7-8-12 Lesson by Chris King

Posted by: Chris King

Link to the lesson in the manual:

Link to a download Sister King's thoughts so you can print it and read it.

Doing Our Part to Share the Gospel

#13 in Teachings of the Presidents of the church: George Albert Smith

In spite of his great love of missionary work, President George Albert Smith had times where that work wasn’t easy.  One of those times was when he was called as the President of the European Mission shortly after the end of World War I.

 “Because of the war, the number of missionaries in the mission had been drastically reduced, and efforts to increase that number were hindered because missionaries were being denied visas. In addition, enemies of the Church were spreading false stories about Latter-day Saints, creating prejudices that were difficult to overcome.”

I was struck at how similar the difficulty is to our circumstances today, in spite of the difference in reasons. There is a great deal being said about our church, some of it honest of heart and pretty accurate, and some of is false-- but often as much misrepresentation as out and out falsehood. Some is taking things out of context or even presenting them in an erroneous or twisted context.

As people in general hear more and more about the church, and make more particular and more detailed attacks, can we stand strong and even defend our beliefs--  or not?

For many years we’ve been taught that it is not enough to live on borrowed light; that a nodding acquaintance with a testimony is insufficient. We have been encouraged to study, ponder and pray about principles and teachings to gain a personal testimony thought the witness of the Holy Ghost. We have also been warned that we will need that personal strength. We’ve been taught that knowing truth, and having faith that all will be answered in time – especially as we continue to prayerfully and humbly study – will allow us to come to a fullness of the knowledge available to us in this lifetime.

These events will happen to us whether we are well prepared or unprepared, and whether we’re a good example or a poor example of the teachings of Jesus Christ. And as the lesson points out, we have a responsibility to prepare for missionary work, not only for some large future opportunity, but for the here and now. We need to be prepared at any moment in our lives for someone calling the truthfulness of the principles of the gospel into question, or just needing them in their lives.

As we have been commanded, “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1Peter 3:15). And also instructed that “Ye are the alight of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

“Let your alight so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Not that we should veer into contention, which drives away the spirit. But we do need to prepare to explain as guided by the Spirit; helping to creating room in the minds and lives of those we touch for faith and belief to find a home.

Picking up the story from the manual again,

Notwithstanding these limitations [the prejudices and lack of enough missionaries], President Smith was confident that the work would move forward because of the examples set by faithful Latter-day Saints [emphasis added]. He noted that as the Church becomes more well known, “its members are esteemed for their virtues,” and critics “are quickly divested of their unjustified prejudices, by coming in direct contact with the Latter-day Saints in their daily lives. … They then judge us by our fruits, from personal observation, and such information, as they impart it, can have but one effect, and that most favorable to us.”

Later he wrote to the members,

“With full confidence that the Lord will incline the hearts of all worthy people to the gospel when they understand it, let us unitedly avail ourselves of the opportunity to labor while there is yet time. Let us disseminate the teachings of the Master for the salvation, both temporal and spiritual, of the good people [in the mission].”

Still later he said of their efforts,

 “The prejudice that has existed against us in the past has in large measure been dissipated and hundreds and thousands of men and women have been made aware of the labor we are performing.”

As I studied this lesson, the salient point of the section from the life of President Smith seemed to me to be sharing the gospel through our example; it cropped up again and again and reminded me of another quote I sometimes ponder

“Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.”

“…Thus it will be that female exemplars of the Church will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days.” (President Spencer W. Kimball, October 1979, Women’s fireside held September 15 in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.)

Each of us wishes to be unique. We are so driven because we are intrinsically unique and desire to express that. But for us it is not enough to be different, we must be distinct in happy ways, in righteous ways, if we are to do our part in building up God’s kingdom on the earth.

So, let us ask ourselves, “In what way am I distinct and different in happy ways from the women of the world?”, “How do I appear to others?”, “In what way would my influence encourage others to act?” and finally, “Would other’s glorify God because of my life?”

This process can be a struggle because no one wants to be fully defined or smothered by their culture. This is a natural and not an unrighteous desire, but neither are our methods in this automatically righteous.  The Spirit will help us be our best, He will help us be our true selves, and that is automatically helping us be distinct from the world as well as helping us become more and more righteous.

Green Jell-O Salad

I learned something through green Jell-O salad that helps me in not assuming my ideas and culture will be strange to others, in teaching me that there are intrinsic bridges between us and most others. It is true that many things we do are out of the common way, but perhaps not inexplicable. You might not have taken the same lesson from the simple experience, but this is what I learned.

