Youth Temple Trip: South Carolina

We took another long-distance Youth Temple trip on August 7th. Until our Atlanta Temple opens back up (sometime in Feb 2011?)…we are still making trips to South Carolina to enjoy the temple there. This was a fun trip just for the youth…3.5 hour drive…

So, this was the first picture I took. I had just gotten my camera out and it was so humid that the lens was all fogged up. We got there before everyone else and started our lunch early.

The rest of the crew showed up and we all started eating before our session started.

Eating lunch before going into the temple...

More eating...

And more eating....wow, PJ!

The fearless leaders....and Patrick...

The group...looking back toward the temple...

Our Young Men/Young Women and their leaders...right before we went into the temple.

Our Young Men/Young Women and their leaders...right before we went into the temple.

Our Young Men/Young Women and their leaders...right before we went into the temple.

Our Young Men/Young Women and their leaders...right before we went into the temple.

“Mormon Night” at the Atlanta Braves Game

Frank and Kevin (a friend visiting from Las Vegas)...at the Braves game.

Kevin (back) with PJ, Ashley and Liz before they saw Dale Murphy at the Braves pre-game "Meet 'n Greet.".

Frank and Ashley with Dale Murphy!! Don't you hate it when you get a photo op like this and the shot is blurry!! There was some guy there taking the photos for them (with our camera) and he didn't know what he was doing...arggghhh!

Kevin and Dale Murphy...

PJ, Liz and Dale Murphy...

Liz getting her shirt (actually Frank's shirt) signed by Dale Murphy. He's such a nice guy! Poor guy though...he used to play in Atlanta, but has lived in arid Utah for many years (I believe) and his body isn't used to the humidity anymore :-(....

Ashley getting her hat signed by Dale Murphy.

Lining up the Mormons for a PARADE on Turner Field!!! They were invited from all around the area.

Waiting in line to be in the "Mormon Parade."

Cute Ashley waiting for the parade...

Kevin waiting to be in the parade...

Ashley, "Are we STILL waiting in line to be in the parade?"

Liz and PJ waiting in line to be in the "Mormon Parade."

Frank in all his giddiness. Can you imagine being a DIE HARD Braves fan and getting to do all of this??? I was so happy for him!

PJ, "I can't wait in this humidity!! My hair!!!"

Getting ready to come out of "The Tunnel" into the stadium.

Let the parade begin...Frank getting to walk Turner Field in the "Mormon Parade."

The Braves Dugout

Frank in front of the Braves Dugout

Braves Dugout

Braves Dugout

They work VERY hard on that field before the game starts.

The tomahawk...

Some sportscaster guy getting people ready for the game.

The JumboTron. Check out the Videos below to see the family on the JumboTron.

Kevin mocking the people that thought they had it good because they had front row seats! Suckers!!! ;-)

The Stadium...and the Chick-fil-a cow...

PJ, "My hair!" Frank, "Is this awesome, or what?!"

The Field...real grass...

Kevin making a catch...

Frank and Kevin making a dual catch...

The Players Warming Up

Braves players warming up...I think...

 

This is the view from our seats. There were a few times that we thought the ball might come our way...but no such luck...

The view of the JumboTron from our seats.

Beautiful Liz....being all sporty...

Watching the game (LtoR): Megan, Donovan, PJ, Kevin, Frank, my empty seat, Mikayla, Ashley & Liz.

Watching the game (LtoR): Megan, Donovan, PJ, Kevin, Frank, my empty seat, Mikayla, Ashley & Liz.

Watching the game (LtoR): Megan, Donovan, PJ, Kevin, Frank, my empty seat, Mikayla, Ashley & Liz.

Above:  This is Liz in line waiting to start the parade. It’s just silly, but you get a good look at her big, beautiful eyes!

Above:  Ever see a line of Mormons? Ok, me too. But this one is waiting to parade around Turner Field at a Braves Game…see, you’ve never see THAT, right?

Above:  In this video Frank is telling us that they are waiting for the “parade” to start and they are about to go out the tunnel onto the field.

Above:  This video was taken when they first entered Turner Field for the “Mormon Parade.” They got to see themselves on the JumboTron…which is way cool! The rest of us were very jealous!

Above:  This was taken while they were out on Turner Field for the “Mormon Parade.”

