Certain Women - Christie Frandsen

We are so thrilled to be able to publish the beautiful remarks by Sister Christie Frandsen who was our Keynote Speaker at our recent Women's Conference.  Please enjoy them below.

It's an honor and a joy to be with you this morning, sisters. You are so blessed to have Sister Cornwall - I'm sure you know that. She is one of the very best women I know and I love her dearly. I also love the inspired theme that was chosen for this conference, “Certain Women”. I have spent the last several weeks thinking long and hard about that word "certain" and what it means to be a "certain woman."

"And it came to pass afterward that Jesus went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with him, and certain women (also went with him.)" (Luke 8:1-2)

I am so thankful for the King James translators and their fortunate choice of that wonderful word "certain" for the Greek word that was used by Luke in this passage. They could have chosen a different word instead, a less ambiguous word like "some.” That's actually what Luke was wanting to tell us here - that among Jesus' earliest and most faithful disciples there were some women. But the brilliant and inspired and devout scholars who first translated the Bible into English chose the more poetic word "certain," and by so doing, a whole world of possibilities was opened up for readers of the English Bible, because in the English language, that word "certain" has more than one meaning. It can be used as a pronoun, as it is here, meaning "some but not all." Or it can be used as an adjective, meaning "sure, or having no doubts." And so, just like that, being a "certain woman" becomes something much deeper and more complex, something worth having a conference about!

Recipes for Arcadia Stake Women's Conference 2018

Chicken Salad 

2 lbs chicken breast, cooked and shredded* or rotisserie chicken
Chicken broth to cook your chicken in (if using a slow cooker)
1 apple, diced of your choice; (we usually choose Gala or Fuji)
1 cup grapes, halved or quartered
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/3 cup raw walnuts, chopped
1/3 cup dried cranberries
2 green onions, diced
1/2 cup Brianna's poppyseed dressing (more or less depending on preference)
Dash of white vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Place chicken in slow cooker with enough water to cover about halfway. Cook on low 6-7 hours, high 3-4 hours or use rotisserie chicken.
2. Prepare ingredients that need to be chopped and diced, add to large bowl.
3. Add shredded chicken, poppyseed dressing, vinegar, salt and pepper to the rest of the ingredients and mix.
4. Let chill until ready to serve.

ARCADIA STAKE 2018 WOMEN'S CONFERENCE

Please join us for the  2018 Arcadia Stake Women's Conference - Saturday, January 27th beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Foothill Building.  The theme this year is taken from a conference address given by Sister Linda K. Burton in April 2017 entitled "Certain Women". 

 “The New Testament includes accounts of certain women, named and unnamed, who exercised faith in Jesus Christ and in His Atonement, learned and lived His teachings, and testified of  His ministry, miracles, and majesty. These women became exemplary disciples and important witnesses in the work of salvation.”  We love the descriptive words that Sister Burton used to describe women who are certain - “convinced,” “positive,” “confident,” “firm,” “definite,” “assured,” and “dependable.”  We can be those Certain Women today.

We are so thrilled to have Sister Christie Frandsen from the La Crescenta Stake as our Keynote Speaker.  She will address the theme of the conference.  Listening to her discuss the scriptures is a cherished opportunity.

Below is the schedule for the morning.  You will be able to attend three of the five classes.  We are excited to have a class presented in Mandarin and one in Spanish with translation in all three languages for all classes.   At the conclusion of the classes LUNCH WILL BE SERVED!!! Check out the morning schedule below to start planning.  Click on the teacher's name to find out more about them and the class they will be leading. 

Opening Session 9:00 Chapel - Sister Christie Frandsen

10:00-10:35	10:45-11:20	11:30-12:05
YOUTH ROOM Alva Tsai - Mandarin “Art Thou Convinced of the Power of God?” Alma 30:51 Objective:  Finding power when we make and keep Covenants	RELIEF SOCIETY ROOM Eva Garcia - Spanish “Let not your heart be troubled - Staying Positive” John 14:1 Objective:  Happy means keeping the laws of God and building and lifting others	RELIEF SOCIETY ROOM Eva Garcia - English “Let not your heart be troubled - staying Positive” John 14:1  Objective:  Happy means keeping the laws of God and building and lifting others
PRIMARY ROOM Jennifer Menlove and Sue Graham - English “With a Firm Determination” Alma 49:13 Objective:  Teaching the Doctrine of the Family	MULTI PURPOSE ROOM Suzan Dunbar - English “I will give you Assured peace in this place” Jeremiah 14:13 Objective:  Finding personal peace through the Holy Ghost	PRIMARY ROOM Jennifer Menlove and Sue Graham - English “With a Firm Determination” Alma 49:13 Objective:  Teaching the Doctrine of the Family
VISITOR’S CENTER Megan Finlay - English“Then Shall Thy Confidence Wax Strong” D & C 121:45 Objective:  Working on Gaining Spiritual Confidence	VISITOR’S CENTER Megan Finlay - English “Then Shall Thy Confidence Wax Strong” D & C 121:45 Objective:  Working on Gaining Spiritual Confidence	MULTI PURPOSE ROOM Suzan Dunbar - English “I will give you Assured peace in this place” Jeremiah 14:13  Objective:  Finding personal peace through the Holy Ghost