Years ago we moved to New York, and I began a friendship with a neighbor. As our children played, this woman and I would talk. At first we spent a lot of time comparing notes on our lives. I told her that Mormons really didn’t have a separate culture (I don’t really think we do except for our religious practice), so there was little I could tell her about general differences except, as I thought, for some very odd foods, like green Jell-O with carrots.

It turned out to my surprise that Amy had grown up assuming this recipe was indigenous to the Evangelical community in Minnesota until her family moved to San Diego, California and she found it there as well. To further emphasize this lesson, I later met a man from the south of the United States who told me that church and community groups there thought of it as a southern staple.

Now, I dislike Jell-O, so I never eat the stuff when I don’t have to, and I’ve never made green Jell-O salad. Imagine how relieved I was to find that this was not Mormon culture. But the bigger lesson for me was that we sometimes put artificial barriers between ourselves and others, seeing differences that are not there, fearing that we are so odd that others can not relate.

And in the final analysis, we needn’t fear at all. Heavenly Father is in charge and he watches over us, especially as we seek to obey his commandments and to help his other children. We can be assured that as we are doing our part to stay close to Him, we will have the Spirit and we will be alright. In fact, we will often be much more than all right-- we will shine in distinct ways and we will be different than those who live their lives without the truths we have been given.

In summation, I have taken away from the preparation of this lesson that we should

            - Know the gospel

            - Work continually to increase our knowledge and testimonies

            - Embrace the current opportunities to share and clarify the gospel

            - Let our light shine that others may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in Heaven

            - Seek to share the joys of the fullness of the gospel now as well as in future possibilities

            - Not put up false walls and gulfs between ourselves and others

I hope we can apply the principles taught in this lesson that we might be blessed, and that we might bless the lives of many around us. I firmly believe, and it has been verified to me again and again, that as we try we will be blessed to succeed.

We won’t always see that success. Sometimes the person we touch will never tell us, but will be telling a missionary someday, “Well, the first Mormon I ever knew just seemed so happy…” or maybe creative, uplifting, together, or spiritual. Whatever our gifts, we can use them to glorify God and he will always, always magnify our efforts as we strive to help others to know and understand the gospel.

Have a great week!

July 1st 2012 Lesson: Charity Never Faileth

posted by: Sally

Hi sisters, I'm not sure this post will totally recap my lesson since I wasn't really working off of notes, but my hope is that you will read these talks and feel moved to follow the counsel of President Monson and Elder Uchtdorf.

I have been thinking about Charity and how important it is and I thought it would be helpful to take a certain aspect of charity, study about it and commit to do better.  I think judging and criticizing others is an inherit part of the natural man/woman and through the teachings of Christ we can do better and show more love to everyone around us. I think filling our hearts with charity is at the root of becoming a disciple of Christ.  

Here are the two talks I prepared my lesson from:

Charity Never Faileth by President Monson

The Merciful Obtain Mercy by President Uchtdorf

This is the quote that made me want to choose these addresses for my lesson:

I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.

-- President Monson

In class we had a nice discussion and came up with some phrases we can use when we are tempted to judge or criticize or not forgive others.

• It’s none of our/my business
• To each his own.
• My dog aint in that fight.
• We have enough problems of our own to worry about other people’s problems.
• Don’t judge unless you’ve walked a mile in someone’s shoes.
• Replace a judgmental thought/words with something positive.

THE DOCTRINE (from Elder Uchtdorf)

Of course, we know this is wrong. The doctrine is clear. We all depend on the Savior; none of us can be saved without Him. Christ’s Atonement is infinite and eternal. Forgiveness for our sins comes with conditions. We must repent, and we must be willing to forgive others. Jesus taught: “Forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not … [stands] condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin”3 and “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”4

Of course, these words seem perfectly reasonable—when applied to someone else. We can so clearly and easily see the harmful results that come when others judge and hold grudges. And we certainly don’t like it when people judge us.

But when it comes to our own prejudices and grievances, we too often justify our anger as righteous and our judgment as reliable and only appropriate. Though we cannot look into another’s heart, we assume that we know a bad motive or even a bad person when we see one. We make exceptions when it comes to our own bitterness because we feel that, in our case, we have all the information we need to hold someone else in contempt.

THE BOTTOM LINE (From Elder Uchtdorf)

This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:

Stop it!

