Tag Archives: God

FHE, Primary Chorister, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Building a House of God Activity and Lesson

February 8, 2015 Hubbard's Cupboard 2 Comments

Building a House of God Singing Time Ok here is a print, cut and sing…. easy easy…. singing time lesson. My child woke me up at 2:30 am because he’s teething and I couldn’t fall asleep so I read my scriptures and this easy idea came to me.

All the songs that I chose are from the 2015 Sharing Time Manual or you can choose your own songs!!

You just cut the house pieces and talk about how you establish a house of God. Some examples would be family prayer, scripture study, building foundation on Jesus Christ.. ect.

You can use this for singing time or family home evening! 🙂 Enjoy!

D&C 88:119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God

Download the JPEGs below or full PDF file here: Building a House of God Singing Time.

Sorry for any typos… seriously made this at 3:30 to 6:30 in the morning!!!

Child #1: Micah, Child #2: Quentin, Children, Parenting, Photography, Temples, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Toddlers

General Conference Recap

October 7, 2013 Hubbard's Cupboard 7 Comments

Every six months (in April and October) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds a worldwide church meeting called general conference. The meeting last for 10 hours over the course of two days. During general conference, we receive counsel from our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, his apostles, and other church leaders. General conference is broadcast on TV, the radio, and online. The talks are then available afterwards on lds.org to read and study. We believe that if we follow the counsel given in the sermons at general conference that our lives will be blessed. As we listen to general conference, we believe that God can speak to our hearts through the Holy Ghost. Everyone can receive their own personalized counsel during general conference.

After pondering and reading over my notes from conference, two things stuck out to me:

1) Be a Mom

2) Be a Missionary

…. Be a Mother Missionary.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson gave a talk about the influence of a good women. He talked about his grandma and how she “never learned how to drive a car, but she knew how to help boys become priesthood men.” He also posed the question from Neal A. Maxwell “Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congress?”

Also during the conference, our prophet announced that our church has reached 15 million members and have currently have over 80,000 full-time missionaries.

President Monson said that “Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together to work together to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto him.” He also quoted a past prophet, President McKay saying, “Every member a missionary.”

A couple days before general conference, I got a few of my friends in our ward together for a temple trip. We dressed up our 2 year-old sons as little missionaries and took pictures of them. Aren’t they cute?

I learned during conference being a mother is being a missionary. Mothers in the church are teaching their kids to be future missionaries. Our homes should be like the MTC. Even at this young age, we teach our kids about God and His Son Jesus Christ. We also teach them that they are children of God and that God loves them very much. We teach our kids how to pray to God and how to receive answers to their prayers. We teach them good morals such as sharing their cookies and serving others.

We teach them the reason why they are on earth is to be happy and in order to be truly happy we have to follow of the commandments of God the best we can. We, as mothers, prepare our kids to choose to be baptized when they are eight year old. We teach them that we make mistakes but because of Jesus Christ’s atonement we can change and be a better person.

We prepare our sons to receive the priesthood when they turn twelve and go on missions when they turn eighteen.

We teach our children that the temple is the house of God and we go there to make promises to God to be the best person we can be. We teach them that the temple is where families can be sealed together forever. We are teaching our children to be future missionaries but most importantly we are teaching them to become good husbands/fathers and wives/mothers.

I felt like Heavenly Father was telling me “Don’t worry if your kids take up all your time… it’s what you’re suppose to be doing. Taking care of your kids is the most important form of missionary work!”

So then I asked myself the question “Why do I do missionary work?” For me it is because I know that God lives and Jesus Christ lives. I know that by obeying God’s commandments and following His prophets we are truly happy. Throughout the years my faith has been tested but I still know this day that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s true church. I know that the fullness of the gospel has been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I love my kids and I want to share with them everything I know to be true.

Why do you do missionary work? What did you learn during conference? Please share with me what you learned! Feel free to share, pin, Facebook these images.

