Love and Serve Others - at Christmastime and Always

Moroni 7:47 “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”

Charity is defined as the pure love of Christ. The Savior loves every one of us. During this holiday season, I have tried to see other individuals the way that the Savior would see them. I have tried to have more charity towards others. I have tried to look outside of myself and to serve others. I want to be more like my Savior and I know that serving others is one way that I can do that. I try to have charity towards others throughout the year, but I'm not always the best at it. This holiday season I've tried really hard to be better at looking outside of myself and feeling charity towards others.

The “Light the World” service was a great start towards having more charity towards others. Upon first seeing the videos, I was inspired and excited to serve those around me. As I began looking for ways to serve others each day, I found that it became so much easier not only to serve others but to serve them in various ways. Not only did I find ways to serve based on the theme for the day, but I found many other ways to serve as well. Sometimes I get so bogged down with my life that I don’t look outside of myself and my trials. I’ve been reminded during this holiday season that when I look around me and serve others, God blesses me in ways that I would never have imagined! I have really reflected on the Savior and his love for ALL this month. He truly loves everyone, no matter our circumstances.

Sisters, I love each of you so much. I am so grateful to serve in the Relief Society presidency, mostly because it gives me more opportunities to get to know each of you. Each of you is a daughter of God and he loves you. He loves you so much! As I have gotten to know you wonderful sisters better, I have had a small glimpse of the love the Savior has for you. My favorite part of this calling is going on RS visits because I get to sit in your homes and learn all about you. I always leave your homes so happy to have been there and to have felt of your spirit. I feel lifted after each visit. If I feel this way, I can’t even imagine what the Savior feels for each of you, for each of us. He loves us so much that we can’t even comprehend the love that he has for us. I’m grateful that I’m able to feel even a small portion of that love that he has.

Sisters, I love you. I hope that each of you has had a wonderful Christmas today. As we continue through the holiday season and on to the new year, I hope that each of us with show a little more charity and love towards one another.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

To Give and to Receive the Gift of Love

My mom was just a couple of years younger than I am now when she found out her five year old, Brant, had cancer. It was right after Halloween, and the assumption was that his tummy ache resulted from too much candy or from "rough-housing" (as we called it) with the other boys in the basement. She sent him to kindergarten the following day because it was picture day, but the principal called even before the half day was over to let her know she should probably come pick him up. Now she sat in the doctor's office by herself (my dad was traveling for work), and got the news that they needed to get him to Primary Children's Hospital right away.

The next three months were a bit of a blur. My mom spent a good part of that time in Utah while Dad balanced work responsiblities and shuffled 6 other children, including a nursing baby, between neighbors, relatives, and friends--all while trying to make his way at any opportunity to make his own trips to Utah in support of my mom and his sick, young son.

I was four at the time and have just a few memories of that holiday season. I remember our home teachers bringing dinner each week from their restaurant, Dale E. O's. One evening they showed up with a large, black garbage bag full of stuffed animals, one for each child. I remember the quilt that the Primary children made; each had drawn a picture wishing Brant well, which had been transferred to a beautiful white quilt that looked like fluffy, white, entertaining goodness to a four year old. My parents came home from the hospital with my brother for a time, and I remember them bringing a sucker tree, made by Scouts in Utah who had delivered the gift to children in the hospital. Clay Santas and candy canes and manger boxes--along with real suckers--adorned the tree. I remember spending nights at Aunt Lynda's, Aunt Connie's, and Grandma's houses. I remember seeing the lights on Temple Square and then visiting Brant in the hospital. He had tubes coming from everywhere and though his eyes were closed, Dad assured me it was okay to say hi to him--he could hear me.

These are the few memories I have. Each year as we reminisce about that time, more details emerge from those who remember better. A bus carrying Brant's classmates from Tyhee Elementary showed up in our driveway. He stood at the door in his red, one-piece Santa pajamas and handed a candy cane to each child as they entered the house. They sang to him, as did the mutal youth another evening. Three Santas came that year. A plate (of sorts) was passed around to collect finanical support from the high priest group. Brant's school teacher visited a couple of times a week when he was home to keep him to speed with the other children. Meals arrived each day for three months, even when my mother claimed she was home and volunteered to give the ward a break. Our neighbor, Karla, is the one who piled the six of us in her car and hauled us to Salt Lake to visit our brother and see the lights. Visiting teachers, home teachers, neighbors, church leaders, classmates, friends, and strangers soon-to-be-friends helped in any way that they could.