HOW CAN WE DO BETTER (From Elder Uchtdorf)

Forgiving ourselves and others is not easy. In fact, for most of us it requires a major change in our attitude and way of thinking—even a change of heart. But there is good news. This “mighty change”8 of heart is exactly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to bring into our lives.

How is it done? Through the love of God.

When our hearts are filled with the love of God, something good and pure happens to us. We “keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.”9

The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade.

COUNSEL FROM PRESIDENT MONSON

My dear sisters, each of you is unique. You are different from each other in many ways. There are those of you who are married. Some of you stay at home with your children, while others of you work outside your homes. Some of you are empty nesters. There are those of you who are married but do not have children. There are those who are divorced, those who are widowed. Many of you are single women. Some of you have college degrees; some of you do not. There are those who can afford the latest fashions and those who are lucky to have one appropriate Sunday outfit. Such differences are almost endless. Do these differences tempt us to judge one another?

Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.

Charity, that pure love of Christ, is manifest when a group of young women from a singles ward travels hundreds of miles to attend the funeral services for the mother of one of their Relief Society sisters. Charity is shown when devoted visiting teachers return month after month, year after year to the same uninterested, somewhat critical sister. It is evident when an elderly widow is remembered and taken to ward functions and to Relief Society activities. It is felt when the sister sitting alone in Relief Society receives the invitation, “Come—sit by us.”

In a hundred small ways, all of you wear the mantle of charity. Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do ourbest to help out.

Charity has been defined as “the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love,”12 the “pure love of Christ … ; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with [her].” ¹³

“Charity never faileth.” May this long-enduring Relief Society motto, this timeless truth, guide you in everything you do. May it permeate your very souls and find expression in all your thoughts and actions.

6-3-12 Lesson Taught by Cheryl Wilson

posted by Sister Wilson:

The lesson for Sunday, June 3 centered around the importance of cleaving to our covenants. After the Nauvoo temple was completed, the saints were anxious to receive their temple blessings which helped them through the difficulties they encountered in their trek west to the Salt Lake valley. They lifted each other up and bore one anther's burdens. We have that same privilege today as we serve one another and keep the covenants we have made both at our baptism and in the temple. They give us courage and stamina in times of difficulty and help us to understand our purpose.


Here is a link to where you can read this chapter in the book Daughters in My Kingdom.


http://www.lds.org/relief-society/daughters-in-my-kingdom/manual/cleave-unto-the-covenants-exodus-migration-and-settlement?lang=eng

Relief Society Lesson: May 20th, 2012

Recap by Karen Holt:

      


The RS lesson today was called "The Scriptures, the Most Valuable Library in the World".  I really felt President George Albert Smith's love for the scriptures as I read and prepared this lesson.  


He encouraged everyone to study the scriptures as a way to build their own testimonies of the gospel.  In class we talked about how we gained our own testimonies of the truthfulness of the scriptures, some by their mother's examples, some in primary and some through personal study.  We discussed ways to give the scriptures a more prominent place of importance in our homes, putting them above other good books that we read and giving them a higher priority.  President Smith said that all of the truths that we need, to gain our eternal salvation, can be found in the scriptures.  


The scriptures are so readily available to us in our day in many shapes and forms, in books, e books, internet etc.  We can even have the scriptures read to us as we drive to work or get ready for the day!  We decided that it doesn't matter how we study them, in what "form" just that we DO study them, and be consistent about it.  The scriptures help us overcome trials and prepare for exaltation, and some touching personal examples were shared.  


We also discussed several good tips and ideas on how to teach the scriptures and the importance of reading and studying the scriptures to our children.  President Smith said, "Will our Father hold us guiltless when we go home, if we have failed to teach our children the importance of these sacred records?"  He admonished us to read them in our homes and teach our families what the Lord has said."  We can be a good example to our children in our personal and family study of the scriptures.  


We were left with two questions to ponder this upcoming week: What can you do to be more diligent in studying the scriptures personally and/or with your family? and "What are some ways to apply the scriptures or our lives today".  I have a testimony that we will be blessed as we study the scriptures more diligently!




