High Adventure in Yosemite

Each year the Young Men, ages 14-18 have an opportunity to participate in a High Adventure camp through the Boy Scouts of America program. The High Adventure activity varies year to year. This year, the Young Men from the Ladera Ranch 2^nd ward were able to spend several days backpacking through the mountains of Yosemite National Park.

Our group of Scouts and leaders arrived in Yosemite and took a brief tour of the Yosemite valley floor. Half Dome and El Capitan were on proud display as we traveled through the park.

The trek began near Hetch Hetchy reservoir in the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park. The destination was to backpack over 11 miles to Lake Vernon where base camp would be set up.  The hike also encompassed a 2500 feet elevation gain, no easy climb with 50lb. packs on our backs.

Upon leaving on our trek, we were informed that we would most likely encounter some of the larger park inhabitants, the California Black Bear. Several rangers and other hikers had seen several Black Bears in the area we would be camping. Knowing that we would have company on our trip added a little more excitement for all!

We arrived to our destination after 6 hours of hiking. We camped near a small, remote lake deep in the backcountry of Yosemite. We were able to enjoy a few days at the lake, hiking, fishing, swimming and exploring.

All the boys enjoyed their experience in Yosemite.  We had no cell phones or computers to distract us from the beauty that exists in nature. One theme that ran throughout our High Adventure trip was the need to Disconnect to Connect. Each night we had spiritual devotionals where we discussed the importance of finding balance in life and the need to continually nourish our spirits.

The Better Way by William L. Riley

It doesn't take long when you are browsing in the self-help section of a book store. Whoops! That really dates me. As I was saying, as you are looking though the list of self-help books on your electronic reader, it doesn't take long to discover that every expert knows the ‘one and only’ right way to improve the miserable conditions of your life.

For one the solution is to be found by increasing fiber or decreasing sugar.
For another the solution is to be found by increasing exercise and decreasing couch potato time.
Yet another chimes in that only when we increase friends who give us positive feedback and decrease those who give negative feedback will we find our quality of life improving.
Then we read alternating views on oats, carbs, proteins, fruits, veggies and even the fabrics we wear.
We have even returned to the days of yore when cleansing of the dietary system was good and avoidance of such experiences would leave one unfulfilled.
We find books on the edifying effects of drugs, alcohol and whether I should increase my intake of Vitamins A, B, C and D or decrease there intake.
There is a whole section of how to improve your life by eliminating the harmful effects of the life easing inventions which surround us.

I know there has to be a little truth in some of these treatises and I suspect that there are many who have improved their emotional and physical states through the application of these writings. But, and it is a big BUT, I think that most of these efforts fall into that huge area which the apostle Paul referred to as missing the mark.
I realize that being sound of body and mind makes life’s journey healthier and happier. BUT, were we really sent here just to enjoy the trip, or were there greater purposes ordained for our mortality?

Let me suggest that we chose to come to earth to change our natures from Telestial (worldly – selfish – carnal) and move them towards becoming Terrestrial (kind – loving – gentle – good) and maybe even putting on a shade of Celestial (selfless – saving – spiritual – saints).

Less I become numbered among those who have a “one solution for all people at all times and in all places”, let me hasten to share some of my observations of human nature.

There are some who respond more rapidly to clarity and others to subtlety.
There are some who respond to sugary words and others who are moved by salty phrases.
There are some who learn by the mistakes of others and those who must try all things.
There are some who can be beat into submission and others who must be comforted into conformity.
There are some who find being good is just part of who they are and others who find it boring and must constantly fight to put on a little goodness.
There are some who will not move unless there is adventure involved and others who avoid all risk.
There are some who grasp concepts through reading while others are moved more rapidly by other senses.

We are individuals and have so been forever. The remedy to our earth-life adventure doesn't seem to be finding a universal formula, but finding a formula which universally works for each of us individually.

I am aware of the gospel principles which advocate – one faith – one baptism – one way and one truth. However, I don't think this necessarily means that there is but one way to gain that faith or one way to find truth. We, who believe in the efficacy of Temple ordinances for the dead, even accept that there is more than one way to receive the blessings of baptism.

I have found that for every positive in the gospel there is a corresponding negative.

Truth -------------- Error
Right -------------- Wrong
Believe ----------- Question
Light -------------- Darkness
Selfless ----------- Selfishness

I have also found that for some people striving to eliminate the negatives from their lives brings greater movement toward the goal of changing their natures. I have also found that there are some who advance more rapidly by concentrating on putting on the positive attributes of a higher nature. Then there are a multitude of combinations of the two spread throughout those who are attempting to become something better during their sojourn in the mortal state.

It is always interesting that the Savior in his sermon on the mount advocated that we become:

Poor in Spirit - but didn't tell us how to put on that attribute.
Meek - but didn't tell us how to put on that attribute.
Thirst after righteousness - but didn't tell us how to put on that attribute.
Merciful - but didn't tell us how to put on that attribute.
Pure in heart - but didn't tell us how to put on that attribute.
Perfect - but didn't tell us how to put on that attribute.

