Relief Society: True Charity & Pure Religion

Today our teacher was the beautiful Deanna Jeffreys and our lesson was entitled: Relief Society: True Charity & Pure Religion.

Deanna invited us to think about our feelings about Relief Society and we came up with some similarities and differences between early Relief Society members when the church was founded and our Relief Society today.

   Similarities 

   -Husbands in school and working full time - it seems like I never see my husband and that he might as well be in another state on a mission! we need friends that we can have in relief society.

   - Struggles that come with being a woman: kids, understanding your worth and sometimes you just need       another sister to talk with. 

   -Financial struggles: we're all in pretty much the same circumstances financially in our ward - we can relate to     one another.

   -Same spiritual problems: women connect in a way that men don't understand/ sisters can help one another       with spiritual difficulties in a special way.

    Differences 

    - Things that we are dealing with, hardships and heartaches, back then may have been more visible, like crossing the plains in a wooden cart: things are more hidden now/ we need to recognize them with each other as a Relief Society.
   - We're veering from what the core values are as a Relief Society/ need to stick together and learn from our differences. 

-Don't feel like you won't be here in the ward (Relief Society), long - act like yo'll be here a long time and work to be involved.

Speaking of the women of the Church, President Snow said, “It is difficult to imagine what we should have done, or what progress the work of the Lord would have made, without them.” We as women contribute to the work of the Lord as we participate in the work of the Relief Society. 

Deanna challenged us to think about Relief Society as an everyday part of our lives, not just something that is on Sunday. But what is the relief Society besides a group of women who belong to the restored church?

President Lorenzo Snow:

The mission of the Relief Society is to succor the distressed, to minister to the sick and feeble, to feed the poor, to clothe the naked, and to bless all the sons and daughters of God. No institution was ever founded with a nobler aim. Its basis is true charity, which is the pure love of Christ [seeMoroni 7:47], and that spirit has been manifested in all the ministrations of the Society among the people. The Apostle James said that “pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” [James 1:27.] Accepting that as true, the members of the Relief Society have most surely exemplified in their lives pure and undefiled religion; for they have ministered to those in affliction, they have thrown their arms of love around the fatherless and the widows, and they have kept themselves unspotted from the world. I can testify that there are no purer and more God-fearing women in the world than are to be found within the ranks of the Relief Society.² 

Purposes of the Relief Society in Our Everyday Lives:

   -Offer each other different perspectives/strengthened by each other.

   - Come here and build one another/ comforting to relate to sister here in Relief Society/ saints needed to feed off each other council. 

   -As the world divide between wrong and right gets smaller, need to support one another.

   -United as a Relief Society band together in our special attributes

   -Visiting teaching duties and blessings: knowing someone cares

   -"Relief" covers emotional, spiritual, physical ways: Charity = Spirit of Christ

   - Providing for those in need: In our time and with charity (love): can't withhold it from anyone. 

   - We can connect and teach in only a way a woman could: we communicate differently

   - Focus on the theme of Relief Society: close to the Young Women's theme: covers every purpose. 

-Everyone is going through things: it's important to do visiting teaching or just take time do small things for one another, even though we all look like we're fine on the outside, we all need support.

How we contribute to the work of the Lord

   -Ask husbands for blessings - husbands continuing to be worthy in the priesthood 

   -Restoration not complete until women were organized into the Relief Society: use our gifts and talents in the family. 

   -How we train up our children/ how you raise children: those who could be priesthood leaders/ contribute to the kingdom of God.

   -Strength given to fellow sisters/ we're meant to gain strength from others/ have an open heart and open mind/ increase our faith and righteousness. 

How Relief Society women exemplified charity

   -women are so often down on ourselves but Relief Society, each woman, contributes to service.

How have you been blessed by the Relief Society

   -helping other women raise their families by giving unselfish service.

   -How you learn to listen to the promptings of the Lord/ how you learn to love those around you and all those you meet.

   -Going out of their way and finding joy in serving others

   - You can find your best friends here too who also share similar experiences/ opportunity to find those who have common traits/ stepping out of comfort zone. 

