Boise Idaho FSA

ch ch changes...

2009-02-03T16:09:00.000-08:00

new year. new changes.
there is a new FSA BLOG www.boiseidahofsa.blogspot.com
this comes along with a new chair, new committee members and lots of fun to be had.

i have so enjoyed and loved the many people i have met because of FSA and the many blessings because i know you. i am excited for what this new year hold for all of us...

please note the blog change and apply it to whereever you may have it bookmarked...

see you at the mixer!
tiff

just another reminder about the new site

2009-01-07T11:08:00.001-08:00

New FSA Website

FSA Member,
Greetings from the National Families Supporting Adoption Board!
We are excited to announce that the Families Supporting Adoption website is live at familiessupportingadoption.org.
In order to see the contents of the web site, you will be prompted to register, and to create a username and password for future use. The following are just a few of the many features you will find on this site:
*Calendar of upcoming FSA events
*FSA Chapter newsletters across the country
*Items for sale at the FSA store
*Detailed information on FSA's core efforts and activities
*FSA National Newsletter
*Presentations from national and regional FSA conferences
*Official FSA Handbook
*And Much More!

Please visit the site soon and tell us what you think and how it can be improved.

Thank you for keeping the spirit and practice of adoption alive!

National FSA Board

national adoption month - small change

2008-11-02T16:02:00.000-08:00

time change - my bad .... we will actually be attending the 6:30 pm session and NOT the 7:00 pm session, so please still be there at 6:00 pm.

hope to see you there!

FSA workshop TONIGHT

2008-10-16T08:42:00.001-07:00

just a little reminder that tonight is our Positive Side of Adoption workshop. EVERYONE is invited and everyone is invited to bring thier parents and siblings along as well. It is going to be a VERY informative evening starting with an adoptive family panel - parents, grandparent and aunt. Followed by Brenda Brown who will be discussing the positive way we can support each other during this journey and correct verbage in association with adoption.

tonight thursday, october 16th:

7:00 - 9:00 pm

The LDS Church building on Locust Grove and Franklin address:

190 S. Locust Grove, Meridian, Idaho

feel free to contact the LDSFS office 376.0191 with any questions or email me at wt_reeder@msn.com

we are anticipating a great turn out - so please be on time so we can get the most our of our two hours together. :>

new national FSA website

2008-10-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

please make note of the new activities on the right hand side of the blog...and remember next week's workshop goes towards your 10 hours required by the State of Idaho. email me with any questions...

national FSA has just shared their new website with us...and they encourage everyone - in every phase of adoption to register and be a part of it.

FSA Website

also, you will need to register on this new site even if you were registered before. we are excited to have another source of support and information.

see you thursday!

conference wrap up

2008-09-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

don't worry FSA is still alive and running!

so it has been a little over a month since the conference and i think it is safe to say we have all recovered. :> it was such a wonderful inspiring weekend. and we can't tell everyone enough how much we appreciate all the hands, hearts and thoughts that went into pulling off such a great conference. we had close to 80 people in attendance! yay go idaho! we were spiritually fed by speakers like, president waite - the boise temple president and the amazing workshops, the very informative tables and the incredible experience of the birth mother round table. so thank YOU thank you. here are a few pictures that our wonderful sandy caught for us. thanks sandy! please feel free to share any thoughts you had about the conference in our comment section. also, i will be sending out a survey from national fsa via email - please feel free to fill that out as well.

and make sure to check out ALL the new events coming up for the rest of the year.

the what to do while you are "finding" table. :>

the beautiful birth parent gift idea table.

some of the saweet door prizes.

all about adoption books at this table.

today is the DAY!

2008-08-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

just a few last minute reminders:

-please bring a framed 5*7 or 8*10 family picture, placement picture and/or sealing picture.
-registration is at 2:30 on Friday and 8:30 on Saturday
-Merrill Park is located here just enter your address if you are coming from your home, otherwise this is from the church.

