By Lu Ann Staheli
Think the word bride. What image comes to mind? A girl, probably mid-twenties, thin body, a perfect complexion, and unlimited resources to give her the wedding she’s dreamed about her entire—short—life.

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by Krista Ralston Oakes
The term “sacred cow” is figurative, but it originates from the Hindu tradition of protecting the cow as a sacred animal.

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By Nettie H. Francis
On February 8, 2010, the Boy Scouts of America will celebrate its 100th birthday. Founded in England by Lord Robert Baden Powell, a military hero, in 1907, the Scouting movement was brought to the United States by American journalist William Boyce, who became acquainted with the organization when a young Boy Scout helped him through the thick London fog. Boyce was so impressed with the helpful boy who wouldn’t accept a tip, that he made an appointment to see Lord Baden Powell and learn more of the Scouting movement. He eventually founded the Boy Scouts of America based on the ideals and activities designed by Baden Powell.

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By Alison Palmer
Scripture:Matthew 22:37-38
Song:“Love One Another,” Children’s Songbook, 136

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By S. Amanda Dickson
Day 1 – We’re sitting in the Celestial room at the temple. Today we’ll be sealed for time and eternity. A worker has just come by to tell us that we are waiting on my soon-to-be father-in-law, and his mother. The worker tells us that they will arrive shortly, and my father-in-law doesn’t want us to know that it is him we are waiting on.

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By Wendy Watson Nelson
Change Your Questions, Change Your Life is a must-read for anyone serious about making this their New Year. Complete with color pictures, graphs and illustrations to help readers visualize and personalize the important concepts, this book can help you find new solutions to old problems.

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By Stephanie McMillan
The room was filled with laughing kids, shushing each other with pointed looks and fingers pressed to lips. Trying desperately to listen, we were often diverted in our best efforts by a more interesting eight-year-old neighbor and the treasures he hid in his scripture bag. Sister Huffaker bravely stood at the front of this melee each and every Sunday, singing out and sharing her love of music with our rowdy crowd.

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President Hinckley once gave a great allegory of life. Quoting an old newspaper article, he said: “Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride” (“A Conversation with Single Adults,” Ensign, March 1997, 58).

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By Dave Ellis
Today I heard a song from my high school days playing on the “oldies” radio station. I am now living in a cliché. Pretty soon I’ll be embarrassing my soon-to-be teenage daughter (wife/editor comment:
He already does, but isn’t aware of it yet…)

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By Ken Craig
My daughter, Abbie, graduated from Primary earlier this year. The signs were there that the time had come. She had spoken in Stake Conference already, she had accompanied one of the songs during the always-anticipated annual Primary Program, and on her final Sunday in Primary, she cried during her talk and then hugged all of her leaders. I even overheard her tell one of them, “I hope you realize how much your sacrifices of time and diligence have impacted my spiritual journey.” She was speaking to the secretary in the Primary Presidency.

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By Chris Stewart
While I was serving in the United States Air Force, I once stopped in the Philippines on my way home from a deployment overseas. After checking into a very nice hotel, I stood in my room and looked through the rear window onto a ghetto that had sprung up along a huge canal at the back of the hotel. There I saw a young Filipino mother washing her children in the filthy water that was draining into the ditch. She looked to be about my age. Her children looked to be about the same age as my children. I watched them for a very long time, seeing the hunger in their faces and the desperate conditions in which they lived.

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by Annette Lyon
My list of New Year’s resolutions that year wasn’t unique. I imagine many other women make similar lists all the time: Be more patient with my children. Plan ahead for Family Home Evenings. Read my scriptures every day. Lose the final fifteen pounds from my last pregnancy. I don’t recall anything unusual standing out on it.

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By Lin Vernon Floyd
As the New Year begins, we have a fresh slate upon which to write as we contemplate our goals. One item that’s important, but always seems to fall at the bottom of any To Do list, is family history. Now is the time to change that, and make it a priority. I’m not talking about gathering genealogy information and doing temple work, although that’s important, but taking time to teach our children more about their ancestors or turning the hearts of the children to their fathers. (D&C 2:2)

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By Nettie H. Francis
The funds are low, and the debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh.” (Anonymous) The world is in a crunch, a financial crisis that has now become an emotional and physical challenge for many families.

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By Alison Palmer
Scripture: Alma 5:33

Song:“Help Me, Dear Father,” Children’s Songbook, 99

Preparation:Find a bandana or other object that can be used as a blindfold.
Prayerfully read “Repent . . . That I May Heal You,” Neil L. Andersen, Ensign, November 2009, 40-42 and consider which thoughts and passages you would like to share with your family.

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