honey butter - Shelley Beatty

We used a pioneer theme:

Popcorn Bar with toppings, caramel popcorn balls, and four different popcorns from Velvet Cream Popcorn.

We welcomed Katherine Nelson Thompson (played Emma Smith in all the movies) to our Young Women:

Katherine Nelson Thompson speaking to our YW.

Katherine Nelson Thompson played the role of Emma Smith in the Joseph Smith movie, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration 2005 and the lead of Emma Smith in the movie Emma Smith: My Story 2008. She was also Anna Larsen in the movie 17 Miracles, 2011. She recently played the role of Alice Dobson in Ephraim’s Rescue 2013 (watch the trailer here ). She also has a CD out called Born Brave. Katherine Nelson’s new CD Born Brave boldly pays tribute to the triumphs and challenges in every woman’s life. Recorded in Nashville, the songs explore themes of heartache and joy through her distinctive voice and songwriting. Nelson, the star of “Emma Smith: My Story,” says “I wanted to create an album that lets every mother, wife, sister and daughter know that even the greatest challenges can be overcome.” (Also a nice article about her in the Deseret News Newspaper.) You can also see her on You Tube.

Katherine was raised in Southern California as one of eight children, and began singing at age three. Now she is a recognized award-winning musical artist, songwriter, and actress.

She was kind enough to come to our ward Young Women’s group and talk about what it was like to play the part of Emma Smith. It was awesome. The Young Women loved her. Some of the mom’s even came. The mom’s adored her. It was an incredible talk and Katherine even shared her talent with us and sang a song. Emma Smith was a very strong woman, and I am sure, a challenge (to any actress) to portray that strength. Emma Smith was faced with many challenges and difficulties. Katherine portrayed Emma’s strength in a way that not only showed her strength, but also showed how vulnerable she must have felt when she was faced with a difficulty. Her message to the Young Women, was a message, of overcoming even the most difficult challenges. Thank you Katherine Nelson Thompson!

Pictures of Emma Smith (artists renditions, from the movie Emma Smith: My Story, and actual pictures of the real Emma Smith) were placed on the board in the front of the room.

Emma Smith, artist renditions and from the movie.

Emma Smith, from the movie and from real life.

Emma Smith, from the movie and real life.

Emma Smith, from real life.

A display table was set up in the front of the room:

Pioneer Display Table

For refreshments we had cookies made from Recipes of Emma Smith (pdf version), (passed down through the family of Emma Smith), ( download the recipes in word document file click Recipes of Emma Smith and look in your download file). These recipes have been passed down in the Emma Smith Family found in the book The Emma Smith We Know. Written and Compiled by Darcy Kennedy and Angeline Kennedy Washburn. One recipe (front of picture) was Raisin Cookies (delicious) and the other one Brown Sugar Cookies. The recipes also include peanut brittle, fritters, biscuits and cornbread.

Refreshment Table Included Authentic Cookies from Emma Smith Recipe.

We also had homemade bread and honey butter:

Homemade bread and honey butter.

Refreshments also included an the Old Fashioned Popcorn Bar (featured in my 4th of July post)..

The Old Fashioned Popcorn Bar featured 15 different seasonings, toppings, caramel popcorn balls, and four different popcorns from Velvet Creme Popcorn.