+thanks!!!

if you have any questions or problems - please call my cell 867.7726

stand up and make a difference

2008-07-28T09:51:00.001-07:00

This just in from the National Adoption Council:

Call Washington!

Ask your Senators to act NOW to reauthorize the Adoption Incentive Program to promote adoption for children in foster care!

Today, more than 129,000 children and young people in foster careare waiting to leave the system - for good - to join permanentfamilies. Every day without a permanent family feels like alifetime to a child.

The bipartisan Adoption Incentive Program has helped more than443,000 children leave the uncertainty of foster care to joinadoptive families - but unless Congress acts now, it will expireon September 30, 2008. The House acted unanimously to improve andreauthorize the Adoption Incentive Program in late June. Pleasejoin us in urging the Senate to act before August recess begins.

Senators on the Finance Committee, which has jurisdictionover the nation's foster care system, will play a key rolein promoting safe, permanent families for our mostvulnerable children.

Please call your senators if you are from one of the followingstates: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas,Kentucky, Oregon, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana,Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Utah,Washington

FREE CALL IN LINE OPEN Monday and Tuesday, July 28 and 29: 1-888-686-8191.
Simply follow the prompts, enter your ZIP code, and you will be connected directly to your Senator's office.Urge the Senate to reauthorize and improve the Adoption IncentiveProgram to promote adoption for children in foster care!

Please help spread the word by forwarding this e-mail to your friends, family, colleagues, and networks and encourage others totake action today! Click here for a downloadable flyer.: http://m1e.net/c?84938685-I.9xcs5pzcl9s%403501947-2SxUcBcJWRWDY

registration deadline for t-shirt...

2008-07-25T13:08:00.001-07:00

heads up. if you are wanting a Conference T Shirt and you know you do...then you need to register by Monday - July 28th. I have to order them by Monday - so if you register after Monday - sadly you won't get a shirt to mark this incredible conference!

After you register would you mind emailing me wt_reeder@msn.com your shirt sizes. Choose from XS, S, M, L, XL.

THANK YOU!!!

.a sneak peak of your shirt.

conference details thus far ... handle with excitement!

2008-07-10T16:17:00.000-07:00

2008 Idaho Regional Families Supporting Adoption Conference
Friday, August 8th and Saturday, August 9th
The conference will be held at the

Meridian Stake Center 3775 E. Ustick Road Meridian, Idaho 83646

..one miracle at a time..

Friday
Conference starts:
2:30 pm Registration – please pay by check
3:00 pm with Keynote Speaker, President Wenden Waite of the Boise Temple Presidency....4:30-5:30 The Whole Story Panel..
6:00 - 8:00 Dinner – Merrill Park in Eagle, a great park and water play area for the kid and catered dinner..
637 E. Shore Drive (located in the Eagle River Development)
Feel free to bring a blanket and chairs for your family.

Saturday
Conference Resumes – 9:00 am with Satellite Broadcast with Sister Barbara Thompson of the General Relief Society Presidency as the keynote Speaker!
10:45 – 11:45 Workshops..11:45 – 12:15 Lunch
12:15 – 3:00 Workshops and Closing with Door Prizes

Work shop topics include:
“Battling Discouragement, Finding vs. Waiting”
“Parenting, Emotion Coaching Your Child”
“Your Journey with Birth Parents”
“Talking to Your Children about Adoption over a Lifespan”
The Birth Parent Panel and Whole Story which includes an adoptive couple, adoptee and birth parent

browse the tables:

+ finances and taxes with your adoption

+ adoption books

+ birth parents gifts

+ finding with your profile - proactive ideas

Also there will be some FSA Store Items for sale!

p.p.p.please

2008-07-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

as we draw closer to the FSA conference next month - we become very excited and slighty stressed. if you are able to help with anything please email me wt_reeder@msn.com
THANK YOU!!!

here are a couple of things to get us started ...

+ friday set up 10-12 in the am

+ saturday clean up 3:30 in the pm

+ coolers for water bottles at friday night's dinner and to have on hand on saturday as well for lunch.