To have been the recipients of so much love, sacrifice, and Christlike compassion warms our hearts each year at holiday time. I feel encouraged by the goodness of mankind--their selflessness and thoughtfulness. To receive love, kindness, and so many gifts--tangible and not--builds my faith in Heavenly Father, my desire to be like those who serve Him by serving others. I think of the Savior and am touched by those who follow in his footsteps. Those who served were touched as well. A couple of years ago my parents received a card in the mail. Anonymously a friend had donated to the Ronald McDonald House in memory of Brant. As I look around, there are countless opportunities to extend that love to others: a listening ear, a word of encouragement, a hug, a smile, a thoughtful note, warm blankets, food to eat, or even a bag full of toys. The very best gift is the love of the Savior that we feel as we give and as we receive.

 

Angels at Christmastime - Katrina Smith

Dear Sisters of the Oak Hills 8th Relief Society,

Oh how we love you.  We think about you and pray for you daily.  I feel it a privilege and honor to be able to write and share a brief message during this special time of year.

These past few weeks, my testimony of angels has increased immensely.  I believe they are sent to help us and are more involved in our lives than we realize.  I love the scripture in D&C 84:88 which reads, "...I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."  I love the stories told of pioneers who experienced the help of angels as they crossed the plains.  One man expressed, "I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other.  I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it. ... I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me.  I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one.  I knew then that the angels of God were there."

I testify that angels are sent to help us as we push the handcarts of our day.

Speaking of angels, Elder Holland states, "Usually such beings are not seen.  Sometimes they are.  But seen or unseen they are always near.  Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world.  Sometimes the messages are more private.  Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times."

Elder Holland goes on to talk about how angles are not just limited to those who are on the other side of the veil.  We are surrounded by them and interact with them daily.  

May we ever recognize the love of the Lord through the ministering of his angels.  May we also find opportunities to provide angelic relief to those around us, not only during this holiday season, but throughout the year.

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

P.S.  Here is the link to Elder Holland's wonderful talk, "Ministry of Angels":  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-ministry-of-angels?lang=eng

The Spirit of Christmas - Doralia Serrano

I have always looked forward to Christmas time. I love the music and the contagious good feelings that abound during this time of the year. I am amazed at the good influence that love and service have in our lives. Last Sunday, we had a wonderful Christmas program in Sacrament meeting. Thank you for sharing your talents with us! We truly have very talented people.


The choir did an excellent job!


I had the unusual opportunity to practice with the choir during rehearsals and then listen to them sing during the Sacrament meeting program. Every Sunday, Sharon helped us practice the songs/hymns we were going to sing. There were a couple of those songs that were particularly hard for us, but Sharon was always encouraging us. It is amazing the influence that kind words of encouragement and trust have in our lives. Sharon helped us and guided us during practice.  On Friday, before the Christmas program, I lost my voice and I was not able to speak for a few days. Melodic sounds were replaced by coughing cords, so singing was not an option. On Sunday, as part of the congregation, I was touched by the music. This specific time, while the choir was singing, I remember everyone’s preparation and effort. It is true that service comes in many different ways and this time it came as a result of time, effort, willingness to sing, and help from the spirit. It sounded so good!


Christmas time is the most wonderful time of the year because we are reminded of the love that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us. We can make this wonderful time of the year last our entire lives. Challenges will come and go, there is no question about that, but the hope that we receive from the knowledge that a baby was born to bring peace and comfort to our lives can stay with us always. Jesus gave His time, effort, and willingness to serve as a present to each one of us.


This Christmas and always, lets light the world with our efforts of love and service.


Merry Christmas!


“As the Christmas season envelops us with all its glory, may we, as did the Wise Men, seek a bright, particular star to guide us to our Christmas opportunity in service to our fellowman.
May we all make the journey to Bethlehem in spirit, taking with us a tender, caring heart as our gift to the Savior.” President Thomas S Monson

This Christmas - What gifts are you going to give?

As a kid I wanted the original Nintendo for Christmas so badly I couldn't sleep at night. It was an obsession on the order of Ralphie's Red Ryder bb gun. Years later one of my favorite gifts was a jar of strawberry jam that one of my best friends gave me. I savored that for months and thought of her making that jam every time I spread it onto my toast.

