June 2025 Be an Illuminator

 June 2025

Be an Illuminator

Carol Baldwin shared with us what it is to be an Illuminator. 

An illuminator has a persistent curiosity about other people. 

They shine their care on others in a way that makes them feel respected, lit up.  

They make other people feel good about themselves. 

They do this by accompanying them, giving them their attention, having good conversations and asking good questions.  

"People need recognition and the feeling of being seen as much as they need food and water. "

by David Brooks 

"I hope we all have someone like this in our life. 

We are each a never to be repeated child of God."

by Carol Baldwin

The topic was taken from the book "How to Know a Person" by David Brooks

The book explores the art of understanding and connecting with others deeply. 

She who only looks inward will find only chaos, and she who looks outward with the eyes of critical judgment will find only flaws. 

But she who looks with the eyes of compassion and understanding will see complex souls, suffering and soaring, navigating life as best they can. 

Tuesday, June 24th at 11:30 am will be Lunch Bunch at Tiki Island Broiler.  Join us for a fun lunch that is close to home.  

Be the Light t-shirt winners were Carol Baldwin and Betty Wilcox. 

Bridges to the Heart

by Jeff Sermon

Look around in your life, is there someone that you know, who's feeling down, feeling lonely and apart?

Show your love, show you care, by building friendship there, building faith, building love, building bridges to the heart. 

In this world there are trials just like canyons of despair, there are times when we must travel in the dark. But a bridge across the way leads us to the light of day, but only if there's someone building bridges to the heart. 

Build it strong enough to carry all the troubles of our day, build it wide enough for many who will seek to pass that way.  If it's strong, if it's wide, the Savior waits on the other side, and the bridge you built for others leads them home. 

When your own life finds sorrow there, you feel it's more than you can bear.  And, you pray to him for strength to see you through.  You may hear the spirit say, as he leads you across the way;  That bridge you built for others you also built for you. 

Build it strong enough to carry all the troubles of our day, build it wide enough for many who will seek to pass that way.  And if it's strong, if it's wide, the Savior waits on the other side, and the bridge you built for others leads you home. 

Look around in your life.  Is it time for you to start building faith, building love, building bridges to the heart?  

There will not be a Relief Society activity in July.  

A special thank you to Bard Allred for taking photos in my absence.  Thanks Barb!  🩷

by:  Connie Beecroft

May 2025- Roots to Grow/Wings to Fly

 Roots to Grow, Wings to Fly

May 13, 2025

Lunch Bunch will be held Tuesday, May 27th at 11:30 at Sakura!  

Hot Air balloon themed tables and centerpieces gave the cultural hall a festive glow. 

We were welcomed with smiles!

Always great to connect as sisters. 

Reading material before getting started with our program.  

A special Epcot Flower Garden booklet was given out.  

Yolie conducted our activity. 

Ardis Jensen presented on My Deep Roots. 

One of Ardis' favorite trees in our region is the Joshua Tree. 

The name Joshua tree was given by Mormon settlers in the mid 19th century, who were crossing the Mojave Desert.  They found the tree's unique shape, with its outstretched branches, reminiscent of the biblical figure Joshua, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land and was depicted with his hands raises in prayer.  

Joshua trees have a root system that consists of both deep and shallow roots, helping them thrive in the desert.  A deep taproot system allows them to access water from underground, while a shallow, wide-spreading system captures moisture after rain.  The shallow roots also enable the tree to produce new sprouts, facilitating its spread and survival. 

Our assignment as a table/team was to discuss what our firm root in the gospel is.  

We shared our ideas and discussed as a group. 

There were many great thoughts as to what keeps each of us firmly rooted in the gospel. 

 

As a team per table we came up with one word to write on a piece of paper to be attached to the tree as our root.  

Our roots were attached to the tree. 

Aspen trees have a unique root system that spreads  through underground stems that can sprout new shoots and roots.  This allows them to form interconnected groves where all trees in a stand share the same root system, essentially acting as a single, large organism.  

Joseph B. Wirthlin said in October 1994:

Faithful members of the Church should be like oak trees and should extend deep roots into fertile soil of the fundamental principles of the gospel.  We should understand and live by the simple, basic truths and not complicate them.  Our foundations should be solid and deep-rooted so we can withstand the winds of temptation, false doctrine, adversity, and the onslaught of the adversary without being swayed or uprooted.  Members whose roots are only at the surface of the gospel need to sink them deeper until they reach the bedrock below the soft topsoil.  

Stephanie Smith was delighted to be our guest speaker and share her experiences on gardening. 

Grow boxes work well in our soil in Southern Utah.  The grow boxes need to be between 12" and 18" deep because the roots need to be kept cool.  

Tomatoes, melons, eggplant, squash love the heat.

The wind and the bugs do more damage than the heat.  

Great soil is the key.  Get good soil with peat moss and compost.  Water and 'boom' and things will start to grow once planted.  

Stephanie has had great success with smaller fruits.  Start with Roma tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.  

Stephanie recommends Ballard's Nursery in Hurricane for unique items. 

Sandia Greenhouse is also a favorite. 

Star Nursery has the best vegetable 6 pack leafy green starts.

Nola Sanford was our first Be The Light T-shirt winner. 

Marlene Simes was winner number two! 

And the delightful Jill Baker was our final t-shirt winner of the day. 

Our luncheon was a delicious salad bar with all the trimmings and dressings. 

Homemade rolls were a real treat. 

Guess who made the strawberry shortcake? 

That's right...

Shirley Erickson Baker Extraordinaire! 

Thank you, Shirley for sharing your baking skills with us each month and to our Relief Society Activity Committee Members for always making our event so special! 

A craft table was set up in the back of the cultural hall with everything necessary to plant a seed.  

We added stickers to the small pot and tied a ribbon on top as a headband.  Earrings were added for additional embellishment. 

A tiny seed was planted and watered.  

Wish me luck that the basil will grow.  

Thank you Sisters for coming to our activity!  

By:

Connie Beecroft