How Decorating Our Homes With Pictures of Christ, Brings More Peace Into The Home

This post is sponsored, all thoughts are 100% my own, I was given the picture. See full disclosure.

 I was recently, asked to choose a picture that depicts motherhood to me. The picture I chose was, Come and See. The reason I choose it, was because, as a mom of three teenage boys, I want the Savior to be their focus. In the picture the Savior is standing with an outstretched hand beckoning to come unto Him. I want my children to come unto Christ in all that they do. I want them to know of the love that their Savior has for them personally. That He is always their with an outstretched arm to welcome them in an lift them up.

Kindness Punch Cards Printable

Kindness Punch Cards Printable, great for school groups or classes, church youth groups, or do it as a family!!

I have the opportunity to work with a group of teenagers at the local junior high school. It is the funnest thing! Our goal is to make the school and community a better place. So, when we were thinking about what to do for the month of February, I came up with these Kindness Punch Cards. The purpose is to focus on building healthy relationships and focus on spreading kindness.

10 Super Fun Valentine’s Day Coloring Pages You Must Have

10 Super Fun Valentine’s Day Coloring Pages You Must Have,

Valentine's Day!! What do you love about it? What do you not love about it? For me, I think Valentine's Day has always been a day of excitement. I remember as a child getting a special knock on our front door, with Valentine's with each of our names laying on the doorstep. Both my grandparents and my parents tried to make the day special. I have strived to carry this tradition on with my own kids! Who doesn't love a surprise on the doorstep?!?

DIGITAL WATERCOLOR FLORAL WREATH PRINTABLE DOWNLOADS WITH INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

Two Floral Wreath Prints With Inspirational Quotes,

I've taken up a new hobby of creating digital watercolor wreaths. I love making them and putting them with inspirational quotes!! 

Everyday for my Come, Follow Me Individual study I look up articles about the topics we've discussed as a family.  From those articles I find quotes that stand out to me, that I can share with others. I find that this helps me feel the spirit and internalize the doctrine and principles we are learning. 

August 2019 Come, Follow Me Sunday School Study Reminders

August 2019 Come, Follow Me Sunday School Study Reminders,

I've heard from several Sunday School teachers how they are concerned that not much will change and that their class members will not do their studying.  Sometimes, it just takes a little reminder!!

How to Make the Little Lamb from Bethlehem a Part of Your Family Christmas Tradition

If you are looking for ways to Make the Little Lamb from Bethlehem a part of your family Christmas tradition, then read on....

This post may contain affiliate links. I also received a copy of the"Little Lamb From Bethlehem", so I could review the book. All opinions are 100% my own. See the full disclosure.

I am pretty picky when it comes to the traditions we set around Christmas time. It is such a special time of year and I really want my family to focus on the Savior and making memories as a family.

How to Incorporate Good Music Into Your Sunday and Every Other Day!

Check out below, how to incorporate good music into your Sunday and Every Other Day!

This post contains affiliate links. I also received "Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Friend"& "City of Enoch", so I could review them. All opinions are 100% my own. See the full disclosure.

"Music can enrich your life. It can edify and inspire you and help you draw closer to Heavenly Father. Music has a profound effect on your mind, spirit, and behavior." (For The Strength of Youth)

Crochet Bracelets a Fun Super Saturday Craft, also FEATURED Chalkboard Easels, Birthday cards, and Sweater Mittens

A bunch of friends crafting all morning and into the afternoon, what could make for a better Saturday!!

Some Ideas For Dad this Father's Day: Father's Day Gifts and Printables

I think back to when I was a little kiddo, I have some great memories!! My dad is one who loves the outdoors, most weekends you could find us fishing a lake or riding trails on the ATVs. So how do we show these dads of ours that we love and cherish the memories they are creating for us???  One thing I love to do when it comes to gifting is think about what they love to do and then base my gift around that.  Some ideas of gifts I have given my dad in the past are:

• A Fishnet with paper fish hung from it stating the things I love about him.
• A Grandpa Kit. It was a little container filled with everything a grandpa would need.
• When I took wood shop in high school I made him a clock in the shape of a deer's head :)

Whatever the gift is try to make it come from the heart, it is always so much more meaningful!!

Family Home Evening on The What, Why and How's of Baptism?

One of my boys is about to turn eight and has made the decision to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  So, to help prepare him for this sacred ordinance we are going to be focusing our Family Home Evenings this month on baptism. 

