Things that matter most

HI ladies!

This week I asked our teacher Deanna Jeffrey to share some of her thoughts about the lesson she gave. I noticed that it talks about the things that matter most in life: God, our covenants, and our loved ones. 

"I had several impressions while preparing for this lesson. One of the first impressions I had was the realization of the magnitude of the priesthood power. I had never thought about it in depth before, but God has literally given us some of his power on this earth. What a marvelous blessing to ponder! The same power he used to create the heavens and the earth, is the same power he has allotted to his children. It is such a privilege to literally have God's power on earth and when you recognize that the priesthood is literally given for the salvation of souls you can't help but feel such a sacred feeling and love for the priesthood.

One of the other impressions I had while preparing this talk is the importance of our influence as women in our homes and in our marriages. We have such an influence for good in the lives of our children and in helping our husbands see who they are meant to be. With the world beating us down, how wonderful it is for husbands and children to have faithful Latter Day Saint women who focus on what really matters, and who lift and encourage their families.

One of the other aspects that came to my mind, is to be sure to not unintentionally neglect our own testimonies and others around us. It is so easy for us to become distracted, and focused on the things that don't matter most.However, when we realize the power we have to affect generations, it helps put things back into perspective and helps one to not neglect the things that matter the most."

Upcoming Activities.... Sep 4 and Sep 14

We have 2 activities coming up in September. Today each of us received awesome invites! If you weren't at church, here are your digital invites.

First off, is our girls' garden party!

Next is  Super Saturday! The chocolate got me - I'll be there!

 I invite you to listen to this beautiful piano solo that will remind you of Christ and I hope it will touch your heart as it touched mine. Happy Sunday!

Unity - That We May Become One

Today the beautiful Jenya Stroh lead a discussion and lesson about unity, inspired by chapter 16 in our manual - Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow. 


I hope this post lifts you up spiritually as you engage mentally and emotionally with all the thoughts and feelings that were shared in Relief Society on Sunday. The purpose of this blog is to lift you up spiritually and to keep you filled in or reminded of our weekly lessons. Quotes in Italics are from the manual, scriptures are hyperlinked and comment by the group have a pink heading.

Unity in the Church:
John 17:19-21
"If we have division in our midst; if we be divided either spiritually or temporally, we never can be the people that God designs us to become, nor can we ever become instruments in His hands of making the world believe that the holy Priesthood has been restored, and that we have the everlasting Gospel."

What does the word Unity mean to you?
Dictionary:
unity between alliance members: harmony, accord, cooperation, collaboration, agreement, consensus, solidarity; formal concord, concordance. ANTONYMS: strife, discord.

How can we develop unity in the ward?
Jenya talked about how unity is often found in friendship and fellowship. She mentioned that going to activities such as the ward campout that took place a few weeks ago is a great way to get to know people and connect with them on a more personal level, versus only seeing them at church. She also pointed out that her branch back in Russia was very close nit and unified because they spent time outside of church together most nights of the week! Friendships last beyond ward boundaries. 

She also pointed out that often we are not unified or friends with others because we haven't given each other a chance. She shared that at work a new lady started up working there who had big hari, sparkles everywhere and listened to country music - which is nothing like herself! They seemed to be opposites, but as they started talking they became the best of friends. Jenya pointed out that if we don't give people a chance to be our friends because they don't look or act like us, we are the ones missing out!

Some of the comments made by the group:

• Serving others improves love and unity. Never suppress a generous thought! If you think of doing something nice for someone, follow through and do it. 
• One sister likened unity in the ward unto Project Runway group challenges. She said that when contestants in a group only focused on themselves and their own ideas, then the project turned out terribly, but when the contestants cam together and relied on each others' strengths, then the project turned out to be great. 
• This in turn brought up the point that the individual contribution made by a single ant or bee is very small ( 1 bee only contributes 1 teaspoon of honey in it's life time), but the sum total of all the work that is done together by the group is very great! The same could be said of a ward. We all have a role in the church with our individual callings. Our contributions may be small, but the total of all our efforts can turn out to be huge!
• Christ uses our love for Him to love others. the more we love our Saviour the more we have the capacity to love others. 

Unity in the Family
"Should there not be union in the family? … Most assuredly there should. And why should any man be satisfied, why should any husband and father of a family rest satisfied until he effects a perfect union, that is, just as far as a perfect union can be accomplished?"

How would you describe perfect unity in the home?  

Unity Comes from Love

"We talk considerably in regard to the principle of loving our neighbors as well as we love ourselves; we talk about it and we sometimes think about it, but how much do we really enter into the spirit of these things, and see that the difficulty lies within ourselves? We must understand that we have got to act upon certain principles by which we can bind ourselves together as a people, to bind our feelings together that we may become one, and this never can be accomplished unless certain things are done, and things that require an exertion on our part."


Doctrine and Covenants 64:8-9


Comments Made by the Group:

• Forgiveness leads to more love and frees us up to feel good feelings. 
• When we do not forgive one person, these negative feelings hinder our other relationships. Kate Livingston shared an experience of her friend who was angry at her mother for many years. She realized the bad feelings harbored for her mom was getting in the way of having great relationships with others. She forgave her mom, and was married shortly after, free of her burden of anger and grudge.
  
• One sister says she likes the phrase "I refuse to soak in the sauna of self pity." She pointed out that when you do, you get pruney and it's just not good :) Very cute way of putting it..
• Think of why Christ told us to be like children. They always forgive and love unconditionally.
• Focus on acquiring each others positive aspects in marriage. Help each other grow and progress, and be positive!
• And finally, everyday is a new day to start over and try again!