Missionaries loves cookies! It was the only way we got them to sit still and special thanks for all the moms for letting me use their kids. 🙂

Can’t forget my newest little future missionary:

Here are some fun graphics I made:

Here’s a behind the scenes picture of the moms. It’s so hard to get five 2 year-old to sit still! 🙂

Child #1: Micah, Children, England, Family Life, Photography, Temples, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Travel

Preston England Temple Pictures

April 22, 2013 Hubbard's Cupboard 6 Comments

The Dublin Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints went on a temple trip in March. The stake spent a whole day traveling to get the temple by taking the ferry and bus. Then they spent the entire week doing temple work all day long. The temple patrons and their families can stay at the temple accommodations which is like a hotel. The temple only charges 11 pounds per person per night. My husband called it EFY for adults. 🙂

I’ve never had to travel so far to go to the temple since I’m from Salt Lake City. It was so nice to be able to go to the temple again! I haven’t been for three months. Every time I go to the temple I can feel the peace and comfort of the Holy Ghost. I’m so grateful that I can go to the temple to pray to God and ponder about life’s questions.

Can’t help but to add some pictures of little Micah. 🙂

Family Life, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Living a life guided by revelation

April 19, 2013 Hubbard's Cupboard 6 Comments

Today marks five years since I got baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was one of the most difficult but life changing decisions I have ever made. I was never a religious person. My family wasn’t religious either. I didn’t know if there was a God nor did I care to find out. Whenever I saw missionaries I would run and hide behind the couch. I was an epitome of the “disappointing investigator”.

Growing up in Utah, most of my friends were “Mormons“. They invited me to church, activities, dances and camps. The social part of church was fun and all but I was never interested in learning religion. Most of my friends tried once or twice to teach me the gospel but usually left me alone after I told them I wasn’t interested. Some of them were more persistant than others. 🙂

Yet, like most people I went through a series of hard times in my life. I was plain miserable and depressed. No matter how hard I try to pick myself up, I felt hopeless and my life was falling apart.

I could go on with details of my conversion but the details don’t matter as much as how it happened. Eventually after years and years of people inviting me to read the Book of Mormon, I was finally ready and willing to read the book. Along with reading the Book of Mormon, I started to pray everyday to ask God if He exist and if the Book of Mormon is true.

It was March of 2008 when I started reading the Book of Mormon and I got baptized on April 19, 2008. I didn’t know very much doctrine and I didn’t have a sure knowledge of God when I got baptized. I just knew that I felt the Holy Ghost a few distinct instances during the time I was truly investigating the Church. However, the feelings always left me and I had to act on pure faith. It was not an easy decision! I felt very criticized and doubtful at times but that just lead me back to my knees to pray to ask God again. On my baptism day, I felt dark and lonely but all the darkness went away when I made it to my baptism and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Now after five years, I can truly say that I know without a doubt that God lives and that He does answer prayers. I know without a doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the earth and is lead by apostles and prophets that are called by God. I also know that Jesus Christ is the foundation of this Church. I know all this because I have lived the last five years of my life being guided by revelation from God through the gift of the Holy Ghost.

My Original Plans

Graduate from high school, go to the University of Utah
Graduate in 4 years in Electrical Engineering
Get a nice job and make lots of money
Get a MBA and be promoted
Become successful!
And hopefully get married sometime around 30 if the right guy comes
And may be have kids sometime

God’s Plans for Me

2008 – Get baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints

2008 – Move to Logan, go to Utah State University on a scholarship and meet lots of new friends. Attend church, institute, read scriptures and pray everyday, be part of lots of clubs, and here have the best roommates in the world!

2008 – Grow spiritually so here are some callings: Family Home Evening Mom, Primary Teacher, Ward Missionary, Bulletin Board Specialist

2009 – Meet Dallin, your future husband

2009 – Be an EFY counselor

2010 – Get engaged, go to the temple and get married in the temple

2010 – Transfer to the University of Utah and study Computer Science

2010 – Live in the University Village and meet lots of happy families.

2010 – Have some more church callings: Relief Society Presidency, Stake Primary Presidency and Ward Missionary

2011- Have a baby and name him Micah!