Why is the influence of pure motherhood (that all women are capable of exerting, not only women with children) so needed in the world?

   - The world needs women who are kind gentle and loving (sister Beck quote)/ true femininity

   - You don't know if maybe you'll be the one that someone will connect with 

   - The world is distracting many women from what the gospel tells us our divine roles are.

   - Women have a more gentle influence: a lot of changes can happen by small ways and kind words, we can help children and inspire others to change. 

It is easy for a women to feel down on her self, discouraged, and to think she is not doing enough or that she can not make a difference in her own or the lives of others. President Snow spoke words of encouragement that apply to the women of the church today: 

"I feel to say, God bless the officers and members of the Relief Society. You are performing a grand mission, and I would exhort you to not weary in well doing [see D&C 64:33]...This is what we desire to instill into the hearts of the sisters—to be useful in their sphere and not be discouraged because of difficulties in the way, but trust in God and look to Him, and His marvelous blessings, I promise you, will be poured out upon you. This shall be your experience. … Let me reiterate again, don’t be discouraged, but go on and accomplish good, exercise faith, and every opportunity that is presented seek to improve upon it. We want you to exercise all the talents that God has bestowed upon you. And there is this about it in reference to your prospects of success. When a person commences to travel over a path that the Lord has marked out, and by which to accomplish good in His interest, he is sure to succeed. He is precisely where God wants him to be, and there is the place that you may, with the greatest propriety, ask God for His blessing.⁷

Deanna concluded:

   -We need to be prepared to answer questions about our role as women in the church and to help others.  

   -Know your role within the church.

   -Come to Relief Society for ourselves as well as for others.

Lacey commented and concluded:

   - My testimony of Relief Society didn't start out strong; let your testimony grow of Relief Society/ treat everyone by being prepared to help them. 

 Go here to read other quotes from President Snow in the manual and see related scriptures.

Converted Unto the Lord

Today sister Eliza Blank taught our lesson about conversion inspired by the October 2012 Conference talk “Converted Unto the Lord” by Elder Bednar. Eliza shared quotes from the talk and scriptures, and asked us thought provoking questions. There were lots of great comments and sister Tara Crouch shared an experience about conversion. Then we had time for a few testimonies as it is fast Sunday. As follows is my best recreation of the lesson! Thanks to Eliza for sharing her outline :) 

Testimony vs. Conversion- What is the difference?
Sisters commented that were as testimony is knowledge or belief, conversion is a process. It is also action. For example when we are obedient to the Lord and His commandments we are expressing our conversion.


“My message focuses upon the relationship between receiving a testimony that Jesus is the Christ and becoming converted to Him and His gospel. Typically, we treat the topics of testimony and conversion separately and independently. However, we gain precious perspective and greater spiritual conviction as we consider these two important subjects together.”

Conversion is being wise by applying gospel knowledge.
Mosiah 4:10 

“Testimony is the beginning of and a prerequisite to continuing conversion. Testimony is a point of departure; it is not an ultimate destination. Strong testimony is the foundation upon which conversion is established. A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received—with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons. Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel.”

Converted unto THE LORD. What is the difference between conversion to Christ or to the church?
Sisters commented that it is easier to stick with the church and stay firmly grounded when they are converted to the Lord vs. to principles, programs, church leaders, etc. It was also noted that all our good works and efforts are empty without our conversion - our conversion to Christ is what makes us do things for the right reason (and not just go through the motions).

"Two major elements are described in these verses: (1) the knowledge of the truth, which may be interpreted as a testimony, and (2) converted unto the Lord, which I understand to be conversion to the Savior and His gospel. Thus, the powerful combination of both testimony and conversion unto the Lord produced firmness and steadfastness and provided spiritual protection. Note that the Lamanites were not converted to the missionaries who taught them or to the excellent programs of the Church. They were not converted to the personalities of their leaders or to preserving a cultural heritage or the traditions of their fathers. They were converted unto the Lord—to Him as the Savior and to His divinity and doctrine—and they never did fall away."Alma 23:6-8

"They never did fall away and surrendered “the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more.” To set aside cherished “weapons of rebellion” such as selfishness, pride, and disobedience requires more than merely believing and knowing. Conviction, humility, repentance, and submissiveness precede the abandonment of our weapons of rebellion. Do you and I still possess weapons of rebellion that keep us from becoming converted unto the Lord? If so, then we need to repent now.

