We Love Our Missionaries!!!  Several of us have received pictures from our missionaries with their feet or shoes in distress – so we also thought a care package to take care of those issues might be in order!
After all…. Your Feet Take You Everywhere!

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
~ D&C 18:10

And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen.
~ D&C 15:6

“And if it so be that you…bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father.” (D&C 18:15)

This box could be sent at any time of year but we chose to send it for Valentine’s Day as it seemed fitting that as our missionaries are out loving the people of whom they serve that they might also be reminded that ‘…the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.’ (D&C 18:10).

If you would like to send your own Worth of Souls care package check out this kit that we put together to help you do just that.

Your 20-Page Kit will include the following:

✔ 1-Introduction Letter with easy to follow instructions to help you put together the Perfect Care Package.
✔ 4- Large (11.5X8.5″) Adjustable Stickers to decorate your 4 box flaps of your shipping package. Just peel and stick! (These stickers are designed to fit a USPS Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box and large UPS boxes. The stickers can also be easily trimmed to fit a USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box as well as some Medium and Small UPS boxes or use your own box.) * Please note the kit does not include the actual box,
✔ 1-Box Introduction Letter to be placed in your Box right before you tape it up. This unique design lets your Missionary know the theme of your care package and that something special has been created just for them!
✔ 1-Page of Unique Envelope Designs that you can adhere to the front of your Letter to your Missionary and their Companion! This page is also printed on sticker paper – so you just need to cut them out and adhere to any envelope of your choice. It’s that easy!
✔ 1-Custom Missionary Letter for you to include with your personal Letter to your Missionary.

✔ 3-Pages to help you put together a Worth of Souls Foot Care Kit for your Sister or Elder.
✔ 9-Pages with over 26 Custom Tags that Can Be Used Throughout Your Box as Desired.

SHIPPING: Orders placed before 1:00pm MST will ship the same day! Orders placed after 1:00pm will ship the next day. We ship Monday through Saturday using first class mail.

★ This Kit Really Makes It Easy – We’ve done all the hard work so you can quickly send your Missionary some LOVE!

★ For Ideas to help you put together the perfect Missionary Care Package, how you can use each Printable, to find links to print General Conference talks and other stories to include in your box – look below!

 Oh How Beautiful The Feet!!!  As we decided on each ‘Missionary Box Theme’, which we based around a scripture or missionary teaching idea, we would then brainstorm fun ideas that could be included in our box.  With this ‘Box’ we definitely went a little crazy with our ‘Feet’ ideas and I’m sure it was just as much fun for us to build it as it was for our missionaries to receive it! Depending on the size of the box you are sending – you could include or delete any of the following items – or come up with a few of your own.  We tried to make sure that most of our items could be used to enhance missionary discussions, to be given away, to decorate their missionary apartments and left for future missionaries when they moved on, or simply eaten and enjoyed.  But of course there were always a few that were just for fun!

For this box each of our Missionary Box Moms brought the following:

1. One Gift for our Missionaries in the Worth of Souls Theme.
2. One Teaching Tool in the Worth of Souls Theme.  (This could be an Object Lesson or Another Item to help our Missionaries with their Lessons.  We also included Conference Talks or Stories to go along with them.)
3. Something Fun Just for our Missionaries for Valentine’s Day!

Sock it to Me!!! One thing we always included in all of our Missionary Box Mom Boxes was a personalized letter to each Missionary from each Mother.  Inside our letters we included our testimonies, the reason we chose that particular item to include in the box, along with uplifting messages filled with love.  A lot of the items won’t make much sense as to why you are including them in the box unless you explain how it specifically applies to your Missionary and to Missionary Work.  Many times over I have received thank you letters from our Missionaries – but the things they thanked us all for the most was the letters we included.  It’s just a little piece of ‘Home’ in a box!  So don’t forget to write!

Print off the Following Conference Talks and Stories:  (They will be used throughout the box items as described below.)