2012 – Graduate from college and be a full time mom

2013 – Take your family to Ireland and serve in the Bray Branch.

Has my life been easy the last five years? No. I still have lots of trials and problems. Were the decisions I’ve made easy? Not really. But has it been worth it? Most definitely! I know by experience that because the atonement of Jesus Christ my burdens can be made light. Living a life following God’s plan is not always the easiest but it has definitely been full of joy, blessings, fulfillment, and miracles.

Can you believe what I would’ve missed out on if I never decided to get baptized five years ago?! I would not be the person I am today or have my family or be in Ireland for that matter. I would be completely lost in my own world.

I love the quote by Presiden Hinkley that says “When you save a girl, you save generations.” It’s so true!!

Family Life, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Why I only support marriage between man and women

March 27, 2013 Hubbard's Cupboard 2 Comments

I claim full responsibility for this post. These are my beliefs. I do not speak behalf of anyone else or any organization.

Where do you draw the line between church and state? Was America founded by the hand of God and His laws? If so, what are His laws? Are there a universal defined morals that can not be changed? I’ve heard a lot of your beliefs and debates. Here is my beliefs (you don’t have to read if you don’t want to… it’s very religious and it most likely be different than yours):

I don’t believe this is an issue on equality rather an issue of is there a God? I believe there is a God and He has defined laws/morals. I believe that God’s laws will always be decided by God Himself and cannot be changed by majority vote or democracy. Just like I believe that God has said sex before marriage is immoral and adultery is immoral. I believe that a relationship between two same-genders is defined by God as immoral. I believe that by allowing same-gender marriage is similar to if we all voted in the right for us to run red lights, to steal or to murder. I believe that as a nation will have to face the consequences of what ever laws are put in place whether those consequences are good or bad. I believe that when we obey God’s laws we are blessed and when we don’t we eventually have to face negative consequences. It may seem unfair that God doesn’t want same-gender relationships but it’s may also seem unfair to people who want to have sex before marriage or people who want to have multiple partners or people who want to steal to get things for free. I believe that these acts all the equivalent in God’s eyes but the good news is that God has the power to help us overcome our temptations to sin. We can also repent for the mistakes we make. I also believe that it’s easier to avoid sins rather than repair sins.

I believe that ideally children should be born to a mother and a father who are married. Now, because the world is not perfect, I believe that the government should have laws that support traditional family values and help families that do not have both a mother and a father for the betterment of our society.

This is why I believe that marriage should only be between a man and a women. I believe that our government laws should uphold good moral principles that are established by God himself.

I also believe that God has given us a choice to choose for ourselves what to believe and how we want to live our lives. He can only give us guidelines. He can never force us to believe what He wants us to. I believe that God loves everyone and He will allow us to make choices for ourselves even if those choices are not aligned to His will.

So weather or not the supreme court decides on Prop 8 is now up to the supreme court. The voice of the people have already spoken and the issue is equally divided even within different religious congregations. I will accept what the supreme court chooses but I won’t change my beliefs. Everyone can and will continue to live their lives the way they want.

I believe the future is as bright as I can make it be. The best thing I can do is live by what I believe. Our society needs to work together to love, to vote and to compromise because all our individual choices will affect the future of our world.

It always brings me peace to know that no matter what happens God will be the final judge and everything will turn out the way He wants it to.

________________________________________________________________

If you want to know what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes on this topic you can look on their website:

http://www.lds.org/topics/same-gender-attraction?lang=eng

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-responds-to-same-sex-marriage-votes

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-mormon-responds-to-human-rights-campaign-petition-same-sex-attraction

________________________________________________________________

Feel free to express your beliefs, opinions and comments. Please keep it nice and kind.

Ireland, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Travel

The McDonald’s to Gospel Analogy

January 24, 2013 Hubbard's Cupboard Leave a comment

Gotta love all the analogies that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make about the gospel. At church last Sunday I heard a really funny one and I just have to share it.