For tonight's Family Home Evening the topic in which I have chosen is: 

The What, Why and How's of Baptism?

Free Printable:

Day 7 of the 12 Days of Halloween Fun: Halloween Finger Print Fun & Cards

Most children that I know love to use their creativity to make things.  One thing my children always love to do is make cards. Every holiday & birthday we make our cards, rather than buying them. So, why not make some cute Halloween cards also, to give away with little goodies to family and friends.

Day 7 of the 12 Days of Halloween Fun: Halloween Finger Print Fun & Cards:

You can do this one of two ways. Either you can first do the finger painting and then come back when it is dry with a fine tip permanent marker and add details. Or you can draw some designs and then fill in with finger paint.  I actually used both techniques on the card above.

The bottom three designs were done by my kids. Each are unique and expresses their creativity. I don't know any grandparent who wouldn't love one of these cards!!

We used finger paints that I purchased at the dollar store. The black was normal craft paint. The finger paint was definitely easier to get off of the hands than the craft paint!

LDS Primary Sharing Time June 2014 Special Father's Day Sharing Time Honoring our Father's

Since June has five Sundays as a presidency we decided to have a Father's Day sharing time the 3rd week which is June 15th. Which means it shifted all of the sharing times down. This is what we have planned for our sharing time schedule for June 2014:  June 1st: Week 1  Priesthood ordinances bless and strengthen my family. June 8th:  Week 2  Temples make it possible for families to be together forever. June 15th: Father's Day Sharing Time.  June 22nd Week 3:  I can prepare now to be worthy to enter the temple. June 29th Week 4:  Family history work connects me to my ancestors.


June 2014 Sharing Time Topic: Priesthood Ordinances and Temple Work Bless My Family

June 2014 Scripture: “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).

June 2014  Topic:  Honoring our Father's 

Preparation:
Prayerfully study and think about what the specific needs of your primary are and how you can teach them this doctrine.  

Free Printables:  Download all printables HERE

Sharing Time Instruction:

Play a guessing game with the primary children. Have Four silhouettes on the board. With clues on the back.  Explain that you are going to give them clues about Fathers. And they need to guess who the Father is. (use clues up above). Ideas of fathers came from "Every Day a Father’s Day", June 1981 Friend Magazine.

- Heavenly Father: This Father is the father of your spirit. Everything you have is from him. He loves you so much and wants you to speak to him in each day in prayer.

- Earthly Father: This Father is the your father here on Earth. He presides over your home, loves you and helps in teaching you and helping you grow.

- Father of the Ward (Bishop)- This Father has responsibility for the welfare of the ward. He loves each member of the ward, helps in supporting them in their callings and families.

- Father of your Country- This Father has the responsibility for the welfare of the country. They are to look out for the best interest of every person in the land.

Discuss with the children how we can show love and appreciation to each "Fathers" discussed all year long.

Give the children the DAD Questionnaire (see above) and have them fill out the things about their dad. Encourage the children to show appreciation to their "Fathers"

Close by sharing your testimony on the weeks topic.

Click this link for past Sharing Time post: LDS Primary Sharing Time Ideas 

Other Father's Day ideas Click HERE.

***Basic ideas for this sharing time came from the 2014 Sharing Time Outline, you can find a link here: 2014 Sharing Time Outline.

Family Home Evening on Hastening The Work (June 2014 First Presidency Message)

I hope and pray that you can use these ideas as a guideline and adjust them to the needs of your own specific family.  Our prophet President Monson says, "We cannot afford to neglect this heaven-inspired program. It can bring spiritual growth to each member of the family, helping him or her to withstand the temptations which are everywhere. The lessons learned in the home are those that last the longest."  On Lds.org there are resources available in helping to make your Family Home Evenings successful, here is a link to that site on Family Home Evenings.

For tonight's Family Home Evening the topic in which I have chosen is:  Hastening The Work (June 2014 First Presidency Message, found in June 2014 Ensign Magazine)

Preparation: Read through the June 2014 First Presidency Message: Hastening The Work. Visit the LDS Church's Site: Hastening the Work of Salvation. Pray about what resources from the site could help in forming your family plan.

Welcome everyone to Family Night

Sing: "Truth From Elijah" Children's Song Book Pg 90

Have a member of the family member say the prayer

Discuss any family business

Follow-up with last weeks FHE.