Blessings of Unity

"The voice of the Almighty called us out from the midst of confusion, which is Babylon, to form a union and a lovely brotherhood, in which we should love one another as we love ourselves. When we depart from this purpose, the Spirit of God withdraws from us to the extent of that departure. But if we continue in the extent of those covenants which we made when we received the Gospel, there is a corresponding increase of light and intelligence, and there is a powerful preparation for that which is to come. And because of our faithfulness and our adherence to the covenants we have made, the foundation upon which we stand becomes like the pillars of heaven—immovable."

Faithful, Energetic Service in The Kingdom of God

This Sunday our super sweet and caring Relief Society president Lacee Jiminez lead our lesson. We did our best to take some notes and I hope you find them uplifting and insightful. Then to conclude Eli Jensen, our compassionate service leader sent me some personal thoughts and inspiration to share with us, which is at the bottom of the post.Material inspired from chapter 15 of the Teachings of the Preseidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow manual.

Think about the definition of an ambassador in the context of being an ambassador of Christ:

Ambassador= representative/messenger within a relationship/s

                  = proactive- promote

                  = authorized

When we were baptized and took upon us the name of Christ, we began a journey of becoming an ambassador for Christ and His church.

Being an ambassador of the church carries with it many responsibilities. Why?

  -We represent Jesus Christ. When you act contrary to Christ's example, people notice. And perhaps "notice the bad things we do more than the good".- Cassidy Tuttle.                

-Loving with a Christlike, "genuine" love, and not judging, can be hard to do .This is one of the great responsibilities we have. -Kayley Fryar

-Requires lots of faith. "Our standards are higher than those of society's", which makes it sometimes difficult to rise above and live a virtuous life...to be the example -Yvonne Styles

-Being an ambassador requires action- which builds faith. One of the greatest ways to be an ambassador of the church is to "invite others to serve." This will bring them unto Christ. -Eliza Blank

Scriptures:

Abr. 2:9-11

Genesis 22:15-18

All of God's children can become an ambassador & come to know God & Jesus Christ.

How can we redeem God's children through our callings?

-See everyone as individuals & not numbers. Be genuine.

 -Be understanding of your own talents and how to use them in your own calling and not compare yourself to the sister next to you. Don't expect more of yourself than you already have/are. Be patient with how He wants to use you to serve His children.-Summer Sims

-"The Lord does not require so much of the man who possesses but one talent, as of him who possesses more than one; but, according to that which he hath, so shall it be required of him."-Lorenzo Snow

 -"Honor the office" in which ye are called, even if the people don't honor you. 

 -"If you but try"... God will then make you grow. -Lacee Jiminez

 I was once told by President Niger that the most important things in this life are our relationships and our covenants. They are the only things we can bring with us into the life hereafter. Since becoming a mom, there have been many days at home full of distraction of unrealistic expectations placed upon myself by me, of course. The world tells me I need to have a perfectly decorated, clean home, with nothing but a delicious dinner served on the table every day. I am also told in order to be happy I need flawless skin, a thin, toned body, and top notch clothes. The list goes on and on. The days I am unhappy and unproductive are the days I give into these lies. But the days I focus on my sweet girl and my loving husband, and put them first, my heart and soul are filled with the spirit and joy of Christ and all the good he has given me. Even though the kitchen is a disaster, I am happy- my family is happy. That's really what matters. I know that this can be applied within any situation in life, especially within our church callings and visiting teaching. I know that when we put relationships first, it is easier to be genuine and love with the pure love of Christ. The spirit is able to speak to us and inspire as to how we can truly reach out to others. We are all important! We are all children of God! We all need to make it back to Him. I know He wants this more than anything, and it is through sharing the Love of Christ that makes this possible. I share these words in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.  -Elli Jensen 

Ways to Serve

Today we spent the majority of time getting together with our visiting teachees and companions to set up times for visits. It was a fun way to socialize a bit, but with a purpose. We have talked about the importance and the why of visiting teaching several times in this ward and it has always come back to spreading love, being there for others, and strengthening each other spiritually. 

We brainstormed about ways to serve those not only that we visit teach, but other sisters in the ward. Sisters shared things that others have done to bless them. I will do my best to summarize their comments:

• When you have a thought to do something kind, visit or talk to  someone don't treat it as just a thought, but as a prompting from the spirit. Never suppress a generous thought! 
• Know birthdays of girls you visit. It made the sister who shared this comment feel loved. Someone who received cupcakes from their visiting teachers really liked it!
• It feels good to be invited to things. 
• One sister said she appreciated it when the spiritual message that was shared at visits relevant to the her life. Follow the spirit as you prepare for the message and pray to be able to do this. 
• One sister was so busy she hardly had time to eat. Her visiting teachers brought her small meals.
• Another sister appreciated going to the temple with her companion and visiting teachee because it made it easier and less overwhelming to go. 
• It's good to get out and go do something with each other. 
• Praying with companion before visits helps bring the spirit and know how to bless those you visit. 
• Praying for the sister you visit during your visit helps bring the spirit and love into her life.
• Sisters talked about going on walks, making each other breakfast, and spending TIME together.
• One sister said she appreciates it when her visiting teachers share a lesson and spiritual thoughts even though she is very active. We all need spiritual nourishment regardless of our activity level. 

We then had time for a testimony and a chosen hymn of "Be Still My Soul." This lovely lady shared how singing this hymn quietly helped subside her fears while camping in the night. 

How have hymns blessed your life? Will you sing, listen to or hum a hymn this week in a challenging moment? Try it and share how it worked for you!