The Files

Church Statement: The Divine Institution of Marriage

2008-09-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

The Church has released a statement explaining its stance against institutionalized same-sex marriages.

Source: LDS.org
Created By: LDS General Authorities

Announcing the NEW Phoenix, Arizona temple!

2008-05-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced today that the Church plans to build a new temple in Phoenix, Arizona. This will bring the worldwide total number of temples built or under construction to 140, including five in Arizona.

Latter-day Saint temples differ from the tens of thousands of local meetinghouses where members typically meet for Sunday worship services and midweek social activities, and where visitors are always welcome. Temples are used solely for the performance of sacred ordinances and religious instruction aimed at strengthening members’ relationships with God and their fellowman.

To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, temples are houses of the Lord, the most sacred places on earth. Temple services bind families together forever, teach the purpose of life and explain God’s plan of salvation. Temple attendance strengthens Latter-day Saints’ commitment to living Christian principles, emphasizes personal spiritual growth and increases devotion to family.

“The blessings of the temple are eternal,” said President Monson. “Those who come to this holy house will feel of God’s love for His children and come to a greater understanding of their own divine origin and potential as His sons and daughters.”

There are currently two temples in Arizona, in Mesa and Snowflake. Two additional temples were announced last month for Gila Valley and Gilbert, Arizona.

The Church’s Temple Department reports that the Mesa Arizona Temple, close to the city of Phoenix, is attended by more worshippers than any other Latter-day Saint temple in the world outside of Utah.

The announcement of eight new temples in Arizona, Idaho, Utah and British Columbia over the last two years reflects the Church’s steady growth in North America.

After Latter-day Saint temples are built they are opened to interested members of the public and the media for open house tours before being dedicated as places of worship. The Church’s last temple to be completed is in Curitiba, Brazil. Over 40,000 guests have visited that temple this month in open house tours for the media, dignitaries and the public.

Source: LDS.org

Activity Idea: Presidency Pedicures

2008-04-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

I thought this idea was fun for Activity Days or Young Women. And hey - get yourself a free pedicure out of the deal!

Source: Sugardoodle.net
Created By: Lisa Eustice and Kerrianne Burch

FHE Idea: Hold to the Rod

2008-04-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

Great lesson idea from Sugardoodle.net that could be used for Family Home Evening (FHE) or Sharing Time in Primary.

Source: Sugardoodle.net
Created By: Melanie Day

Activity: 9 B's Wall Hanging

2008-04-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

A fun craft idea for Activity Days, Young Women and more!

Source: Sugardoodle.net
Created By: Laura Mulholland

Presentation: Ten Virgins

2008-03-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

A visual presentation of the Ten Virgins. This was made for a Young Women fireside but could be presented for other activities.

Source: ywsuggestions.net
Created By: Wejann

Easter Power Point: His Path, Our Journey

2008-03-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

A beautiful presentation on the journey through the life of Christ.

Created By: Wendee Nelson, Jessica Phillips, and Stephanie Thomas

Pedigree Fan Chart

2008-03-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

Printable 5 generation Pedigree Fan Chart.

Source: genealogy.about.com

Pedigree Chart

2008-03-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

Pritable 4 generation Pedigree Chart.

Source: genealogy.about.com

Family Tree Chart

2008-03-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

Printable 4 generation family tree chart.

Source: genealogy.about.com

Easter Hunt: Carrot Scavenger Hunt

2008-03-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

"Plant" redeemable paper carrots around the house for your kids to find!

Source: Familyfun.com

Easter Egg Decorations: Dress Your Egg

2008-03-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

A cute way to spruce up those Easter eggs. Simply print and cut out. An easy craft to do with your little ones.

Source: FamilyFun.com

Easter Poem: Jelly Beans

2008-03-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

Red is for the blood He gave.
Green is for the grass He made.
Yellow is for the sun so bright.
Orange is for the edge of night.
Black is for the sins we made.
White is for the grace He gave.
Purple is for His hour of sorrow.
Pink is for our new tomorrow.
An egg full of jelly beans, Colorful and Sweet
Is a prayer, a promise, A loved one's treat!!

Created By: Unknown

The Story of Easter: Easter Egg Hunt

2008-03-12T13:07:00.000-07:00

Put the following items into Easter eggs along with the corresponding scriptures. This would be great for Family Home Evening -- Have an Easter egg hunt and then open the eggs and read the scriptures for the lesson. Make sure you number the eggs with a sharpie so you know which order to open them. Enjoy!

