March Theme : Daughter of God

Happy March!  The Lengthening Your Stride theme for March is Daughter of God.  Be sure to check out the goal suggestions tab for goals that fit this theme.     

James E. Faust said:

'To be a daughter of God means that you are the offspring of Deity, literal descendants of a Divine Father, inheriting godly attributes and potential.  To be a daughter of God also means that you have been born again, changed from a ‘carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness’. …Being a daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity.  You will know who you are.'

We hope that this month you can gain a deeper understanding of the blessings that come through lengthening your stride in the area becoming a daughter of God.

Please feel free to share your insights and thoughts with us throughout the month.

With Love,

The Literacy Committee

February Theme : Guardian of the Hearth

It's February!  And it's cold outside -- but don't let that ruin your enthusiasm for the Lengthening Your Stride program!


The monthly theme for February is Guardian of the Hearth.  Be sure to check out the goal suggestions tab for goals that fit this theme.     

As members of the church & women, we have a unique role in and perspective about the importance of strengthening our families.  The Family: A Proclamation to the World teaches us:

'The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan . . . Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.'

We hope that this month you can gain a deeper understanding of the blessings that come through lengthening your stride in the area becoming a guardian of the hearth.

Please feel free to share your insights and thoughts with us throughout the month.

With Love,

The Literacy Committee

January Theme: Homemaker

Happy New Year!

We hope that the first few days of 2013 have treated all of you well.

The monthly theme for January is Homemaker.  Be sure to check out the goal suggestions tab for the list of monthly goals.   

We hope that this month you can gain a deeper understanding of the blessings that come through lengthening your stride as a homemaker.

Please feel free to share your insights and thoughts with us throughout the month.

With Love,

The Literacy Committee

December Theme: Disciple of Christ

Happy December!

We are beginning the fourth month of the Lengthening Your Stride program -- time flies when you are having fun!  A special thanks to all of those who contributed to our November gratitude journal.  We truly have so many blessings and it was delightful to hear about them from the sisters in our ward. 

The monthly theme for December is disciple of Christ.  Be sure to check out the goal suggestions tab for goals that fit this theme.     

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi teaches us the importance of Jesus Christ:

'And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.'  (2 Nephi 25:26)

We hope that this month you can gain a deeper understanding of the blessings that come through lengthening your stride in the area becoming a disciple of Christ.

Please feel free to share your insights and thoughts with us throughout the month.

With Love,

The Literacy Committee

November Theme: Love & Service

Happy November!

Welcome to month three of the Lengthening Your Stride program.  We hope that you each found meaningful ways to lengthen your stride in the area of citizenship during October.  This month's theme is love & service.  Be sure to check out the goal suggestions tab for goals that fit this theme.     

President Thomas S. Monson shared the following thought about loving and serving those around us:

'We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the “thick of thin things.” In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes.

Many years ago I heard a poem which has stayed with me, by which I have tried to guide my life. It’s one of my favorites:

 

I have wept in the night

For the shortness of sight

That to somebody’s need made me blind;

But I never have yet

Felt a tinge of regret

For being a little too kind.

  

My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.'

We hope that this month you can gain a deeper understanding of the blessings that come through lengthening your stride in the area of love & service.

Please feel free to share your insights and thoughts with us throughout the month.

With Love,

The Literacy Committee

Iowa Activity: Mormon Handcart Park

Remember this activity that Regan organized?  We have pictures!

The Mormon Handcart park is just off Mormon Trek -- click here for a map.  Thanks to Regan for organizing and to all who attended.

With love,

The Literacy Committee  

October -- Citizenship: Voting

Several of our monthly goals in October center around voting as a way to demonstrate citizenship.

Here are some helpful websites that might be helpful as you consider voting in the November election:

Johnson County Voter Registration information -- click here.
Election Day Voter Registration information --  click here. 
Find your polling place in Johnson County -- click here.  
List of candidates & ballot issues -- click here.
Information about absentee ballots -- click here.
Places & dates for early voting -- click here.  

Love,
The Literacy Committee

October Theme -- Citizenship: Presidential Debates

We know that becoming informed about the views and stances of presidential candidates is essential in voting responsibly.  Presidential debates provide one way for us to learn more about how each presidential candidate plans to act if elected to office.

Here are the dates & times for the remaining presidential debates:

October 11, 8:00 - 9:30 pm:  Vice-Presidential Debate, foreign & domestic policy
October 16, 8:00 - 9:30 pm:  Presidential Debate, town meeting style
October 22, 8:00 - 9:30 pm:  Presidential Debate, foreign policy

For more information about the debates and a live stream via internet, click here.  If you choose to watch any (or all!) of the debates, be sure to report each one as a completed goal.

As we enter this election season, it is important to remember that the church is politically neutral.  From lds.org:

The Church’s mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, not to elect politicians. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established.
The Church does not:

• Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms.
• Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes.
• Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes to. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader.

The Church does:

• Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections.
• Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters.
• Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church.
• Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

Sending our love,

The Literacy Committee   

October Theme: Citizenship

Happy October!

We are in month two of the Lengthening Your Stride program.  We hope that you each found meaningful ways to lengthen your stride in the area of personal health during September.  This months theme is citizenship.  Be sure to check out the goal suggestions tab -- we have lots of links there this month.     

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law (Articles of Faith #12)."  We can demonstrate our belief in this doctrine by being good citizens of our city, state, and country.   

We hope that this month you can gain a deeper understanding of the blessings that come through lengthening your stride in the area of citizenship.

Please feel free to share your insights and thoughts with us throughout the month.

Love,

The Literacy Committee

September Goal Reminder -- D&C 89

This morning during Relief Society, Kim taught an excellent lesson about the Word of Wisdom.  She challenged us to read D&C 89 and prayerfully consider how we can better live the Word of Wisdom.

This challenge is also one of our monthly goal suggestions -- so, please count your reading of the Word of Wisdom as a goal achieved!

Sending our love,

The Literacy Committee

September - Personal Health: Biking

Hayley and her family have been taking advantage of the nice weather and abundance of trails in the Iowa City area. Weekly family bike rides would be a perfect activity to count towards a September Personal Health goal.

Tim and I have been making a more valiant effort to get out and go biking every week. There are so many awesome trails all over Coralville and Iowa City to enjoy. And as the leaves begin to turn and it cools off it will be even more fun to explore. Kate had a great time...can't you tell?! I'm always up for a ride, let me know when you want to go.

For more information about biking trails in the Iowa City area, click here and for Coralville, click here. For information about the North Liberty Recreational Trail and other parks in North Liberty, click here.

We look forward to hearing more of the ways you are incorporating the September Personal Health goals into your life this month!

Love,

The Literacy Committee

September Theme: Personal Health

Happy September! 

This month we are incredibly excited to officially kick off the Lengthening Your Stride program.  September's theme is personal health.  The goal suggestions this month provide several ideas that can improve various aspects of our personal health.   

Our bodies are an amazing gift from Heavenly Father and it is our responsibility to be good stewards over them.  If we follow the teachings of the church regarding our personal health, we are promised: "health in their navel and marrow to their bones . . . wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; [you] shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint . . . the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. (D&C 89:18-21).

We hope that this month you can gain a deeper understanding of the blessings that come through lengthening your stride in the area of personal health. 

Please feel free to share your insights and thoughts with us throughout the month.

Love,

The Literacy Committee