In December 2003, President Monson said, “he who gives money gives much, he who gives time gives more, but he who gives of himself gives all.” The Nintendo was a gift of money and the jam represented a gift of time. 

As you think about the gifts you are going to give this year, please consider the categories that President Monson outlined (money, time, yourself) and find ways to make the gifts you give more meaningful. Please also consider giving to the "poor and needy" rather than just your family and friends. In the past our ward has raised quite a bit of money with a service auction for a Sub for Santa service project. We did not do that this year but I know many of you would still like to serve and give. There are many opportunities and organizations where you can give and serve in our community. One project in particular is to make and give blankets for the homeless to be distributed through the Food and Care Coalition. Laura Smith is organizing a blanket-making party this Saturday from 11AM - 4 PM in the Relief Society room at the stake center. Here is a link to a google form you can fill out to let Laura know how you can help. Right now there is a need for sewing machines and fleece. 

This opportunity gives us a chance to give of our time and money. But how can we give of ourselves to others and to our Father in Heaven?

We can give a listening ear, friendship, a smile, a hug, or forgiveness. Elder Eyring said, “As you forgive, you will feel the joy of being forgiven. At this Christmastime you can give and receive the gift of forgiveness. The feeling of happiness that will come will be a glimpse of what we can feel at home together in the eternal home for which we yearn.”

Our parents gave us the gift of life. Heavenly Father gave His son so that we could have everlasting life (John 3:16). He also gave us the gift of the Holy Ghost. We have been given many gifts of the spirit which we should continually strive to develop and share. We have also been given the gift of agency so we can decide if and how we want to receive these gifts. Christ gave us the greatest gift of all, the atonement which allows us to be resurrected and to repent of our sins and be forgiven. There is truly no greater gift. 

What can we give our Father in Heaven and His Son? We can give them our broken hearts and contrite spirits. We can give our will to them.

Merry Christmas, my dear friends. Please know that we love you and pray for you daily. May you feel the Lord's love for you abundantly in your lives during this holiday season and throughout the year.

The blessing of being single - Jani Radebaugh

Sometimes when we look back at our lives through the telescope of time, we realize that events have occurred that have led to the best outcomes for us. I heard something today in church, and I can't really even remember what it was exactly, but it led to a train of thought that centered around my - gratitude - for being single for so long in my life. I understand that there are many things I could have learned through a long-term relationship with a strong and supportive companion, and with children, all of us working towards the goal of happiness, success and an eternal life together. I have seen the truth of this at work in the lives of many other people, including my parents, grandparents and siblings, and I am eternally grateful for the presence of my nieces and nephews in my life.

However, I also fully understand the great blessings that have come into my life through having been single all this time. I feel it's important for me to acknowledge that being single while making my way through my extraordinary life has been the path laid out for me by my Heavenly Father. Because I have been single and without children, Ive been much more mobile in the world, and I have seen and experienced things that few other people have. Ive been atop the high plateaus rising behind the Himalayas and to the white shoals tenuously anchored to the tip of the Bahamas with large groups of bright and capable students. I have been in the deep deserts of the world, on sand dunes, next to roiling volcanoes, under a canopy of stars. I have been to the middle of the Antarctic glacier, an utterly alien and forbidden landscape, where few others have ever been. I will set foot on all seven continents in this year alone - for the second time. I feel a strong and undeniable pull to place myself in all of these regions of Earth, as a way to understand other planets,

but also to breathe an anthem of praise to my God for his breathtakingly beautiful creations.

Being single also gives me the opportunity to know many people intimately over the course of my life. Instead of knowing one person deeply, I know many, and I have shared in their dreams and hopes and sorrows. Many of those people have been men - and I feel lucky to have seen their hope, known their capability and felt their love - though don't ask me to

interpret... My role has been that of friend and advisor to many people, and I feel that is in some way a calling. I know I have been blessed for taking it seriously and putting myself in the path of many of his children around the world.

While some may suggest that a life without a spouse and children is against the ideal within our faith, I will assert that my life has been just as it was meant to be. The Lord knew my talents and desires would only be fully realized in the condition of singleness to this point in my life. I think I knew that truth deep in my heart from early on, though I did not have the capability or example to fully acknowledge it was my path. And anyway, we don't always know how our lives will turn out, and it is for us only to be hopeful, open-minded, and brave. Now I am at BYU, surrounded by many students who will never be married, or will experience failed marriages and a new future alone. Already they have come to me to see how, and why, I can be happy single. I hope I am showing them.