What are some of the modern day weapons that we cling to that keep us from being converted to Christ? –selfishness –pride –complacency –hardwork 

How are we truly converted? 
"For many of us, conversion is an ongoing process and not a onetime event that results from a powerful or dramatic experience. Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. Conversion unto the Lord requires both persistence and patience."

Sisters commented that conversion doesn't come through living the gospel in a check list manner - doing things for the sake of doing them doesn't cut it. The Lord helps remind us to be thoughtful and have the right intentions to our actions, and that conversion is much more than an item we check off our list of things to do. 
Also the Savior can heal our unbelief that may hinder our conversion. Remember the man from the New Testament that said "help thou my unbelief" (Mark 9:4) The Lord doesn't always answer our pleas right away, but He always gives us enough to carry on in the faith. 
When we remember the atonement everyday and have experiences with the Savior daily we can remain converted. 

Five basic elements of conversion: Helaman 15:7-8
"Samuel the Lamanite identified five basic elements in becoming converted unto the Lord: (1) believing in the teachings and prophecies of the holy prophets as they are recorded in the scriptures*, (2) exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ**, (3) repenting, (4) experiencing a mighty change of heart***, and (5) becoming “firm and steadfast in the faith” This is the pattern that leads to conversion."

*How does reading the scriptures help us gain faith in Jesus Christ? John 20:29-31

**How do we gain faith in Jesus Christ? If we do not know him, we cannot have faith in Him - Mos. 5:12-13
“Four steps, when coupled with desire, help us gain faith in Jesus Christ. They are study, prayer, service and sacrifice, and personal righteousness.” –Elder Mason  

-We know Him best when we serve Him
-Desire
-Remember tender mercies 

*** We no longer have a desire to do wrong, we put off desires to be appear/behave unrighteously, though it may be 'cool' or 'sexy' in the eyes of the world.  Mosiah 5:2

On becoming firm and steadfast:
"The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ."

 "Conversion is an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the undergirding base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied by individual repentance, obedience, and diligence. Any honest seeker of truth can become converted by experiencing the mighty change of heart and being spiritually born of God. As we honor the ordinances and covenants of salvation and exaltation, “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ,” and endure in faith to the end, we become new creatures in Christ. Conversion is an offering of self, of love, and of loyalty we give to God in gratitude for the gift of testimony."
Mosiah 5:7
3 Nephi 12:2

Eliza encouraged us to take time to ponder and study and to ask ourselves - how can I have daily experiences with Christ?

Then sister Crouch shared a special experience that I will do my best to describe. She talked about a time when she was 19 and was feeling very angry in the grieving process of losing her father to cancer. How could God have done this to her? Why did she have to watch her father suffer? It just wasn't fair. Her father had been perfect to her.... One time at stake conference when she was feeling these things she had the thought "I've done it too.." and she was immediately humbled and apologized to her Savior, who had gone through all of her pain, in her heart. She promised to give her life to Him. This was a moment of conversion for her. 

This made me think about how the pain of life that is inevitable has a purpose and that we become better people when we turn to the Savior in times of hardship. The only way suffering in life doesn't serve any purpose is when we don't turn to God for help. In times of hardship we have a great opportunity to turn to God and to know Him and His Son through the heeling and peace that only they can provide. 

It totally reminded me of the 2011 conference talk by Elder Todd D Christofferson "“As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten” and the quote the little bush in the story seemed to say to the gardener after being pruned down drastically, but then became fruitful, "thank you Mr gardener for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me." 
See a great depiction of the story in this 3 minute video.

