General RS Women's Broadcast - Saturday, September 28th, 2013

It was a beautiful autumn evening in the Salt Lake Valley, as sisters gathered together in the Conference Center and in surrounding Stake Centers for the General Relief Society Meeting. The South Jordan Utah River Stake was fortunate to be invited to attend the meeting downtown at the conference center this year. There were lots of warm memories made by those sisters who had tickets to attend downtown, and lots of warm memories made by those who came to watch the broadcast at the Stake Center. We weren't sure how many sisters to expect at the Stake Center because many sisters were going to the conference center downtown, but shortly after 5:30 the sisters started streaming in and the chapel was filled almost, but not quite, to overflowing. 

There is an unmistakable feeling of joy when Relief Society sisters meet together.  When we meet as a Stake, we feel that sweet sisterhood as we give and receive embraces from sisters we haven't seen for awhile, and sit shoulder to shoulder together. This year we heard our inspired General Relief Society presidency and our prophet give us counsel on covenants, teaching children about how acts of service and kindness are a way of keeping our baptismal covenants, and receiving and acting on personal revelation. 

Three generations attending together...
(Each age is beautiful, don't you think?)

Mothers, daughters, & granddaughters...

Brother Mike Wilson, his sweet wife & daughter.
We SO appreciate Brother Wilson! (our High Council representative to the RS)
His unselfish service, and that of all our Priesthood brethren add so much to Relief Society.

Sweet Shari Gibbons (at right) & her friend Marcie.
Shari enthusiastically used her creative touch to
put together this beautiful Fall table decor.
Thank you!

We appreciate the Priesthood and all their help -
(L to R - Anne Petersen, David Bennett, Jennie Bennett, Barbara Sweat, Dennis Sweat, Mike Wilson)
These good men make our callings a joy.

As a presidency, we hope you were able to enjoy
the proceedings of this wonderful meeting.
If you missed it, you can still enjoy it by logging on HERE.

After the broadcast we enjoyed delicious bread and butter (made all the sweeter since President Monson told a story about a loaf of homemade bread!) and veggie trays and dip. The tables were beautifully decorated with fall colors by Sister Shari Gibbons of the River 9th ward.  Everyone enjoyed a great evening, where we were fed spiritually, and had a nice get-together following the conference. Relief Society is the vehicle of so much service and happiness.

General Relief Society Broadcast 2012

What a great opportunity it was to gather as Relief Society sisters in the River Stake to hear messages from our newly sustained General Relief Society Presidency - as well as the First Presidency on September 29, 2012.

The new General Relief Society Presidency from left to right - Sister Carole Stephens (who lives in our own River 6th Ward), Sister Linda K. Burton, and Sister Linda S. Reeves are filled with the spirit and radiate their great love for the sisters of the church.  We loved hearing each of their inspired messages.

Following the Broadcast, we continued to bask in the warmth of the meeting as we gathered in the cultural hall for a hot chocolate bar and homemade cinnamon rolls.

Many thanks to the wonderful sisters who helped that evening.  Our chairman for the gathering after the Broadcast was Kris Stratton (left).  She had great support from Pat Wilkins (right) and JoAnn Martin.

It was a beautiful display of everything you could wish for in a cup of warm hot chocolate.  Thanks to the many sisters who brought their heavenly homemade cinnamon rolls and so many ingredients for the chocolate bar.

There is nothing more enjoyable than sharing conversation, smiles, and laughter with uplifting women.

A big thank you to our capable Priesthood brethren - Brother Mike Wilson (2nd from the right) who is our wonderful representative from the High Council to the Relief Society - as well as Dave Bennett, Ty Lombardi, and Dennis Sweat (three dedicated, supportive husbands!)   We couldn't do it without you!  Thanks also to Brother Roger Harrison for setting up the satellite feed and sound in the chapel.