General Conference April 2005: The Worth of Souls by Harold G. Hillam Of the First Quorum of the Seventy

General Conference October 2011: You Matter to Him by Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency

New Era July 2014: Abandoned Seeds in Rocky Places by Elder Kevin R. Duncan Of the Seventy

General Conference April 1973: The Worth of Souls is Great by Paul H. Dunn

Church News 8 July 2014: Elder D. Todd Christofferson Knowing the Worth of Souls is Important to Missionary Work

The Worth of Souls Lesson 8 Doctorine and Covenants Instructors Guide

Ensign July 2009: Sugar Beets and the Worth of a Soul by President Thomas S. Monson

Ensign July 1985 President Kimball’s Vision of Missionary Work by President Ezra Taft Benson

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Worth of Souls Teaching Tool or Object Lessons Ideas:

1. Gospel Art Books
Conference Talk The Worth of Souls by Harold G. Hillam
Conference Talk You Matter to Him by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Burlap Ribbon

2. Toothpick Object Lesson
Rubber Bands
A copy of the Family Proclamation
Conference Talk

The Worth of Souls
Everyone Matters… in the family, the ward council, the district, etc… You can use this object lesson for many topics. Be Creative & Enjoy!

INTRODUCTION: Read the last sentence from the Proclamation. Show picture of Pres. Hinckley. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “The strength of any nation lies in the strength of its families” (“Words of the Prophet: Love at Home,” Ensign, Oct. 1999). “In my judgment the greatest challenge facing this nation is the problem of the family, brought on by misguided parents and resulting in misguided children. The family is the primary unit of society. I believe it was designed by the Almighty. A nation will rise no higher than the strength of its families” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, July 2003 News of the Church).

Why must families be strong in order for nations to survive?

Give everyone a toothpick. Ask someone to break it in half. Gather all of the sticks and put a rubber band around them. Give the sticks to someone. Ask if (s)he can break them. “How are these toothpicks like our family?” (When we stick together we are stronger.) “What could the rubber band represent?” (faith in God, love, temple sealing) President Spencer W. Kimball said, “It is against the home and family that Satan has aimed his greatest efforts to destroy” (My Beloved Sisters, p. 27).

Ask: “Why do you think Satan is so determined to destroy families?” (If Satan can destroy families it makes it easier for him to “break” and destroy the individuals one by one.) Discuss things families can do to keep strongly united. Write them on a chalkboard or white board: family prayer, FHE, family scripture study, church attendance, serving one another, avoiding contention, having the Holy Ghost in our home, etc.

Bear your testimony of the importance of keeping your family strong through love, kindness, and obedience and through family routines like FHE, scriptures and prayer.

Have everyone in the family get in a circle and put their hands in the middle. As you raise your hands, yell something like, “Love you!” or your family name: “Lund!” Or: Stand in a circle with right hands in the middle. Take hold of the wrist of the person on your left. Have that person grab hold of the wrist of the person on their left until everyone’s hands are united. Choose one person to sit on this strong family bond and carefully lift them. Discuss.

3. Straight Ruler
President Spencer W. Kimball Quote
Ruler Tag
The Worst Way to Measure Your Success – (Talk Found Below)

“God is your father. He loves you. He
and your mother in heaven value you
beyond any measure… You are
unique. One of a kind, made of the
eternal intelligence which gives you
claim upon eternal life. “Let there be no question in your
mind about your value as an
individual. The whole intent of the
gospel plan is to provide an
opportunity for each of you to reach
your fullest potential, which is eternal
progression and the possibility of
godhood.”
President Spencer W. Kimball

The Worst Way to Measure Your Success

We all do it. We compare our lives, our businesses, our bodies, our families, our kids, our houses. And even though we hate how it makes us feel, we do it anyway. For many of us, the trap of comparison has become almost like second nature.

I have a friend who ran a marathon when she was 50 years old. A marathon! She crossed the finish line at 6 hours and 20 minutes, way faster than a few thousand other people. Filled with pride about this incredible bucket list achievement, she posted her finish line photo and finishing time online.

Some minutes later, she saw the finish line photo and finishing time of a few of the women she trained with and realized they had finished (together), and faster than her. Embarrassed by her time (and not wanting them to see it) she deleted her photo, the joy of her day and her incredible accomplishment stolen by comparison.

Now, I don’t even run, so in my mind, the fact that she ran a marathon is crazy amazing, I have no point of reference on her time or what is good or bad. My guess is 99% of people are just like me; they would see the picture and be amazed that she did it. But she was caught in her own comparison trap, measured her success by the wrong thing and ruined her own happiness.

Comparison is a liar who says our best won’t ever be good enough. Measuring your success through comparison is a recipe for failure.