+ six couples to bring a dozen cupcakes or cookies to friday's dinner.

thank you again. and just a reminder to those traveling you need to reserve your hotel room by July 21st to recieve the group discount. see right side panel for more information.

ice cream social june 28th

2008-06-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

don't we all love a little ice cream?

just a reminder of our upcoming annual ice cream social. at the stevens' family home. we are so thankful to them for sharing their awesome backyard for this fun yummy family time.

EVERYONE is invited, so don't miss this favorite family activity.

+ saturday, june 28th @ 6:30 pm

+ please bring your families favorite ice cream topping

+ the stevens home @ 2101 S Preakness Way Nampa, ID 83686

making the most of your online profile

2008-06-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

this wonderful couple has dedicated a site to help YOU. oh how we love the internet!

..you wanted to know how to rotate pictures, click here

..you wanted to know how to add a picture to your headline, click here

..you wanted to know how to add color, change font and size , click here

..you wanted to know how to create a link, click here

..for a HTML color code chart click here

i hope that this brings you as much excitement as it has me. because of wonderful, kind proactive couples...we can all make the most of our profiles. many thanks to you - for sharing with us! don't forget that creating a family blog specifically for your adoption allows great opportunities.

drum roll please...conference information

2008-06-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

location location location....

The conference will be held at the Meridian Stake Center

3775 E. Ustick Road Meridian, Idaho 83646

"one miracle at a time"

conference schedule:

friday..

Conference starts – 3:00 pm with Keynote Speaker....4:30-5:30 Workshops..
..6:00 - 8:00 Dinner – Merrill Park in Eagle, there will be a jump house and catered dinner..

637 E. Shore Drive (located in the Eagle River Development)

saturday..
..Conference Resumes – 9:00 am with Satellite Broadcast..
..10:45 – 11:45 Workshops....11:45 – 12:15 Lunch..
..12:15 – 3:00 Workshops and Closing with Door Prizes..

Registration Fees: $30/person $40/couple

The fee includes all copies and materials to be made, Friday night's catered dinner and conference tee shirt. More information on registration will be available soon. National FSA is creating an online registration tool which is will be wonderful.

Be a part of history, as we host the FSA Regional Conference in Boise, Idaho. A great variety of incredible workshops including Birth Parent Panels, Exploring your Adoption Options to Finding versus Waiting will be available to you. You can cruise through several display tables and gather ideas for birth parent gifts, profile ideas, adoption financial information and talking with your friends and family about adoption. Through the efforts of your local FSA chapter – these great opportunities are waiting for you! So mark your calendar and we will see you on August 8th!

if you are concerned about the locations please google map your address and the location's address to recieve perfect directions..i am afraid i would cause you to get lost. :>

lori's open house

2008-05-28T15:17:00.001-07:00

please spread the word that lori's open house will be

June 7th from 5-8 pm at Virginia Arnold's home 410 W. Bitteroot Drive, Boise 83709.

we are going to miss lori so much and are so grateful to know her.

open forum thursday night @ 7

2008-05-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

just a quick reminder of our first Open Forum Thursday May 15th at 7:00 in the Conference Room at the the Agency Office. Here a few reasons YOU should be attend:

- as a "veteran" you have so much to share with those new in the process

- as someone new in the process, there is a lot of useful information to learn

- information on how to personlize your online profile from colored fonts to rotating pictures

- a chance to have your picture as a couple taken. the backdrop for the pictures will be Black.

- a great chance to chit chat about the process with others

- PASS ALONG cards, learn how to create them and what to do with them!

- and of course a little treat never hurts...

I am excited about this informative evening and hope that you can come!

?'s email me wt_reeder@msn.com

fsa store options

2008-05-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

we are able to purchase some FSA Store items for the Conference...but i would love to have your opinion if there is anything that you would LOVE to have. we will doing tee shirts of the conference but that is all...so please visit the FSA Store by going here http://www.providentliving.org/pfw/multimedia/files/pfw/pdf/68703_FSAStoreBrochure_pdf.pdfand then place your vote on the poll to the right! thanks!