Above: In this video you get to see the pre-game preparations for a Braves game. You also get to see Frank’s perma-grin as he gets to walk the field of his beloved Braves.

Above:  The first section you see in this video is where our seats were. That is Ashley asking if it is real grass. This is still during pre-game events.

Above:  In this video you can see Frank “catching” a “fly ball” right at the wall in the outfield at a Braves game. Ok, it was pre-game, and there was no ball…but still…how cool is that???

2010 Ward Pioneer Party

Each year, on July 24th, our church commemorates the day the Mormon Pioneers, with Brigham Young as the leader, got to the Salt Lake Valley.  They had traveled across the plains looking for a place to settle where they could practice their religion without fear and persecution.  It was on July 24th, 1847, that they pulled their wagons into the Salt Lake Valley and Brigham Young said, “This is the right place.”

These pictures are from our small local celebration. There are huge celebrations in Utah each year and smaller ones like ours around the world.

Elders: Cleary, Smith and Del a Mare.

Elders: Campbell, Carter, Smith, Del a Mare & Cleary.

Elders Campbell, Smith & Carter

Ferree & Sariah

Mikayla, Megan, Diana & Liz

Frank, Liz & PJ

Elders Carter and Campbell getting ready to do a three-legged race.

"Let's win this race!"

PJ with Bro. Sanderson

Bro. Sanderson with two of his Scouts!

Ferree

Stick pull between Katie and Mikayla. Stick-pulling was a favorite game back in the Pioneer Days...before they had Wii's.

Elder Carter taking on PJ in a stick-pull.

 

Bro. Mitchell explaining the game...

 

 

 

Elder Carter and Campbell...fight to the end...

 

Sister Kimble and her cute puppy!!

Elder Carter taking on Frank in a Stick-Pull!

2010 Young Women Camp

Young Women Camp (better known as “Girl’s Camp”) is a highlight each summer for girls ages 12-18 in our church.  It is a week away from the world where they get to concentrate on spiritual/fun things.

Liz (YCL), Megan (4th year) and Mikayla (3rd year) got to go to our Stake Camp this year and each one had a great experience.  There were tons of cool pics shared on Facebook…and I had a hard time picking which ones to share on the blog because I consider ALL of the girls there “My girls” since I serve them in the Young Women’s Presidency.   But I just selected a few of my favorites for the blog.

The AMAZING Young Women in our ward right after they completed their skit for "Skit Night."

I didn't get a very good photo of the skit because they had glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets on and the stage was darkened. But here you can see Megan in the middle and the different groups were responding differently to her suggestions. The moral was that we can all work together and get along.

This is another ward that had just completed their skit.

There was a braiding class at the camp. Liz, who is already an expert "braider" did these braids for her friends.

Some of the fearless Leaders - LtoR: Sister Stone, Sister Joyner & Sister Watts

Some of "my girls"

Mikayla is on the far Left, with Janna, Kissa, Beebee & Jhoseline.

Mikayla with Janna

Liz, Alex & Kirstin

Megan getting a lift from Sister Joyner

Vanessa & Liz ("sisters")

This is a group of YCLs (or Youth Camp Leaders -ages 16-18). They were leading the younger girls in camp songs before a meeting.

Megan (right) with a camp friend from a different ward.

Laura, Vanessa & Liz

This was Liz's last YW Camp! Next year she will be 18 and graduated...how sad!!! By next March Ashley will be 12 and I will have FOUR Young Women in the program--for a couple of months before Liz moves on to Relief Society.

Mikayla (2nd from Left) with new friends from other wards.

This is our awesome Stake Young Women's Presidency!

The theme of the camp was the Doctor Seuss Book "Oh the Places you Will Go." The girls thought it was funny that the sign was right above the door to the bathroom :-).

The girls hanging out in their AIR CONDITIONED CABIN!! Not all YW Camps are like this...a lot of them (all over the world) do primitive camping. But I think they are pretty lucky given how hot and humid it was that week!

The first night of camp they had a "Let's Make a Deal" Game Show for the girls. They were supposed to dress up crazy like people used to do for that TV show. This is Megan's craziness.

More Crazy Megan

Going along with the Dr. Seuss Theme, here is "The Cat in the Hat" with "Thing 1" and "Thing 2."