Introduce this weeks Topic:  Hastening The Work (June 2014 First Presidency Message, found in June 2014 Ensign Magazine)

Scripture: Read and Mark: D&C 88:73

Article of Faith: #6: "We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth."

Family Home Evening Instruction:

Ask your family members if they know what the word "Hasten" means?  Explain that that word "Hasten" means to quicken. Than ask them what they think it means to "Hasten the Work or Hasten the Work of Salvation"?  Read this quote from President Thomas S. Monson, "We, as spirit children of our Heavenly Father, were sent to earth at this time that we might participate in hastening this great work." (Hastening The Work (June 2014 First Presidency Message, found in June 2014 Ensign Magazine)

Explain that at this time Heavenly Father asks that we quicken the work of saving souls. Play this video: "My Work and My Glory" 

Explain that as the video says, Hastening the Work of Salvation encompasses:
- Missionary Work
- Retention (keeping member's active in the church)
- Activation (activating those who have become less active or non-active in the church)
- Temple and family history work
- Teaching The Gospel

Read this quote from President Monson, "The Lord has never, to my knowledge, indicated that His work is confined to mortality. Rather, His work embraces eternity. I believe He is hastening His work in the spirit world. I also believe that the Lord, through His servants there, is preparing many spirits to receive the gospel. Our job is to search out our dead and then go to the temple and perform the sacred ordinances that will bring to those beyond the veil the same opportunities we have." (Hastening The Work (June 2014 First Presidency Message, found in June 2014 Ensign Magazine)

Invite your family to help you come up with a plan of how each family member can help in hastening the work of salvation. (You could use the printable below)

Invite family members to bear their testimonies on hastening the work.

Close with a Family Prayer.

Free Printables: Best way to print printables is to click on the image and save it to your computer. You will then be able to print the image from your computer.

For More Family Home Evening Ideas Click this Link: Family Home Evening Ideas

This FHE Idea is being featured as part of #MyForeverFamily Challenge. For more ideas and to see what the challenge is all about click the following link:

Emergency Preparedness Super Saturday Ideas (Relief Society)

Preparedness is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as... "the fact of being ready for something : the state of being prepared."

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a Relief Society Super Saturday all about Emergency Preparedness.  It was great to be able to visit with the other sisters in the ward and give each other ideas on how to be prepared.  I was excited to be able to share some of the things I have put together for my family.  I thought I would share them on here also, as well as share some of the other ideas that were shared that day.


The "Go Bag":

The idea is to have one of these "Go Bags" for each family member and have them in their rooms where it will be easy to grab and go.  Here is a link to the posts I have done on getting one ready.

Important Information Binder:

This page should be filled out for each family member and put in a small binder or three ponged folder and put in  their "Go Bag".  Other items that should also be put in the binder are:
-Make copies of Birth Certificate.
-Make copies of Social Security Card
-Make copies of Adult ID's such as Driver's License
-Make copies of Immunization Records
-Make copies of Marriage License
-Make copies of Current Medication Labels and directions
-Copy of Family picture (this would be beneficial to have if separated or even just as a comfort item)
-Child ID/Safety kit (There are many sites out their that offer these kits for free.  Also, a lot of times in children's picture packets from the school they will include one.  Some kits even include a swab for DNA.  It is important to have one where you can provide a picture, a description of your child, and fingerprints.) ***Once you get one, do it***
***A great idea one of my friend gave was to laminate all of these items, so they will be protected.***


Hot Pad First Aid Kit:

 These cute little first aid kits have been around for a while.  I made my first one probably over 10 years ago. They are so easy to make and so handy!! I had one in my car and someone like it so much they stole it. Above is a list of items I put into my kits.

72 Hour Kit Ideas:

This is my 72 Hour kit list.  These are the items I have in my kits and how I have them stored. 

Emergency Preparedness Car Kit:

3 Month Food Storage Supply Ideas: Click HERE For the Link

Long term storage items: 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

(This is a great link, with a list of foods with a long shelf life)

Here are some more ideas:

-Honey

-Salt (the good stuff with minerals)

-Rice

These are the other ideas they had at the Super Saturday:

Emergency Washing "Machine"/Container:

We were lucky to have these buckets donated to us, they are from a dairy and are sherbet containers, thus the wording "Citric" on the lid. They smell wonderful!  The wonderful sister who put the Super Saturday together had all of the holes drilled for us already.  It looks like you drill a hole in the lid large enough for the plunger to move freely through.  Then you drill little holes in the plunger.