Conference Registration Fee

2008-05-09T08:45:00.001-07:00

I am excited to let you know that the registration fee is now

$30/ Person

$40/ Couple

This fee will include your Friday night dinner which is being catered, conference tee shirts and paper copies and such. Please note this change. Also, registration will begin within the next month, please check the blog for those details as well. We are so excited for this event, member mark your calendars, August 8-9th. We will start Friday afternoon and end Saturday afternoon. YAY!

any ?'s, just email me. thanks!

-tiffany

birth mother dinner

2008-05-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

last night, tuesday the 6th was our first annual birth mother dinner. it was AMAZING. a HUGE thank you to so many who helped by spending their time and talents to create this evening. from the beauteous invites to the yummy salads! it was a hit. we had a great turn out, around 30 altogether between birthmoms and birth gramas. the Spirit was very strong and it was a tremendous time for all in attendance. A few kids sang I Love To See the Temple, and of course it was beyond perfect. THANK YOU! We have received wonderful feedback and it was obvious how much the girls enjoyed a evening for them. thank you thank you thank you. make sure to include these sweet spirits in your prayers, they are truly amazing.

the theme of the evening was believe. lori spoke on believing in your TRUE self. the self that our Heavenly Father and Savior know and see. they remember our mistakes no more and cheer us on for all the good that we seek to do. as always we left uplifted and blessed by the evening as we remembered that we all have a plan in this life.

Mother's Day

2008-05-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday, May 10th is Birth Mother Day.

I encourage you to send a little love to your birth mother and any birth mother you know. After speaking with a variety of birth mom's, I have learned that they always need to be loved, no matter where they are at in the process. Every situation is different and you know what your birth mom needs.

some ideas:

- a nice card or email

- flowers

- a slide show of pictures of your child(ren) on a CD

- your child's hand or feet prints

- From God's Arms, to My Arms, To Yours - Adoption Book

now on a personal note...

I know that as you are waiting to find your child, Mother's Day can be a very difficult day. I remember something that really helped me get through those days was thinking of our birthmom, wondering what she was like, who she was and praying for her to know how much we loved her and that of course she would be protected, guided and comforted during this difficult time in her life. And of course our children, where ever they might be...that they would know how much we LOVED them and desired them to be with our family again. Thinking of the future brought me so much peace.

some thoughts I would like to share~

"For reasons known to the Lord, some women are required to wait to have children. This delay and disappointment is not easy for any righteous woman. But the Lord's timetable for each of us does not negate or somehow change our our very nature. Some of us, then, must simply find other ways to mother....As daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as daughters of Eve, we are all mothers and we have always been mothers....The Lord does nothing wtih a short-range view. Everything He does is for FOREVER. Thus, like Eve, our motherhood began before we were born. - Sheri Dew, "No One Can Take Your Place" Are we all not mothers?

The Gift

"Some of the healing in the adoption process comes from knowledge that one family's unselfish choice will open the door for another family's sweetest blessing. How does a couple take the news that they can't bring babies into the world? How long does it take them to surrender their dreams in favor of God's will? The faith they develop in that journey will help them find the faith they need to raise a child to be all that he or she was meant to be, and the gratitude that comes when such a gift is given is almost beyond expression. "

Michael McLean - "From God's Arms, To My Arms, to Yours"

Regional FSA Conference Update

2008-04-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Hello all. We are excited to give a small update in reguards to the Conference Registration. The National Board as made registration fees the same throught out the nation. They are as follows

Couple $60
Individual $30

There will be no late fees for late registration. We are so excited about this and hope that you are too. It will be a rememberable weekend for ALL involved. Great company, wonderful workshops, sharing of ideas and love of adoption. YAY! Not to mention Friday night's Dinner at Merrill Park - yummo!

Any questions...just ask.

a shout out of thanks

2008-04-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

just wanted to thank my fellow fsa bloggers lindsey and michelle for all your help in getting our chapter blog to be the best it can be! thanks so much - we ALL appreciate it.

please take time to check out ALL the amazing articles that are now on the blog! thanks again!!!

