SiZ (Test)

Stand Ye in Holy Places and Be Not Moved

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7DKuUxJJIW8CpPBOJQBkpdzjdJgxNxenPQab_sGK9WZGUCGrtBkbSbijWN6g0tpXrYJ886lb_UO5grW6O_nFy7S3HazAFGIJ0fVeRSWzlB5LQ_nDd2CZ0ekR5sgRXmxrt_p91G943cc/s640/blogger-image-1561970207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7DKuUxJJIW8CpPBOJQBkpdzjdJgxNxenPQab_sGK9WZGUCGrtBkbSbijWN6g0tpXrYJ886lb_UO5grW6O_nFy7S3HazAFGIJ0fVeRSWzlB5LQ_nDd2CZ0ekR5sgRXmxrt_p91G943cc/s400/blogger-image-1561970207.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I thought I had it hard being a teenager in California and Washington. Being Mormon was not the most popular religious choice in the neighborhood I grew up in, added to the fact that I was an awkward teen even if you took my religious beliefs out of the equation. So I can't even imagine what my little life would have been like if my "friends" had access to a Facebook, Twitter, or any of the other social media outlets that we use today.<br /><br />Growing up in the "mission field", I think most of us imagined it would be wonderful to have the opportunity to attend school with kids that shared our faith. We fantasized about the glorious sisterhood/brotherhood that must've existed in the place we believed to be Zion. We always felt that we were missing out on something by not living in Utah. I guess we thought living in the beehive state would have made us better Mormons.<br /><br />Not to long ago I had a conversation with a teenager that I've known for a few years. He is also a Christian and even though we don't belong to the same denomination I have a lot of respect for what he believes and I know he has respect for me and my beliefs. Because of my profession I have developed personal relationships with a lot of parents and teenagers in my community; and for some reason they trust me...umm maybe not the parents so much, but the kids (not my kids, because those jokers only talk to me when they need something) share all types of stories with me. We talk about school, I tease them about dating, we talk about life, laughter, pains, sorrows, fear. You name it, kids talk about it. Surprisingly they even talk about religion with me, as did this particular young man. He was familiar with our churches 2013 youth theme "Stand Ye In Holy Places". He expressed his frustration with his Mormon friends and them not being very serious about the theme or their responsibility to represent the church. He said "They just seem to blow it off like it's no big deal".  So, he wanted to know what it meant to me to stand in holy places, and how he could address it with his friends.<br /><br />My first response was "Dude do I look like the youth or a youth leader to you?" After we both finished laughing. I explained to him as best I could what that meant to me and how it translated to him as far as his religious beliefs. I also explained to him that sometimes when there is a large population of Christians of the same denomination it can be a little more difficult to stand up for what you believe because everyone around you has the same beliefs as you. And let me tell you that if their is a loop hole in anything that people deem restrictive they will find it! For example college students running off getting married then having it annulled. I explained to him that it might be a risk to him but the best way for him to reach his friends was to call them on what they were doing. I wanted to show him the <a href="http://www.lds.org/" target="_blank">LDS Church's</a> website so he could reference a few things (thank Gaw'd for smart phones and the internet) I noticed that the youth theme was actually "<a href="https://www.lds.org/youth/theme/2013?lang=eng">Stand Ye In Holy Places and Be Not Moved</a>" that's a little bit of a game changer. It's one thing to stand in a holy place, it's a whole other thing to stand in a holy place and not move. Feeling like I had already said wayyy to much to this kid about my church without his parents being present, I redirected the questions back to him. We had a very refreshing discussion about what standing in a holy place without being moved meant to him. He shared with me his religious beliefs, why he believed his church was the truth for him. I like wise shared my beliefs with him. <br /><br />Like I said earlier, I can't pretend to know or even understand   what today's youth have to deal with. I know its stressful and scary for them and as a parent of teens its just as scary for us. Because we don't know how to help our kids navigate their way through this new world with the World Wide Web. We didn't grow up with access to the world via internet and the world didn't have access to us. My friends or enemies actually had to talk to my parents to gain access to me. They had to knock on the door and usually my parents answered. They would call my house and my mother or father answered our home phone. My parents wouldn't even allow me to have a pager (yep I'm that old). I have such an appreciation for the young men and women that I attend church with and an even greater appreciation for  young men and women who even though they don't worship the way I worship are great examples to my children and the children around them.<br /><br />In light of my recent conversation and with pioneer day approaching I've been somewhat nostalgic and maybe even a little home-sick. As a youth I know I stood in holy places and I was not moved! In the circle that I ran in I was usually the only Mormon. In my youth I was the "holy places", that doesn't mean that I didn't have my weakness. It just means that I was aware that my friends watched me. I was very aware of the fact that I represented my church, I was the representation of my religion. My friends didn't know who the prophet was, they didn't know the missionaries, they thought they knew based off of what they looked like but if you were a "clean cut" White dude on a bicycle, your name was Elder and you were Mormon, even if you weren't.<br /><br />I didn't know it at the time but being the "only" was the best thing that could have happened to me. Being the "only" made me a better Mormon, being the "only" strengthened my testimony. Being the "only" prepared me to live where I live today and not only stand in holy places, it prepared me to Stand In Holy Places and regardless to what anyone around me is doing I WILL NOT BE MOVED. I know that God has a plan for me, and I WILL NOT BE MOVED! My stake recently participated in youth trek, there was some stories that my children (2 daughters participated) relayed to me that made feel disappointed. However, they shared several stories with me that made me feel proud. Proud as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Proud as a parent and proud to be a member of a community where teenagers are thoughtful, caring, and willing to help each other when they can. I believe that our youth are doing the best they can. I hope that as parents, leaders and a community we are doing our best to BE that anchor keeping our youth UNMOVED and helping them STAND in holy places.<br /><br />Still standing,<br />Sista Beehive

