![Achieving true ward or branch unity may be as difficult as it is rare. But great progress can be made in each ward and branch of the Church as leaders and members apply the following principles: (1) learn the doctrine, (2) eliminate contention, (3) forgive others, (4) watch over and strengthen each other, and (5) sacrifice for the kingdom of God. […] Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are one, even as we must become one. Let us, therefore, be fully committed as disciples of the Lord to become united as a church and as a people.
-Be Ye One: By Elder H. Aldridge Gillespie](https://onlemonlane.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
Achieving true ward or branch unity may be as difficult as it is rare. But great progress can be made in each ward and branch of the Church as leaders and members apply the following principles: (1) learn the doctrine, (2) eliminate contention, (3) forgive others, (4) watch over and strengthen each other, and (5) sacrifice for the kingdom of God. […] Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are one, even as we must become one. Let us, therefore, be fully committed as disciples of the Lord to become united as a church and as a people.
-Be Ye One: By Elder H. Aldridge Gillespie
Loved these thoughts from the Strength of Youth magazine:
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“There’s a style of painting called pointillism where artists apply small colored dots all over a surface to create an image instead of mixing colors together on a palette and using large brush strokes. When you stand close to these paintings, all you can see are individual dots of color.
However, when you take a step back, the dots blend together to reveal a picture.
The individual colored dots all work together to create something beautiful. Just like the dots, we are all unique individuals. Heavenly Father sees the “full picture.” He sees us all as His sons and daughters, “heirs to the kingdom of God” (4 Nephi 1:17). If we can also learn how to step back and see the bigger picture, we can learn how to love and work with people who are different from us. Here are some things we can do to work at being unified.
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As you work to build unity with others, you might see we’re not as different from each other as we think. As we learn to see each other as Heavenly Father sees us, we will come to understand that everyone is needed and belongs in the kingdom of God. We are each a wonderful dot of color in a beautiful mural. And let’s face it, it just wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Not sure about you, but while reading through the suggested activities to try with your class or family in Come Follow Me, the activities dealing with the idea of being one… felt EXTREMELY relevant to my little family, and my little children, and their little rivalries. I thought I would make a quick printable to go along with this suggested activity:
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“To teach children what it means to “be one,” you could help them count the members of your family and talk about why each person is important to your family. Emphasize that together you are one family. You could help your children draw a large 1 on a poster and decorate it with names and drawings or pictures of each family member. You could also write on the poster things you will do to be more united as a family. You might also watch the video “Love in Our Hearts” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) or read Moses 7:18.”
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Head to the website to learn more about this FREE resources and others 💛
PSA 📣📣📣 4TH & 5TH GRADE TEACHERS.
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Each month we will be offering different products at this awesome discount so be sure to stay tuned!
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“I opened it with eagerness, and read its title page. I then read the testimony of several witnesses in relation to the manner of its being found and translated. After this I commenced its contents by course. I read all day; eating was a burden, I had no desire for food; sleep was a burden when the night came, for I preferred reading to sleep. “As I read, the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I knew and comprehended that the book was true, as plainly and manifestly as a man comprehends and knows that he exists” (Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, ed. Parley P. Pratt Jr. [1938], 37).
On Easter Sunday we celebrate the most long-awaited and glorious event in the history of the world.
It is the day that changed everything.
On that day, my life changed.
Your life changed.
The destiny of all God’s children changed.
On that blessed day, the Savior of mankind, who had taken upon Himself the chains of sin and death that held us captive, burst those chains and set us free.
Because of the sacrifice of our beloved Redeemer, death has no sting, the grave has no victory,1 Satan has no lasting power, and we are “begotten … again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
LOVED the @followhimpodcast this week with guest @brotheranthonysweat their discussion on spiritual and temporal matters was something everyone should listen to! @johngbytheway also recited this quote, and I knew I wanted to share it with all of you....💛
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“Just as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ.
No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind. And no other book in the world explains this vital doctrine nearly as well as the Book of Mormon.”
Ezra Taft Benson
Looking to make Easter a little more meaningful? This is one of my favorite FREE Downloads for members 💛Celebrate the WHY of Easter with this FREE Paper Chain countdown. Use the strips to create a paper chain, or roll them up and hide them in plastic Easter Eggs. This countdown comes in 3 different and editable versions and follows the Holy Week’s events. Use the QR code’s to watch inspirational videos about Jesus Christ, His atonement, and His resurrection. Read the scriptures that correlate with Holy Week. There’s a differentiated countdown for everyone including toddlers, young children, youth and families. #hearhim #easteractivities #easteractivitiesforkids
Keep reading to see how our little family is doing “Scripture Study” and for more information on this FREE DOWNLOAD!
