Author Archives: Kerry Smith

About Kerry Smith

Kerry Smith is a former editor and writer for the Ensign magazine. For years she has been blogging at home while raising her two sons. She loves to share reading inspiration for families at mrsladywordsmith.com.

Light the World Goal Tracker

Light the World: Goal Setting

Light the World is a yearly Church emphasis at aChristmastime we love to support at Sugardoodle. In combination with the Church’s new goal-setting program for youth, we asked friend and fellow blogger Becky Squire to share a great printable and ideas with you.

The new Children and Youth program initiated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially launched in January 2020, but it wasn’t new to me. It focuses on four areas of life: Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, and Social. And if you add one more, Emotional, you will have the framework that I grew up with.

My parents taught me to make goals in each of these areas of my life as a youth and even now as an adult. And I believe that as we and our children accept the prophet’s invitation, we will be able to #LightTheWorld around and within us. Just as Christ developed in all areas of His life, this program provides an outline for each of us.

Light the World Goal Tracker

Click image to download free printable.

I’ve created a fun goal chart you might use for yourself and with your children. Explore goal ideas and possibilities together. Here are some great ideas to get you started:

SPIRITUAL

Share your favorite scripture verse with a friend.

Say your personal prayers daily.

When you pray, listen for answers.

Go to the temple as often as possible.

Practice daily repentance.

Invite neighbors over for FHE.

Write down 3 things you are grateful for every day for a month.

Work on family history as a family.

Share your testimony with a friend or family member.

Study a conference talk with a group of friends.

PHYSICAL

Exchange healthy recipes with a group of friends or family.

Invite a friend or neighbor on an evening walk.

Learn or teach a new sport with your kids.

Hold a weekly water drinking competition.

Train for a 5k with a group of friends.

Go on a family walk once a week.

Replace a juice or soda with water each week.

Stretch every morning and evening.

Go on a family hike.

Go to bed earlier.

INTELLECTUAL

Join or host a book club.

Take a handwriting class.

Learn how to cook and share the fruits with your neighbors.

Take a prep class with a friend.

Teach one of your hobbies to your kids.

Work on speed-reading as a family.

Teach your kids cursive.

Volunteer to tutor other kids.

Encourage your kids to join an extra-curricular activity.

Work on typing faster.

SOCIAL

Go to a sporting event with friends.

Encourage your kids to eat lunch with someone new every week.

Put your phone away when with family.

Talk to someone new at school or work.

Practice getting along with siblings (even you adults!)

Find and do a service project.

Invite some neighbors you don’t know very well over for dinner.

Smile at everyone you see.

Invite friends over for a game night.

Encourage your kids to join an after-school activity group.

Becky Squire is a writer and speaker. She has been published in several media outlets including the Ensign, LDS Living, and the Today Show. She’s also the founding editor of Latter-day Woman Magazine. Follow Becky Squire on Instagram.

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Celebrate setting goals as a family with this free tracker. #lighttheworld
Latter-day Apostles and Prophets Word Search

General Conference Word Search

Every General Conference, our family searches for activities to do as we listen to the talks. We have two sons who are 10 years apart. This year, I’m surprising them with this word search. I like that it teaches the names of the Brethren in the First Presidency, as well as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. All are listed in order of their roles, as well.

So if you’d also like a little something to share with your children who can read, we’re happy to share.

Printing Your General Conference Word Search

Click the image or link below to download and print. The word search is reated in black and white on 8.5 x 11 paper to make printing and copying from home easy. The printable is available free of charge for personal or church use but is not available for commercial use.

Please note, this printable is stored on our Google Drive. It is a shared link for public use. If for some reason you aren’t able to open it, we apologize. It should give most users access, but there are always some, due to firewalls, etc. that cannot access. We have tested the links, and they work for us and several friends. Since we’ll be spending General Conference with our families too, we won’t be able to grant individual access or respond to personal print questions or requests. Thank you for understanding.

Latter-day Prophets and Apostles Word Search

Click this or the image below to download this free word search.

We hope you have a wonderful General Conference and that you’ll also be able to use this printable whenever a lesson supplement is needed. We’ll be updating it whenever changes are made. We intend to keep it on the site ongoing for evergreen, continual use.

Save for Future Use

Thank you so much for saving this to Pinterest and/or sharing it on social media (please see our share links). We love to share goodness with members of our church.

Learn the order of the Apostles and Prophets in this free printable word search. Perfect for General Conference or to supplement church lessons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free printable card for treats

Deliver Cookie Comfort to Someone in Need: Free Printable Card

We all have times when we are down. But sometimes things are more rough than usual. Stuff happens and we need the support of others. Are you the one to uplift another? There are a variety of ways to show kindness to someone in need. Oftentimes, we add cookies or comfort food, along with a kind note.

Free Printable to Give Someone in Need

While we don’t really need to take anything to visit someone who could use some cheer, somehow it seems to help the visit go a little better. Often, a gift or small treat provides an “excuse” to visit.

A couple of youth in our neighborhood, who have spent years training for their senior year of high-school football, were recently injured and are out for the rest of the season. They’re bummed; we’re all bummed. I have a son who is the same age, and we both want to take a treat over to show we care and that we’re aware this is a rough time for them.

With this cute, printable card, you can write a personal note on the back, which is really the most important part–a few words of kindness.

Write a Note to Offer Comfort to Someone Needing a Boost

 

 

 

 

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

And just in case you need a great cookie recipe, here’s one that is sure to be a hit. Jessica at Butter with a Slice of Bread shares the best recipes! Enjoy looking around on her site.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

As I write this, it’s pumpkin season! These cookies are moist, fail-proof, and absolutely delicious. Bake and enjoy!