KEYNOTE SPEAKER - CHRISTIE FRANDSEN

•    Born in Havre, Montana to J Kimball and Maurine Hansen; the middle of eight children

•   Grew up on Indian reservations in Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, and Arizona; father was a range conservationist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs

•    BA in Ancient Scriptures from Brigham Young University, summa cum laude

•    Attended Duke Divinity School

•    6 months study and research in Israel and other Arab countries

•    Married to Russ Frandsen for 43 years

•    Mother of 11 extraordinary children, 9 living (one son died of cancer at age 5, one son died at birth)

•    Grandmother to 21 beautiful and brilliant grandchildren

•    Institute Instructor for 18 years at USC, Occidental College, Glendale Community College

•    Early morning Seminary teacher for 18 years

•    Published articles in the Ensign and the Encyclopedia of Mormonism

•    Essay published in Mourning With Those Who Mourn

•    Recipient of “Honored Alumni” Award from Brigham Young University in 1992

•    Speaker at Women’s and Youth and Single Adult Conferences

•    Active volunteer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, PTA, Hospice Care, March of Dimes, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts

•    Girl Scout leader for 33 years

•    Hobbies include hiking and camping with her family, playing the flute, singing, reading, watching British crime shows, tutoring young students and preparing lessons

    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. - Philippians 4:13

"Then Shall Thy Confidence Wax Strong" D & C 121:45

Working on Gaining Spiritual Confidence

 

Megan Finlay - Duarte Ward

I grew up mostly in South Jordan, Utah.  I am the fourth of eleven kids and have always loved  being home with my family.  I am an avid Brigham Young University fan and while still in high school I read through the list of majors offered at BYU, was surprised to find you could major in play (Recreation Management) and knew it was the right fit for me.  After graduating I worked for a few years organizing day camps, field trips and special events before eventually using my degree as a stay-at-home mom to manage all the adventures of our family.  I met James when we were both freshmen at BYU and wrote to him while he served a mission in Brazil; we married about a year after he got home.  We lived in Michigan for four years while he attended Veterinary school.  His residency and PH.D. program at the City of Hope brought us to Duarte, the city where he grew up.  He is now employed as a Clinical Veterinarian/Assistant Research Professor at the City of Hope and we have purchased a house and settled here.  We have three kids (ages 10, 8, and 4) that keep me busy as I volunteer at school and for their sports.  We love to travel as a family and especially enjoyed visiting my parents last year in Ecuador where they were serving a mission and going out to the Galapagos Islands.  Central Coast California is one of our favorite places to visit and we go back as often as we can.  I love to read, but usually listen to the books so I can still cook, clean or go running at the same time.

"I will give you Assured peace in this place." Jeremiah 14:13

Finding personal peace through the Holy Ghost

Suzan Dunbar - Valley View Ward

Suzan Strong Dunbar was born and raised in the Greater Los Angeles area.  At the age of 16 she was introduced to the Church by a dear friend, developed a testimony and jumped at the chance to be baptized.  After high school Suzan went to school at the old LDS Business College on South Temple in Salt Lake City for two years then moved back to Los Angeles, where she met Jack Dunbar in the La Crescenta Stake Young Adult program.  Jack and Suzan were married in the Los Angeles Temple 36 years ago and have lived in the Foothills for their whole marriage.  Suzan works as a Special Education administrator in Glendale.  She has served in the presidencies of Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary, as a Stake Camp Director, Mid-Singles Advisor, and Cub Den Leader (her favorite calling!).  Suzan is the mother of three and the grandmother of two, who are the loves of her life.  On her off time, when not in Salt Lake visiting her grandboys (and their parents . . . ), she loves traveling with Jack and spending time watercolor painting.