Then a few sisters bore their testimony. We heard heartfelt comments from them about love for the Savior, evidence of His hand in their lives, gr attitude for Relief Society and the blessings it brings to our lives (including being lifted up spiritually on Sundays hearing each others' comments during lessons) and the peace and guidance the gospel brings us. 

If you weren't here last week, please come next week. We miss the sisters who are not with us. Have a fantastic week!

Discipleship: Visiting Teaching

Today after sharing cookies with and singing to our June birthday sisters we had the opportunity to hear from Bishop Kim. He reminded us that Jesus our Savior  asked Peter to feed His sheep. He asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him to emphasize that if we truly love Jesus, then we will care and watch over His children. We may feel that we hear over and over again to do our visiting teaching, but sometimes like Peter we need to be asked more than once. Our message today was that ministering to our fellow sisters in the ward is a true calling to feed His sheep that the Lord has extended to us. There is no one who can take our place in fulfilling the Savior's beckoning to visit the sisters who we have been . The bishop reminded us that we are the Lord's eyes as we help the Bishop know what is going on with our ward members; he can't minister to all without our help, just as Jesus needs us to go and do what He would if He were physically here among us.

Bishop shared an experience from early in his marriage. He and his wife hadn't had a chance to find an apartment and the day was coming very soon that they had to move. He and his wife planned to go apartment hunting that night, when his home teaching companion called to remind him of their appointment for that night. Bishop recalled that he had a choice to make - to find an apartment for himself and his wife, or to go home teaching. He chose to fulfill his assignment and go home teaching. He was assigned to visit the ward bishop. During the visit the bishop shared that he was looking for someone to rent an apartment of his near BYU and for a cheap price. Bishop shared that he believes he was blessed for making the right decision. Bishop Kim bore his testimony that home teaching and visiting teaching blesses our lives and the lives of others. 

Bishop also shared about how it's not just important to do our visits, but to do it well. He recalls how his young family of children some years later didn't enjoy being home taught very much. They weren't interested and didn't really want to listen to the home teachers' lessons. Things changed when a new brother in the ward was assigned to visit them. The brother involved the children in the lessons and brought a gallon of ice cream on the kids' birthdays. The kids felt this man's interest in them and things changed for the kids. Ever since that time they enjoyed the home teachers' visits. When we show a genuine interest in those we visit it enriches their lives and our lives.

We all can become better visiting teachers.

Sister Liza Blank in our Relief Society Presidency shared that there are a lot of sisters that need help. Visiting teaching is a TRUE principle. 

We received this handout from our lovely presidency:

The way I see it is that either the Lord asked us to visit teach, or he did not. Either the Lords has spoken through His prophet that the He would have us minister to those in the ward through visiting teaching, or he has not. Either visiting teaching is what Jesus would have us do or it is not. I believe that it is and that He did. And if so, who am I not to fulfill the Lord's desire and request of me? Faithfully striving to fulfill our assignments is a reflection of our testimony and conversion.

Thanks for reading the blog and feel free to comment.

Come Unto Him

Today Sister Kate Livingstone blessed us with a wonderful lesson in Relief Society about President Eyring's talk"Come to Me."  This talk was given during April 2013 General Conference. Here we will share some quotes from the talk and an outline we made in class. 

"By His words and His example, Christ has shown us how to draw closer to Him"

Quotes from "Come Unto Me" President Eyring

HE INVITES US: This is His Church. We take His name upon us as we enter His kingdom. He is God, the Creator, and perfect. We are mortals subject to death and sin. Yet in His love for us and our families, He invites us to be close to Him. Here are His words: “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Class Notes

-we need to take a step in faith and Christ will reach out

-invite others to take a step

-if we need kindness show it first to others and we will feel the Saviors love

-leave the past in the past and move forward. The Savior will be there with open arms.

-have faith to put the Lord first

OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDMENTS: Attending a sacrament meeting: I experienced the joy of coming closer to the Savior and of His coming closer to me most often through simple acts of obedience to the commandments.

You have had such experiences. It may have been when you chose to attend a sacrament meeting. It was for me on a Sabbath when I was very young. In those days we received the sacrament during an evening meeting. The memory of one day more than 65 years ago, when I kept the commandment to gather with my family and with the Saints, still draws me closer to the Savior.

