Ezra Taft Benson in 1984. The talk is titled "What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children About the Temple". 

One of my favorite quotes from President Benson, "The temple is an ever-present reminder that God intends the family to be eternal. How fitting it is for mothers and fathers to point to the temple and say to their children, “That is the place where we were married for eternity.” By so doing, the ideal of temple marriage can be instilled within the minds and hearts of your children while they are very young."

I know that my parent's definitely helped me harbor and grow a love for the temple, even at a very early age, and because of their example and demonstration of the role an eternal marriage can play in the life of a family, I was able to enter the temple with my eternal companion and continue the legacy. 

Last year, on September 21, 2013 My husband, Pedro and I had the opportunity to be sealed for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple. Although we are young, (I was 21 and he was 22 when we were married) we were lucky enough to have wonderful influences around us, supporting the temple and its teachings. We knew that it was the only place that we wanted to be married. Even as a convert, Pedro had set his goals to have an ever-lasting marriage and family, I am a thankful to be apart of that with him. 

Here is Pedro and me after a very long and exciting day of wedding bliss!

I definitely encourage other's to read and share the words and stories of President Benson in this talk.

What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children About The Temple- President Ezra Taft Benson

Also check out this video with your families and plan your next temple trip to somewhere exciting!

Love,

Leah

Like a Lighthouse

This is a song that I learned as a young woman, my dad introduced it to my sisters and me one sunday afternoon. I think that it is beautiful and has touching lyrics that everyone can relate to at sometime in their life...mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, anyone. Take some time to listen to it and really feel the message behind the words!

Like A Lighthouse- Drew Reese

The Beginning! Here We Go!

Hello everyone! My name is Leah Mendoza, and I am currently an online student at BYU-Idaho. This semester (Spring 2014) I am taking the Family 100 course, where we study the document, "The Family, A Proclamation to the World" which was released in 1995  by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints. The Proclamation gives member's of the church guidance and direction of how the family should be established and the roles and responsibilities of each member. My goal is help other's realize their own divine potential while fulfilling these roles and responsibilities in the family, as well as help members of the church find ways to defend the traditional family. I will be sharing conference talks, quotes, youtube videos, personal photos, and anything that I can find in order to help friends, family, and whoever else would like to follow along!

Click this link to learn more about The Family!

The Family, A Proclamation to the World