"Let not your heart be troubled" - Staying Positive - John 14:1

"Happy means keeping the laws of God and building and lifting others" Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

Eva Garcia - Temple City Ward

 

I was born in Mexico and was raised in El Paso, Texas.  Our family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah when I was 17 years old.  While attending high school as a senior I met a friend who invited me to attend church Young Women's activities with her.  After graduating from high school I was baptized.  I attended the University of Utah and graduated with an elementary teaching credential.  I taught school two years in Salt Lake City before meeting my husband and being sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.  We moved to California and had five children (four boys and one girl).  During this time I went to Cal State University, Los Angeles and completed my Masters in Educational Administration.  I am currently retired and divorced after working for 40 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and District Administrator for the Los Angeles Unified School District.  I love serving as the Stake Primary President, cooking and spending time at home with my family and three grandchildren.  I love celebrating life through the holidays and family.  The sunshine, my grandchildren and an organized house makes me really happy.

 Sister Garcia will teach one class in Spanish and one class in English.

"Art Thou Convinced of the Power of God?" - Alma 30:51

Finding power when we make and keep covenants

Alva Tsai - Mountain View ward

 

I was married in Nan Jing, China in 1995 and immigrated to the United States in 1996.  Los Angeles was my first stop and I have been living here ever since.  In the same year, 3 months before I gave birth to my daughter, I was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Last month, my daughter returned safely from her mission in Minnesota and is now studying at BYU.  In 2007 with the help of God, I received a degree in graphic design. Although my job did not relate to my degree, I liked working at an engineering firm as a secretary and drafter.  I have served in my ward's Primary, Sunday School, Young Women, and Relief Society.  I like art, cooking and music.  Dancing has been a new found hobby of mine.  I love the gospel and am serving with a passion.

This Class will be taught in Mandarin.

 

"With a Firm Determination" Alma 49:13

Teaching the Doctrine of the Family

We are so excited to have this Mother/Daughter duo teaching our class on families!!

Jennifer Menlove - Monrovia Ward

I have lived in Monrovia California my entire life!  My childhood was perfect with riding bikes around the neighborhood, picking fruit off the trees in our backyard, walking often to school and being cared for by goodly parents.  A few years after I graduated high school I married my amazing husband, Ryan, in the Los Angeles Temple.  He was also born and raised in Monrovia!  We will celebrate our 20th anniversary this year!  I received my multiple subject teaching credential from Cal Poly Pomona and immediately began teaching 1st grade in none other than a Monrovia School!  I taught full-time for 4 years before I had my daughter Allison.  This was a joyous and trying time as I lost my dad suddenly to cancer just 2 months after she was born.  We then lost Ryan's dad 2 months after my dad passed away.  The circle of life is an amazing thing.  Two years later I had my son Zachary and two years after that my son Joshua.  These kids are the light of my life!  I now teach kindergarten part time at the same elementary school my husband and I attended and I love it!  I also attend the same ward I went to as a little girl and I love the spirit and people who reside there.  I have served in Relief Society, Primary and currently in Young Women.  You can definitely say I'm home-grown through and through!

Sue Graham - Monrovia Ward

 

I'm a California girl - born and raised!  I was christened in the Catholic church and later baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints thanks to the love of my life, Charlie Graham.  We spent nearly 30 years together until he passed away suddenly from pancreatic cancer in 2003.  We have 5 children who are the joy of our lives.  When they were all at home we cooked, played and prayed together and made good memories.  I am grateful for the gospel in knowing that our family can be together again.  In my free time I love hanging out with my children, their amazing spouses and my beautiful 18 grandchildren.  You can find me pushing them on the swing, doing a little Facetime for lunch and giving them cookies when their Mommy and Daddy aren't looking.

Merry Singers Women Chorus

We will be honored to have the Merry Singers Women Chorus provide music in the opening session of the Women's Conference.  Below is a description of this amazing group.

Merry Singers Women Chorus was established in the autumn of 1994 by a group of ladies who love to sing and wanted to share the joy of singing with others having the same passion.  The Chorus is a subsidiary of Merry Singers Society, a nonprofit association with the mission to promote different forms of vocal music.  Our conductor, Eunice Chou, also the founder of the Merry Singers Society, has been leading the chorus since the very beginning.  Our repertoire includes classical, contemporary, sacred, and folk songs sung in different languages.  Throughout the years, the group has given free community concerts annually and was invited by various organizations to perform in special events.  The chorus also participated singing in the operas 'Hansel and Gretel', 'Magic Flute' and 'Marriage of Figaro' produced by the Merry Singers Society.

We practice every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arcadia on Duarte Road.  We want to use this opportunity to thank the Church for providing us free use of the Relief Society room for the last 23 years.