The Parable of the Talents & Playing the Piano

 

 

“For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.” (D&C 82:3) The Lord has asked us to develop and use our talents. If we don’t continue to use our talents after we have developed them, he will take them away.  It is an ongoing process that must continue throughout our lives.

Consider the parable of the talents given in Matthew 25 (Matthew 25:14-30). The servant, who was given five talents, developed five more talents.  The servant, who was given two talents, developed two more talents. The servant, who was given one talent, went and hid his talent. When the Lord returned the two servants who had multiplied their talents were blessed. The Lord took away the talent from the servant who had hidden it. The Lord wants us to use our talents. He wants us to become better people by using what he has given us. He wants to bless us for our faithfulness.

Last weekend I was in Deseret Book and I came upon a children’s book called Practicing for Heaven by Brad Wilcox & Wendee Wilcox Rosborough. This book really helped put some things into perspective for me. In this book a boy named David is frustrated with the piano because it’s really difficult to learn to play the piano without making mistakes. His mom helps him understand that making mistakes is a part of the learning process. David’s mom also helps him to understand more about the Atonement: Christ has paid the price so that we can learn and improve. We aren’t earning our way to heaven. We’re practicing for heaven, and Christ is willing to help us every step of the way.

I just love that perspective. What a beautiful message. We are “practicing for heaven”. We aren’t earning our way to heaven. We are practicing for the day when we are able to return to heaven.  When I think of it that way, it somehow seems more bearable. Learning something new can be challenging and scary. Through the Atonement, Christ will help us develop new talents. Not only will he help us develop new talents, but also he will bless us as we use those talents.

Sisters, we know that there are many of you who have piano skills. We also know that we have sisters of various skills levels on the piano. We would love to give all of you the opportunity to play the piano in Relief Society. What better place to practice your skills than amongst your sisters and friends? It’s the perfect place to use those skills as you “practice for heaven”. Please sign up to play the piano in Relief Society. We want to hear all of you. We want to be blessed by your varying skills. I’m sure that there are many who feel the same way I do. When I hear a song played on the piano, I feel completely at peace. The Spirit often overwhelms me when I hear the piano. It is not a skill that I have taken the time to develop, but I am grateful for those who have developed that talent. Hearing the piano is “music to my ears”. Please sign up on the google doc to play in Relief Society. We would love to hear from you!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately of my own personal experience with the piano. When I was young, my mom signed me up for piano lessons. I didn’t enjoy taking lessons and all I did was complain. My poor mother had to hear my constant complaining about the piano. We had the missionaries over for dinner one night. One of the missionaries told me how cool it was to play the piano and that I should stick with it. He had not stuck with the piano and as he’d gotten older he had regretted that decision. As a young girl I didn’t really listen to what he was saying, because I hated the piano.  I eventually convinced my mom to allow me to quit piano lessons. And here I am today thinking of that missionary’s words. I chose to hide the talent of playing the piano and I definitely lost my skills through the years. I hope to try to play the piano ago someday soon. That is a talent that has been lost and I want to pick that back up. But honestly, I’m a little afraid to start. It’s been a long time and I don’t know what I’m doing. But I would like to learn the piano again so that I can “practice for heaven”. Who’s with me? Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, lets all do this together. Lets use that glorious talent of playing the piano. I can’t wait to hear all of you share your skills in Relief Society!

Family History - Are You Doing It? (by Anne Barrett)

Back in May, our Stake President, President Blair, extended the following invitation to our ward members: “My invitation for 8th ward members to record a story of an ancestor that inspires them is meant to get them thinking of their ancestors in general. I don't want people to think they have to find a story of the ancestor whose name they take to the temple--any ancestor will do; any relative will do. I just want them to think of a story and write it down. Great if they can put it on FamilySearch but writing it down is the invitation. I also invite them to submit a name to the temple. Great if they can perform the ordinance, but submitting a name is the invitation.”

I want to share a cool experience from my work in family history. My ancestors on my paternal line all came from the south (Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia). Yes, I come from hearty “rebel” stock (as you can see from the picture of Jeremiah Mordecai Barrett on the right). While attending graduate school at the University of North Carolina -- Chapel Hill, I was able to meet several distant cousins who are avid family historians. Additionally, I was able to visit a small North Carolina town where my ancestors settled in the mid-1700s. On one of my visits there, I photographed a small cemetery where many of my “kin” were buried. The small country church is long gone, but many old graves remain (you can see one of those graves below).