1. Sacrament Cup
2. 3 dimes
3. Knotted twine
4. Chunk of soap
5. Square of red velvet
6. Toothpick or pipe cleaner cross & tiny nail
7. Small pair of dice, small square of white cloth
8. Tiny bag of crushed rock, soil
9. A stone
10. A small stone
11. Whole cloves (or similar spice)
12. Empty

1. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 36:39

2. Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:14,15 (This fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 11:12-14 that Jesus would be sold for thirty pieces of silver.)

3. When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people too counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him,they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Matthew 27:1-2

4. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Matthew 27:24-26

5. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews ! And they spit upon him on the head. Matthew 27:28-30

6. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him the compelled to bear his cross. Matthew 27:31-32 And He was crucified…..nailed to the cross. Press this nail into your hand, feel how it must have hurt.

7. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet…..And sitting down they watched him there. Matthew 27:35-36

8. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;…..Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Matthew 27:50-51, 54

9. (Then Joseph, a rich man) went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock. Matthew 27:57-60

10. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Pilate said unto them (the chief priests and Pharisees), Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. Matthew 27:60,65-66

11. And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descened from heaven, and come and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And the angel said unto the women, Fear not ye: For I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. Mark 16:1 & Matthew 28:6

12. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Matthew 28:6

Created By: Unknown

Chorister Flipchart: "Our Bishop"

2008-03-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

Flipchart for the Primary song, "Our Bishop". Amy says:

On pg. 4, I tell my pre-readers that "word" says word. On the word "help" (pg. 6), I use a marker to draw a comic talking bubble around it and we identify it as the word Help! for the pre-readers in Junior Primary. On pg. 8, I picked a picture where the bishop looked like the girls in the picture, maybe their father too. On pg. 9, we talk about how we sing the word "do" instead of "choose". I printed this on cardstock and even my Sunbeams were able to pick it up. Yeah!

Source: Sugardoodle.net
Created By: Amy Goodyear

Thomas S. Monson Named 16th Church President

2008-02-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

Thomas S. Monson is the new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was announced today at a news conference in the Church Office Building. President Monson, 80, succeeds President Gordon B. Hinckley, who died 27 January.

The new world leader of the Church has called to serve with him in the First Presidency, the top governing body of the 13-million-member faith, President Henry B. Eyring, 74, first counselor, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 67, second counselor.

President Boyd K. Packer, 83, is the new president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be filled later.

Source: LDS.org

Timeline: President Hinckley as Prophet

2008-01-29T08:52:00.000-08:00

The Church has published a timeline of significant events in the presidency of President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Source: LDS.org

President Hinckley Funeral Service

2008-01-29T08:49:00.000-08:00

Funeral services for President Gordon B. Hinckley, leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who died Sunday evening, will be held this Saturday, February 2, in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. The proceedings will be broadcast via satellite in 69 languages to over 6,000 Church buildings globally. Brigham Young University’s BYU Television will also broadcast the funeral internationally. hose who attend the funeral services at the Conference Center will need to be in their seats no later than 10:30 a.m. for an 11:00 a.m. start. Seating will be restricted to the 21,000 capacity of the Conference Center. Overflow seating with large screen viewing of proceedings will be offered in the adjacent Tabernacle, Assembly Hall and Conference Center Theater.

Between the funeral and graveside services, a program profiling the life and ministry of President Hinckley titled In His Own Words will also be televised.

President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since March 12 1995.

There will be a public viewing Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Church Administration Building, 47 East, South Temple Street, Salt Lake City.

President Hinckley, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through twelve years of global expansion, died at the age of 97.

The Church president passed away at his apartment in downtown Salt Lake City at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night from causes incident to age. Members of his family were at his bedside.

Expressions of sympathy can be emailed to condolences@ldschurch.org or mailed to Church headquarters at 47 East South Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT 84150.

President Hinckley’s family members have suggested that in lieu of flowers those who wish to send a memorial gift could donate to the Church’s Perpetual Education, Humanitarian or Missionary funds, or the Gordon B. Hinckley Chair of British Studies at the University of Utah.

