Feb 2014 - Thought - "Thought" is the beginning of all things

Hello, my name is Avis C (pronounced with a short 'a'). We recently moved here from South Central Texas, but are "native" Utahans. I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, my husband in Boise, ID, but we have family here and have lived in St. George area previously. I was asked by the Stake Relief Society President to write this for the blog, after she heard my comment in Sunday School a couple weeks ago.

I am by NO means an orator, so I keep things simple and to the point. If you want an ear-full you'll have to search me out and talk one on one.

The comment I gave in church was about our attitudes toward 'preparedness'. The lesson was on Noah and I pointed out that verse 22 of Moses 8 tells us exactly what the people's problem was...thoughts. "Every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart, being only evil continually." We can learn, not only from what the prophets and good people in the scriptures did, but also, how to avoid and be sure to check ourselves, to see if we are anything like those that were wicked in the scriptures. Being raised in the gospel, a lot of us forget that ALL our actions (or lack of actions) start with our thoughts. Are we putting off obeying the commandment from the prophets to be prepared for ANY reason? Think about what thoughts entered your mind when you first read the intro, that this entry to the blog was going to be on preparedness. Were they negative? That is where we begin to change. Find out how you can think positive about preparedness, and watch the change in your heart and actions start. Watch how the Spirit, then, can guide you to accomplish things you never thought possible.

By the way, Thought is the beginning of all things. Plans, creation, actions, choices all stem from thoughts.  One of my many favorite scriptures is D&C 121:45 "...and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly...and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews of heaven."

Sent from my Rotary phone duct-taped to an Etch-a-Sketch

Feb 2014 - Recipe - Delicious Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

This recipe comes from Patty's daughter-in-law and is one of my favorite food storage recipes.  It's quick and easy and perfect for a cool evening.  In fact I think I'll make some right now!

My trial - this was delicious, I think I could eat it everyday!

Chicken Tortilla Recipe

2 cups bouillon (or 2 cups water)
1 cup salsa (you can change the flavor of the soup by using different flavors of salsa - I used mango salsa)
1 cup canned chicken
1 can canned black beans
1 can corn
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Put all ingredients in a a pot.  Cook for 20-25 minutes.  Serve with grated cheese, tortilla chips, quesadillas, sour cream . . .

I didn't drain the corn or beans because I like to have the juice in it.

Tiffanie W

printable recipe

Feb 2014 - Thought - An Empowered Woman

A few months ago we were able to listen to Sisters Sheri Dew and Virginia Pearce, speak about a book they had written; The Beginning of Better Days Divine Instruction to Women.  As part of a thank you gift we asked those who read the book to write down their thoughts and feelings to share with the authors.  With her permission we would like to share one of these.

 When we were first given this assignment, I was a little dubious. Another thing to do in my already infinite laundry list. But as I watched the sisters in Relief Society begin to take hold of the book, I saw it wasn't just another assignment..It was an opportunity. 
  I bought the book and began to read. Being born in the early fifties, I never really felt I had a role model to look up to that wasn't a man. Women just didn't count. So I patterned my teaching and other things in my life after men I admired. Women just were women. I kept this opinion very privately to myself amid all of the progress women have made over the years. Still I never felt I was very valuable or that women were valued.
   Then I read the book. It was the first time I felt empowered as a woman.  I felt I had a valued place in God's kingdom. I knew my Heavenly Father loved me and I love him, but I don't know if I felt like He trusted me to be part of this work, or valued my efforts. After all, I'm just well you know a girl. Thank you Virginia Pearce and Sherry Dew...for parting the curtains and helping me see the truth.

Claire M (Regal Country ward)

Feb 2014 - Sisterhood - Lora, Making Family Life an Adventure

Hi, I’m Lora.  I am a wife and mother who loves taking her family on “adventures” and enjoys serving my country and community.  Our life as a family started out with both adventure and service when my husband and I met on the Utah County Search and Rescue Team.  Now, 10 years later, we have added four more adventurers to our crew, each with different personalities that challenge us to expand our horizons and try new things.  

I grew up just outside of Payson, UT.  I loved being able to go out my back door and be up on West Mountain exploring with my big sister.  We found “dinosaur bones”, geodes, clay, and made our own treehouse club.  After graduating from Payson High School I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at BYU.   