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This idea came after watching this week’s Drawn In episode by @davidbowmanart💛 See two posts back for more info!
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If you are like me and ready to “repent” or my favorite repentance synonym... to “turn around” and become more commited to scripture study and family prayer each morning, I’ve created the following printable to help stay on track. This printable works as a visual reminder as well a place to keep track of your progress. Color in a letter each day and see if you can keep up the habit for 34days!
I also want to note that our “scipture study” may not look like your traditional scripture study… and that’s ok! The Lord LOVES effort. So no… At the moment we are not sitting down and opening our scriptures for a formal study, we aren’t even reading a children’s version of the scriptures. Instead, thanks to my husband, we are simply working on memorizing a SINGLE VERSE of scripture each morning. We will use that same verse of scripture until my kiddos have it mastered. This feels doable. This feels obtainable. This is currently working for us. I’m hoping we can do a single verse each week, a verse that can be found in the assigned Come Follow Me reading!
What are you doing in your family that is working? Please share below! To track your progress, Head to the website to download this FREEBIE!
“I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body, but more like chain mail. Chain mail consists of dozens of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the user greater flexibility without losing protection. I say that because it has been my experience, covering many more years than you have yet been privileged to live, that there is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil.”
-Elder M. Russel Ballard
We LOVED following along and learning to draw the Armor of God for this week’s #comefollowme @davidbowmanart Drawn In Subscription is the only paid resource I use for Come Follow Me at this time💛 my kids love the videos and each week I’m blown away by David’s creativity and focus on the principles of the scriptures and how they apply instead of just the story. (Plus it doesn’t get much easier than pushing play on a Sunday) 🙈😬🥴
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My kiddos and I especially loved the insight about putting on the armor of God in the morning... I’m paraphrasing:
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“Does a warrior put on his armor before he goes to bed? No it’s the first thing he does before going to battle.”
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Like a warrior we need our spiritual armor at the start of the day!
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“Scripture Study and Pray to start the day!”
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So here’s to tomorrow and creating the habit of starting the day off clothed in spiritual armor... wish us luck!
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If you’re interested in trying the Drawn In subscription, make sure to use the promo code: LEMONLANE10 for 10% off your yearly subscription!
Need #bulletinboardideas for March.... I’ve got you👊 like almost all of my Bulletin Board Kits, they center around student work and are made up of EASY TO CUT, Editable 🙊, ready to print and assemble slides!
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Make sure to check out the Lucky Because Bulletin Board BUNDLE get ALL this for only $3.99☘️☘️☘️☘️ The Clover craft is the PERFECT craft for tomorrow!
Check out the DIGITAL I’m Lucky Because 🍀 then swipe to see it action... swipe again to see a full preview of this project! This printable and digital craft is perfect for your kiddos!
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Why are YOU lucky??🍀🍀🍀 Comment Below 💛
If you’ve followed me for long you know I love all things March and Irish ☘️ it’s in my blood 🙃
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My love of March shows in my resources, of all the months to have the most projects... March (of all the months???) is at the top of the list!
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I just added this CELTIC KNOT inspired Lucky Clover Craft and it turned out so fun! Use either the DIGITAL version and insert pictures into the leaves that represent why you’re lucky, or pick from one of the 18 different top layer options to create a beautiful clover like the one shown above! If you do go this route make sure to check out the EDITABLE bulletin board kit to really put these beauties on display!
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Do you love March? Why or why not? Drop a comment below 💛💛
Emma Smith. Call me a cynic, but if you put value on the fact that none of the witnesses ever recounted their testimony of the Book of Mormon, I put 10 fold that value on Emma.
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My heart swells and breaks a little when I think of dear Emma. She is someone that I can not wait to meet, to hug, and to cry with. She endured SO much, and loved Joseph with a depth that seems unobtainable.
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I know we need to be careful putting early Saints on a pedestal, but that’s just it, much of the pedestal I place her on is grounded in how “human” she is to me.
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Emma often doesn’t get the credit she is due based on other’s quick assumptions. I used to be one of them.... What I do know is that the more I learn about Emma, the more I love and look up to her. If ever there was a model of strength, courage and endurance, it would be her.