Side notes by Sally DeFord:




Here is a link to the lesson in the manual.  You can read, download, print or even listen to it.


http://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-george-albert-smith/chapter-10?lang=eng




Here are some free mobile applications mentioned by Sister Holt:


http://www.lds.org/pages/mobileapps?lang=eng




Here is where you can read, watch or  listen to general conference:


http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2012/04?lang=eng

Visiting Teaching Lesson Recap: May 14, 2012

Posted by Christy:

Thank you to all that were present in our meeting last Sunday--our Visiting Teaching Conference and thank you to those of you that wanted to be there but couldn’t for various reasons.  Thank you for all you do in visiting teaching-- in loving each other.  We are lucky to enjoy these friendships and even sisterhood.  A very special thanks to those that prepared thoughts and music last week:  Sister Carol Hymas (also our Visiting Teaching Supervisor), Sister Amber Chabra, Sister Cassa Fox, Sister Telicia Chaffin, Sister Cheryl Wilson.  I only wished that we could’ve had more time to really discuss but that would’ve been more than our hour together.  Here follows some of the material that I drew my comments from.  Some of it we didn’t get too and some we did.  So putting it out here on the blog for those that have a little time or just want a refresher.  Thanks again for all you do!!!
Christy Huffaker-Bernat  

Sister Beck, Oct 17, 09 in an address “Relief Society ‘A Serious Work’” Church News:

“If meetings, ‘are not strengthening the faith of sister, if they are not helping them prepare for the blessings of eternal life, then why are they being held?’  Relief Society was organized to engage sisters in the Lord’s work and to teach them how to do that in their homes and in their personal lives.”

Same address...”The Lord is hastening His work.  It seems we are all running faster.  We have to respect the time of the sister and what we are asking them to do.  We cannot require anything from Relief Society that is going to weaken their lives and their home and their families.”

Sister Beck addressed new objectives of RS and said, “It is not a frivolous work.  It is not a leftover, made-up job for the women.  This is where the Lord organized His daughters to do His work.  We have Sunday meetings to do that.  We have visiting teaching that does that.”

“We are not a social group and we are not entirely a service group.  We are a priesthood-directed organization.”

Another talk by Sister Beck, 10/25/09, “...like our brethren who hold the priesthood, ours is a work of salvation, service, and becoming a holy people.”

---

Sister Beck same talk (10/25/09) continued on visiting teaching:

I.  What:

Sister Beck, “The bishop, who is ordained shepherd of the ward, cannot possibly watch over all of the Lord’s sheep at one time.  He is dependent on inspired visiting teachers to help him.  We know we should each choose to be a friend to everyone in our ward, but the bishop and Relief society president have the responsibility to receive revelation as to who should be assigned to watch over and strengthen each individual sister.  Ideally, every sister should watch over and strengthen at least one other sister in her ward.  It is our blessing to pray for another sister and receive inspiration as to how the Lord would have us care for one of His daughters.”

Sister Beck said in an Auxiliary training for Relief Society reported by Rosemary Campbell:
“Personal revelation, I think is the most needed, most under-utilized skill Latter-day Saint women have available today.  She can be talented, creative and intelligent, ...but if she doesn’t have the ability to get revelation in the moment she needs it, she will never be effective in her calling.”

“Visiting teaching is not just a monthly visit; it is ministering.  To watch over and strengthen sister in their individual needs, visiting teachers have ongoing contact with them through visits, phone calls, emails, letters, or other means.” (Handbook 2, 9.5.1; 9.5.2)

II.  WHY:

From Ensign article, 11/07, p113, 115 a sister said, “I have heard people say that visiting teaching is a pointless inconvenience, that life is just too busy and that there are more important things to do.  I used to think that way too, until Heavenly Father showed me otherwise...”  ?How do we view our visiting teaching?

Sister Beck, a former Gen RS president said “Because we follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, we value this sacred assignment to love, know, serve, understand, teach, and minister in His behalf.  This is one duty we have in the Church where we are certain to have the help of the Lord if we ask for it.  This is one responsibility that is certain to increase our faith and personal righteousness and strengthen our own homes and families as we become partners with the Lord.  A sister in this Church has no other responsibility outside of her family that has the potential to do as much good as does visiting teaching.” (Relief Society: A Sacred Work address 10/25/09).