I moved to Washington, DC to complete a Presidential Management Fellowship and Glen joined me there after we were married in the Salt Lake City Temple.  While there I worked for the Department of State and the Pentagon.  My favorite experience was traveling to North Africa and the Middle East to conduct security reviews at Embassies in Tunis, Cairo, and Damascus.  

Now I spend my time keeping track of our four little adventures.   As a family we love going on adventures close to home and far away.  We have enjoyed the zoo, the America West Heritage Center, Golden Spike State Park, Zions, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, skiing in Montana, and seeing whales in California.  We look forward to many more opportunities for adventure and service as our family grows up.    

My name is Lora and I am a member of the Kanesville, Utah Stake. 

If you're interested in Search and Rescue you can find out more information on-line.

Utah County Search and Rescue
"The Utah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team is comprised of about 50 volunteers, from all walks of life, who contribute their time and skills to help others in need. They typically respond to over 100 rescue missions per year. The team members have expertise in many aspects of rescue, including technical (high angle) rescue, low angle rescue, swift-water rescue, open water, dive rescue and recovery, K-9, man-tracking, ice rescue, cave, ELT (downed aircraft), avalanche, mass casualty, evacuations, medical and many others."

Weber County Search and Rescue
"Weber County Search & Rescue (WCSSAR) is an extension of the Weber County Sheriff's Department and is made up of dedicated men and women that volunteer their time and abilities to provide search and rescue services for Weber County and the surrounding areas.

WCSSAR is an organization of professionals that are dedicated to saving lives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The organization consists of seven specialized teams: Mountain Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, Winter Rescue, Under Water Recovery, Canine Search, Mounted Posse, Off-highway Vehicles, Preventative Search and Rescue."

Anatomy of a slab avalanche from fsavalanche.com

One of the things that search and rescue helps with is avalanches  - so for your info here are a few place to learn more about them:"

• A link to Avalanche.org
• Where to call to get daily avalanche information:

"For up-to-date back country snow conditions in the Northern Utah area, call the U.S. Forest Service Avalanche Forecast Center at (801) 378-4333. Forecasts are updated by 7:30 a.m. daily.  Listen in regularly to get a better picture of what you’ll find hidden beneath the latest snowfall."

Feb 2014- Preparedness tip - Salt

Preparedness Tip from Brother Dan B of the Pheasant Meadow ward

“Salt is the staff of Life and important to survival. Our Testimonies are equally important to our Daily Survival. Each must be used daily so we can grow and receive daily nourishment. A 50 lb. bag of Real Salt (fine) may be purchased at IFA for $8.00. What is the cost of gaining or growing YOUR Testimony.

A small bag of real salt is $8.99 or you can buy a bag of real salt at IFA for $8.00 for 50 lbs. it is the same salt just bagged for animals.”

If you are curious, as I was about “real” salt let me share a little bit of what I learned.

Refined  / Unrefined Salt

Refined salt is brined in a solution which can include sulfuric acid or chlorine and heated.  This can remove many minerals.  Anti-caking and conditioning agents are also added to increase shelf life.  Iodide may be added. 

Ingredients

Morton Iodized table salt - salt, calcium silicate, dextrose, potassium iodide.

Morton Coarse Kosher Salt - Salt, Yellow Prussiate of Soda (Anti-caking agent)

Real Salt - An Elemental Analysis of Real Salt (a brand of unrefined salt mined in Utah)

Elemental Analysis of Real Salt

General Info about Salt

For more information about salt in general you might want to look at the Wikipedia site which includes A LOT of references.  

wikipedia entry for Salt - with references

Types of unrefined salt  source -Know your salts

Celtic / Gray Salt (France)

Comes from a Modern Ocean, harvest from various ponds of the shores of France.  This is a “wet” salt that is a bit more coarse

Himalayan / Pink Salt (Pakistan)

Comes from an Ancient Sea, mined from many different mines near Khewra, Pakistan.  This is a dry salt.

Redmond Real Salt

Comes from an Ancient Sea, mined from one source in Redmond, Utah.    This is a dry salt, it comes in different granulations; fine (table salt),  kosher (slightly larger crystal), coarse grind (looks like rock salt, usually used in a grinder) and powder salt (consistency of flour)

Youtube video about different grain sizes of salt