Sunday, March 30, 2014

Week of March 30th

 Purposes of Relief Society:
Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness
Seek Out and Help Those in Need
Strengthen Families and Homes

FAITH
From Our History:
When the Prophet Joseph Smith met with Relief Society sisters in Nauvoo, he taught that in addition to giving temporal service, they were to strengthen people spiritually. With this counsel as a foundation, Relief Society sisters have found love and safety from the storms of life as they have served together. They have shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with each other and with those around them. Relief Society has become a shelter from the world--a place of refuge--and a center of light to the world--a place of influence.

In a Relief Society meeting in Ogden, Utah, Sister Eliza R. Snow, the second Relief Society general president, gratefully acknowledged sisters’ efforts to strengthen one another temporally and spiritually. She told them that although the Church did not keep a record of every donation they made to help those in need, the Lord kept a perfect record of their saving work:

“I am well aware that a great deal is donated that never reaches the [record] books. President Joseph Smith said this society was organized to save souls. What have the sisters done to win back those who have gone astray?--to warm up the hearts of those who have grown cold in the gospel?--Another book is kept of your faith, your kindness, your good works, and words. Another record is kept. Nothing is lost.”1
Daughters in my Kingdom,  page 83
Lesson Review: Obedience and Sacrifice taught by Bishop Gee
Doctrine: 
*"When we enter the temple, we make a voluntary covenant to keep the law of obedience and sacrifice." President Ezra Taft Benson
*In keeping this covenant we need to "live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God" 
D&C 84:44.
*The Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.  Richard G. Scott said, "He cannot because he knows what it takes to be like Him."

Invitation to Action:
Am I keeping my covenants or am I rationalizing disobedience?

Promised Blessings:
The Bishop says that as we go to the temple and listen, we will hear what the promised blessings are for keeping the covenant of obedience and sacrifice. (He wasn't sure how to state them without stating what is said there.)

 April Lesson Schedule:
April 6 - General Conference
April 13 - Ward Conference
April 20 - Joseph Fielding Smith Lesson #7 - Joseph and Hyrum Smith Witnesses of Jesus Christ
April 27 - Joseph Fielding Smith Lesson #8 and #29

FAMILY
What can you do within your family to best prepare your family members for General Conference this weekend?

RELIEF
A visiting teaching message from one of our Visiting Teaching Supervisors, Tara Clark:
When we had Luke and he was in the NICU for so long one of my visiting teachers was incredible.
The service she gave to us in so many ways was invaluable, from helping with babysitting so I could go to the NICU or providing meals. When we brought Luke home she was able to realize the importance we had placed on keeping him healthy and needing to quarantine him so she just dropped notes to the door that were very inspiring and uplifting. I learned so much from her selfless service to me and my family.

Being a great Visiting Teacher is about so much more than the actual visit!

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Week of March 23rd

 Purposes of Relief Society:
Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness
Seek Out and Help Those in Need
Strengthen Families and Homes

FAITH
From Our History:

In the late 1800's, President Brigham Young shared counsel with the women of the Church.  His exhortations and Sister Eliza R. Snow's teachings combined to expand the sisters' vision of their power for good in their families, in the Church, and in the world.  Sister Snow said:

"If any of the daughters and mothers in Israel are feeling in the least [limited] in their present spheres, they will now find ample scope for every power and capability for doing good with which they are most liberally endowed. . . .President Young has turned the key to a wide and extensive sphere of action and usefulness."

Sister Eliza R. Snow taught:  "Tell the sisters to go forth and discharge their duties, in humility and faithfulness and the Spirit of God will rest upon them and they will be blest in their labors.  Let them seek for wisdom instead of power and they will have all the power they have wisdom to exercise."

"Don't you see that our sphere is increasing?  Our sphere of action will continually widen, and no woman in Zion needs to mourn because her sphere is too narrow."

"God bless you, my sisters, and encourage you, that you may be filled with light. . . . Let your first business be to perform your duties at home.  But, inasmuch as you are wise stewards, you will find time for social duties, because these are incumbent upon us as daughters and mothers in Zion.  By seeking to perform every duty you will find that your capacity will increase, and you will be astonished at what you can accomplish."

"I will go forward.  I will smile at the rage of the tempest, and ride fearlessly and triumphantly across the boisterous ocean of circumstance. . . and the testimony of Jesus will light up a lamp that will guide my vision through the portals of immortality."

(From Daughters in my Kingdom, Chapter 4)
LESSON REVIEW: "The Moral Force of Women" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Doctrine: "From age immemorial, societies have relied on the moral force of women."

Invitation to Action: 
" My plea to women and girls today is to protect and cultivate the moral force that is within you.  Preserve that innate virtue and the unique gifts you bring with you into the world."