4 Ways We Lose When We Compare Ourselves To Others

1. We don’t measure up when we compare ourselves to others.

My granddaddy used to say, “When we measure our worth with someone else’s yardstick, we always come up short.” Isn’t that the truth? The moment we try to determine our worth by comparing ourselves against someone else’s success, we are going to feel like we don’t have what it takes to succeed. And the moment we feel like we won’t succeed is the moment we start failing.

2. We don’t celebrate our wins when we compare ourselves to others

I think about the parable of the worker in the vineyard. Here was a guy who was getting paid a massive wage to work in a field. He was excited about his good fortune and couldn’t wait to tell his friends and family all about it. That is until a few more workers showed up hours later, and he discovered they were getting the same exact paycheck for half the work. He went from celebrating his good fortune to being disappointed and angry, all because of comparison. His life was not in any way hurt because of the other workers’ paychecks, but the trap of comparison sucked the celebration right out of him.

3. We resent people we love when we compare ourselves to others

I confess; I *want* to be happy when good things happen to the people I love (or even like), but all too often, I compare my life to their good fortune, and I find myself resenting them instead of celebrating with them. That behavior causes me to ruin my own day instead of living the life I’m meant to. Comparison can make us bitter and jealous, ultimately damaging great business and personal relationships. It’s important for all of us to admit that, because we are human, we will often fall into the trap of comparison. Learning to tame the comparison tendency is crucial for long-term success and happiness.

4. We experience depression and lower self-esteem when we compare ourselves to others.

Research has shown that people who constantly compare themselves to others suffer from depression and lower self-esteem. This is especially common thanks to social media, where we can compare ourselves to others 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the click of a button. Comparison makes us feel worse about ourselves and social media can kick it in overdrive.

————————————————————————–

5 Ways To Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

1. Revel in Competition and Reject Comparison
There is a big difference between competition and comparison, and it’s fairly easily defined.
Competition is good! It drives you to be the best you can be, and makes you feel positively about yourself in the midst of it. Comparison is bad. It makes us feel bad about ourselves from the get-go.

2. Celebrate Other People’s Success
Imagine that the young man in the parable from above had celebrated with the workers that joined him near the end of the workday, instead of feeling cheated and angry. Just picture the scene with them all leaving the field, high-fiving each other and talking about all the things they were going to do with the money they had earned. Not only would he have not wasted his day being miserable, he would have been happier just by changing his perspective. There is a great amount of power that comes with not ruining your own happiness and by celebrating the win of someone else.

3. Retrain Your Brain By Shutting Down Negative Talk
When we start hearing the voice of comparison in our head saying “You’ll never be as good
as her,” or “Your business won’t ever be as successful as his,” shut it down with positive self-talk. When you notice someone else reaching a certain level of success, don’t even let those thoughts creep in.

Do this exercise every time you feel tempted to compare:

1. Notice what is triggering you to compare and start negative self-talk.
Example thought – “He gave a terrific presentation. Mine will probably suck.”

2. Be gentle with yourself and remind yourself you are done with the comparison trap.
“I’m being negative comparing again. Here’s another step in breaking that bad habit.”

3. Flip it around by being positive.
“His presentation was great. Luckily the audience is now happy and warmed up for my talk. I’m excited to teach today!” Something as simple as being mindful and noticing when negative self-talk is happening will start retraining your brain to stop comparing.

4. Compliment, don’t compare.
I saw this statement in an article I read recently. It said,
“Whenever you find you are comparing yourself to someone else, you should go right up to that person and compliment them on the very thing you’re jealous of or comparing yourself to.” I really like this idea because it takes the focus off of comparison and puts it right back into celebrating (see #2), which is a win-win.

5. Focus on your path.
There is only one you. And you alone were created to do incredible things on this earth. Your path may include launching a business, or caring for a family, or moving to the other side of the world to build wells. Whatever you are meant to do, and whatever path you are on is uniquely yours and the paths that other people are on are of no significance to yours. Remember, you have a special set of gifts, personality traits and talents that are unique to you. Comparing your life, your personality and talent is a waste of your gifts. Guard your time because it’s precious, minimize your time spent on Social Media where you find yourself falling prey to the lie of comparison and give negative self-talk the boot. Measuring your success with someone Else’s yardstick leads to frustration, and living a life free from the comparison trap will lead to happiness and success.