Megan on her bunk.

Mikayla (middle) playing NINJA with Sister Watts and Kadison.

Some more of my Young Women LtoR: Laura, Tajheeta, Kadison, Katie & Eileen.

Liz (17) and Laura with a girl from another ward.

Sister Watts and Rachel

Liz - REALLY??

More Ninja for Mikayla

LtoR: Megan (15), Tajheeta, Katie, Melissa, Kadison & Katie (I don't know who the girls in the back are).

Megan got a Stake Award for being a "Peacemaker."

Here are a couple of videos of some of the singing that went on at camp that I got to be a part of.  As mentioned above, the YCL’s or Youth Camp Leaders, got to lead the younger girls in Camp Songs before the main gatherings.  They all had a lot of ENERGY!!!

ABOVE:  2010 Lilburn Stake YW Camp – YCL Songs 1

ABOVE:  2010 Lilburn Stake YW Camp – YCL Songs 2

ABOVE:  2010 Lilburn Stake YW Camp – YCL Songs 3

ABOVE:  YW Camp: YCLs singing “If the Savior Stood Beside Me”

This is the YCLs singing “If the Savior Stood Beside Me” before one of the nightly meetings.

I love this song and I missed most of it…I only got them singing the last verse (see lyrics below).

Lyrics:
by Sally DeFord

1.If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

2.If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

3.If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions? Would I choose more worthily
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

4.If the Savior stood beside me, would I often kneel to pray?
Would I listen to the Spirit’s voice, and hasten to obey?
Would I count my many blessings? Would I praise Him gratefully
If I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me?

5.f the Savior stood beside me, would I comfort those in need?
Would I try to show the Savior’s love in every word and deed?
Would I give to those who hunger? Would I serve more willingly
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

6.He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

Temple Trip – South Carolina

Our ward (or geographic church congregation) rented a bus in July 2010 and a bunch of us left at 5:00 am for the Columbia South Carolina Temple. It was an awesome trip!

The Atlanta temple has been closed for a year already and will be closed at least another 6 months for renovations. You so take it for granted when you have a temple close by (which I have for the past couple of decades). I can’t wait until the ATL temple opens again. It felt so good to be there again!  I felt rejuvenated.  We also had a fun time being with our “ward family” for the day and experience that together.

The part of our "ward family" that attended the temple that day together.

 

Us and the Bus

The Angel Moroni atop the LDS South Carolina Temple.

A side shot of the temple. It is one of the "small" temples.

And the beautiful grounds of the temple....

Pioneer Trek 2010

Pioneer Treks are a semi-recent tradition in the LDS Community. Each year (typically in the summer), LDS youth in different parts of the world have the opportunity to pull handcarts, dress like pioneers and do a lot of the same things the Mormon Pioneers did in the mid to late 1800s. Our Stake offers this opportunity to our youth once every 4 years (this was the first year).

One of the goals of ”The Trek” is to help the youth appreciate what the pioneers did for us…all that they sacrificed and went through in order to find a place ”out in the West” where they could practice our religion without fear and persecution.  Other things that are accomplished by the Trek are:  1)  the Youth learn to appreciate the modern conveniences and luxuries that we enjoy but take for granted, 2) unity is developed amongst the youth of the Stake, and 3)  they learn to work together as a group for a common goal. 

Frank participated in a Trek several years ago and had an amazing experience. This is the first Trek that our kids have been involved in. Liz, Megan and Mikayla all got to participate.  According to their report, all of the above goals were achieved.

 I’ve posted one of these links before…but for more info on the Mormon Pioneers, click on these:

 Mormon Pioneers:  The Pioneer Story

 Mormon Trail of Pioneers

 The Pioneer Trek

 **Here is a quote from one of the above links:

 ”All along the Mormon trail, and during the years that the pioneers traversed this great trek west, hundreds of Saints of all ages, especially the young and elderly, died from hunger, cold, sickness, disease, and exhaustion.¹ Countless stories have been told and recorded of the trials and tribulations of the Mormon pioneers. Nevertheless the Saints remained faithful and continued forward with “faith in every footstep.”²

On July 24, 1847, the first pioneers finally reached the end of the Mormon trail. Led by Brigham Young they came out of the mountains and looked down upon the Salt Lake Valley. Upon seeing the valley President Young declared, “This is the right place.”³ The Saints had been led to a place where they could live in safety and worship God according to their beliefs without the overwhelming persecution they’d faced in the east.