Source: LDS.org

Succession in the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2008-01-29T08:42:00.000-08:00

Very detailed and specific description of how succession happens when a President of the Church passes away.

Source: LDS.org

Glenn Beck's Tribute to the late LDS President Hinckley

2008-01-29T08:29:00.000-08:00

This isn't our usual type of posting, so I hope you'll forgive the change in protocol, but this simple tribute on mainstream television touched me because it articulated my own feelings so well.

Beloved Church President, Gordon B. Hinckley, Dies at 97

2008-01-27T20:13:00.000-08:00

We at LDSFiles.com mourn the loss and honor a great man and spiritual leader who touched us personally, President Gordon B. Hinckley. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posted the following:

President Gordon B. Hinckley, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through twelve years of global expansion, has died at the age of 97.
President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since 12 March 1995.

The Church president died at his apartment in downtown Salt Lake City at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night from causes incident to age. Members of his family were at his bedside. A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Hinckley’s funeral within the next few days.

Training: Class Responsibilities

2008-01-15T06:13:00.000-08:00

Nicely formatted outline of the responsibilities of the class presidency of the Beehives, Mia Maids, and Laurels. Very useful!

Source: Sugardoodle.net
Created By: Carsen Dye

We Have More Winners!

2007-12-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Julie Beth V. of Fairborn, Ohio for winning How Will I Know audio CD, Michelle N. of Eagle, Idaho for winning the audio CD Why Can't I Forget My Sins and Missy P. of Salem, Oregon for winning the audio CD The Truth about The Gospel of Judas. They each won simply for signing up for email updates of the What's New at LDSFiles.com newsfeed.

There's still an entire week of the Days of Giveaways left! To enter or get more details, click here.

Fun: Funny White Elephant Gifts

2007-12-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

My husband and I were attending a work holiday party and needed a white elephant gift. So I asked this question in some Yahoo Groups:

“What are some of the funniest white elephant gifts you’ve seen/received?”

I received so many great answers, I am posting some of those ideas here.

---------------------------------

Fruit Cake A real White Elephant plastic toy Old videos you have already seen

- anonymous

I made a "Hillbilly briefcase". You take a large pair of men’s underwear and sew the legs closed. I then cut out two "handles" out of cardboard and glued them inside the band of the underwear. With the legs sewn closed and handles, you can open the top and put stuff in it. You now have a "briefcase". My dad is in the bishopric and he took these to one of his bishops' meetings. Got quite a few laughs. - Melissa C.

The best white elephant ever is a jar of beans with a decorative top and a tag saying, "Hillbilly bubble bath." - Sharee Z.

A sitzbath from the hospital when I had a new baby. It was new and never used but quite funny. My daughter brought one women's high heel that had elbow macaroni glued all over it and spray painted gold and on the toe was one shell macaroni painted red, very cute. One year I canned peach pits while I was doing my canning thinking ahead for white elephant season, I thought it was super funny but the people who got it didn't think it was funny at all. You never know what people will laugh at.

- Sue W.

A box of SOS pads……no one wanted it…..someone got stuck with it……only to find $20 inside! Makes the one who gets stuck have the last laugh!

- Jo

I once received a couple of nice hand towels and dishcloths that had extension cords duct taped to them, with a note that said “Electric dishwasher and dryer.” They were a really nice set of towels and the cords were great too!

-anonymous

I always wrap up something useful like a heavy duty flashlight. I top it with a fun little stuffed animal so if it is to be bid on, it is usually sought after. Have you considered something like a couple of canisters of Play Dough? Or an absolutely huge elephant-sized item of clothing (from an outlet)? Or a very strange jar of food from an import store? Maybe a wig from a thrift store. Or maybe you could make a macaroni necklace with a really strange object hanging in the middle of it as a pendant.

- Janis K.

One of those huge Costco cans of Spam, or hominy, that is a good one too.

- Michelle D.

A silver Y2K baseball hat 8-track tapes A bobble head pig bamboo planter An old Thighmaster An amateur painting of Snoopy on black velvet Napoleon Dynamite sleep mask Funny trend cookbooks or other specialty or how to books Anything from the 60's or 70's Old electronic equipment - once I found some device to make your TV louder (it was like a speaker you plugged in to bring the sound closer to you)! It had to be over 30 years old. Virtually anything hand knitted or crocheted by a beginning knitter! The multi-colored yarns are always a big hit! Toaster cozies, any animal accessories for the kitchen, stylized soap holders, etc. Anything that you would buy on late night TV! Our RS exchange next week is using the term "Shuvunda" gift - something you would "shove under" the bed!