Note: Particularly during covid, some recipients may appreciate receiving store-bought cookies. I’m a bit of a cookie snob and would much rather have home-baked goodies, but decide what’s best for the person you’re serving.

Kerry Smith is a former editor and writer for the Ensign magazine. She enjoys sharing home-centered learning ideas at mrsladywordsmith.com and Utah events and resources at utahfamilyfunstuff.com. Mom to two awesome boys and wife to one amazing husband, Kerry is so excited to be part of the Sugardoodle team.

 

Save This Post

Keep this for future use, and when you pin it or share it with our social media share buttons below, we can share with others and inspire someone to do a small act of kindness.

And find other effective ministering printables here. They’re also free, so help yourself.

Next time you deliver a plate of cookies to someone, attach this cute note card and write a personal note on the back. #freeprintable #card #service

Father's Day Cards and Gift Tags

Father’s Day Cards and Tags, Instant Download

We’ve made it easy for you to find the cutest Father’s Day cards and gift tags They’re right here–free and available for instant download. It doesn’t get any easier than that! Tuck them in with gifts, or gift them outright with a special message from YOU inside. We’ve created a variety of designs to share with you. Use them this year–and in the years to come.

FREE Father’s Day Cards

These Father’s Day cards are perfect for children of all ages to give to dads. They’re even fun for grownups to give. Just click the image below to access the printable cards and tags. You’ll find a TON of designs to choose from.

Father's Day Cards and Gift Tags

Click this image to download your free cards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instant Download Rules

ALL designs are available for instant download. Print what you want now, save the rest for next year. Know others who need cards too? Please share using the social media buttons below the article, or copy the URL of this post and email it to a friend. We’re happy to share and have you share too. Please note that our images are for personal and church use only. They’re copyrighted and not for commercial use.

Simple Gift Ideas for Father’s Day

Sometimes the smallest, most simple gifts are the best. Your free cards and tags would look great with the following items:

  • a Big Hunk candy bar
  • a bag of “pop”corn
  • a can of Dad’s rootbeer soda “pop”
  • a bag of jerky
  • a new tie
  • a funny pair of socks
  • a handmade item
  • a gift card
  • a homemade treat
  • a handmade coupon promising to do a chore

Save for Next Father’s Day Too

We have LOTS of FREE Father's Day cards and gift tags to choose from. Just download and print. #fathersday #fathers #cards #dad

Happy Father’s Day to everyone! How will you celebrate Father’s Day this year?

 

#HearHim Printable Kit

Hear Him!: Beautiful Artwork and Printable Quotes to Inspire You

God, the Father, loves us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to earth for us. Anciently and in modern times, there have been rare occasions when He has presented His Son to mortals. Each time He has invited them to “hear Him,” to hear their Savior, their Elder Brother, their Prince of Peace.

#HearHim Printable Kit

Artwork by Joseph Brickey.

Teach Your Family to Hear Him

We’ve prepared a mini lesson and printable kit you might use for personal or home study. At Sugardoodle, we feel it’s important to remind families how important it is to hear Christ, to really hear Him and heed His teachings.

Hear Him: A Message from Antiquity

Three distinct occasions from the scriptures show us God’s invitation to hear His Son. Anciently, in Matthew 17:5, on the Mount of Transfiguration, God the Father presents Christ to Peter, James, and John, saying:” This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

We again read this admonition in the Book of Mormon when the resurrected Savior appears to the Nephites. At the land Bountiful, they are gathered and hear a quiet voice speaking to them, successively getting louder until the third time repeated. They didn’t understand until God said: “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name–hear ye him” (3 Nephi 11:7). They finally understood as they watched Christ descend from the heavens and join their midst. They received the same verbal introduction to Christ as did Peter, James, and John.

Hear Him: A Message for Our Day

Fast forward to 1820, when young Joseph Smith prays in earnest in the Sacred Grove of Palymra, New York, to know which of all the religious sects of his day were true. He was told to join none after God the Father appeared with His Son and repeated a similar introduction as in times past: “This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith–History 1:17).

Heed the Call to Hear Him

It is no mistake that God the Father is consistent with His invitation to hear His Son. It’s an invitation with a command. We must hear Him in order to follow His teachings, draw closer to Him, and ultimately return to our Heavenly Father someday. There is no other way.

Hear him isn’t just a phrase. It’s more than a gentle nudging. It’s a message of urgency, a plea from an all-knowing Father who loves us. Will we listen? Will we heed the call?

Hear Him Printable Art and Quote

What Does Christ Tell Us?

Christ teaches us everything that truly matters. You’ll find some of His core messages and teachings in this beautiful kit we’ve compiled with artist Joseph Brickey. Let the artwork and messages inspire you as you discuss with your family what Jesus Christ is telling us, what he’s telling you.

Will You Help Others Hear Him?

Once you are comfortable sharing gospel principles at home, you might share with close friends, especially those to whom you minister. You might display one of the quotes in your workspace. Genuine conversation can ensue as you brighten someone’s day with a small message of hope.

Hear Him Printable Art and Quote

Hear Him Quotes and Printable Artwork

We invite you to view the entire kit in our shop and order all 10 high-quality, designed images and Joseph Brickey artwork, which you may have for personal use and in your role as leader, teacher, or parent.

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Hear Him quotes and professional artwork are available for instant purchase and download in our etsy shop. #HearHim