Portable Potty:

I love these!  I already had one, but thought it would be nice to have two. Here is a link to Utah.gov's website Be Ready Utah. It has a list of what you will need for your portable potty.

Some More Great Ideas:
(click on each one for the links)

Toilet Paper Roll and Lint Fire Starters

Petroleum Jelly and Lint Fire Starters

Homemade Clothes Detergents

Water Storage and Preparation


Great Websites for Emergency Preparedness:

CDC

Ready.Gov

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

American Red Cross

Boy Scouts of America

FEMA

Be Ready Utah

Family Home Evening based around President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's message: A Firmly Set Anchor (April 2014 Ensign)

I hope and pray that you can use these ideas as a guideline and adjust them to the needs of your own specific family.  Our prophet President Monson says, "We cannot afford to neglect this heaven-inspired program. It can bring spiritual growth to each member of the family, helping him or her to withstand the temptations which are everywhere. The lessons learned in the home are those that last the longest."  On Lds.org there are resources available in helping to make your Family Home Evenings successful, here is a link to that site on Family Home Evenings.

For tonight's Family Home Evening the topic in which I have chosen is:  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's message: A Firmly Set Anchor (April 2014 Ensign)

Family Home Evening on Loving All of Heavenly Father's Children

I hope and pray that you can use these ideas as a guideline and adjust them to the needs of your own specific family.  Our prophet President Monson says, "We cannot afford to neglect this heaven-inspired program. It can bring spiritual growth to each member of the family, helping him or her to withstand the temptations which are everywhere. The lessons learned in the home are those that last the longest."  On Lds.org there are resources available in helping to make your Family Home Evenings successful, here is a link to that site on Family Home Evenings.

For tonight's Family Home Evening the topic in which I have chosen is:  Focusing on Loving All of Heavenly Father's Children.

Preparation: Make preparations to show all of the videos and read the stories.  Gather the below pictures of Jesus.

Welcome everyone to Family Night

Sing: "Jesus Said Love Everyone" Children's Song Book Pg 61

Have a member of the family member say the prayer

Discuss any family business

Follow-up with last weeks FHE.

Introduce this weeks Topic:  Focusing on Loving All of Heavenly Father's Children.

Scripture: Read and Mark: John 13:34-35

Article of Faith: # 4- "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Family Home Evening Instruction:

Begin the Lesson portion of Family Home Evening by Showing the video:
"Sermon on the Mount: The Higher Law"
After the movie ask your family, what was it that Jesus taught?  Discuss with your family that Jesus taught us to love each other, even our enemies.

Show them the following pictures of Jesus showing love towards others and discuss each picture and ways each family member could follow his example:

Sermon on the Mount- Discussion might include that he taught other's the gospel. We can share the gospel with other's also. We have an amazing blessing of having the Gospel in our lives, shouldn't we want that for other's also.

Healing the Blind Man: Discussion might include that he healed and comforted the sick and afflicted.  We can follow his example by caring for and comforting those who are in need.  Those who are sick or those who are in need of help.

Washing the Apostles Feet: Discussion might include that Jesus washed his disciples feet and taught them the importance of serving each other. We can follow this example by serving our family members, friends, neighbors, and all others.  Discuss ways you can serve others.

The Crucifixion: Discussion might include that Jesus forgave those who crucified him, saying, "...forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34). This is an example of what he taught at the Sermon on the Mount, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" (Matthew 5:44)  We can follow his example by freely forgiving others and treating even those who are not kind to us, with love and kindness.

Read the following story: One Grumpy Neighbor: BY RON KNOWLTON

After the story discuss what can happen when we show kindness to others, even those who are not kind to us.

Show video: How Do I Love Thee?

Have every family member close their eyes and think about their Heavenly Father. Think about being in heaven, seeing Heavenly Father surrounded by all of his spirit children. Have them think about how he loved each one of these spirit children, the same and unconditionally. Now think about all of the people of this earth. Think about the people at school, at work, at church and the other people that you might pass by in a store or at the park. They are those same spirit children that were with you and Heavenly Father in heaven. He loves each one of them unconditionally and wants you to do the same.  Each of them are your spirit brother or sister.

