Embark (New Beginnings)

To read all of my blog post go to The Life and Music of Jodi Lee 
or Jodileemusic.com

For our New Beginnings we went with the "Embark" Theme. I have had several people come across our photos on our Young Women Instagram page and ask for details so I thought I'd share them here. 

 

2015 Mutual Theme

“Therefore, O ye that EMBARK in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day” (D&C 4:2).

After our opening song and prayer we started our program with the girls reciting the  Young women theme, then I showed THIS video

I then gave the following "Talk"

The word Embark is an action word meaning  "Journey"

Let the scriptures be your compass

Read your scriptures daily. Feast upon the word

Let Christ be your light house : Young women Motto (Hold up picture)

The Young Women motto is “stand for truth and righteousness.” The Young Women logo is a torch surrounded by the Young Women motto. The torch represents the light of Christ, inviting all to “come unto Christ” (Moroni 10:32). It invites all young women to make a commitment to hold up their light by being an example and remaining worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple.

“Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations” (D&C 115:5). (I held up a picture of our Motto)

Let personal progress and for the strength of youth be your charts and map

The personal progress program is an inspired program for our Young Women

Personal Progress strengthens young women’s testimonies of Jesus Christ, prepares them for future roles, and helps them to make and keep sacred covenants. Help them work with parents and leaders to set and accomplish goals based on the eight Young Women values. (girls came up and read values and their meaning)Faith, Divine nature, Individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountabilities, good works, integrity, Virtue

Standards found in For the Strength of Youth provide sure direction to strengthen and guide young women. Exemplify and teach these standards in all aspects of the Young Women organization.

(I then talked about) Using strength of youth for family home evenings.

Let prayer be your life preserver

prayer is a great blessing that can provide inspiration in the lives of all of Heavenly Father’s children, President Thomas S. Monson says. “Men and women of integrity, character, and purpose have ever recognized a power higher than themselves and have sought through prayer to be guided by such power,” he says.

Let the temple and your covenants be your ropes and chains to bind you to the gospel

Purpose and Objectives of the Young Women Organization

The purpose of the Young Women organization is to help each young woman be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple.

 Then I ended with my Testimony. I had one of our Young Women sing a song and our Personal Progress specialist spoke. I highlighted the girls coming into Young Women for the 2015 year and gave them each a necklace with the Young Women Motto on it (the flame) I asked one of our senior girls to share her testimony about Young women and how it has helped prepare her for life.  We then ended with the Bishops testimony.
After we had a photo booth for the girls. They loved it!  

 

   

Let Christ in!

A little over 5 months ago I was called to serve as the Young Women's President in my ward. For those of you who are not members of my faith this basically means I'm in charge of the young women in my area.  I made three promises to myself when I was called. 1: I would have no regrets and do everything to the best of my ability  2: I would make our activities meaningful. 3: I'd make sure every girl knows she is enough! I have really tried to stick with these three things. For the month of December we did a lot of combined service with the Young Men. 1- Decorated the Canberra rock area for the community Then helped an elder sister in our ward get her Christmas up. 2- Sang at an assisted living home where one of our ward members now lives. We also sang for some of our ward members who haven't been feeling well. 3- Did a service project where we made kits of clothing, shoes and toys for kids in Ethiopia. (One of our young men will be delivering the kits the day after Christmas.) We then gave the youth a Pay it Forward challenge. They will report on what they have done this Sunday.  4-Gathered money, coats, shoes and blankets for the homeless then delivered them. And we did a Christmas lesson third hour at my home where all of the leaders shared their favorite Christmas experience or story then ended with their testimony.  



In preparation for our last activity in 2014 I slowly converted my garage into a manger scene. The purpose of the activity is the help remind the youth to keep Christ in their hearts this Christmas season (And Always.) In the words of Elder Waxwell : "Each of us is an Innkeeper who decodes if there is room for Jesus".......A few hours prior to the activity I had a moment of reflection. I sat in my garage with the lights off watching the candles flicker. I looked at the empty cradle and realized I HAVE NOT LET CHRIST IN! Sometimes we are busy doing GOOD things but even good things and distract us from much BETTER things. I Promise to let  CHRIST into my heart this CHRISTmas...and all year long. How about you???