How To Create Rotating Pictures for your Profile!

2008-04-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

many of you have inquired as to how to create slideshows for your online profile so here you are!

a very helpful couple from the idaho falls area shared this with me to share with YOU! now you can create sildeshows for your profile...so a thank you to her.

good luck!

To make a rotating picture requires turning them into an animated GIF

1. select pictures (works best if there is no more than 6 because it takes too long to download)

2. size each picture they need to be the same size. (I did 300 dpi x 300 dpi at 72 resolution)

3. Save ecah picture as a GIF

4. Here is the link to microsoft GIF animator
http://freewareweb.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?ID=288

5. Insert the pics into the frames by opening up the picture
then to add additional pictures click on insert on toolbar (ctrl+I)
under animation- check the box next to looping and check repeat forever
under image- set the duration of each picture between 200-500 (you must click on each frame and set the duration for each picture)
Save your slide show using SAVE AS and give it a name

6. Upload your slide show onto your profile just like you would any other picture.

just too amazing

2008-04-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

i don't know how many of you have already seen or heard of this video of Christ's life - but it is just amazing. it is being shown currently at the Mesa Temple Visitors Center - i loved it and i hope it makes your day like it made mine.

how amazing it is to know that He lives, He loves us and is so aware of YOU and your current struggles and joys. we are so blessed.

http://www.eastvalleyproductions.com/blog.cfm?postID=31

something to think about.

2008-04-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia. You've heard it's a wonderful place, you've read many guidebooks and feel certain you're ready to go. Everyone you know has traveled there by plane. They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you can look forward to being pampered on the trip.

So you go to the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia. All around you, excited people are boarding planes for Australia. It seems there is no seat for you; you'll have to wait for the next flight. Impatient, but anticipating a wonderful trip, you wait--and wait--and wait.
Flights to Australia continue to come and go. People say silly things like, "Relax. You'll get on a flight soon." Other people actually get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to which you cry, "It's not fair!"

After a long time the ticket agent tells you, "I'm sorry, we're not going to be able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going by boat."
"By BOAT!" you say. "Going by boat will take a very long time and it costs a great deal of money. I really had my heart set on going by plane." So you go home and think about not going to Australia at all. You wonder if Australia will be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than air. But you have long dreamed of this wonderful place, and finally you decide to travel by boat.

It is a long trip, many months over many rough seas. No one pampers you. (Isn't that the truth!) You wonder if you will ever see Australia. Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three more times, marveling about each trip.

Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia. It is more exquisite than you ever imagined, and the beauty is magnified by your long days at sea. You have made many wonderful friends during your voyage, and you find yourself comparing stories with other who also traveled by sea rather then by air.

People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are about to travel only once, perhaps twice. Some say things like, "Oh, be glad you didn't fly. My flight was horrible; traveling by sea is so easy."

You will always wonder what it would have been like to fly to Australia. Still, you know God blessed you with a special appreciation of Australia, and the beauty of Australia is not in the way you get there, but in the place itself.

By Diane Armitage printed in the April 21, 1995 "Dear Abby" column.

finger food potluck needs YOU.

2008-04-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

hello! so, i have emailed several people about bringing a 'finger food' to our April 10th workshop and so far have only heard from a couple of people! which is rare...i know life gets busy - so in hopes of getting more than one choice of finger foods for the finger food potluck...i am trying my luck at the blog!

please email me wt_reeder@msn.com if you are interested in bringing ANY kind of finger food to the activity on April 10th - a week from today. i am sure my "inbox" will be flooding in no time - THANKS! your service in FSA is so apprecaited and needed.