When I went home for Christmas, I was able to be baptized for several ancestors interred in the small cemetery. Shortly thereafter, I participated as a proxy in sealing those family members together. I have yet to have an experience as powerful. One day I was standing over the mortal remains of these individuals -- individuals whose graves seemed so final. Just a short time later, I knelt over an altar to assist in binding those people together. It was one of the most poignant experiences I have had & truly impressed upon me the importance this work carries.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Listen to Elder Bednar’s promises with regards to this work:

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/family-history-an-invitation?lang=eng

In an effort to assist the members of the ward in successfully sharing a story and taking a name to the temple, we will be increasing opportunities for you to get assistance with your individual work. We will have an excellent home evening on August 1st and will be coordinating other helps as our sisters have need.

I really enjoy being pointed in the direction of helpful resources and then being able to explore those resources on my own. I’m happy to ask questions when the need arises, but I really like to just be able to dig in. If you’re anything like me (and even if you aren’t), you may find any number of the following resources helpful in your own research:

Atlas of Historical County Boundaries: Shows how boundaries for geographic areas changed over time.

Billion Graves: Listings of graves/burials

Chronicling America: Digitized American newspapers

Cyndi’s List: A categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online.

Find-A-Grave: Searchable database of graves/burials

General Land Office Records:  Image access to more than five million Federal land title records issued between 1820 and the present

National Archives Resources for Genealogists

USGenWeb: Free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States

Automated Genealogy: indexes of the Canadian census

Library and Archives Canada: official archives of Canada, census records and more

FreeReg: baptism, marriage, and burial records from parish registers of the UK

Castle Garden: immigration records, pre Ellis Island

African Heritage Project: records on former slaves, freedpersons and their descendants

Ellis Island: immigration records, free indexes and original records, fee to download copies

British Library, India Office: records on British and European people in India pre 1950

German Genealogy Server: German ancestry research (many sections in German)

WieWasWie: for researching ancestors from the Netherlands (in Dutch)

Italian Genealogical Group: Italian American genealogy resources and databases

Illinois Digital Newspaper Collection: vast number of archived US newspapers

Hispanic Genealogy: wonderful list of resources for researching Hispanic ancestry

GENUKI: reference library of genealogical resources for the UK and Ireland

FamilySearch Wiki: Get genealogical research advice, or learn where to find record collections in 84,383 articles.

FamilySearch Learning Center: Browse hundreds of online genealogy courses to help you discover your family history.

Anne Barrett, RS Family History Specialist

Meet Hana Mauga

Sister Spotlight

Hana Mauga

Origins in Paradise:

Hana was born in Oahu, Hawaii and lived in Kahuku until she was six years old. From there, the family moved to San Antonio, Texas. Then, when she was 10, she moved to Oceanside, California, the place she still calls home. She has fond memories of each of these places,
including going to school in slippers in Hawaii, and always having a lot of family, especially cousins, around. San Antonio is where she got into competitive springboard diving, a sport she really enjoyed. 

But she truly loves California. By the time her family moved to Oceanside, her cousins had moved there, and they grew as close as brothers and sisters. She loves the beach, surf PE in high school, and graduating on the peer. She likes to return as often as she can to see her dogs and visit the ocean.

Hana has fond memories of trips with her dad when she was younger, memories that would become more important to her when he became sick. At eight, she and her dad took a trip to San Francisco together. Later, when they had moved to the mainland, she and her dad traveled all around Hawaii and then went to Samoa for her cousin’s graduation.


Living in the Real World (Employment & Education):

As a teenager, Hana was active in volleyball, Polynesian dancing, and participated in shot put, the 100-meter dash, and discus in track and field events. At the age of 14, she was employed to help make signature and company logo rubber stamps. At 16, she worked at Taco Bell (and still likes to eat there, and then started working for Sports Authority. Later jobs included working at a physical therapy office and working as the unit secretary putting in doctor’s orders in the emergency room. Hana currently works at Varilease

Corporate Finance as a leasing agent. But her dream occupation would be to be a caterer because she likes food and the events remind her of her own family’s gatherings where there was always food and music. Hana wants to finish her bachelor’s degree at UVU in Business Finance, and hopes to be able to begin that program this fall.