4. Compact Mirror & Tweezer Duo
Conference Talk Knowing the Worth of Souls is Important to Missionary Work by Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s Missionary Reflections Talk

“Understanding the worth of a soul, a missionary must act with full appreciation of the divine nature in everyone he or she meets,” Elder Christofferson said. Posing the question “What does all this mean for missionaries?” Elder Christofferson said, “First, it means that there is no greater work than the work you are doing…To assist in the redemption of those who bear the image of God, His children, is a service that cultivates greatness in you.”

“If you are filled with charity, those you teach and serve will feel it,” he explained. “They will not only respond to the love of Christ they feel through you, but many will also begin to gain a sense of their own infinite worth.”

“Over time, you will come to see yourself as you are seen and know yourself as you are known by the Savior,” he said. “Up to now, you have seen yourself ‘through a glass darkly’ (see 1 Corinthians 1:12). In the next months and beyond, you will begin to grasp just how much you lack, how far you have to go to accomplish what God expects of you, and what He expects you to become…. The one who holds these high expectations, who is demanding so much of you, is the same one who has overcome the world, who wants to help you, and who can help you overcome whatever you must.”

5. Miniature Chalkboard
Chalk
Gospel Doctrine Instructors Guide Lesson 8
Sugar Beets and the Worth of a Soul by President Thomas S. Monson

6. Under Armor Heat Gear Socks (Elders)
Colorful Tights (Sisters)
Party Sweets Money Buttermint Creams (7oz Pkg. Approx. 53 Pieces)
Chocolate Money Coins
Conference Talk The Worth of Souls is Great by Paul H. Dunn
Printable Tags

7. Worth of Souls Object Lesson
Include a Dollar Bill with tag.

8. Missionary Foot Care Kit

Gifts for our Missionaries in the Worth of Souls Theme Ideas:

1. Soul Soap (Foot Shape and Bicycle Shape)

Making your own soap is fun and easy so if you have never tried melt and pour soap crafting before – now is your chance!!! The materials are easy to find and the steps are not complicated at all.

Most of the supplies will be available in your local craft store or your own kitchen at home – but I purchased a lot of my supplies online at Elements Bath and Body (a Wholesale Soap Making Company).Materials Needed:1. Melt and Pour (AKA “Glycerin”) Soap Base

This is a pre-made soap that comes in clear or white blocks. The white is the same as the clear base, but with a white colorant. It’s a basic soap that you can melt in the microwave, add colorants and fragrance to, and remold in any flexible container you have.

3. Colorant (Liquid Colorant and or Micas can be used)
FD&C colorants are what you’ll most likely find at your local craft store. These look like liquid food colors and are practically the same, but not edible. Micas are made of little powdery flakes that are dyed. They are shimmery and sometimes even sparkle. Micas come as a powder so you will need to stir in a little rubbing alcohol to them before adding them to your project.

4. Fragrance Oils
One of the most exciting parts of making soap is choosing the fragrance. The options are practically infinite. You can find everything from tangy lemon to S’More scents. When shopping for fragrance oils make sure they are specifically for soap making. Do not use fragrance oils you buy at a grocery store intended for candles or extracts.

5. Soap Molds
One of the coolest thing about melt and pour soaps is that is takes the form of anything you pour it into, so there are many options. Whatever you choose – make sure it’s flexible, like plastic or silicone, so you can unmold your soap. Glass and metal are not good choices.

6. Stir Sticks (Popsicle Sticks work great)

7. Glass bowl to melt the soap in the microwave.
I use a large Pampered Chef Batter Bowl or a large Pyrex measuring Cup.

2. Peppermint Foot Soak
This stuff is amazing! The best part is how shockingly simple it is to make.
You will need the following ingredients:
Granulated Sugar
Olive Oil or Coconut Oil
Peppermint Essential Oil
Take 1 cup granulated sugar and pour into a mixing bowl. Gradually add your favorite Olive Oil or Coconut Oil and mix together until you have a slightly wet, but grainy consistency (really, whatever looks good to you). Add a few drops of Peppermint Essential Oil. Transfer the scrub to a cute bottle and Viola! Peppermint Foot Scrub. You could really make this recipe with any flavor of essential oil you would like.

3. Foot Scrub Brush and Nail Buffer

Inside Michelle’s letter to the Missionaries she told them about taking care of their feet every day. By using a scrub brush briskly over the bottoms of the feet – and with a good amount of pressure – keeps them happy & healthy.