“The Church is like McDonald’s”

There is this really nice looking McDonald’s across the street from the Bray Branch’s building. Everyone comments about how it’s the best looking McDonald’s in the world.

How is the Church like McDonald’s?

Pretty much where ever you go you’ll find the same McDonald’s or Mormon Church

You can recognize the same logo all around the world

They adapt to different cultures but in the end it’s still the same McDonald’s or it’s still the same Church

Irish Beef McDonald’s Burgers | The Church in Ireland

McDonald’s Red Bean Pie in Hong Kong | The Hong Kong Temple

Big Bulgogi Burger — South Korea | The Church in South Korea

McPork — Japan | Elder Kikuchi from Japan, Emeritus General Authority

Full Vegetarian McDonald’s in India | The Church in India

The person making this analogy concluded by saying just like the McDonald’s corporation knows the needs of their customers, Heavenly Father knows the needs of his Church and each individual person. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located world wide but no matter what ward/branch you attend there will be taught the same gospel. The organization of the modern Church is run by Jesus Christ himself like it was back when Jesus Christ was on the earth. Jesus Christ delegates responsibilities to the prophet and his apostles. The prophet and apostles then delegate responsibilities to area authorities, presidencies, and bishops. The functioning of wards/branches around the world is flexible due to the size and needs of the congregation as stated in the newest church handbook. This Church is ran by revelation from God. Authorized Church leaders receive inspiration from God on how to run this Church.

The gospel is quite amazing and while this is a silly analogy I thought it was interesting enough to share it with you.

To find out more interesting international McDonald’s menu items you can check out these links:

To find out more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints you can check out:

May be the next time you’re traveling you’ll stop at the local McDonald’s to check out their menu and also find the closest ward/branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to see what they’re up to! Let me tell ya… Irish beef does taste better than US beef but the gospel is the same where ever you go.

Children, Family Life, Ireland, Photography, Travel

Full Time Student to Full Time Mom

January 17, 2013 Hubbard's Cupboard 1 Comment

I’m not going to lie. It was very strange to transition from a full-time student to a full-time mom. Aside from also moving to a different country, it was just pure weird! I don’t have homework, classes, teachers, or grades. I didn’t know what to do with myself! I felt like I was aimless and there wasn’t no more direction in my life. Granted, I am making gourmet dinners for my family (compared to Top Raman during finals week) but making dinner doesn’t take all day! The first few days after Dallin started working in Ireland, I had dinner ready by 4 pm. Hmm… Dallin doesn’t get home till 6 pm. I sat on the couch, dumbfounded…. I was bored!

The next day, I picked up some knitting needles at the local thrift store… I haven’t knitting for years. But I thought to myself… I can’t spend all my days knitting!! I need to do something with my life. Micah didn’t like it either. He just wanted to take the needles and poke his eyes out.

Our awesome friends gave us a pocket size Preach My Gospel to take with us to Ireland. During my daily scripture study one day I decided to read the section on “Using Time Wisely“. I thought to myself… I really need this! I didn’t feel like I was using my precious time from God wisely. Even though I am not a full-time missionary, it was very beneficial. The chapter gave really good suggestions. I need a weekly calendar. I need to make goals. I need to progress to become more like God.

Elder M Russel Ballard said: “I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”

I quickly repented of my idleness and aimlessness. I realized my most important investigator is my little Micah. He needs me to teach him everything I know. I made a progress report for Micah. I labeled four areas: Social, Physical, Mental, and Spiritual (Luke 2:52). I wrote down how Micah was doing in those areas and made a small goal for each of the areas. I planned out my week and decided to focus on Micah’s needs.

Small things does bring about great things (Alma 37:6). Being home has allowed me to read more books, sing more songs and spend more time than I’ve ever had with my son. I’m grateful for my education but I’m so glad that I finished in December. Just cause I got a degree doesn’t mean my learning has stopped. I’m learning every day as I try to become a better mom. This is learning that they can never teach you in a classroom.

What was the first thing I planned for the week? Feed the seagulls and Micah loved it!