- tiffany

Adoption Education Hours

2008-04-02T16:19:00.001-07:00

I have been asked by several couples for some details about the Mandatory Adoption Education Hours. The State requires that all couples earn 10 hours of Adoption Education prior to placements. If you are new and plan to attend the orientation April 3rd, that will count towards your time. All workshops count, including April 10th and this year we won't be doing our usual bi-yearly workshops. There are other resources that you can contact your caseworker about if you have any questions or concerns. This year because of the FSA Conference we are hosting in August (YAY!) we will be focusing on that, for your opportunity to earn your hours. Also, you will receive a "Hours Log" to maintain your hours. You are responsible to fill out the log and turn into to your caseworker when you have achieved your 10 hours.

If you have any more questions please don't hesitate to email me and i will do my best to answer them or find the answer for you!

Is Adoption Acceptable to the Lord?

2008-03-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

A Father's Gift By Liz Lemon Swindle

Is Adoption Acceptable to the Lord?
By A. Garner Oleson

Unmarried parents considering the best future for their child and themselves, and couples struggling with the emptiness and sorrow of childlessness, often ask, "Is adoption really acceptable to the Lord?"
In a practical sense, placing a child born out of wedlock with adoptive parents resolves several problems, but is it really right? What, if anything do the scriptures and prophets teach about adoption? So much emphasis is placed on the family and responsibilities of parents to teach and provide for their own, that the question of "rightness" of placing that trust in someone else appears to be a troubling concern to many.
The birth parents and their families are reminded of the scripture, "bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh" (Genesis 2:23). "This is my child," they tell themselves. "Wouldn't I be shrinking my responsibility if I asked someone else to teach and rear and provide a home for this child? Shouldn't I feel guilty if I didn't at least try to do my best to parent the child, even if I am single, or even if I am young?" Didn't the Apostle Paul say, "if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (1 Timothy 5:8)? "Am I appropriately 'providing for my own' if, as a single parent, I make an adoption plan for my child?"
Adopting parents often wonder, "Why are we unable to bear children? Doesn't the Lord want us to have children? Would we be circumventing His will if we adopt a child? Can we expect His blessings in rearing the adopted child the same as if the child were born to us? Is the adoption really okay?"
The answer to those concerns and questions can come from a variety of sources including the scriptures, latter-day prophets, and professional research on adoption.

Insight From The Scriptures -
Even with the limited scriptural accounts of the first 2,000 of the world's history, there are many references to the anguish of childlessness. Consider Sarai's childlessness and her efforts to resolve her grief by taking her maid, Hagar, to Abram to bear a child for her (See Genesis 16). And, Rachel, who cries in desperation to her husband, Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die" (Genesis 30:1), and Jacob's helpless response, "Am I God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?" (Genesis 30:2) There is Hannah's pleading with the Lord at the Temple and her weeping and refusal to eat due to her grief over her childlessness. In helplessness, her husband says, "Why weepest thou? And why eatest thou not? And why is thy heart grieved? Am not I better to thee than ten sons? ...And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore." And she vowed unto the Lord, "give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life" (1 Samuel 1:5-28).
Regarding the rearing of children by those other than the children's parents, Father Abraham, himself, was born into a home where his needs could not best be served. As a young man he was taken "away from [his] kinsfolk, into a strange land which [he knew] not of" (Abraham 1:16).
The account of the discovery of the baby Moses in the bulrushes is well known. Moses, for his protection was placed in the care of others. "And the child grew, and she [his birth mother] brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water" (Exodus 2:10). Though he lived 3,500 years ago, he is to this day known and honored by the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim cultures worldwide, and is spoken of by the Lord by the name, Moses, which was the name given him by his mother by adoption.