4. Sole Magic Foot Smoothing Pad & Johnson’s Foot Soap Powder Packets

I cut the Trick or Treat portion off of this printable and added it to foot soak!

5. Happy Feet Gel Shoe Inserts

6. Socks. Combine the following Printable with a pair of fun dress socks (Elders) or tights (Sisters).

7. Gold Bond foot powder, Johnson foot soap, Wash Towel.

8. Peppermint Sugar Scrub Recipe
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Coconut Oil
• 1 cup granulated White Sugar
• 8-12 drops Peppermint Essential Oil or other essential oils
• Wide Mouth 8 oz. Mason Jar or any other jar you would like to send it in.

Instructions:
Place 1/2 cup Coconut Oil in microwave safe dish, and microwave for 45 seconds, or until completely melted.
Transfer melted Coconut Oil to small mixing bowl, and stir in 1 cup of White Sugar. Mix well.
Add 10 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil {or more for a stronger scent}, and mix again until well combined.
Transfer to Mason Jar, and you’re done! Easy-peasy!

Valentine Ideas:

Shopping List:

Deseret Book
Gospel Art Book Multilingual ($3.50)
Adventure Chalkboard Plaque ($6.99) (It’s the small moments that make life a great adventure)
The Worth of A Soul 3X5 Wallet Size Print (.50cents)

Wal Mart
Act II Valentine Microwave Popcorn Packets
Slipper Socks (Sisters)
Valentine Knitted Stuffed Animal Dog
Celebration by SweetWorks Individual Sixlets Candy Packets in Pink
Lollipop Sucker Bouquet (8 Heart Suckers)
Johnson’s Foot Soap (3 Pack)
Valentine’s Miniature Magnifying Glasses (6 Pack)
Valentine’s Miniature Pin Ball Game/Mazes (6 Pack)
Valentine’s Gift Packs (Includes a Pencil, Pencil Sharpener, Notepad, Stickers, Eraser)
Kool Aid Packs
Red Licorice
Pepperidge Farms Goldfish Cheddar Crackers (Individual Packs)
Great Value Toothpicks (150 per jar)
Straight Ruler (School Supply Area)
Misc. Valentine Candy
Foot Scrub

Dollar Tree Store
Fashion Clippers (Shape of a foot)
Compact Mirror and Tweezers set
Valentine’s Refrigerator Magnets (Magnetic Hearts)
Scrub Brush (In Kitchen Section – but use for feet)
Nail Buffer tool
Chalkboard Chalk

Zurchers Party Supply Store
Party Sweets Money Buttermint Creams (7oz Pkg. Approx. 53 Pieces)
Chocolate Money Coins

Dick’s Sporting Goods
Under Armor Heat Gear Socks (Elders)

Craft Store
Cellophane Bags (Multiple Sizes)
Miniature Chalk Boards

Bed Bath & Beyond
Sole Magic Foot Smoothing Pad ($2.99)

Happy Feet (HappyFeet.net)
Fluid Orthotics Shoe Inserts (Gel)

Hobby Lobby
Blue Footprint Thank You Card Pack (Blank) (In the Party Section)
Bicycle Ribbon
Footprint Ribbon (Pink or Blue)
Burlap Ribbon w/ Red Chevron Stripe
Burlap Ribbon w/ Red Stripe

Elements Bath and Body
Foot Soap Mold $7.25 (Has 3 Soap Cavities to make 3 at a time.)
Bicycle Soap Mold $7.25 (Has 3 Soap Cavities to make 3 at a time.)
Fragrance (I used Tart Lemon Fragrance for the Foot Soap & Tangelo Fragrance for the Bicycle Soap.) ($3.25 to $3.50 for a 1oz. Bottle) (You only use ½ teaspoon per 3 Bars of Soap.)
Colorant (I used Grass Green Colorant for the Bicycle Soap and True Red for the Foot Soap.) ($2.99 per 10ml bottle)
Soap Base (I used Melt & Pour Cocoa Butter Soap Base.)

CAL Ranch
Sisal Twine (1-Ply 500 Feet) ($3.50 per spool) Great Deal – You will use this for many things!

Macy’s Department Store
Men’s Dress Socks (Elders)
Tights (Sisters)