Walden Hills Ward

Relief Society Newsletter

October 2026

Presidency Message

Hello Sisters,

Happy October!  I spent a little time looking at the new youth curriculum since we have heard a lot about it.  I decided that October’s selection for the youth would be good for all the women in our ward too:  Your Body is Sacred.

I’m going to go ahead and guess that we probably don’t need a refresher on what the lessons say about chastity and the Word of Wisdom, but I think that we often spend time actively disliking things about our own bodies.  I do, anyway, and it is something I’d like to stop doing.  We think/say things about ourselves that we would never say out loud about one of our fellow sisters when we wish to be taller, thinner, more coordinated, younger, have better hair, etc. This month I challenge us all to spend a little time thinking about all the gifts your body has given you:  recovering from an injury or illness, the physical excitement of a surprise or a new idea, giving birth to a child, the chance to walk and/or talk with a friend, making a beautiful craft project, holding someone’s hand or sharing a hug, tasting delicious food, hearing music, the smell of the almond extract when you bake, training and improving in sports, being together at church, and – most importantly – the chance for eternal learning and progression.  

Something that has surprised me as I get older is to see the photos of myself from 10+ years ago and be able to remember the things that I did not like about myself back then, and at the same time,  see from my current perspective how sweet and fleeting those photographed moments were.  I wish I could tell past-me to forget all the things that really didn’t matter and to live in the moment a little bit more!  In this spirit, when you see yourself in the mirror this month, give yourself the compliment you would give to one of your favorite friends, if you saw her in front of you.  Find things you are grateful for about your body and physical abilities and tell your Heavenly Father.  He already knows, but I know He wants us to know too.

With love,

Ali Lyddall

PS - If you have as much trouble finding the Youth lessons as I did, go to the church website and then choose Gospel Library > Libraries > Youth > For the Strength of Youth Magazine > October 2026 and then scroll most of the way to the bottom of that page to see the lessons the youth will discuss each week.  The lessons for November are also shown in the October issue if you are interested in following along with them.

Announcements

*The October Temple Session will be your choice of temple, date and time.*  Appointments are recommended because the Jordan River Temple is closing from Conference weekend until mid-December and that will make other temples busier.

Oct. 3-4 General Conference

Oct 3 - Dec 13 - Sundays, 5-6:30.  Practices for the Murray North and West Stakes Community Christmas Concert.  (Ali went last week and thinks it will be really fun)  Extensive details and practice tracks here.

Oct. 11-26 Taylorsville Temple will be closed

Dec. 5 Ward Christmas Party held at the Stake Center

October Birthdays

1  Shaunna Danielsen

4 Kathy Velez

8 Kaitlyn Swift

11 Christie Hawkes

13 Lorna Jackson

15 Carol Hall

15 Jennifer Thuet

16 Karen Harwood

17 Elizabeth Charlesworth

18 Colynne Call

20 Diane Mower

24 Tamara Merworth

24 Matti Smith

25 Shannon Oveson

28 Sara Whitley

28 Kelly Young

Family History

“When covenant women keep their covenants, they have greater access to the power of God. The power of God flows into them, and that power, His power, generates a decrease in stress, an increase in energy, more and clearer revelation for their lives, renewed focus, courage to make needed changes, an increase in patience, and more time for what matters.”

     ~Wendy Watson Nelson