From 1847 to 1868 about 60,000-70,000 pioneers traveled from Europe and the Eastern US to join the Saints in the Great Salt Lake Valley, which later became part of the state of Utah.”

I took the first four pictures when I dropped them off...before they got dirty :-). For the rest of the pictures I was at the mercy of other people, so I didn't get a lot of good ones of my kids...but I was very happy to get the ones I did. Jackie Ober (Stake YW 2nd Counselor), Melissa, Mikayla, Megan, Nancy Goodyear (Stake YW Pres), Liz, Ma? #1, Ma? #2.

Jackie Ober (Stake YW 2nd Counselor), Melissa, Mikayla, Megan, Nancy Goodyear (Stake YW Pres), Liz, Ma? #1, Ma? #2.

Here are a bunch of the handcarts that the "families" pulled during the Trek. This was the first year that our stake did a Trek and the Stake leaders and Priests and Laurels actually made all of the carts in the Spring.

Mikayla, Melissa, Megan & Liz (who was not too happy to be there).

Can you see Liz? She is in the center/front, right above the wheel of the handcart (braided hair).

Another gathering of the youth...

This is Mikayla's "Family." She is on the Right in the pink shirt.

This is the Buck's Family (they were a "Ma and Pa" for the Trek)...Melissa G. is in the center.

The Bucks again...both on the Right.

I don't know the rest of these kids, but you can see Katie P. from our ward at the back of the wagon.

That's Melissa G. in the middle.

There's Liz behind the wagon...

Katie P. again (front Left)...

Melissa and the Bucks again...

That's Megan sitting with her back to the camera...I wasn't able to get a lot of good photos of her.

Hmmm...looks like a real pioneer camp...

Vikki P. (Center, facing forward)

That's Megan on the far Left (looking down) and you can also see Vikki P. from our ward (center, looking down).

Liz...making pancakes the hard way...

That's Liz on the Left...looking at all of the fired-up dutch ovens. Mmmmmm.....

Liz helping make pancakes...

I don't know who the guy is...but that's Megan in the background.

Mikayla enduring the heat and humidity of the great Georgia outdoors...the Trek took place during an unusually hot June...temps were in the 90's...PLUS humidity...I was proud of them for enduring it so well.

...entertainment...like the Pioneers had...

Sariah B. (far Left) at the dance.

Ferree B. (2nd from Left) at the dance.

Mikayla's first "Church Dance." :-) She turned 14 a month before the Trek.

"Stick Pulling" was an activity the pioneer men entertained themselves with. That's Bro. Heaton from our ward on the Right.

A stick-pulling win...you can see Mikayla in the pink shirt off to the Right.

Brother Heaton and his cute baby! The baby was only there for part of the Trek.

Yuck!! We were really worried about the girls getting ticks...but it didn't happen. They really didn't even have many bug bites.

Online Videos about the Mormon Pioneers:

Megan – 4th Year High Adventure

Every year our church has a camp for the girls ages 12-18…called “Young Women Camp.”   There are tons of them all over the world…you go to the one determined by your congregation’s geographic boundaries.  I’ll have more pics of that when Liz, Megan and Mikayla go in July.

All of the girls certify in different areas (First Aid, cooking outside, putting up a tent, identifying animals/bugs, starting fires, etc).For all of the girls that are going to camp for the 4th year, they have something called a “4th Year High Adventure.”  This year Megan got to participate in that.  She had an amazing time.  First they went rappelling.  She ended up going “Aussie Style,” which means face first.  I don’t think I could do that!  After they were done rappelling, all of the girls and leaders drove to Helen, GA, and went tubing on the Chattahoochee River.

Katie, Kissa, Megan, Shaunna (leader) & Betsy (leader). Harnessed and ready to go!

Kissa, Megan, Melissa, Katie & Kadison

Megan getting her harness on...

Shaunna (leader)...I love that picture! She is too funny. :-)

The view from the top of the hill. They had to drive for 2 hours to find a hill high enough to rappell off of. :-) Isn't it beautiful though?

Megan: "Do I really want to do this??"

Megan getting prepared...

 

Megan going over the hill!