Sister Parkin another former Gen RS president “Visiting teaching creates connections for women.” An older sister and younger sister can bless each other’s lives.  (Visiting Teaching:  the Heart and Soul of Relief Society, fall 2003)

Sister Parkin also said, “In the process of fulfilling our visiting teaching assignment we become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We fulfill our covenants to ‘teach on another the doctrine of the kingdom.” (Visiting Teaching:  the Heart and Soul of Relief Society, fall 2003)

SEE WATCHCARE for more reasons on WHY do Visiting Teaching (watchcare also ties into how)
III.  HOW:  

(All thoughts from Bonnie D. Parkin, RS Pres 2003 Open House address Visiting Teaching:  the Heart and Soul of Relief Society):

A. “Heart and Soul”:  
Bonnie D. Parkin, RS Pres 2003 Open House:  The essence of visiting teaching is “heart and soul.”  “I can think of no more appropriate description than ‘heart and soul’  In our visits and those moments when we are sharing our thoughts and feelings about the gospel and the Lord, something happens.  Mosiah describes it as ‘hearts knit together in unity and in love on towards another.’ Isn’t that what we want to have happen for each other?”


Same article Sister Parkin says, “WE visit teach teach because we’ve made covenants with the Lord, and they are fulfilled as we share our hearts and souls.  We visit teach to extend charity, which is the ‘highest, noblest, strongest king of love.’ Visiting teaching is all about family.  As we show charity to thos we serve, we become family by affection..  We belong to the Lord’s family, and when we serve sisters-- and through them their families-- we strengthen the family as designed in the heavens.  Covenants, charity, family.  They have connected our sisterhood from the beginning.”

B.  Watchcare:

“Support, comfort and friendship.  This is what we call watchcare.... Watchcare looks life good friends sitting down on the couch sharing their joys.  It looks like two women walking the blocks in the morning together, talking about the day before the crush of problems and pressures begin.  It looks like a sister choosing to sit by a mother in church with a young family who could use an extra set of hands.  It looks like two or three women in the temple sitting quietly and at ease, the peace of the temple being the bond between them.”

“Watchcare feels like someone is there for you.  It feels like you can call and not be embarrassed to ask for help.  It feels like you are stepping in as the Lord’s representative.  It feels responsible and responsive.  It sounds like a voice that is happy to hear from you, like a voice that makes you feel at ease because you dared call or you knew whatever you were going to say would be received with an understanding heart.”

C.  Flexibility:  

“Visiting teaching has as many faces and configurations as Relief Society has sisters.  The ideal is that each sister is contacted each month.”  “Flexibility addresses when, where, and how but does not discount the importance of watchcare.” (Sister Parking address)

From recent RS Stake Training, page 309 of the Church Handbook of Insructions, Book 2), “Praying in the homes of those you visit and as companionships before you go visiting teaching has not been set forth as policy.  Such decisions are left to individuals, companionships, and local Relief Society leaders in counsel with local preisthood leaders according to individual circumstances.”

IV.  SOME Practicalities:
On reporting/ for supervisors, Sister Beck 10/25/09,
 
“Visiting teaching becomes the Lord’s work when our focus is on people rather than percentages. In reality, visiting teaching is never finished.  It is more a way of life than a task.  Faithfully serving as a visiting teacher is evidence of our discipleship.  We demonstrate our faith and follow a pattern established by the Lord as we report on our assignment every month.  If our watchcare were primarily about reporting that every sister in the ward heard the Visiting Teaching Message printed each month in the Ensign, it would be much more efficient to read it aloud to everyone in a sacrament meeting. Our reports are most helpful... when we inform...of the spiritual and temporal well-being of sisters and how we have been able to serve and love them (as visiting teachers).”

Sister Beck said in an Auxiliary training for Relief Society reported by Rosemary Campbell:
“Personal revelation, I think is the most needed, most under-utilitzed skill Latter-day Saint women have available today.  She can be talented, creative and intelligent, ...but if she doesn’t have the ability to get revelation in the moment she needs it, she will never be effective in her calling.”

Conclusion:

President Hinckley said, “I honestly believe that (visiting teachers) will taste the sweet and wonderful feeling which comes of being an instrument in the hands of the Lord... It is not a heavy burden-- it just takes a little more faith.  It is worthy of our very best effort.” (Ensign, March 1997, p27)

Christy's Lesson from 4/29/12

Posted by Christy (old Relief Society picture added by Sally):

Sally asked me to share my lesson from last week so here goes with a lead-in from today...

With the change in our Stake Presidency today I was struck by all of the talks, the smooth transition of changing leadership and the overwhelming humility that the mantle brings. I particularly loved Sister Stagg’s talk. She expressed her guarded feelings on discussing the family in which she grew up. How she has at times felt like she was an “illegitimate child of God” because her parents were not exemplary in their discipleship (her father won’t pray and her mother is not active and Sister Stagg referenced some anti-Mormon sentiments). She then told of having the Spirit tell her that there are no “illegitimate” children of God and that we are all so loved regardless of our situations. I love that thought. The gospel is broad enough for all of us!

