RELIEF SOCIETY PURPOSES:
*Increase faith and personal righteousness
*Strengthen families and homes
*Seek out and help those in need
FAITH
Lesson Review: Visiting Teaching Conference
Key Doctrine:
We have been called to participate in the Lord's work of Salvation. The work of Salvation includes conversion, retention, and activation of His children. It is missionary work, it is the work of gathering, it is the work of Relief Society Sisters anxiously engaged in visiting teaching.
Invitation to Action:
In the allegory of the Lord's Vineyard, the Lord asks his servants to watch over, nourish, dig, prune, dung, and labor with their might to preserve the fruit of His vineyard. As visiting teachers, that is our commission. We have been asked to watch over, nourish, dig, prune, dung, and labor with our might on behalf of our sisters and their families.
Promised Blessings:
In the allegory of the Lord's Vineyard, the Lord's servants have two marvelous blessings, they go forward in the power of the Lord, and the Lord labors with them. The Lord then says to them, "And blessed art thou; because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard...behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard.: (Jacob 5:75)
October 27th Lesson Topic:
Lorenzo Snow Chapter 20 - "The Kingdom of God Moves Forward"
FAMILY
Primary:
Let Primary Music Bless Your Home
"We, who have the gospel of Jesus Christ, have something to sing about!"
- Janice Kapp Perry
Youth Curriculum:
October Topic: Becoming More Christlike
Dinner Recipes:
Check side-link for weekly up-dates!
RELIEF
Visiting Teaching:
Focus on Visiting Teaching - from the visiting teaching conference we had on Oct. 13th:
Jesus taught Peter and His other disciples about feeding His sheep in John 21:15-17. He asked Peter if he loved him three times. Three times Peter vowed his love for Jesus, and Jesus gave him the same injunction but with slight variations. Twice Jesus told Peter to "Feed my sheep," and once He said, "Feed my lambs." The word 'sheep' can mean a flock of sheep, or it can mean an individual adult animal. We could draw from the metaphor Jesus used that His disciples have the responsibility to look after His floc, each individual adult and His lambs. The lambs can mean children or it could mean those with the greatest need, which could be any of us at different times in our lives.
In this metaphor, we easily apply the Savior's call for each on of us who have made covenants that one very important way the Lord gives us to obey His call to feed His sheep is through Visiting Teaching. Our discussion during our visiting teaching conference focused on how we can be more effective.
Isaiah 55:8-9:
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so
are my ways higher than your ways, and
my thoughts than your thoughts.
A past Relief Society General President gave some principles we can apply to be most helpful as we visit our sisters. (See Charity: The Love of the Lord in Your Life, Bonnie D. Parkin, Spring 2005 Open House)
1. Love: John 14:15, Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." The first reason we strive to be consistent visiting teachers is because we love the Lord. And because we love him and he has enlisted us in His work, being conscientious visiting teachers is a way to show love for our Savior and the sister He has given us the responsibility to visit.
2. Seeking to understand the sister: Through consistent visiting, be-friending our sister, and praying for them and seeking direction concerning them, the Lord will reveal to us how we can serve them. "Oh, naught but the spirit's divinest tuition, Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed." (As Sisters in Zion, Hymns, 309)
3. Avoid being judgmental: What ever a sister's situation, we cannot know what battles are going on whether or not we can see the consequences. Our sisters need encouragement and validation of the Lord's love for her, which can come when her visiting teachers accept her.
4. Avoid giving personal advice. Sister Shandell Hinckley said it best when she pointed out since we don't know the whole story, we should not/cannot presume to give advice about what a sister should do to resolve her issues.
5. Help the sister to help herself. Sister Parkin taught that "solving another sister's problems may weaken her ability to ponder, analyze, pray and seek divine guidance concerning the solutions. Asking questions, guided by the spirit, may be a way to help through the process and allow her to be receptive to the spirit.
6. Suggest the service of others: Visiting teachers can encourage the sister to seek help from family members, direct her to the bishop to receive counsel or other resources in the community.
7. Keep confidences: Visiting teachers must honor the trust of her sisters by keeping confidences. Her trust in you will build her confidence in herself and strengthen her ability to help herself and trust in the Lord.
8. Visits should be done in the home: Second only to the temple, the home is considered the most sacred place on earth (see Bible dictionary, p781). The home is a place a sister may be most comfortable confiding in her visiting teachers and wehre the spirit is most accessible to all.
