The purposes of Relief Society are to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need. (Faith, Family, Relief):
FAITH
Lesson Review: "It's A Miracle" by Neil L. Anderson
Key doctrine:
"The voice of warning shall be unto all people" (D&C 1:4)
"For, verily, the sound must go forth...into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." (D&C 58:64)
Invitation to Action:
"President Monson has asked that we pray for those areas where our influence is limited and where we are not allowed to share the gospel freely."
"We also pray for our own opportunities to share the gospel."
Promised Blessings:
"I promise you, as you pray to know with whom to speak, names and faces will come into your mind. Words to speak will be given in the very moment you need them. Opportunities will open to you. Faith will overcome doubt, and the Lord will bless you with your very own miracles."
Missionary Opportunities through Social media:
"Sharing the good news of the gospel is easier and the effects more far-reaching than ever before...Perhaps the Lord's encouragement to 'open your mouths' might today include 'use your hands' to blog and text message the gospel to all the world!"...
"With the blessings of modern technology, we can express gratitude and joy about God's great plan for His children in a way that can be heard...around the world. Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone's life for eternity." - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (Ensign, May 2011, "Waiting on the Road to Damascus.")
FAMILY
Dinner Together:
"...the time a family spends together "eating meals at home is the strongest predictor of children's academic achievement and psychological adjustment." Family mealtimes have also been shown to be a strong bulwark against children's smoking, drinking, or using drugs. There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: what your children really want for dinner is you." (Elder Dallin H. Oaks)
Please see our recipe section, (another side link- just click on "recipes") for some recommended quick and easy dinner recipes!! There is just one recipe now, but we plan to add to it. Do you have any quick and easy recipes? Please share! Get them to Amy G. and they can be posted on our blog.
Teaching and Learning:
For the month of September, our Youth will be studying "Commandments." Here is a link to some of the topics they will discuss this month:
"Consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God" (Mosiah 2:41).
RELIEF
Thank you to all the Relief Society Sisters and Young Women who came to help the Cunningham Family with their move!!
Visiting Teaching:
From Sister Ferguson:
In Luke 10:42, we read, "one thing is needful. . .choose that good part." When we faithfully do our visiting teaching and make those we visit feel loved, we are choosing "that good part".
Bonnie Parkin, our General Relief Society President from 2002-07, talked of "Watchcare", which was initiated by President Spencer W. Kimball in 1958. She taught:
Visiting teaching creates connections for women . . . . Sisters, do we understand the purpose of visiting teaching? Let's look at what the handbook says: "The purposes of visiting teaching are to build caring relationships with each sister and to offer support, comfort, and friendship." In visiting teaching, both the giver and the receiver are blessed and strengthened in their Church activity by their caring concern for one another. Support, comfort and friendship. This is what we call Watchcare.
I don't think there is a more important calling for women in all the Church than that of Visiting Teaching. It is an organized way of taking care of each other. And taking care of each other is the foundation of the gospel. The Christ-like service of Relief Society Visiting Teachers is a living example of the multiplier effect that Jesus started when he "multiplied his service by twelve".
We have prayerfully made some changes in some visiting teaching routes that will be effective in September. These changes will be distributed by our Visiting Teaching Supervisors. We hope all of you will embrace the opportunity to get to know and love those you have been assigned to visit.
Bonnie Parkin, our General Relief Society President from 2002-07, talked of "Watchcare", which was initiated by President Spencer W. Kimball in 1958. She taught:
Visiting teaching creates connections for women . . . . Sisters, do we understand the purpose of visiting teaching? Let's look at what the handbook says: "The purposes of visiting teaching are to build caring relationships with each sister and to offer support, comfort, and friendship." In visiting teaching, both the giver and the receiver are blessed and strengthened in their Church activity by their caring concern for one another. Support, comfort and friendship. This is what we call Watchcare.
I don't think there is a more important calling for women in all the Church than that of Visiting Teaching. It is an organized way of taking care of each other. And taking care of each other is the foundation of the gospel. The Christ-like service of Relief Society Visiting Teachers is a living example of the multiplier effect that Jesus started when he "multiplied his service by twelve".
We have prayerfully made some changes in some visiting teaching routes that will be effective in September. These changes will be distributed by our Visiting Teaching Supervisors. We hope all of you will embrace the opportunity to get to know and love those you have been assigned to visit.
We are blessed to have wonderful Visiting Teachers in this ward and we love and appreciate all of you. Thanks for all you do to care for those sisters you visit.
Beginning in September, there will be some new Visiting Teaching assignments. If you are not sure who to report your visiting teaching to, please call Grethe P. this month.
New Visiting Teaching Topics Begin in October!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Weddings:
Justin Winger and Klarissa Adams were married on Friday August 23rd in the Rexburg Temple. Congratulations!!