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What do you think? Comment below 💛
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This beautiful depiction of Emma and Joseph is by the incredibly talented @rosedatocdall I dare say it’s my favorite to date. 💛💛💛
“I have never seen a woman in my life, who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship, from month to month, and from year to year, with that unflinching courage, zeal and patience, which she has always done; for I know that which she has had to endure; that she has been tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty; that she has breasted the storm of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and devils, until she has been swallowed up in a sea of trouble which [would] have borne down almost any other woman.”3
-Lucy Mack Smith
Art that stops you in your tracks... If ever there was a picture that perfectly illustrated the scripture, D&C 25:12, “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart...” I think it would be this one?
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What’s your favorite hymn? Drop it in the comments below!
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I loved reading @comefollowmemusic thoughts on this and had to share! Do you follow @comefollowmemusic ? Each week they share a FREE schedule based on music that correlates with what we are learning in #comefollowme
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What’s a song that you feel in your soul? Tell me in the comments💛
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🎨 @pattic.art (one of my absolute FAVORITES)
Had to share this caption from one of my new FAVORITE accounts to follow while studying Doctrine and Covenants for #comefollowme @saintsofhistory takes an early saint and posts a brief but extremely entertaining biography about each individual. I’ve been waiting not so patiently for the post dedicated to Emma! Read an excerpt of @saintsofhistory post below. Also check out this early artwork by @emilyshayart another one of my favorite artists/ illustrators 😭😍
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In 1825, 21-year-old Emma met 19-year-old Joseph Smith when a guy named Josiah Stowell hired Joseph to help him dig for purported lost silver near Harmony, PA. The Smiths often took random jobs like this to help provide for the family, but Joseph’s current living + all the rumors about him still didn’t impress Emma’s dad. But she was done being with all the single ladies, so she put her hand up and Joseph liked it so he put a ring on it—they eloped and were married on Jan. 18, 1827 in South Bainbridge, NY.
Fast forward to June 15, 1828: At the same time Martin Harris was losing 116 pages of The Book of Mormon, Emma nearly died. After an agonizing labor, she gave birth to her first child, but the baby was very frail and died soon afterward. Little did she know that her first three children would not live beyond a day, and of the nine children she bore, only four would grow to adulthood. Emma and Joseph named this first baby Alvin.
Now let’s jump to July 1830: Soon after Emma’s “memorable” baptism day (see Joseph Knight Sr. post), the Lord sent a revelation just for her, now known as Doctrine & Covenants 25. (Go read p.36-38 in “Revelations in Context”—good stuff.) Among other things, Emma is assigned to “make a selection of sacred hymns.” Today, 26 of Emma’s original selections are still in our hymn book. Zero came from Beyonce.
Of course, Emma later became the first president of the Relief Society, fulfilling, at least in part, her designation by the Lord as an “elect lady” according to Joseph in 1842.
Emma was a leader in public and in private—often left to face life’s challenges alone when her husband was falsely accused and imprisoned.
Selection Sunday and PI Day falling on the same day... Somebody pinch me. Two of my very favorites because of the projects you can start in your classroom 😍 Take for instance my March Math Madness PBL
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Think March Madness + Fantasy Basketball + Lots of Math + A sprinkle of ELA = Engagement & Excitement & Learning 💛🏀💛
Students are separated into the 4 divisions then work together to put together a new starting 5 from players in their division. #dreamteam Each round their individual players are awards point values for how they played. At the end of each round students will calculate their team’s total points and decide which dream team comes out victorious! There are some really great opportunities to see Math in action. There’s opportunity for measurement conversion, converting fractions to decimals, ordering decimals, ratios, mean-median-mode, adding and subtracting decimals, multiplying decimals...etc. This is quickly becoming another tried and true favorite in the classroom!
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Also if you think your too late to the table, the only thing you are late for is brackets! The dream team activity can be started before any round! Second round would actually be ideal 👊🏻👊🏻 LOTS of FREEBIE extensions for this product that can stand on their own! Head to the website for more details!
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY! While creating this new project for #womenshistorymonth I came across this quote and had to share!
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“We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.”
—Kavita Ramdas, advocate
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Make sure to check out this new project I just uploaded to TPT!
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Bulletin Board + Art Project + Biography = Meaningful Research
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Pick from over 45 different History Makers! Check out the preview above, how many women do you see that you recognize?
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Comment your favorite leading lady below!