And then in Elder Piper’s talk he said that “women never think they are adequate. Women are naturally humble.” He referenced the recent publication Daughters in My Kingdom. He also told the youth to “listen to the Lord and you’ll hear what you are supposed to do.” I think this invitation to listen to the Lord is good for all of us!

On those two thoughts I proceed with a recap of my last week’s lesson that I took from Daughters in My Kingdom Chapter 2, “Something Better”, pages 11-25:

We--you and me, are part of an amazing women’s organization! Relief Society is “not just another group of women trying to do good in the world”. It is “‘something better’ because is was organized under priesthood authority” (p16). That means that we are organized under the power of God. 

Do you know how this organization originated? Sarah M. Kimball and Margaret Cook were discussing ways that they could help on the subject of providing “clothing, bedding and general supplies for the workmen (of the Navoo temple) and their families” (p11). Miss Cook said that she would like to contribute needlework and so a sewing society was organized. Eliza R. Snow wrote down the constitution and bylaws of the society, a popular practice in the day, and though they were good, the Lord intended ‘something better!’ (p11-12). Relief Society was organized March 17, 1842 in a “divinely inspired and authorized manner” by the prophet Joseph Smith. At that time, women had to petition to belong to this society based on their goodness and virtue. Today, membership is automatic for every woman in our church! I personally find humor in the idea of writing a resume of my virtues and good deeds as was done in the early days of Relief Society but we probably do need to think on our own positive qualities because the fact is that “each of us is important to the entire church” (p18). And as members we now automatically have a right to tap into the key of enjoying “knowledge and intelligence” that flows down because we were and are organized under the power of God (p14).

In those early Relief Society days Joseph Smith taught the sisters that they had “a solemn obligation to seek their own salvation.” On this subject of testimony Joseph Smith said “all must do it for themselves--none can do it for another” (p17). There are a lot of things that we can do for each other but we must take charge of our own testimonies. Testimonies ebb and flow with our life experiences but is our own testimony on an upward curve? What are you/we doing to nurture it? We need to be a holy people and prepare for temple ordinances-- and this is directly motivated by our love for the Lord, our Savior and our families-- be they ideal or somewhat lacking. 

The “early Relief Society sisters were involved in their communities and ready to serve their neighbors (but) they never lost sight of their responsibilities toward their own families and homes. They were true to their innate gifts as mothers and nurturers.” (p18). I am so thankful for friendships that I have formed over the years with women of all ages, various nationalities, diverse interests and and walks of life. These friendships have blessed my life and helped me ultimately be a better person and mother. Many of these relationships were formed as a result of Relief Society. When we get to know a sister’s spiritual thoughts there is already something there of depth. These relationships can strengthen ourselves and our homes and families. I want us to share strong bonds of friendship and sisterhood in our ward family. May we all seek strong friendships and sisterhood so that even when our roads part in this life (jobs change, people move, etc.) we can enjoy a sociality that is deep and worthy of a reunion-- like in Doctrine and Covenants 130:2. Lucy Mack Smith addressed this saying, “We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together” (p25). There is much practical in the ways that we can serve each other. Be it through friendship and/or charitable deeds. 

Relief Society should also relieve us. Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described this foundational purpose of Relief Society, “Relief of poverty, relief of illness; relief of doubt, relief of ignorance-- relief of all that hinders the joy and progress of women. What a magnificent commission.” (p 25). Indeed! What a magnificent commission we have in Relief Society. Its all there-- physical relief in relief of poverty and illness; emotional and mental relief in relief of doubt and relief of ignorance; and spiritual relief as we get rid of all that hinders joy and our progress! I’m all about health--I’ve experienced some real challenges in this area. And I do seek after it and have found that my physical, emotional and spiritual health are all interconnected. How blessed we are to have Relief Society-- it can address our whole mind and bodily health and help us provide relief to ourselves and others! 

I acknowledge that we all have challenges. No one escapes them. But we have tools to help us. I have a testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ is balm to our souls and that His atonement is big enough for all of us. And I know that we can each tap into the resource of personal revelation for ourselves and for helping others as we participate in this wonderful organization called Relief Society. I’m excited to be called your friend and sister. May we nurture bonds of friendship and love.