Upcoming Activities and Events:

• Thursday, November 12th,  6:30pm: Relief Society Christmas Activity! Dinner provided. More details to come. Please come and share this evening together and invite friends! 

• Sunday, December 20th: Neighborhood Luminaria Evening (walk around and see everyones luminaries outside and then meeting at Overlook Circle for a message and warm treats). Please invite your neighbors and those you minister to, to attend! 

• January 2027 new church time: 1:30pm 

November Birthdays:

Nov 2-Emily Curfew

Nov 2-Penny Hawkins

Nov 3-Kira Buswell

Nov 9-Berkley Lewis

Nov 19-Charmaine Engelbrecht

Nov 20-Cassie Balser

Nov 20-Brinley McClellan

Nov 21-Lauren Gunnell

Nov 26-Ollie Lewis

Nob 29-Tracy Brady

Ongoing Activities: 

Personal Finance Classes: PAUSED UNTIL JANUARY. Personal finance classes will be held Sundays, 4:00 pm, Font Room, Stake Center / Facilitated by Bill & Lisa Miller. Will discuss budgeting, getting out of debt, investing and more. This class meets for 10 weeks. Come any week to join. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/ldsorg/topics/self-reliance/personal-finances-na-eng.pdf

Adult Emotional Resilience Classes: STARTS SEPTEMBER 3RD. (SEE FLYER ABOVE!) Adult emotional resilience classes will be held Thursdays, 7:00 pm, High Council room, Stake Center / Facilitated by Melinda Petersen and Vicky Corbett. Will discuss healthy thinking patterns, managing stress and anxiety, understanding depression and other topics through the lens of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This class meets for 10 weeks. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/self-reliance/course-materials/emotional-resilience-self-reliance-course-video-resources?lang=eng

Healing Through the Savior: Addiction Recovery Program: Please see the Life Help information on the stake website: https://www.saratogaspringsutahstake.com/lifehelp
(Church website has a directory of meetings). The Church has an interactive website where individuals can find locations, dates, and times for addiction recovery meetings to attend anonymously. Link: https://addictionrecovery.churchofjesuschrist.org/  Also, if you have a loved one who is ensnared in compulsive behaviors and you could benefit from support, you can also access a list of recovery group meetings here: https://addictionrecovery.churchofjesuschrist.org/

Family Services Information: Please see the Life Help information on the stake website: https://www.saratogaspringsutahstake.com/lifehelp

YSA Gatherings (ages 18-30): Every Monday night at 7:00PM for dinner and activities. Location: 587 S Saratoga Rd. https://www.saratogaspringsutahstake.com/ysa

Lesson Schedule:

Nov. 1st:  Sister Runia: The Sculpting of Our Souls

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2026/10/13runia?lang=eng

Nov. 8th: Elder Soares: A Higher and Holier Fast

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2026/10/17soares?lang=eng

Nov. 15th: Elder Dunn: The Ninety and Ten

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2026/10/28dunn?lang=eng

Nov. 22nd: Elder Erying: Comfort from the Holy Ghost

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2026/10/29eyring?lang=eng

Nov. 29th: Combined lesson with Elder's Quorum about Employment and Education recources and principles. 

*The Conference talks that the RS lessons will be taught from can be found ahead of time on the Gospel Library App, on the Home Page: scroll down to ‘Relief Society Lessons’. We encourage everyone to study the lessons ahead of time and come prepared to share your thoughts each week!

Presidency Message:

October is a special month for me, filled with some of my kids' birthdays and other significant events to celebrate. Many of the activities we've enjoyed over the years have developed into cherished traditions. As my older children are growing up and leaving home, it has been touching to learn which traditions they don't want to miss and how eager they are to stay included. Often, something I considered insignificant turns out to be deeply meaningful to them. My favorite moments are when they reach out to share this, and we find a way to celebrate together—even from different locations.

I can't help but think about all the things important to me where I have felt Heavenly Father's guidance and support. I am trying to follow His example with my own children by setting my own opinions and expectations aside and put their hearts first. I am filled with joy seeing you all gather, celebrate, and support one another in so many thoughtful ways, and I am so grateful for your examples. As we enter the holiday season, I love learning how others prioritize love and Christ within their families, friendships, and busy schedules. I hope we can all continue to listen, share and uplift each other through both the happy and the sometimes stressful times in months ahead as we seek peace, show gratitude and love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Love, Jill

Spotlights: Thank you Sharon Wiser who gathers these! 

Abby Hicken

Joe and I moved into the ward in May. I'm a northern California native. My family moved 4 times in my life and we've always stayed in the same ward, so needless to say, until age 19, my world was small! I'm the middle of five kids and I LOVE it. My siblings are some of the best humans!

After serving a mission in Albuquerque, New Mexico (though I spent a lot of time in El Paso, Texas) I moved to Saratoga Springs May of 2025 to go to Cosmetology school at MTech. I met my husband in the YSA here in Saratoga and he'll tell you he fought his way out of the friend zone (very true, it's a long story ). We got married this past May and love having our YSA friends over to eat our food, going to Joe's parents eat their food, and going to my sister's to eat the food her two toddlers won't eat!

I finished cosmetology school and received my license at the beginning of May and have been cutting hair from home since. I love a good barber cut. I also work from home as a valuation assistant for a commercial appraiser. 

I enjoy singing, cooking, and crafting, my chosen craft often being sewing and my current cooking obsession being chicken. My favorite thing to do in the summer is to go boating. I love wakeboarding and buddy tubing, especially with my siblings. We're always trying to come up with new versions of water sports (like tandem kneeboarding and redneck wake skating!)

Joe and I are currently serving as Sunday School teachers for the 12 year olds. What a hoot!