May I suggest that one of the real keys to our progress during this life, while we strive to gain more insights into what we should be becoming, may be in finding that formula for change which best fits our particular and peculiar nature.

Food Storage Fridays- Oats!

Oats are solid nutrition.  They are high in potassium, have useful amounts of calcium and are a fair source of protein. They are also moderately rich in B vitamins, B1, B2 and especially Inositol, and their carbohydrates provide a long slow delivery of energy to our systems.  Oats have been shown in scientific studies to favorably alter metabolism and enhance performance when ingested 45 minutes to 1 hour before exercise of moderate intensity.   

Here are some of the health benefits of eating oats:

·  Lower Cholesterol Levels

·  Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke

·  Prevent Heart Failure

·  Enhance Immune Response to Infection

·  Stabilize Blood Sugar

·  Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk

·  Provide Antioxidant Benefits to Reduce Asthma Symptoms

·  Provide alternative to wheat for people with asthma or celiac disease 

·  Reduce Risk of Colon and Breast Cancer

Thanks Alana, for the great tips on Oats!

Food Storage Friday- Whole Wheat Pancakes

This weekend is General Conference. A time for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to hear the words of the prophets through a television broadcast. General Conference weekend is full of wonderful family traditions that usually involve delicious goodies and time on the couch with the whole family. Alana has given us a delicious Whole Wheat Pancake recipe that is quick, simple, and good for the family. Not a bad treat for a conference breakfast right?

To learn more about General Conference and to see how and when you can view it, please click here.

Enjoy! This one is fast, super simple, and no wheat grinder required! 

Whole Wheat Blender Pancakes

A 100% Food Storage Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup whole kernel wheat

2 cups milk              (6 Tbsp. non-fat dry milk mixed with 2 cups warm water)

3 Tbsp. honey            

1/3 cup oil

3 Tbsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

1/3 cup white flour

Directions

Blend together wheat and milk for 4-5 minutes on medium speed. 

Add honey, oil, baking powder, salt and flour (last).  Blend only until well-mixed. 

Pour onto hot griddle or buttered frying pan.  Cook until bubbles begin to pop.  Flip over and cook until bottom is golden brown.  Yields approximately 2 dozen 4” pancakes.

Meet William L. Riley

We'd like to introduce William L. Riley, a new guest author on our blog. William Riley is a wonderful writer and a true inspiration to all those who are fortunate to hear his words. In an effort to get to know him a little better, we've asked him to tell us about his personal life, career, what inspires him to write, and more. The following are his words.

William L. Riley

I was born in Pocatello Idaho on the 28^th day of March 1939. My wife Kathleen and I were married in the Los Angeles Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the 6^th day of July 1962. We are the parents of six sons and a daughter and the grandparents of 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

My formal education includes graduating from Garden Grove Union High School in 1957 and gaining degrees of Bachelor, Master and Doctorate from Brigham Young University. I have enjoyed a life time of personal study in a broad area of interest with an emphasis on the scriptures and ancient history.

Other than being a paper deliverer, Journeyman Lather and a salesman for Pillsbury during my youth, I have spent my entire professional life teaching in the Seminaries and Institutes of the Church Education System for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I started teaching for CES in 1961 and other than the time Kathleen and I spent in Bogota, Colombia my teaching career with CES was uninterrupted for the next 45 years. My assignments included teaching Early Morning classes in Westminster, Buena Park, Garden Grove, California and Reno, Nevada. My full time Seminary assignments were in Kearns and Tooele, Utah. My assignments in the Institute program were in Reno, Nevada and in Mission Viejo, California where I retired in 2006. After retiring I taught an adult education class in the Mission Viejo Stake Center for the next 5 years as a volunteer.

I have had the opportunity and privilege to serve in many assignments in the Church which include, missionary in the Northern Mexican Mission, Stake Mission President, High Councilor and Bishop in the Reno North Nevada Stake, and Mission President in Colombia Bogota North Mission. While serving in other capacities I was also a regional advisor to the Young Single Adults in the Reno Nevada and South Orange County regions. I am currently serving as a Sealer in the Newport Beach Temple.

When I returned from my mission in Mexico my Stake President James Hobbs counseled me that every week of my life, whenever I didn't have a lesson to prepare, I should write a talk. He told me whether I would ever give that talk or not was not important, but that I should write it. During most of my life there were not many weeks when I wasn't either teaching or speaking in church or at firesides, so the assignment was fairly easy to complete. When I was asked to give the spoken word for the radio show Sabbath Day Reflections which Carl Chamberlain produced in Reno, Nevada I was able to write a short talk most weeks of the year while also teaching several classes each day.

When I retired, several things happened to aid me in being faithful to the challenge President Hobbs had given me 50 years earlier. First I joined Facebook and rapidly was reconnected with many of the wonderful missionaries we had served with in Colombia and with many former students. I also was joined on Facebook with most all of my children and several of my grandchildren. I thought writing these weekly talks  would give me something to say to the wonderful people I had reconnected with, a way of keeping the creative part of my brain alive and it would enable me to be able to share with those I love some of the things I believe and hold precious. Since I was writing my weekly talk, which I now was calling Thoughts for a Sabbath Day, and which were being translated into the Spanish version called Pensamientos Para un Dia de Reposo, I decided to start emailing these thoughts each week to all my friends on Face Book and to others who avoid social media. This little project has now grown to where my weekly personal emails number over 3000 and are posted on my Faceook blog pages as well as my personal blogs. It is fun to see that the potential weekly readers of my Thoughts has now spread to many parts of the world including such places as India, Russia and Indonesia.