Pictures of our activities below

Because I have been given much

Last year my sweet friend Michele and her husband took the youth of our church to Salt Lake city for a service project. They collected hats, shoes, coats, blankets and gloves then gave them to the homeless. The youth loved the experience. What impressed me most was the fact that Michele was sick, really sick with cancer. She was the perfect example of TRUE service! Read her blog HERE. She has since passed away.We decided to take her idea and make it a tradition in our ward family. This year we asked our ward to donate money, coats and blankets instead of doing neighbor gifts. I was blown away by all the love and support we received.  A doughnut company donated 7 dozen donuts and we provided hot cocoa to give to the homeless along with the coats, blankets, underwear, and socks. We took the youth up on a Sunday afternoon. The spirit strong and beautiful. I couldn't help but think of my sweet friend Michelle all day long. I know she is proud of us.

Watch a video of our experience HERE
 
It was a great experience and I pray that the youth took it all in. They are seeing reality. I hope they realize how blessed they are and I hope they see what addiction can do and I hope they understand that to matter the struggles some face in life, god loves us all just the same. His love is beautiful and perfect. Merry Christmas!

The making of "O Holy Night"

 I have always had a dream to record O Holy night with a choir. A few weeks ago that dream came true! My producer asked what my goal with this song is, it's very simple.....My hope is that everyone who listens will feel the spirit, and I hope it reminds everyone what Christmas is really all about. I was able to record with an amazing choir of wonderful people. Stephen Aldpis ,Andra Jonson, Beth Steagall, Luke Elmer, and Cody Atack. There is something special about Christmas music. I love it beyond words. I think it's the idea that most the world is singing about Christ during the Holiday seaso  

100% of the proceeds earned from this song will go to charity.  You can purchase O holy night on iTunes or AMAZON or CDBABY

 

 We really had a great time! And there was a beautiful spirit felt during the video shoot. The music was arranged and piano played by the talented Andra Jonson. The video was produced by Christean Jenson .Thank you to the video choir and those who helped.....Andra Johnson, Beth Steagall, Heather Gross ,Lance Nicholes ,Sarah Blackstone Bodine, Noah Burbidge,John Bodine, Savannah McGill , Lexi McGill, Alyssa Hutchinson, DeeAnn Meadows, Ashley Meados, Jana  Valerio, Luke Elmer, Stephen Aldous, Cody Atack ,Jason jones. Music was recorded at ART CITY SOUND 

Happy Birthday to my guy!

Happy Birthday to my favorite person in the world! You are my Rock, my cheerleader and my very best friend! I Love you FOREVER!

  Watch a little video HERE



 

Finding yourself through service

Date Night "Photo Shoot"

I was in need of some new promo photo's so I asked the AMAZING and INCREDIBLE Morgan Slade if she'd do me the honor. I wanted something fun, edgy and completely different. I asked her if she'd meet me downtown Provo. She agreed. It was Friday night and for those who know me well, know my husband and I never miss date night. Why not make my photo shoot into our date night, right?! My husband and Morgan hopped in our car driving around as if they were the paparazzi.  Morgan hanging out the sunroof snapping pictures left and right ( Wish I had a photo of the entire thing). SO MUCH FUN! At one point during the photo shoot Morgan captured some photos of me and my husband. I'm grateful she did. True candid photos! I don't think you can plan something like this, not without losing the authenticity. We ended the night by taking Morgan to our favorite Soda Shop SODALICIOUS for a dirty diet coke and sugar cookie.Thank you Morgan! These are photo's we will always treasure. It was the best "date night paparazzi photo shoot" ever!

                  You can view more of the Photo Shoot HERE