It was dark and cold outside. I remember feeling light and warmth in the chapel that evening with my parents. We partook of the sacrament, administered by Aaronic Priesthood holders, covenanting with our Heavenly Father to always remember His Son and keep His commandments.

At the end of the meeting we sang the hymn “Abide with Me; ’Tis Eventide,” with the words in it “O Savior, stay this night with me.”3

I felt the Savior’s love and closeness that evening. And I felt the comfort of the Holy Ghost.

Class Notes:

-keep the commandments

-attend sacrament meeting

-keep the word of wisdom

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES:I wanted to rekindle once again the feelings of the love of the Savior and His closeness I felt during that sacrament meeting in my youth. So recently I kept another commandment. I searched in the scriptures. In them, I knew I could go back again to have the Holy Ghost let me feel what two disciples of the risen Lord had felt when He accepted their invitation to come into their home and to abide with them.

I read of the third day after His Crucifixion and burial. Faithful women and others found the stone rolled away from the tomb and saw that His body was not there. They had come out of love for Him to anoint His body.

Two angels stood by and asked why they were afraid, saying:

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?

“He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

“Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”4

The Gospel of Mark adds the direction from one of the angels: “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

The Apostles and disciples had gathered in Jerusalem. As we might have been, they were afraid and wondered as they spoke together about what death and reports of His being resurrected meant for them.

Two of the disciples walked that afternoon from Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus. The resurrected Christ appeared on the road and walked with them. The Lord had come to them.

Class Notes

-search the scriptures

-music

SURRENDER & REPENT: “Indifference to the Savior or failure to keep the commandments of God brings about insecurity, inner turmoil, and contention. These are the opposite of peace. Peace can come to an individual only by an unconditional surrender—surrender to him who is the Prince of Peace, who has power to confer peace. One may live in beautiful and peaceful surroundings but, because of inner dissension and discord, be in a state of constant turmoil. On the other hand, one may be in the midst of utter destruction and the bloodshed of war and yet have the serenity of unspeakable peace. If we look to man and the ways of the world, we will find turmoil and confusion. If we will but turn to God, we will find peace for the restless soul."

When we face stormy seas and high winds, we may be tempted to ask, “Carest thou not that [I] perish?” (Mark 4:38). We know that the Savior has power to calm our storms, but sometimes He calms our souls instead. As the hymn says, “He answers privately.”

(Elder Paul V. Johnson)

BE WITNESSES: We are under covenant both to lift up those in need and to be witnesses of the Savior as long as we live.

We will be able to do it without fail only as we feel love for the Savior and His love for us. As we are faithful to the promises we have made, we will feel our love for Him. It will increase because we will feel His power and His drawing near to us in His service.

President Thomas S. Monson has reminded us often of the promise of the Lord to His faithful disciples: “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”

Class Note
-be worthy

DEVOTED SERVICE: 

There is another way you and I have felt Him grow closer to us. As we give devoted service to Him, He draws closer to those we love in our families. Every time I have been called in the Lord’s service to move or to leave my family, I have come to see that the Lord was blessing my wife and my children. He prepared loving servants of His and opportunities to draw my family closer to Him.

You have felt that same blessing in your lives. Many of you have loved ones who are wandering off the path to eternal life. You wonder what more you can do to bring them back. You can depend on the Lord to draw closer to them as you serve Him in faith.

There is a glorious homecoming prepared for us. We will then see fulfilled the promise of the Lord we have loved. It is He who welcomes us into eternal life with Him and our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ described it this way:

“Seek to bring forth and establish my Zion. Keep my commandments in all things.

“And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”

“For those that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die shall rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them; and they shall receive a crown in the mansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them.”