Jesus taught Peter and His other disciples about feeding His sheep in John 21:15-17. He asked Peter if he loved him three times. Three times Peter vowed his love for Jesus, and Jesus gave him the same injunction but with slight variations. Twice Jesus told Peter to "Feed my sheep," and once He said, "Feed my lambs." The word 'sheep' can mean a flock of sheep, or it can mean an individual adult animal. We could draw from the metaphor Jesus used that His disciples have the responsibility to look after His floc, each individual adult and His lambs. The lambs can mean children or it could mean those with the greatest need, which could be any of us at different times in our lives.
In this metaphor, we easily apply the Savior's call for each on of us who have made covenants that one very important way the Lord gives us to obey His call to feed His sheep is through Visiting Teaching. Our discussion during our visiting teaching conference focused on how we can be more effective.
Isaiah 55:8-9:
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so
are my ways higher than your ways, and
my thoughts than your thoughts.
A past Relief Society General President gave some principles we can apply to be most helpful as we visit our sisters. (See Charity: The Love of the Lord in Your Life, Bonnie D. Parkin, Spring 2005 Open House)
1. Love: John 14:15, Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." The first reason we strive to be consistent visiting teachers is because we love the Lord. And because we love him and he has enlisted us in His work, being conscientious visiting teachers is a way to show love for our Savior and the sister He has given us the responsibility to visit.
2. Seeking to understand the sister: Through consistent visiting, be-friending our sister, and praying for them and seeking direction concerning them, the Lord will reveal to us how we can serve them. "Oh, naught but the spirit's divinest tuition, Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed." (As Sisters in Zion, Hymns, 309)
3. Avoid being judgmental: What ever a sister's situation, we cannot know what battles are going on whether or not we can see the consequences. Our sisters need encouragement and validation of the Lord's love for her, which can come when her visiting teachers accept her.
4. Avoid giving personal advice. Sister Shandell Hinckley said it best when she pointed out since we don't know the whole story, we should not/cannot presume to give advice about what a sister should do to resolve her issues.
5. Help the sister to help herself. Sister Parkin taught that "solving another sister's problems may weaken her ability to ponder, analyze, pray and seek divine guidance concerning the solutions. Asking questions, guided by the spirit, may be a way to help through the process and allow her to be receptive to the spirit.
6. Suggest the service of others: Visiting teachers can encourage the sister to seek help from family members, direct her to the bishop to receive counsel or other resources in the community.
7. Keep confidences: Visiting teachers must honor the trust of her sisters by keeping confidences. Her trust in you will build her confidence in herself and strengthen her ability to help herself and trust in the Lord.
8. Visits should be done in the home: Second only to the temple, the home is considered the most sacred place on earth (see Bible dictionary, p781). The home is a place a sister may be most comfortable confiding in her visiting teachers and wehre the spirit is most accessible to all.
Announcements:
*Angie R. is looking for a home health nurse for Gracie. If anyone is aware of someone who could spend 5 hours a day with Gracie, please contact Angie at 359-0547.
*We will be meeting in the new building this Sunday, October 20th. Our meetings will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Sacrament Meeting first.
*The Burton 4th Ward October Relief Society Activity will be held on October 24th at 7:00 p.m. in the new church!
Come to the RELIEF SOCIETY FALL FESTIVAL OF
FOOD AND FUN
Where you'll find a little something for
everyone.
Whether FREEZING MEALS for later is your style.
Or making a SMOOTHY would bring a smile.
If eating wheat just cannot be
We'll help you learn to go GLUTEN FREE.
We'll meet at the NEW CHURCH, October 24th at
7 p.m
Don't be late and bring a friend.
So come the the RELIEF SOCIETY FALL FESTIVAL
OF FOOD AND FUN
Where we hope to see everyone!!
* The Primary is looking for toy donations for the Nursery. If you have toys that are in good condition, that you would be willing to donate to the new Nursery, please bring them to Mindy Heiner's home.
Happy birthday to these sisters who have birthdays in October!:
October 2nd - Amy Z.
October 3rd - Cherese S.
October 5th - Sarah Clawson
October 8th - Anjie R.
October 17th - Cora Lee G.
October 20th - Sarah P.
October 21st - Stella E.
October 25th - Ariann R.
October 27th - Cassie J.
October 29th - Julianne W.
October 31st - Lee Anne A.