Kadison ready to tackle the hill...

 

Kadison and Melissa going tandem....

Kissa

Katie getting ready...

Katie

 

Megan getting ready to go "Aussie Style" - or face-first.

 

 

Over the edge!

She's so brave!

Another beautiful picture of Georgia...this was taken on the way to the Rappelling area.

Youth Conference 2010

Every year our Stake (multi-area church group) has one or two Youth Conferences for our kids ages 14-18. In the Spring, for the past several years, they have held a Carnival for kids with Special Needs as part of the Youth Conference. They had pony rides, a petting zoo, miniature golf, face painting, snow cones/popcorn, slides, jump houses, etc…and it is all free to the kids and their families. It was really an awesome event. The youth run all of the booths, plus they get to be a chaperone for the special needs kids that are visiting. I was only there for the first part of it before it really got going, but I got some good photos before I left .

This is a bunch of our youth and a few leaders that attended the all-day youth conference (that ended with a dance). Some kids also showed up later on in the day after soccer games and such.

The youth being more casual...

Dane offering himself up as a target for bean bag practice.

Dane, Kadison, Melissa & Laura.

Getting candy ready for the Cake Walk...which was really a Candy Walk this year. That's Megan on the far right.

Lunch Time!

That's Brother Wells going the extra mile to help out with lunch preparations.

Adam and Kadison

Megan and Melissa

Kadison and Adam (again)

Laura and Brother Z (her dad :-) ).

Rachel, Rachel's friend, and Sariah...doing the lunch thing.

This is one of the kids trying out the bean bag toss.

This was a test run of the Candy Walk ;-).

The youth were doing the cake walk with a few of the early-arriving special needs kids.

The hat making table.

Princess Tyler :-)

Some of the outside activities...

...more outside activities...

There were a bunch of bunnies in the petting zoo this year...they were soooo cute!!

Rachel...the bunny lady...they all seemed to flock to her.

Sariah and a bunny...

One of the special needs kids getting a chance to meet the pony...

...and getting a ride too...

...this was a T-ball booth...

...they had a photo booth for the kids too...

...mini golf and bowling...

...crazy balloon booth...

...more bean bag throwing...our ward was in charge of the Candy Walk and the Bean Bag Throw.

 

Youth Conference 2010: Youth Waiting for the Conference to Start from Shayne Nolden on Vimeo.

Youth Conference 2010: Laura, Dane & Tyler from Shayne Nolden on Vimeo.

Youth Conference 2010: Special Needs Carnival from Shayne Nolden on Vimeo.

Church Easter Party

Hitomi and the Activities Committee put on a great Easter get together for the ward.  There were games, an easter egg hunt and lots of good food.  Thanks, guys!!

Stephen and baby Taki Luke.

Whitney and Cody visiting from Utah.

Hitomi finding a well-hidden Easter egg.

 

...Megan grabbing more cookies...

The Kids on an Easter Egg Hunt.

Frank with one of the Spanish Elders.

The Young-Waldens: Adam, Mindy, Kasey

Sister Myers with Sister Ballard...

Frank and PJ...

Laura (background), Severin & Emily...

Ward Easter Party: Hanging Out from Shayne Nolden on Vimeo.

Young Women New Beginnings 2010

Every year our (church) Young Women’s group has a “New Beginnings” program where we get reminded what the program is all about, why it is important, why we should be setting goals and encouraging the girls to set goals and accomplish them. 

I didn’t get that many photos because I was running around trying to get my PowerPoint presentation up and running at the beginning.  Right before we started, I had to swap out computers because I couldn’t get my laptop to connect to the church’s WiFi.  It all turned out ok though and I think it all went well.

Our theme was:  “The Worth of ‘Soles’ is Great” and everything related to a SHOE somehow…but ultimately it meant that “The worth of SOULS is great in the sight of God.”

Megan (Left) with a couple of friends.

Mikayla (Right) was one of the main people in a skit we did.

Liz (2nd from Right) was part of a group of girls that sang the song "Be Strong," which goes along with our 2010 Theme: "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" (Joshua 1:9)

The church has a great new website for the youth of the church: 

http://youth.lds.org/ 

It has everything they need for Personal Progress, Seminary (scriptures/songs/videos), YW Camp, For the Strength of Youth, etc.