AUGUST WARD NEWS

CEDAR RAPIDS 1ST WARD

Bishopric Message
Wonderful and varied, food is a delight and a necessity. But not all food is created equal. While some foods are full of nutrition and replenish our bodies with healthy vitamins and minerals, other foods are vacuous, filling us superficially with tastes and flavors, lacking the lasting content our bodies desperately need. Some things we eat can be poisonous, addictive, and just plain unhealthy. Some things we eat give us strength and vigor. letting a little spiritual fat take control and weaken our resolve to serve God and our fellow man? Do we awake as from a dream of a night vision having eaten and quenched our thirst, only to find ourselves still hungering and thirsting? Along with our physical health, let's take inventory of our spiritual health. What kind of "spiritual food" are you eating? If it is virtuous, lovely, or of good report, seek after it. If it isn't, turn away from it...those foods serve only to fill you for the moment and leave you wasted in the end. Remember, the scriptures have substance. Coming to Church each week in spite of the struggle is spiritually healthy. Clean thoughts and clean language have a real affect on our hearts and minds. Come to the table Christ has prepared. Feast upon His words. Speaking of Christ, Nephi said, "Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price." (2 Nephi 26:25) Christ responded to the woman's question at the well, "from whence then hast thou that living water?" saying, "Whosoever drinketh of this [well] water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:1115) Can we answer Christ's offer as the woman did? "Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw." Let's improve our spiritual health with the water and food Christ has prepared for us. Come feast upon His words without money and without price.

Inside this issue:

Calendar Tri-ward Party/ Missionaries in Primary Scout Camp Pictures

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This physical illustration has spiritual parallels; our spiritual bodies benefit or suffer in a similar fashion from spiritual foods. What we ingest into our minds such as movies, TV shows, books we read, or conversations we entertain can uplift and edify or give us brief moments of feeling full and satisfied only to hunger more. Are the shows we watching just as vacuous as some foods people eat? Do we become complacent in our spiritual health,

Missionary Moment
The following is an excerpt from President Spencer W. Kimball's address "It Becometh Every Man", Ensign,October, 1977: "The real goal for effective proselyting is that the members do the finding and the full-time missionaries do the teaching. When members do the finding, they have a personal interest in the fellowshipping, there are fewer investigators lost before baptism, and those who are baptized tend to remain active. Another by-product is that when a member is involved, even if only from a casual relationship, the investigator seems to sense much more quickly that Mormons have a special health code (the Word of Wisdom comes as no surprise), that Mormons spend Sunday in Church and not fishing or playing golf (keeping the Sabbath Day holy comes as no surprise), and that Mormons contribute readily to the Church programs (tithing, fast offerings, missionary funds, etc). When there is little or no surprise, the reluctance to be baptized is more easily overcome. In summary, let me quote from the Prophet Joseph Smith: The truth of God will go forth boldly till it has penetrated every continent and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished. (History of the Church 4:540.) And then this significant revelation: For, verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earththe gospel must be preached unto every creature. (D&C 58:64.)"
sign of spiritual and emotional maturity. It is one of the greater virtues to which we all should aspire. Imagine a world filled with individuals willing both to apologize and to accept an apology. Is there any problem that could not be solved among people who possessed the humility and largeness of spirit and soul to do either---or both---when needed? The virtues of forgiveness and mercy must frequently be exercised together. Because we live in a world where there is much harshness, hostility, and meanness, there is also much need for all of us to be more merciful." (Standing For Something, p. 73-74). Gordon B. Hinckley

"The willingness to forgive is a

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August 2011

Did you Know?

With more Latter-day Saint women dotting the earth, Time Out For Women (TOFW) has launched a new website that brings the events to women who are otherwise not able to attend. (http://tofw.com)

YOUTH TEMPLE TRIP

August 27 We will meet at the church at 7:30 to be at the temple at 10:00. We will return to the church about 5:00.

The site is designed to help women all around the world connect, share and inspire each other through blogs, videos, a book club and newsletter. On the homepage is a weekly gem that features quotes that usually come from TOFW presenters. Whether it's a classic sporting event, a devotional with a general authority or family-oriented content, BYU digital media hopes its new BYUtv mobile application (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/byutv/id445128693?mt=8&ignmpt=uo%3D4#)

Tri Ward Picnic

The three Cedar Rapids wards came together in spite of threatening rain to enjoy the pioneer celebrations. Sister Watkins helped coordinate the activity with significant help from the other wards and many within our own ward. The New Horizons band came and provided wonderful music. We enjoyed having them and their families come to enjoy the day with us. Some rain threatened to dampen members spirits but didn't hamper the efforts of some to play softball in the wet and sloggy field. The Elders enjoyed slipping around the bases as they unintentionally, and sometimes intentionally, slid onto base. We love our missionaries! Many thanks to the Powelsons and

Missionaries in Primary

The missionaries helped teach a lesson in Primary about what it takes to become a missionary and why they are so important to the Church. Sister Amanda Waddell was took some adorable pictures to share.