I testify that we can by the Spirit follow the invitation of Heavenly Father: “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”

By His words and His example, Christ has shown us how to draw closer to Him. Every child of Heavenly Father who has chosen to enter through the gate of baptism into His Church will have the opportunity in this life to be taught His gospel and to hear from His called servants His invitation, “Come unto me.”
Class Notes

-accept your callings

-do what the Lord has asked and your family and loved ones will be watched over

The outline we created during the lesson:

WAYS TO DRAW CLOSER TO HIM

1. HE INVITES US- reach back, invite others

2. OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDMENTS- attend church meetings, keep word of wisdom, search the scriptures

3. INVITING THE SPIRIT- prayer, music

4. SURREND & REPENT

5. BE WITNESSES- be worthy

6. DEVOTED SERVICE- Lord will watch over our loved ones

Tithing - a Law for our Protection and Advancement

Happy fathers day!

Today sister Jenya Stroh taught our lesson from the Teachings of the President Lorenzo Snow,  Lesson 12  - Tithing, a Law for our Protection and Advancement.

Jenya's favorite quote from the lesson is:

"Tithing is not a difficult law..."

Tithing is simple to understand. If you earn $100, you give $10. You can choose to give it today. It can be this simple if we are determined to obey; we can be perfect tithe payers :) Lacy pointed out that it's good to know there is at least one thing we can be perfect at!

President Snow traveled to visit the saints in Saint George in 1899 to give this message to the saints:

"The word of the Lord to you is not anything new; it is simply this: THE TIME HAS NOW COME FOR EVERY LATTER-DAY SAINT, WHO CALCULATES TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE AND TO HOLD HIS FEET STRONG UPON A PROPER FOUNDATION, TO DO THE WILL OF THE LORD AND TO PAY HIS TITHING IN FULL." 

He later said, “I never had a more perfect revelation,” he later said, “than [the revelation] I received on this subject of tithing.”

We talked about how the church is in fantastic financial standing and that we have been able to purchase lands and build temples with no debt thanks to all the faithful tithe payers. Tithing is a law that brings spiritual and temporal blessings.

Here is a quick jot of out class comments:

Church is growing, self insured, and ~170 planned/operating temples because of tithing.

Without tithing, can't receive the blessings of the temple because the church wouldn't be able to build temples.

Easy to understand - It is an easy law that we can be Perfect in following because it is simple

Never hear of anyone going in to debt because of tithing. There are always miracles that follow

Giving makes you richer, data shows it. People who make money a priority seem to be worse at keeping it. Those who aren't so focused on money are better at keeping it and bring smarter with it.

Amazing thing about tithing is that you can go to the bishop and ask for help. The gospel will take care of you (bishop note: don't necessarily need to pay tithing for help in certain situations)

Used to build stake centers through member work. Used to have ward budgets. Used to fundraise for temples. Evolved so that members know if we pay our tithing, we'll be blessed and temples, stake centers will be built for us.

Utah is the most charitable state. Ranked as one of the lowest incomes, but gives so much more

God does not care about the amount, just where our heart is and our intentions

Easy law to keep up, hard law to postpone. There are consequences.

Once you stop paying tithing, then it is easier to stop doing the next thing. It only takes a little effort for tithing, and if you stop that, then it's easier to stop the harder ones

So much harder when you start saving it up instead of paying it every time you gain, then it's easier than that bigger lump sum

Much bigger taxes nowadays, but if stay faithful with tithes and fast offerings, then can have peace that you'll be taken care of by the Lord

There is no debt with tithing. Don't have to pay back what you missed, just start over and pay full tithe. You will be forgiven

Build ourselves up by focusing on tithing and it being a simple law that we can follow. And keep Satan's influence away.

Broken into house over break. Only thing they took was little sister's tithing envelope. Ward helped out little girl and donated money to her so she could pay her tithing.

We hope if we missed you this week you can come next week <3 

New RS Presidency and Relief Society Moto

Today we had the privledge to hear from our new Relief Society Presidency. They are sister Lacee Jiminez, President, with sisters Shelly Butler and Liza Blank as counselors and sister Cassidy Tuttle as secretary.

They are very eager to learn each of our names, though this will take some time! We (each sister) all stood and said our name and favorite treat. Then a basket of candy went around the room to satisfy our cravings after hearing about 30 different desserts :) We all have something in common - we like treats (even though many of us like different kinds of food - sweet, salty, even avacados was mentioned). 