How Do We Love?  That question was answered in the video: We love as Jesus did. Elder Holland stated that true love, "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (1 Cor 13:7)

Ask your family members how they can "beareth all things"?  Answers might include that we can help cary or bear each other's burdens. By having empathy, which means we are able to understand how someone else if feeling, we will have the desire to focus more on them, rather then ourselves. This is where true happiness comes from. Read the following story: The Most Surprising Gift: BY COLLEEN HANSEN

Ask your family members how they can "believeth all things"? Answers might include that when we believe that others are God's children with divine potential, then we may treat them with more love and kindness. When we believe in them and their ability to be good and do good, then we can help to strengthen them and help them to understand their divine potential.  Believeth all things also refers to believing in the gospel and our Heavenly Father's plan.  When we have this belief then we know why we are here on earth and what our Heavenly Father desires of us. What he desires for all of his children is to return to his presents, we are his servants, his hands, he requires us to help all of his children reach their divine potential.

Ask your family members how they can "hopeth all things"? Answers might include: When we have hope we aspire or have a desire for something to be a certain way. In our relationships we can have hope that the relationship can be a happy one, full of love, loyalty and trust.

Ask your family members how they can "endureth all things"? Answers might include: True Love Endureth ALL Things!!  When we have this kind of love, it is an unconditional love. It is the same kind of love that our Heavenly Father and Savior have for each one of us. With this love, it does not matter what the other person does, it does not matter the circumstances, this love is strong, it is forgiving, it will be their through thick and thin and is unwavering.  This is the kind of love that our Heavenly Father desires us to have for all of his children!  When we rely on our Heavenly Father and trust in him we will be able to endure anything this world tosses at us.

Bear testimonies on  Loving All of Heavenly Father's Children. Allow family member's to record their feelings and thoughts into their Family Home Evening Journal.

Close with a Family Prayer.

Free Printables: Best way to print printables is to click on the image and save it to your computer. You will then be able to print the image from your computer.

5X7

For More Family Home Evening Ideas Click this Link: Family Home Evening Ideas

LDS Primary Sharing Time April 2014 Week 4: I can show love to each member of my family.

Since, we have General Conference this Sunday, I am going to take the opportunity to get ahead with my Primary Sharing Time Outline posts.  I will now be trying to post the sharing time outlines two Tuesday's before the Sunday they will be used.  April is kind of a different month, since we will only have 3 Sundays, in which sharing time will be used.  I have decided to combine Week 1 and Week 2 sharing time topics this month. Here is the plan that our primary will be following for the month: April 13, 2014- Week 1 & Week 2, April 20, 2014- Week 3 & Easter, April 27, 2014-Week 4. 

Preparation:
Prayerfully study and think about what the specific needs of your primary are and how you can teach them this doctrine.

Traps, Tricks and Treasures! St. Patty's Day Fun.

This year for our leprechaun trap we decided to make a pot of gold.  To do this, we used an empty cylinder container (Corn Meal Container). We wrapped black paper around it and used a white correction pen to write "Pot of Gold" on the front.  For the top we cut the center out of the lid and then cut a circle the same size of the lid out of yellow felt.  We put the lid on and placed the felt on the top. Then of course we added some "Lucky Charms" bait.

When we woke-up that morning and checked the trap, there was no leprechaun to be found. They are so tricky you know. Well, he must have jumped right out, but as he was making a get away he left a trail of crumbs and dropped some of his coins with riddles, leading to some of his treasure.

We solved the riddles and look at the treasure he left behind. Not quite a pot of gold, but we're not complaining!

Below is a free printable for the coin/riddle treasure hunt.

Printing Tip: Click on the image and save it to your computer. You can then print the image from your computer.

For more St. Patrick's Day Ideas Click here: St. Patrick's Day Ideas

RS: Preparedness- Three-Month Food Supply

I wanted to focus today's preparedness post on the three-month food supply.  In previous posts I had addressed a 72-hour kit, which can be viewed here: 72 hr kit post.  I also did some posts on the "Go-Bag" for that post, click here: Go-Bag Post.  When I started thinking about what post I would do today, I found myself on Lds.org. I typed in preparedness and was directed to the "Emergency Preparedness" page. I decided to go along with one of the topics listed on the page, and that was "Three-Month Supply". I love what it says on that page about your three-month supply, "Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage."