Stand Ye in Holy Places and Be Not Moved

I thought I had it hard being a teenager in California and Washington. Being Mormon was not the most popular religious choice in the neighbo...

Back to Church Sunday: Problems in the Pew

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2013/07/21/back-to-church-sunday-problems-in-the-pew" target="_blank">here</a> and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">here</a> at anytime! This week on SiZ Radio: <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUPjl_G8clwPl5BoOmkcSln5uYwPeBdYecTzncZppq1CLpsCO6-szpcLTqAZ_75YQcfcjA8lFhwPpZPR8O9PWbIlvw27_TCKb6v0fqeKTuToBWo9p_skWchG8PntqXK7jL2vtv3LPDdw/s1600/Problems+in+the+Pew+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUPjl_G8clwPl5BoOmkcSln5uYwPeBdYecTzncZppq1CLpsCO6-szpcLTqAZ_75YQcfcjA8lFhwPpZPR8O9PWbIlvw27_TCKb6v0fqeKTuToBWo9p_skWchG8PntqXK7jL2vtv3LPDdw/s1600/Problems+in+the+Pew+2.png" /></a></div><br />Today the Sistas are discussing "Problems in the Pew". Are there things that make it hard for you to attend your congregation?<br /><br />As Christians are we doing our part at church to create peaceful pews?<br /><br />The Sistas are participating in National Back to Church Sunday a community outreach with the message of inviting America back to Church.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYIBhd7s0YA_vNinihKYSI-LaqdZKs8XdVj9cbaRN9snmq4PgNXjGEKCLPmVTbY1b0A0a5b0wJazyE6PXzrdObOVvmSlpl1ILzUMeQ2ucmoVdgpqtrigHgcx9dmznuyyVSU5UenDaa7s/s1600/Back-to-Church-Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYIBhd7s0YA_vNinihKYSI-LaqdZKs8XdVj9cbaRN9snmq4PgNXjGEKCLPmVTbY1b0A0a5b0wJazyE6PXzrdObOVvmSlpl1ILzUMeQ2ucmoVdgpqtrigHgcx9dmznuyyVSU5UenDaa7s/s320/Back-to-Church-Banner.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />

Back to Church Sunday: Problems in the Pew

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen here and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show...

