Oh fiddlesticks. Here we are at the end of the month and I am just barely getting around to posting my visiting teaching happy thing for January. So sorry about that. I hereby recommit to getting back on track with my beginning of the month visiting teaching posts. LOL! This month, for my visiting teaching handout, I wanted to focus around the mutual theme for this year, "Be Steadfast & Immovable," and tying that with building our families on a firm 
foundation. This wonderful idea is from my mom, who is having me make something similar to this...which I will also be sharing very soon. At a first glance, it appears that these are just simple rocks on these plaques that I made for my visiting teaching ladies this month. However, if you were to see them in real life, they are truly beautiful, with many colors and sparkles in each one. These rocks are from the granite quarry in Little Cottonwood Canyon - the very same place where the granite was taken to build the Salt Lake Temple. My mom was able to get these little rocks for me from a friend and I mounted them on this plaque with Liquid Nails and then added the vinyl, which reads, "Our Family Is Built On A Firm Foundation." Along with this little 4.5" x 4.5" plaque, I am handing out the following story from the history of the Salt Lake Temple:
"In July of 1857, U.S. President James Buchanan, sent an army of 2,500 men to Salt Lake City to "restore order and forcibly install a new governor to replace Brigham Young." Apparently, President Buchanan had received biased reports regarding the early Saints from federal officials who had deserted their posts. However, the army was delayed and chose to winter at Fort Bridger, Wyoming, waiting until spring to continue their journey.
In March 1858, upon hearing of the army's threat, Brigham Young ordered that the 30,000 Saints residing in Salt Lake City move South. He also ordered that the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple be completely covered with dirt and then tilled to resemble a freshly plowed field.
When the armies arrived and saw that the Saints were prepared to burn the city to the ground rather than relinquish it to the government, they left the area satisifed that the reports they had received regarding the Saints' disorderly conduct were false. Two months later, the Saints returned to their homes.
Fearing that the troops would return, Brigham Young did not order the uncovering of the temple foundation until the spring of 1860. This took two years to accomplish. When the task was completed, it was discovered that there were now cracks in the adobe and sand foundation. Brigham Young ordered the entire foundation to be dug up. It was at this time, that Brigham Young ordered the entire foundation to be replaced with a new and stronger foundation - granite located in Little Cottonwood Canyon."
As soon as my mom shared this story with me, I knew that it was something I wanted to pass on. 
Brigham Young truly was a prophet of God and so inspired in all that he did. He truly was in tune with the Spirit and I know that he was guided every step of the way in building our beautiful temple on a strong and stable foundation so that it would be able to stand firm through the years and be protected in the case of natural disaster. What a wonderful man and what a wonderful message. I hope that we can all remember to build our own families on a firm and stable foundation, and remain steadfast and immovable in our beliefs, so that when we are faced with the "natural disasters" of life, we can hold fast to each other and to the Gospel - so that once the storms have passed, we will remain upright, strong and united.
Oh Heather! You are a wonderful V.T...... A RS President and Bishop's dream! You actually TEACH! What a great lesson. And your lessons come to life when you give them something they can look at and relate to. How blessed they will be to have a rock from the ACTUAL quarry! So fun you are. THanks for sharing.
Posted by: Lynn C. | January 30, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Oh Heather! You are a wonderful V.T...... A RS President and Bishop's dream! You actually TEACH! What a great lesson. And your lessons come to life when you give them something they can look at and relate to. How blessed they will be to have a rock from the ACTUAL quarry! So fun you are. THanks for sharing.
Posted by: Lynn C. | January 30, 2008 at 10:52 AM
As always...Thanks for the Motivation!!
How lucky "your ladies" are to have you!
Posted by: Tracy | January 30, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Absolutely beautiful. I love the theme this year.
Posted by: Amber. | January 30, 2008 at 12:33 PM
stinkin' cool! yeah, I'm finishing mine up tomorrow. . . Those are the neatest! You're the best VT. keep up the inspiration.
Posted by: StacyH | January 30, 2008 at 05:18 PM
So great. I want to move to your ward and be VTaught by you!
Posted by: diane | January 30, 2008 at 07:20 PM
These are so great! We just got home from our Stake Standards night where Michael spoke on the topic "How to be steadfast and immovable as you prepare for a mission". He did a great job, as did all the speakers. This is one of my favorite themes so far!
Posted by: Linda U | January 30, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Ohh wow, Heather!! The rocks are so meaningful...what a special message to give to the gals you visti teach!
Posted by: juliemedeiros | February 03, 2008 at 01:10 PM