When I was first married and was trying to heed the counsel of putting together food storage, I was just buying all the stuff that I new had a long shelf life.  They sat in my food storage and sat their some more until, they finally expired and I threw them away.  They were not things that I, nor my family really ate regularly, nor was I going to open the big can to use a little bit and not have it for my food storage.  I like this idea of buying what your family actually eats and rotating it, a lot better!  This is actually what I do now in a sense, because it made me sick seeing all of the food wasted.

These are some of the ways I go about accomplishing this goal of food storage:

Way One:
I watch for the case lot sales. I look at this as kind of the starting point. I do not go overboard, because I do not want all of my items expiring at the same time.  So, I figure kind of what I think I will use in a 6 month time frame. Since, this is how often they usually run case lot sales at the grocery stores.  Then that is how much I buy of that particular item.  I particularly like to purchase toilet paper and paper towels at this time.

Way Two:
I have my pantry, that I keep a few of each items in, so they are easily accessible as I am preparing meals.  Then, I have my "store"-age in my cold storage, which has the remaining items. When I have used the stuff from my pantry, then I go to my "store"-age and bring what I need to my pantry.   Those items go on my grocery list, for my next shopping trip. What makes this work is, rotating! I make sure that the things that are to expire first are used up first. Everything shifts forward in my cold storage and the new items are placed in the back. Newly purchased items are not placed in the pantry, the old ones need to be used up first.  It also is great, because not everything is going to expire at the same time and things are always being rotated.

I have found that it is hard to have food storage for the more perishable items.  This is where canning and frozen foods come in.  I have noticed that I have to be careful with frozen foods too and not go overboard, because of things getting frost bite.  Again I do this by only buying what I know that I will use in a certain time frame.

Everyone seems to have what works best for them. I know some of my friends are big with couponing and watching the sales. Others use the case lots sales, some use the church's cannery, some buy pre-made storage foods and others are big users of bulk stores, such as Costco and Sams.  I would love to hear what you have found works for your family's food storage needs. Please leave a comment below and share your secret! 

Here are some of the different printables I have in regards to food storage:

Book Review on "Mormon Origami" by Todd Huisken

I am extremely excited to write my first book review.  A little over a month ago, I received an e-mail from Todd Huisken, asking if I would be interest in writing a book review on his book, "Mormon Origami".  I was flattered that he would ask me and did a little research by going to his website. I learned that Todd,  is a licensed marriage & family therapist and that he taught early morning seminary for six years. I also learned that the book, "Mormon Origami" has 25 different origami designs in it.  I was intrigued and became excited thinking of the different ways the origami designs could be used. So, I e-mailed him back my response and a little while later received his book.

When I received Todd's book in the mail, I quickly took a look.  The cover of the book is very flattering.  It has images of some of the different origami designs that could be made.  When I open the book up, I was met with the "Contents" page which separates the designs into three categories with correlating page numbers.  This makes it easy to find a particular design.

There is a page in the book that gives the background of origami, as well as an introduction to the book itself.

The other thing I thought was very beneficial is at the top of each design it lists a skill level. So, if someone is a beginner to origami, like myself, they would know where to start.  Toward the back of the book there is an "Index" page that gives the reader the designs, their page number and they are listed under their skill level.  I loved this.  I was able to go to the back and see what designs were skill level 1, so I knew what would be good ones to start with.

Each design has step by step directions and images, making it very easy to follow along.  The first one I made was the "SWORD of Laban" design (See the image at the left, it was my first attempt. The cute CTR shield is a sample that Todd sent me in the mail. I love the sword & shield together! ).  I can see my boys just getting a kick out of it.  I found it very easy to follow along with the images and directions given.  The only thing that could possibly made it any easier would be to have papers that are pre-marked with where to fold.  But then once that paper is used up, all you have is that one piece.  Once, I followed the steps of a design once, then to do it again was even easier.

The other thing I thought was pretty fun, is Todd has put little trivia or interesting facts at the top of each page. This helps you gain a little knowledge about the topic of the design as you are folding away.

I am very excited about all of the many possibilities where these designs could be used.  I picture using them in a Family Home Evening lesson, in Sharing Time, in Primary classes, Cub scout activities and Activity Days.  Don't we learn so much more with visual aids and even more when we are learning things hands on?

If you are interested in finding more out about this book, "Mormon Origami", by Todd Huisken, you can visit his website http://www.mormonorigami.com/.

*Disclosure: I received Todd Huisken's book "Mormon Origami" for doing this review, however all opinions mine and they are my honest opinions. I was also given special permission to display the cover of the book on this blog post.