The Pursuit of Happiness:

In her discretionary time, Hana likes dancing, meditating, and spending time with friends.

She used to enjoy sewing and designing, but hasn’t make time for that lately. Hana is a free-spirited soul, who likes to hang out with go-with-the-flow friends that can uplift and support each other. To feel relaxed, she likes to get a facial. 

Hana likes to read and currently has Killing Reagan on her bed stand. Pride and Prejudice is her favorite book. She likes a variety of music, but leans toward Hip-hop and R&B. She likes to go out to eat and recommends Teri Café, a Japanese, Hawaiian fusion restaurant in California, and Red Maple, a Chinese restaurant in Salt Lake. She likes to cook and bake and is known for her cinnamon rolls, pani popo (sweet rolls with a coconut milk sauce at the bottom), and beef burgeon. She still enjoys surfing and has hiked to Donut Falls. She has four dogs that she loves, but they are all in California.

If she could go to lunch with anyone, it would be Richard Armitage, the British Actor on

North and South and Batman vs. Superman. There isn’t anything in particular she would want to ask him, just sitting and gazing at him would be enough. Maya Angelou said in her book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, that she has learned that:

“people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

That is a quote that has always stuck with Hana, and she tries to live up to that call to make people feel special.


First Things First--Family Ties :


Family is very important to Hana, and she has made family a priority in her life. She has four siblings and she is the oldest of the group. When she was 13, her youngest brother, Ike, a
surprise baby, was born. He was two weeks early, but still weighed in at 13 lb 1 oz. Afterward, her mother got a staph infection and had to go back into the hospital. Her dad was working two jobs, so she took care of Ike and the two became very attached. He was four when she was a senior, and she enrolled him in a preschool attached to the school. She’d pick him up and they’d have lunch together and then they’d go to the beach where she had surf PE. 

Also during this time, she had an aunt with cerebral palsy living and severe brain damage living with them and she’d bathe her and get her on the bus to go to school each morning. Later, her dad experienced a series of strokes, leaving him needing constant care. Her mother was left supporting the family and she tried to juggle working and taking care of him, but it was a lot of strain on everyone. So, Hana quit school and became the primary breadwinner for the entire family, working multiple jobs to support the family so that her mom could stay home and take care of her dad and the younger siblings. 

Finding Peace in Christ:

Hana was born in the church, but has been relatively inactive since she was 18, about the time she started taking full responsibility for the family financially. There was one brief phase at the age of 24 where she started going back to church, but it didn’t stick. Then, she began to evaluate her life and realized that she wasn’t happy going out all the time and the she was headed down a dark path. She only worked and lived for the weekends. Everything in her life started going downhill, and she remember that the one of the few times she really felt at peach in her 20s was when she was attending church. She hit a point where she had to make a huge decision about whether or not she was going to be really converted to the church. She decided it was time to commit fully. 

Sherri Dew has been an influential church leader in her life because she is a strong woman who is not afraid to speak the truth and refuses to be apologetic about her beliefs. One of her favorite hymns is “I Stand All Amazed.” She loves the reflective message in the lyrics. Hana has much to add to our relief society and our ward. I hope you will reach out and get to know this incredible woman.

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused by at the grace that so fully he proffers me.

I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,

That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

Meet L'Athena McKnight

Sister Spotlight

L'Athena McKnight

 L'Athena's mother, Julie Thompson, L'Athena, and her grandmother Nancy Baker

Trip to Disneyland for her grandmother's 75th birthday

Origins

L’Athena, the youngest of four children, was born in Albany, Oregon. As a child, she liked to do dishes and clean house so much that she was nicknamed “the maid.” She has spent most of her life in the Albany area and loves the greenery, the plentiful rain, and the location. It’s about an hour to the coast and about an hour to the mountains. Farming is abundant in the area, so there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Her father lwas not in the picture, so her mom worked a lot to support the family. She spent much of her summers biking to neighboring towns for swim team and to visit her mom at work. She loved to watch Armageddon (at least 150 times) although Liar, Liar is currently her favorite movie.

L'Athena, brother Leon, sister Mylena, and oldest sister Gillian.