- Elaine S.

The best one we had last year at our RS enrichment was the wife of one of the bishopric gave some kind of 70s looking dance movie. One time I got a Chevy Door handle from a decade or so previously.

- anonymous

One we did was a frame with a picture of our family. The all time favorite though was a box of chocolates. We had my 2 year old take bites of a few different ones (and she ate some) so there were a couple missing and a couple with bites out of then. Then, to top it off, we took pictures of her eating them and printed them and stuck them in the box too! The person who got the box was excited it was chocolate (and then confused when they new our other gift was funny) so we made him open it and everybody LOVED it! Cheap, easy, hilarious!

- Sarah

I have given things that are no longer used--like fondue pans or some fad or craze, like a chiapet.

A Mr. Magoo Santa and another one of those “press-here” plush reindeers that sings and I loved him so much I opened him myself and kept him!

Some thrift stores have lots of Christmas decorations that you would never want, but can give away. We have had this traveling monstrosity of a magi, he is sprayed gold, made with some dip and drape fabric and glue over a glass bottle. He has no hands and whoever made it commercially used a Santa mask on him. My daughter bought him at a dollar store or something years ago and this guy has made the circuits every single year.

A popular gift was an empty box because the girl wrapping it forgot to put in the horrible Christmas tie and we all just giggled (her husband, through the trade, ended up getting the empty box back), a bobble-head picture frame that also travels--it was wrapped with another equally awful picture frame, 2 exercise videos, the good gift was a Christmas apron and hot pads with snowman peeps and a snowman chocolate bar, a hot and ready t-shirt from little Caesar's pizza with a free pizza coupon, another dated video about teaching children something or rather, a sheep-shaped welcome friends sign, and the other good gift was a candelabra that held 4 round candles on it.

- Jennifer F.

Someone I know did a ten pound bag of spuds in a really nice package.

- Lori C.

The most unusual one I've seen was a live gold fish in a bag - it was wrapped in the most beautiful looking box and safely secured inside with padding. It went around as the most exchanged/wanted one and at the end no one could believe what was inside.

Candy/chocolate are always the biggest hit. I wouldn't be brave enough to give a box of chocolates with a bite out of each one, but I would use a nice chocolate box and put something else inside like nuts, etc.

- Holly S.

One year I wrapped a package of batteries & wrote a tag that said "toy not included". We have also gotten a toilet seat cover & hot glued stones to it to "bling it up" a bit.

- Sam C.

One of the best ones though was when a sister opened up a small box with grass in it, and a small green snake. She picked it up and looked at it and commented on how real it looked then it stuck its tongue out at her. One of the men had brought a harmless grass snake as his exchange.

We once made enough caramel popcorn to fill a 5-gal bucket and brought that. The fun part about it was when you opened it the smell was so good that everyone was trying to figure out how to steal it away from the sister who had picked it.

- Darlene A.

We got a Mr. Potato Head Santa from Target that we used for YM/YW and they loved it.

- anonymous

The funniest thing I've seen was a very petite woman receive a XXXL size pair of boxers!

- Tricia M.

The ones I always thought were fun to get were the really practical ones. I once got a box that had a flashlight, toothpaste, chocolate bar, stuff like that. Everyone thought it was very funny, but I loved it because I actually was planning on stopping at the store on the way home to get toothpaste! I also once open a ceramic white elephant! That was hilarious! Here are some other great ideas: toilet paper rubber chicken fruitcake can of beans, gas-x, air freshner copier paper and one of those fake 1000 dollar bills brown lunch bag or sock paper that you made

- Allison Y.

About 10 years ago, I took a Twinkie, dated it about 5 years back as the "use by date" and it was a huge hit! The funniest part of it is that it keeps recirculating at the annual Christmas party! Now it's even older! And it still is soft and un-moldy.... creepy, huh?

- Brenda

Enrichment Activity: Midnight Madness

2007-12-08T08:23:00.000-08:00

Pizza, cocoa, games and fun. This is a great get-to-know-your-sisters activity for Enrichment. Very creative ideas in here.

Source: Sugardoodle.net
Created By: Lara Purdie