Happy 4th of July: The Land of the Free and the Home of David Archuleta

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Happy Fourth of July y'all! Today we are especially grateful to our Heavenly Father for our great nation! To kick off our Fourth we started with a prayer and then watched this video of David Archuleta singing the National Anthem: <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TeWj24QyIRw?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />In David Archuleta News: Rumor has it that Elder Archie celebrated the 4th of July two days ago at the American Embassy in Santiago, Chile, where he humbly honored his country by singing the Star Spangled Banner! Nothing beats celebrating the USA's birthday on American soil, but celebrating out of the country with David might come in a close second. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpZyY0nj-l3KUL-PiTHnqlLPrhxK49iu3kxw6n7lFCJ3EjvCIjHgVNi5YojS-fwEj_wTWk-Z8Of1_grrvtgikBicuS4xcrQzlOF1gISaHytjDsdpYmZxSEpbWPw1YTq4CtV2_e-tVxW0/s1600/David+Archuleta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpZyY0nj-l3KUL-PiTHnqlLPrhxK49iu3kxw6n7lFCJ3EjvCIjHgVNi5YojS-fwEj_wTWk-Z8Of1_grrvtgikBicuS4xcrQzlOF1gISaHytjDsdpYmZxSEpbWPw1YTq4CtV2_e-tVxW0/s320/David+Archuleta.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />Got any special plans for your 4th of July?<br /><br />God Bless America,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

Happy 4th of July: The Land of the Free and the Home of David Archuleta

Happy Fourth of July y'all! Today we are especially grateful to our Heavenly Father for our great nation! To kick off our Fourth we star...

Songs for the Soul: Let Them Take You to the King

Uplifting music has the power to put us in tune with the Spirit of Lord. The Sistas share this week's selection of Songs for the Soul:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSe5ZDhrm-z5JDExnEw2koZLd3ydjvkDpGO-NIZHmI_gimQAEtTV6UB7x1JkHL0i-bpFoJcKW6QjW_2UxM3sF1C-jKhkW9Dcle56xGSpzF3SI_IaejISx9hcfT9wteSLxtTxFzboE_kw/s540/Songs+for+the+Soul+Week+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSe5ZDhrm-z5JDExnEw2koZLd3ydjvkDpGO-NIZHmI_gimQAEtTV6UB7x1JkHL0i-bpFoJcKW6QjW_2UxM3sF1C-jKhkW9Dcle56xGSpzF3SI_IaejISx9hcfT9wteSLxtTxFzboE_kw/s1600/Songs+for+the+Soul+Week+1.png" /></a></div><br /><ol><li><b>"Clean this House," Isaac Carree</b></li><div style="text-align: left;">Favorite lyric from the song: "Every now and then we all go through a little strife, but if you let Him, He will change your life." </div><br /><li><b>"Better Than a Hallelujah," Calee Reed</b></li>Favorite lyric from the song: "We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody." <br /><br /><li><b>"Take Me to the King," Tamela Mann</b></li>Favorite lyric from the song: "Take Me To The King, I don’t have much to bring, My heart is torn in pieces, It’s my offering." <br /><br /><li><b>"Hello My Name Is," Matthew West</b></li>Favorite lyric from the song: "Hello, my name is child of the one true King, I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free." <br /><br /><li><b>"Break the Shell," India Arie</b></li>Favorite lyric from the song: "Child its time to break the shell, Life's gonna hurt but its meant to be felt." <br /></ol>Hallelujah Holla Back,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

Songs for the Soul: Let Them Take You to the King

Uplifting music has the power to put us in tune with the Spirit of Lord. The Sistas share this week's selection of Songs for the Soul: ...