L’Athena’s name is unique. When her biological father left before she was born her mom seriously considered giving her up for adoption because she wasn’t sure she could adequately care for her. She wrote L’Athena a letter explaining that she wanted to name her L’Athena after the Goddess of Love to let her know that she was loved (Oops! She later realized Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom). L’Athena’s mom decided to keep her, but showed her the letter. L’Athena went by Tia.

To High School and Beyond

L'Athena participated in the high school swim team and track and field (shot put and discus) and trained to be a member of Search and Rescue. She worked as a babysitter and cleaned houses and worked at the school cafeteria all four years of high school in addition to being a barrista at the school coffee cart.he

L’Athena graduated from Linn-Benton CC with an associate’s degree in the Applied Science of Culinary Arts. She plans to continue her education to be a Career and Technology teacher at UVU when she gets residency, which would be her dream job. She hopes to be able to enjoy the summers traveling. She currently works at Kneaders as the Pastry Assistant.

Life and the Pursuit of Happiness

In her discretionary time, she likes to nap, bike, run, swim, and talk with her niece. When she really needs to relax, she goes swimming. When she was young, she loved camping at Little Nustecka, a free campground with a river where she would walk and see the fish. It was shallow enough that her mom let her roam the river as long as she never left it.

      L’Athena has a dog, Sasha, that she dearly loves. She is a malamute/German shepherd mix and is currently living with her sister and nieces. She describes herself as a loner and likes to spend time with her dog, but also likes to hang out with her friends and talk, watch television, and do random stuff like baking cookies, making pies, doing arts and crafts, or organizing. If she could go to lunch with anyone that is not LDS, it would be Emeril Lagasse. She likes how influential he has been in earning money and then taking that money and putting it back into schools. She would want to pick his brain to find out how he thinks and what he thought he could have done better so that she could apply his strategies.

    She is not a big fan of reading, but did like reading Comfort me with Apples, a book by a food journalist and The Miracle of Forgiveness. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare was her favorite, though, and she currently has a signed copy of Aim High on her bed stand.

Overcoming Challenges

       
      One of the biggest challenges of her life was growing up without a father. Besides recognizing that her 

mom did the best she could, she looked to other men, like her swim team coach and a group she dubs “The Three Wisemen,” her bishopric while she was in high school. She loved swimming, and her swim team coach believed in her and supported her. He

The Three Wise Men, aka "The Wise Guys"
Burl Smith, Fred Dunmire, and Phillip Chapman

encouraged her to join a more advanced swim team and helped her get the opportunity to give a speech in front of about 50 people at a YMCA conference about her dream and goal of becoming an Olympic swimmer. 

        The Three Wise Men also had a big impact in her life. The bishop frequently told her that he loved her and respected her and called her a princess. The first counselor trusted in her and confided in her, and the second counselor always checked in on her to find out how things were going. Both the second counselor and his wife (her young women’s teacher who made perfect cookies) were very influential. Later, that second counselor became her home teacher when she was inactive. He would randomly stop by and help her move and do things around the house. And when the time came, his wife helped her fill out her divorce papers. She could always rely on them, and she called them her “church parents.” There were always there when she needed them, and when she started to come back to church she had the missionary lessons in their home.

Kris & Burl smith, Linda & Fred Dunmire, and Leslie & Philip Chapman

Strength in Christ

Although L’Athena was born in the church, attendance as a child was often spotty because her mom often had to work weekends. Her mom also didn’t want any of her children to be baptized until they were 12, an age when she felt they could more fully appreciate the commitment they were making. They also had to have read all the scriptures. At age 12, L’Athena decided to get baptized because she felt the scriptures were true.

       However, her real conversion came as her testimony was strengthened after her divorce. She felt the peace and happiness that the gospel brought into her life as she started to come back to church and took the missionary lessons. She learned that the only person required in your life to bring you happiness is the Savior. During that time, the words of John 3:15 were put into her mind during the hardest part of her divorce as an answer to prayer: “That whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” She also relies on Ecclesiastes 3:1-12: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” This scripture reminds her that there is a reason that everything happens, that noting is random. God always has a plan and something that is supposed to happen for you. We need to trust in Him and look at the bigger picture. L’Athena put her trust in God when she moved to Provo in an act of faith on the advice of her bishop. The area is unfamiliar to her and she didn’t have any friends or family here.

     She particularly likes the quote from Ezra Taft Benson’s address in 1989, “Born of God,” and appreciates the hope it offers in Christ.  

The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.