Traditions and plans for Pioneer Day

This coming week is July 24th, otherwise known as Pioneer Day. I grew up in a small town in southern Alberta, an area which was settled by Mormon pioneers. Growing up we would usually have some type of ward activity (often a potluck dinner and games at a park) to celebrate the occasion. My husband and I both have a lot of pioneer ancestors and it is important to us that we pass on that heritage to our children. So we traditionally do a few things each July to mark the occasion.

We always enjoy watching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Pioneer Day Concert. The 2015 concert was called Music for a Summer Evening and featured special guest Laura Osnes. We watched the recorded concert on YouTube this past Sunday morning before church.

At least one Family Home Evening lesson in July has a pioneer theme. In 2010 we did Pioneers, Seagulls and Crickets, and Faith and in 2011 it was Faith of the Pioneers. We usually have homemade ice-cream for our treat.

For dinner on the 24th we serve Fried Bread. I know it isn’t an authentic pioneer meal, but that is our tradition! We like ours with powdered sugar or honey butter on top.

The church has produced a few Mormon Messages that are great to share at this time of year, and we also like watching Legacy.  This year we plan to watch 17 Miracles (directed by T.C. Christensen) as a Friday Family Movie Night on Pioneer Day.

Video Links

  • Faith of Our Fathers: President Uchtdorf discusses the phrase “Faith of Their Fathers” and talks about pioneers of the Church. (1:41)
  • Reviewing the Lessons of the Past: Are you preparing for your future? Journey with us as Elder Perry teaches us how to prepare.
  • Pioneers: Dallin H. Oaks, Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, pays tribute to modern-day pioneers who faithfully follow Jesus Christ. (2:27)

How do you celebrate Pioneer Day?

Author Favorite: David Ezra Stein

Interrupting-Chicken-Book-CoverOne of our new favorite picture book author/illustrator is David Ezra Stein. The first book of his that we read was Interrupting Chicken, which was a 2011 Caldecott Honor Book. We loved it so much it has been added to our permanent family library.
Pouch_bookWe later read Pouch and Leaves, and found them to be equally charming.leaves

Ol’ Mama Squirrel is great fun.9780399256721_large_Ol_Mama_Squirrel

This week we read Dinosaur Kisses, and now dinosaur kisses have been added to our bedtime routine (goodnight kiss, butterfly kiss, dinosaur kiss).dinosaurkissescover

David Ezra Stein is definitely an author we will keep our eye on, and we look forward to reading more of his books!

Follow the Living Prophet (Teachings of President Benson)

“Learn to keep your eye on the prophet. He is the Lord’s mouthpiece and the only man who can speak for the Lord today. Let his inspired counsel take precedence. Let his inspired words be a basis for evaluating the counsel of all lesser authorities. Then live close to the Spirit so you may know the truth of all things.”

The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today’s instructions from God to us. God’s revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Every generation has need of the ancient scripture, plus the current scripture from the living prophet. Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering that you should do is of the latest inspired words from the Lord’s mouthpiece. That is why it is essential that you have access to and carefully read his words. …”

“As members of the Church we have some close quarters to pass through if we are going to get home safely. We will be given a chance to choose between conflicting counsel given by some. That’s why we must learn—and the sooner we learn, the better—to keep our eye on the Prophet, the President of the Church”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson. Chapter 11.

Traditions for a Fourth of July

In our family, the Fourth of July means hamburgers and fireworks. Sometimes we celebrate with friends, last year we were blessed to be in Utah and celebrate with extended family, and sometimes it is just us. No matter where we are, the dinner menu usually involves the following:

  • hamburgers/hot dogs
  • potato salad
  • watermelon
  • Red, White, and Blue Cake: angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries and blueberries on top

This year my husband surprised us with bottles of IBC Root Beer, which added a tasty treat.

Since our children are still young, we haven’t yet felt the desire to brave the crowds and stay out late for the community sponsored fireworks displays. So my husband is happy to oblige us by setting off our own fireworks show in the street in front of our home. The kids love the pop-its and sparklers, and then we settle in for our personal pyrotechnic display.IMG_1506

This year our ward hosted a pancake breakfast, complete with face painting, a children’s bike parade and stick pulling. There was a flag raising ceremony and Pledge of Allegiance to start things off, which put us all in a patriotic mood. It was a great way to start the day by socializing with our ward friends. Hopefully that event will be a tradition that continues!

In the days leading up to the holiday we also read some patriotic books.

We are thankful for this country that we live in and the freedoms that are ours.

Messages from President Monson

My 5-year old son taught our FHE lesson last week. He wanted to “put the prophets in order”, which means that we lay out our pictures of the First Presidency and  Twelve Apostles and say the names and put them in their correct order of seniority. (This has been a regular activity at our house, and a good way to learn their names and faces). Then he chose a Mormon Message video from President Monson for us to watch.

One of my goals for the summer is to seize opportunities for sharing gospel messages with my children daily. I have realized that I have a bit of a captive audience during breakfast time, so I often use that time to review scripture verses. This week we watched some of the online videos of messages from President Monson, and reviewed some of his recent conference addresses.