Lacee and Shelley gave their testimonies.

This is what Lacee would like to share with you: "The lesson today was on the RS motto and theme. Therein are some amazing statements that teach us to be a little better and a little kinder. To work a little more steadily. I just wanted to bear my testimony that as we strive each day to do these things, no matter how small. The Lord helps our worldliness drop off piece by piece. If we choose to let go of things that hold us back or bring us down. That is when we truly become converted. It is just as the man in the scriptures when he asks Jesus Christ "help though my unbelief" we all have things that we have a hard time believing but the savior can help us if we choose to let him. Let us all learn to serve and help each other as we know we should. In order to be unified we need to start by knowing people's names, then visiting them and saying hello to them in the store. Lets start on this journey together, I know we can do it, if we all strive to do it together."

Shelly would like to share this with you: 


"Because of His love for us, Heavenly Father teaches us how to be happy. He then provides a way for us to do what he has asked of us. The same is true for us now as it was for those of old. We can choose to follow Him so we can be happy. Jesus Christ is our Savior. He is the way. He loves each of us. And so He teaches us. Heavenly Father has provided for our success. Through being involved in the Church and seeking the fellowship and strengthening of each other, His spirit will increase in our lives and we will be strengthened. There are means provided in the Church to help us keep the commandments. As we do so, we are strengthened to overcome our challenges. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I say that in His holy name, even Jesus Christ, Amen."

We then broke out into groups to talk about some of the purposes and blessings of Relief Society which are listed on this book mark we all recieved:

We also got the following bookmark:

If you doubt the potential strength and value of RS in your life, try reading this talk by sister Sylvia Allred, first counselor in the General RS Presidency. You can also ask those you love who have been in RS for many years how they have seen their lives blessed for being a part of RS.

Although Young Womens was a good place to be when we were girls, now as women we are blessed as we stick together and love each other. Meeting together as sisters has been a wonderful blessing in my life and has strengthened my testimony greatly. If we did not see you this week in RS, we want to see you next week - come be happy together with us!

Priesthood Power as a Blessing in our Lives

Sunday, June 2nd marked Sister Healther Thompsan's last lesson as Releief Society President of our ward. Heather has loved and cared for us all and has been a wonderful servant of the Lord.

Heather left a link on our ward RS Facebook Group to a lovely blog post about her time as our president. Read it here. We will miss her, but are happy that she and her husband will be moving into a new home and starting a new chapter of their life together. 

Her lesson focused on how the priesthood blesses our lives.
She said:
Since it is June, and Father’s Day I wanted our lesson to be about something to do with the men in our lives. But then that didn’t feel quite so right. So instead we are going to talk about the priesthood in our lives and our marriages. However—and this is very important—the priesthood and the men are two completely separate things. I want to talk about how we can use the power of the priesthood to bless our marriages and how it can be one of the spiritual landmarks so we do not wander or despair that we are lost.

President Uchdorf's First Presidency Message for June says,
If you want something to last forever you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don’t expose it to the elements. You don’t make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by.” —F. Burton Howard.

They made it across the Ocean, and then across the plains to the North Platte River where they met the blizzard of 1856. George Paddley spent most of the day in the river helping the people of his company dodge huge chunks of ice as they tried to get to the other side and continue their journey to Salt Lake. He got chilled and came down with hypothermia but he recovered and went on to Martin’s Cove—another 150 to 160 miles. There the terrible conditions overcame him and he gave up his mortal life. 

They dug trenches in the snow to bury the dead because the ground was too frozen. They did the best they could with the bodies. You can read about the snapping and growling of the wolves as they fought over and carried off the bodies. Sarah didn’t want George to be eaten by the wolves. She took what was probably one of the only things she had to stay warm, her shawl, and asked the brethren to wrap him in it and hang his body in the trees. When she got to Salt Lake and learned that in the spring the brethren were going back to retrieve supplies left behind she asked them to find George’s body and give him a proper burial. But, when they went back to Martin’s Cove the only thing they found was the shawl. They brought it back to her and her family has it still today.