I was blessed with a questioning spirit, unlike my wife who was blessed with a believing spirit. I have come to believe that either spirit can be a great aid as long as we are moved on a continual quest to come to understand truth. Those things which I know to be true include the understanding and knowledge that: we are offspring of Heavenly Parents, that Jesus the Christ is the Savior of the world, Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration, we are led my living apostles and prophets today and The Holy Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price contain the Plan of Happiness, Salvation and Exaltation. The truth I know most firmly is that what we know is far less than what we can eventually know if we continue faithful in the pursuit of coming to know the Characteristics, Attributes and Perfections of God.

visit William L. Riley's blog here: Thoughts for a Sabbath Day

Food Storage Fridays- Pumpkin-Cranberry Breakfast Cookies

Fall is approaching! Get pumped for the holidays, cozy sweaters, caramel apples, and plenty of pumpkin goodies! For our Food Storage Friday post this week, Alana has put together a recipe that will fill all your fall cravings and show you creative ways to use your food storage.
 

PUMPKIN-CRANBERRY BREAKFAST COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/4 cups rolled oats

2 cups whole wheat flour 

(or 1 cup white & 1 cup whole wheat)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

6 tablespoons applesauce (1 single-serving container)

6 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree

2 Tbsp. butter

1 egg

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup dried cranberries

DIRECTIONS: 

       

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Place all ingredients in bowl, stir together until combined.

Drop golf ball sized balls onto non-stick baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

Flatten slightly with spatula sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake about 8 minutes for moist cookies and 10-12 minutes for dry cookies.

Makes about 2 dozen.

The best part is, it's so easy, even a kid can do it!

Introducing Food Storage Fridays!

Does food storage overwhelm you? Need a friendly face to help?

Alana Kirkham is a friendly face who has gained her own testimony of food storage through trying it out herself.  She is a Mormon living in Mission Viejo, a mother of 8 and has a whole lot of great ideas to get you started on your food storage path.

Alana will be helping us with tips and tricks for food storage every Friday on the blog and facebook page, so we thought we'd ask her a few questions to get to know her better.

Why do you believe in the power of food storage?
I believe that a testimony of food storage can only be gained by doing it.  I was given my first #10 cans when I got married, but had no idea what to do with them. I hid them in the back of a closet until I received my first assignment as a preparedness specialist in the church.  In an effort to magnify my calling, I started by practicing what I was asked to preach.  I began building up my storage and learning to use it. My knowledge and understanding, and my testimony of food storage, grew with every effort I made.

How has having food storage blessed your life?
We have experienced a full range of economic times in our family.  The good times were very good, and the tough times have been very tough, but the Lord has been in our lives consistently through it all.  Danny and I both felt strongly that we needed to build up our food storage several years ago. When the economy crashed, and our family's finances became very difficult, we couldn't have been more grateful that we listened to those promptings.  Having food storage, and knowing how to use it on a daily basis brings me great peace of mind. Though we've never lived through a life-threatening earthquake or natural disaster, our food storage has been an essential part of our family's well-being.

How we can prepare our families in case of an emergency? What is the Power of 3?
The "Power of 3" is really just a way of thinking about Emergency Preparedness.  It's an organizational system that arranges our preparedness needs into periods of time:  the First 3 Minutes, the First 3 Hours, the First 3 Days, the First 3 Weeks, and the First 3 Months. Each step lists things that would help you make it through that amount of time following a major disaster.  After receiving my second assignment as a preparedness specialist,  I decided there had to be a way to break Preparedness down in a way that it didn't seem so overwhelming.  The Power of Three is what I was inspired to come up with.

Tell us a little more about your personal life...
I grew up in Lake Forest.  I met Danny when we both attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  We got married in the San Diego Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1994, and returned to Cal Poly to finish our undergraduate degrees and get our MBA's.  Danny was recruited to south Orange County, so we settled for a time back home in Lake Forest, and landed happily in Ladera Ranch ten years ago. I can't imagine ever wanting to live anywhere else!

We have 8 amazing kids ranging in age from 17 years down to 11 months. Four boys and four girls (tied score - game over).  We do a lot of fun activities as a family, including swimming, playing on our trampoline and swing set, and watching movies together.  We are secretly a family full of book worms!  Our idea of an awesome Saturday would be a blank calendar so we could all sit around in our jammies reading our most current favorite book and eating ice cream.

Thanks Alana! We are looking forward to all the helpful information you have in store.
 

Don't forget! Every Friday we'll be posting a new food storage tip from Alana on our facebook page, so make sure check it out, like it, and share it with anyone that might be interested! 

To read more about Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness, visit ProvidentLiving.org