General Women's Meeting Broadcast & Dinner

We were happy to have so many sisters attend the General Women's Meeting Broadcast & Dinner this past Saturday evening.   We estimate there were over 300 of our dear sisters of the River Stake in attendance.  It was delightful to hear the 'buzz' of happy voices enjoying a nice meal and the opportunity to visit with each other.


It's a little taste of heaven to enjoy something lovingly prepared by someone else, and many of you commented on the delicious variety they were able to choose from.  There were several requests for the recipes, and we have contacted each sister who generously donated their time and talents to see if they would be willing to have their recipes posted here.


We are beginning to see recipes coming in, so we will post them in groups as they arrive.  Here is the first group we have received:




Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli  (serves 6-8)

1 lb super-lean ground beef
1 15oz can tomato sauce
1 sm onion, diced (1 cup)
1 12oz can V-8 juice
1 lrg carrot, julienned (1 cup)
1 Tbl white vinegar
3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
1 ½ tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 tsp dried basil
1 15oz can red kidney beans (with liquid)
½ tsp pepper
1 15oz can great northern beans (with liquid)
½ tsp dried thyme

1/2 lb (1/2 package) ditali pasta (salad-roni)

Brown the ground beef in a very large saucepan or soup pit over medium heat.  Drain off the fat.  Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic and simmer for 10 minutes.  Add the remaining ingredients, except the pasta, and simmer for 1 hour.  About 50 minutes into the simmer time, cook pasta until al dente.  Add the pasta to the large pot of soup.  Simmer for 5 minutes and serve.  (We add the pasta in the individual bowls.  This keeps it separate so the noodles don’t get soggy if there are leftovers)

--Cindy Weeks, 5th ward

Taco Soup 

(The amazing soup that somehow was put on the stove and left unattended, which then burned.  Will you forgive us Mary?)

taken from Taste of Home Best of Country Cooking 2005 Book

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 large onion, chopped

1 can(15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes

1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes and green chilies

1 can (10 ounces) chili without beans

1 pound process cheese (Velveeta), cubed

Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream, divided

In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.  Add the beans, tomatoes, chili, cheese and seasonings.  Reduce heat to low; cook and stir until cheese is melted.  Stir in 1 cup sour cream; heat through (do not boil).  Garnish with remaining sour cream.  Yield:3-1/4 quarts.

River 2nd Ward - Mary Ballard

Tomato Gorgonzola Soup

Serves 8  (I doubled this to fill the large crock pot)

• 
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 large red onion, diced
• 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 pound cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 3 cups tomato juice
• 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, pepper, and garlic; cook and stir 4 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
2. Add the cheeses, cream, and milk; heat mixture until cheeses melt and the mixture is simmering.  
3. Stir in the tomatoes (including their liquid), tomato juice, basil, sugar, and pepper. Continue to simmer mixture for 15 to 20 minutes while stirring constantly. Do not boil.  If you want to make it smooth, process in batches in a food processor, blender, or try a hand blender directly in the cooking pot.  

Laurel Giles - 3rd Ward

Taco Soup
1 lb ground beef
1 can (16 oz) corn
1 can (28 oz) stewed tomatoes
1 can kidney beans (can add 2)
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 pkg. dry taco seasoning mix

Cook ground beef and onions, then drain grease.  Stir the taco seasoning into the meat.  Mix in remaining ingredients.  Bring the soup to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15-30 minutes to blend flavors.  Serve with grated cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips. 

Barbara Sweat - 9th Ward

Apple Crisp

16 apples , peeled and sliced

1/2 C sugar

1 C boiling water

Place apple slices in a 9x13" pan.  sprinkle sugar over top, and pour boiling water over the apples.

In another bowl, mix:

1 C flour

1 1/2 C sugar

1/2 t salt

1/2 t cinnamon

1 C pecans, chopped

2 C graham cackers, crushed 'til coarse (but not fine)

1 C butter, melted

Add melted butter to top of mixture.  Mix 'til all is moistened with butter.  sprinkle mixture over apples.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Let set for 25 minutes.

Enjoy! 

Suzanne Eddington - 8th Ward