Samuel, the prophet of Israel who anointed King David, was taken by his mother to be reared by another. The scriptures tell us "and the child was young ...and she said, as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:28). He grew to manhood not in the home of his parents, but in the home of Eli and his family. It was Eli, his "adoptive" father, who guided him as a child to listen when the Lord called his name in the night (1Samuel 1-3).
Even our Heavenly Father entrusted his Only Begotten Son to be reared by Joseph, who was not his biological father. And, while on the cross, Jesus established a new "family" relationship when he spoke to his mother, saying, "Woman, behold thy son!" and to John, "Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home" (John 19:25-27).
Timothy, the young companion of Paul, was the son of a Greek father and Jewish mother and was spoken of by the Apostle Paul as "my own son" (1 Timothy 1:2, 18). It is clear that care of family members by those other than family was practiced and approved in biblical times.
The term "adoption" in the scriptures generally refers to being adopted into the House of Israel through faith in Jesus Christ accompanied by baptism and reception of the Holy Ghost, or to being adopted sons and daughters of Christ, becoming his children by obedience to the gospel (see Moses 5:7-8). Of course, as the spirit children of God, we are all adopted into our mortal homes. It would appear that when it best served those concerned, one is practicing a form of godliness to allow a child to be adopted into a home that will further his or her progress and bless the lives of hose involved.

What Have Latter-day Prophets Told Us?
In the early days of the Church, twins, a boy and a girl, were born into the home of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Emma. Both died within hours following birth. Not far away, on the same day, the wife of John Murdock died while giving birth to twins, also a girl and a boy. When the Murdock twins were nine days old, Brother Murdock took them to Joseph and Emma and asked them to make them their own. Brother Murdock called it a gift "more valuable than all the tokens of friendship ...ever received in that land of hospitality" (cited in Vernon Lynn Tyler, "Adventures in Adoption," Improvement Era, June 1968, p. 115). What trust! What love! Joseph and Emma felt joy as they undertook to raise the children.

Adoption, as a legal process in the United States, was first instituted by statute in Massachusetts in 1851, serving as a model for other states. Every state had enacted some form of adoption laws by 1929. Today, it is a rare family that has not been touched by adoption in some way.
Adoption in the Church was formally recognized in 1921 when President Joseph F. Smith designated the Relief Society Social Services Department as the Church's official child-placing agency. In 1969, under priesthood correlation, the Unified Social Services was organized and designated to provide adoption services. Unified Social Services is now known as LDS Social Services (which is now LDS Family Services).

In homage to women denied the power to bear children, President David O. McKay said some adopt children "as their own, rear them with an ability characteristic of and inherent in true womanhood, and fill the lives of their darlings with a love that only the yearning soul of such a mother can know. Such are true mothers, indeed, though part of the experience of motherhood be denied them!" (Treasures of Life, pp.39-40) President Ezra Taft Benson, speaking of those that adopt stated, "to these wonderful couples we salute you for the sacrifice and love you have given those children you have chosen to be your own" (To Mothers in Zion, Fireside Address to Parents, 22 February, 1987).

In a letter to Church leaders dated February 1, 1994, the First Presidency counseled:
"A child needs both a mother and a father...When the unwed parents are unable or unwilling to marry, they should be encouraged to place the child for adoption...Placing the infant for adoption through LDS Social Services helps ensure that the baby will be reared in a faithful Latter-day Saint family and will receive the blessings of the sacred sealing covenant...Such a decision enables the unwed parents to do what is best of the child and enhance the prospect for the blessings of the sacred sealing covenant...Such a decision enables the unwed parents to do what is best for the child and enhance the prospect for the blessings of the gospel in the lives of all concerned."

The First Presidency has stated, "Adoption is a positive, natural, and loving way to build families. We commend those who participate in the adoption process, whereby children may reap the benefits of having a loving father and mother and a stable home life" (Church News, November 18, 1989).

Our new blog

2008-03-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

Hi and thanks for checking out the new blog. We are so excited to use this blog as a great resource and tool for our FSA program. We will have great articles on adoption, ideas for finding your baby, creating your profiles, new placement announcements and of course our upcoming activities and workshops. You are welcome to leave comments and contact me with any questions, concerns and suggestions. The first couple of weeks will be filled with some trial and error - so thanks for your patience.

Thank you to everyone for a wonderful turn out to Pump It Up...and for the great treats. We had a wonderful turn out and really enjoyed seeing every one again. Like a gomer I forgot my camera - so if you took pictures that you would like to share on the blog, please email them to me. It would be fun to post those on here!