The Life of a Midwife with Sara Vranes

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2013/06/30/the-life-of-a-midwife-with-sara-vranes" target="_blank">here</a> and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">here</a> at anytime! This week on SiZ Radio:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFTXsugQc-pLA-AJgZF9OWmi6GuGRd3_QsEqqlc6-yIZYOg5X-vlSAo7Pya70gDcua9RzITvcvgRIVScepFjOJxKSvJgpaiQqpDe22clxQPgyHT5WL8BpBJW65w9YX0WrAtPlkJRiTkU/s545/Sara+Vranes2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFTXsugQc-pLA-AJgZF9OWmi6GuGRd3_QsEqqlc6-yIZYOg5X-vlSAo7Pya70gDcua9RzITvcvgRIVScepFjOJxKSvJgpaiQqpDe22clxQPgyHT5WL8BpBJW65w9YX0WrAtPlkJRiTkU/s1600/Sara+Vranes2.png" /></a></div><br /><b>Sara Vranes</b> was born and raised in San Francisco, but is now a transplant in Provo, Utah. A feminist since the moment she could talk, she has always had a particular interest in women's health. In the past ten years she has graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Sociology and International Development, organized petitions and political rallies, fought to save the Women's Research Institute at BYU (long story...), began work as a doula and lactation specialist, lived in India studying childbirth and breastfeeding, served a mission for the LDS church in West Texas and New Mexico, and is currently pursuing a degree in midwifery from the Midwives College of Utah, working as an apprentice with a Salt Lake midwife. Sara is an enthusiastic fan of her nieces and nephews, seeking truth, bike riding, yoga, and photography. Meaning, you should really just check our her instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/sarabrains/" target="_blank">@sarabrains</a>.

The Life of a Midwife with Sara Vranes

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen here and call in at (646) 478-3671. If you miss a live show...

SiZ Radio: Jennifer Borget, Baby Making Machine + Meres-Sia Gabriel, Author of "I Twirl in the Smoke"

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="370" src="http://player.cinchcast.com/?show_id=5024869&platformId=1&assetType=single" width="400"></iframe><br /></div><br /><b>Jennifer Borget</b> is a news reporter and anchor by day, and a mom 24/7. In 2008 when her career dreams were getting clouded by baby fever she decided to start a blog documenting her thoughts. Thus <a href="http://www.babymakingmachine.com/" target="_blank">Baby Making Machine</a>, was born. She officially became a "baby making machine" in 2010 with the birth of her daughter and Jennifer recently welcomed kiddo number 2, a bouncing baby boy. Now her blog shares her journey through motherhood, trial and errors of becoming a Domestic Diva, and her busy life doing the mom thing while juggling a competitive career.<br /><br /><b>Meres-Sia Gabriel</b> is an author, musical poet and public speaker. In 2011, she published a book of poems and stories entitled <i><a href="http://www.meressia.com/My_book.html" target="_blank">I Twirl in the Smoke</a></i>. She has been invited to perform and speak at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, in Ashland, Oregon; The University of the Earth in Chiapas, Mexico; and at the EDELO Cultural Center in San Cristobal, Mexico. She also teaches creative writing workshops throughout the Bay Area. A high school French teacher for nine years, Meres-Sia has taken a break from the classroom to pursue her artistic passions. She is now working on an album.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQy1N-_VTPD7N4Aw1X3Jq2Hui0uHt9XHz4o1PFfuDSCWXAnrcaw65Jbw7AhCz4sNq-WZE_1ogTOYFNX4EJj5WbUMCQDhyGNKaVBXy93C3TaNF5JtgehsQjOcOO_izV0oH6V45ksbTJpQ/s1600/Jennifer+Borget+and+Meres-Sia+Gabriel2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQy1N-_VTPD7N4Aw1X3Jq2Hui0uHt9XHz4o1PFfuDSCWXAnrcaw65Jbw7AhCz4sNq-WZE_1ogTOYFNX4EJj5WbUMCQDhyGNKaVBXy93C3TaNF5JtgehsQjOcOO_izV0oH6V45ksbTJpQ/s1600/Jennifer+Borget+and+Meres-Sia+Gabriel2.png" /></a></div>

SiZ Radio: Jennifer Borget, Baby Making Machine + Meres-Sia Gabriel, Author of "I Twirl in the Smoke"

Jennifer Borget is a news reporter and anchor by day, and a mom 24/7. In 2008 when her career dreams were getting clouded by baby fever she...