“Without spiritual landmarks, mankind wanders. Without the word of God, we walk in circles. The instructions given at general conference are another landmark that can help us know if we are on course. Maybe while you were listening or reading, you jotted down a note or two. Perhaps you made a commitment to do some things better or differently. Just think about the messages of last general conference. Many encouraged us to strengthen our families and improve our marriages. Are we noting and applying this worthwhile counsel? Are we recognizing and walking toward these real and valuable landmarks? Spiritual landmarks are indispensable for keeping us on the straight and narrow path. They give clear direction as to the way we should travel—but only if we recognize them and walk toward them. In this way, we will not wander in circles but walk with confidence and certainty toward that great heavenly blessing that is the birthright of all who walk in the straight and narrow way of Christ’s discipleship.”

The Priesthood is the power and authority given to act in God's name for the salvation and blessing of His children.

Elder Oaks 2005

Priesthood authority function in both the family and the Church. The priesthood is the power of God used to bless all of His children, male and female. Some of our abbreviated expressions, like “the women and the priesthood,” convey an erroneous idea. Men are not “the priesthood.” Priesthood meeting is a meeting of those who hold and exercise the priesthood. The blessings of the priesthood, such as baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, the temple endowment, and eternal marriage, are available to men and women alike. The authority of the priesthood functions in the family and in the Church according to the principles the Lord has established.”

What are ways that we can treat our marriages and the priesthood more special in our lives?

Elder Oaks said, “The family proclamation gives this beautiful explanation of the relationship between a husband and a wife: While they have separate responsibilities, “in these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.”

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles seems like the ultimate example of how to use the priesthood well and have a good example for our marriages to follow after. Here are quotes three of them state as how they work together in their marriage as partners.

Virginia Lee Perry (1947-1974, her death),

in the words of her husband, L. Tom Perry

“There’s no way that you can compensate for that balance of a companion aiding you in the assignment you’re given. The combination of husband and wife working together is more than one and one makes two; it grows in geometric proportions as she magnifies you and your assignment.”

Robert D. Hales

“Mary has never held me back. We follow the Quaker proverb ‘Thee lift me and I’ll lift thee, and we will ascend together.’ A lot of what we have done would not have happened without a team relationship. We always have been a team and always will be. I think listening to my wife, next to listening to the Holy Ghost, has been the most important influence in my life.”

David A. Bednar

Many years ago, Sister Bednar and I were busy trying to meet the countless competing demands of a young and energetic family—and of Church, career, and community responsibilities. One evening after the children were asleep, we talked at length about how effectively we were attending to all of our important priorities. We realized that we would not receive the promised blessings in eternity if we did not honor more fully the covenant we had made in mortality. We resolved together to do and to be better as a husband and a wife. That lesson learned so many years ago has made a tremendous difference in our marriage.

When we work together and have the same landmarks we will be able to have the spirit guide us.

When President James E. Faust heard this story he called it the greatest love story of our time. Sarah and George were in their early 20’s. They met because some missionaries came to England to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were each baptized, they attended church, met and fell in love. The wanted to be married. They had been taught about the temple and the sealing ordinances they could receive there. They chose to come to America, to Utah, to be married and sealed in the Endowment House for all eternity. 

When President Faust heard about this story he gave special permission for Sarah and George to be sealed for all eternity. (source: http://lakemeadtrek.blogspot.com/2011/07/sarah-anne-franks-george-paddley.html)

It is incredible that these two endured so much because of their testimony of the priesthood. And it is all worth it! Even after 150 years their love is able to continue because of the restored power of the priesthood. We can overcome everything that life throws at us if we rely on the priesthood to strengthen and sustain us as a couple. No matter where we are in our marriages—newly married and blissful, down the road a few years and struggling, or married for 30 years with a realistic view on life, and whether with active priesthood holders in our home or those who aren't as active—we can all be blessed by the power of the priesthood as we study, revere, and seek opportunities to have it in our lives.