What Matters Most

Dare to Stand Alone

Have I Done any Good in the World Today? along with this music video of the song by Alex Boye and Carmen Rasmusen

Help Someone Today

Sunday morning we watched the video clips about the life of President Monson, available through the Gospel Library app on the iPad. President Monson is truly a remarkable example of a man who follows in the footsteps of the Savior and listens to and obeys the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Favorite Recent Quotes

October 2008: “What is most important almost always involves the people around us.”

April 2015: “The blessings of the temple are priceless.”

October 2014: Ponder the path of thy feet. “Walking where Jesus walked is less important than walking as He walked.”

April 2014: “Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar.” “Love should be the very heart of family life.”

 

Reading the Caldecott books

When the Ant Bug was younger, I set a goal to read all of the Caldecott Medal winning books. We read a few each month and we finished the list in February of 2010. You can see my list of favorites here. Now it is five years later, and this summer we are reading the recent winners and reviewing our favorites.

fc257b9993a6718aa358ac9be02156002015: The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat (Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.)

Locomotive_Floca2014: Locomotive by Brian Floca (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing)

Klassen_This_Is_Not_My_Hat_cover2013: This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press)

Chris_Raschka_-_A_Ball_for_Daisy.jpeg2012: A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka (Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.)

A_Sick_Day_for_Amos_McGee2011: A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead (Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)

The_Lion_and_the_Mouse_front2010: The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown and Company)

All of the winners were enjoyable, with great illustrations, of course. We have read and enjoyed A Sick Day for Amos McGee a few times in the past, and I think The Adventures of Beekle will make it on our re-read favorites list.

What is your favorite Caldecott Medal winning book?

Flooding the Earth and Our Lives with the Book of Mormon (Teachings of President Benson)

“It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life” (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.

Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise, he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity to his whole life. There is a difference between a convert who is built on the rock of Christ through the Book of Mormon and stays hold on the iron rod, and one who [is] not.”

“I have a vision of flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon”.

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson. Chapter 10.

Patriotic Books to Read in July

July is the perfect month to learn more about our country and instill a sense of patriotism in our family. Here are the patriotic books we are reading this month:

Guthrie-ThisLandThis Land is Your Land. Words and music by Woody Guthrie, paintings by Kathy Jakobsen.

51m0WtKcacL._SX368_BO1,204,203,200_America the Beautiful by Katherine Bates (author) and Wendell Minor (illustrator)

61x4LRgcM-L._SX371_BO1,204,203,200_How to Bake an American Pie by Karma Wilson

51kpz8VdldL._SX432_BO1,204,203,200_How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A. by Marjorie Priceman

619EWTAHMVL._SX407_BO1,204,203,200_We the Kids by David Catrow

61ptS0QqcBL._SY385_BO1,204,203,200_The Flag We Love by Pam Munoz Ryan

red white and boomRed, White, and Boom by Lee Wardlaw

The Book of Mormon–Keystone of Our Religion (Teachings of President Benson)

“The major mission of the Book of Mormon, as recorded on its title page, is “to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.” The honest seeker after truth can gain the testimony that Jesus is the Christ as he prayerfully ponders the inspired words of the Book of Mormon.”

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (Marion G. Romney, Ensign, May 1980, p. 67).

“We … should know the Book of Mormon better than any other book. Not only should we know what history and faith-promoting stories it contains, but we should understand its teachings. If we really do our homework and approach the Book of Mormon doctrinally, we can expose the errors and find the truths to combat many of the current false theories and philosophies of men.”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson. Chapter 9.

The Sabbath is a Delight (FHE plans and quotes from Elder Nelson)

Lesson Plan

Share and discuss the following quotes from Elder Russell M. Nelson, “The Sabbath is a Delight”. April 2015 General Conference.

“The Sabbath was His gift to us, granting real respite from the rigors of daily life and an opportunity for spiritual and physical renewal. God gave us this special day, not for amusement or daily labor but for a rest from duty, with physical and spiritual relief.”

“In Hebrew, the word Sabbath means “rest.””

“We now partake of the sacrament on the Sabbath day in remembrance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

“It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father.With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, “What sign do I want to give to God?” That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear.”

Discussion: What activities can we do on the Sabbath that would make it a delight to us?

Elder Nelson suggested: going to church, partaking of the sacrament, being diligent in our callings, strengthen family ties, study and teach the gospel, family history work, give service to others.

“Not pursuing your “own pleasure” on the Sabbath requires self-discipline. You may have to deny yourself of something you might like. If you choose to delight yourself in the Lord, you will not permit yourself to treat it as any other day. Routine and recreational activities can be done some other time.”

Personal experience: After pondering Elder Nelson’s counsel, I have decided to forego my pleasure reading on Sunday (novels,  Facebook, and blog subscriptions) and instead spend my free time studying the gospel. I have been amazed to discover what is available on the Gospel Library iPad app!

Scripture

“Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then … are ye sanctified in Christ.” (Moroni 10:32)

Further Study

Video excerpt from Elder Nelson’s talk

Elder L. Tom Perry, “The Sabbath and the Sacrament”. April 2011 General Conference.