"Do not be afraid to apply that influence without fear or apology. "Be ready always to give an answer to every [man, woman, and child] that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." "Bring up your children in light and truth." "Teach [them] to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord."

Promised Blessings:
"Your intuition is to do good and to be good, and as you follow the Holy Spirit, your moral authority and influence will grow."

Revised Lesson Schedule:
 March 30 - 5th Sunday lesson, "Obedience and Sacrifice" - For all adults and youth
April 6th - General Conference
April 13th - Ward Conference
April 20th - Joseph Fielding Smith Lesson #7 - "Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Witnesses for Jesus Christ
April 27th - Joseph Fielding Smith Lesson #8 and #21

FAMILY
Tuesday night, the Beehives and their mothers enjoyed a fun evening together!  Sister Wasden shared these great photos from the activity:


Cindy and Libby
Emily and Sarah
McKenna and Angie
Arianne and Whitney
RELIEF
(A message from one of our Visiting Teaching Supervisors, hopefully coming soon!)

Announcements:
 *The Young Men would like to earn some money for Scout Camp by helping with Spring Cleaning.  If you have any Spring Cleaning needs, please contact Brother Rigby.


*The Elder's Quorum is playing basketball every Wednesday evening.  If you are interested in cheering on our Elders Quorum, or have a husband who would like to play, please contact Brother Hansen for more information!


* The General Women's Broadcast is this Saturday!!  

Celebrate Sisterhood


“We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him.” These words from the Young Women theme apply to all women, whether 8 or 88. “Charity never faileth” isn’t a motto just for adult women; it’s also exemplified by the tender care of a young girl for her mother and new sibling. The young sisters in Primary sing “I am a child of God,” and we all are. No matter our life experience, all women are part of a vast, shared sisterhood. There is strength and cause for celebration in realizing that we are all part of the same heavenly family.
On March 29, 2014, prophets and general officers from all three women’s organizations will inspire, direct, and broaden the perspective of sisters ages eight and older. The meeting will create new ways for women worldwide to connect, strengthen each other, and celebrate sisterhood.


Invite Others to the General Women's Meeting:

Looking for an easy way to invite others to watch the general women's meeting on March 29? Here are several ways to do it.


Missionary Moments:
Letter from Sister Hammer:

I am so glad that I still get the ward emails.  It keeps me up on the goings on at home.  I am doing great here in San Jose.  But believe it or not, I missed the snow this winter.  It never did feel like it was Christmas.  But now I am really loving it.  Every where I look I see a blooming bush or tree that I hadn't noticed before.  Some of them bloomed all winter long.  I am planting squash, cucumbers, tomatoes and sweet potatoes in pots on the deck of our apartment.  You can take the girl off the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the girl.

  My first 6 months has gone so fast.  My Companion is going home to Arizona in 2 weeks and my new companion will be flying in from Florida next Saturday.  I also have 3 young Samoen Sister Missionaries as roommates. I love them,  they are so fun.

 The Mission here is amazing.  We have one of the most diverse mission in the world.  There is a multitude of languages spoken by the young Missionaries teaching people from all over the world.  Yesterday we had missionaries come into the center to sign for a deaf man looking for work and also Missionaries to translate  for a girl needing to translate Mandarin Chinese.  Some of the young sisters come in weekly to email home, and we get lots of hugs.  Love it.

   It was so fun when the Somsens from our ward happened to come in to talk to Brother McNeil (our Manager). (See picture in previous RS blog post!)  I hadn't met them before I came on my mission.  Interesting to have to travel so far to meet your new neighbors.

  Say Hello to everyone.
            Love from Sister Hammer

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Week of March 16th

 Purposes of Relief Society:
Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness
Seek Out and Help Those in Need
Strengthen Families and Homes

FAITH
From Our History:

Emma, the Elect Lady of the Restoration, 1839

"Relief Society sisters in Europe experienced great devastation from WW11.  They also demonstrated praiseworthy courage in serving one another in spite of harrowing conditions.  They continued faithful and relied on their testimonies and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Their lives and testimonies from this period are truly inspiring.

After the war, Maria Speidel, who served as the president of the Germany Stuttgart District Relief Society wrote:

"The past five years have been difficult ones and we have become very humble.  Our trust in the Lord and our testimony of his Church have been our pillar of strength.  He has kept us mercifully, and although there was much to suffer, he has given to us a measure of his strength.  Some of us have lost all our earthly possessions, every tangible thing ever dear to us, and when we say 'It is better to walk with God in the darkness than without him in the light,' we know whereof we speak....

"....With joy we sing the songs of Zion and put our trust in the Lord.  He maketh all things well." (Daughters in My Kingdom, Pg. 76)

Lesson Review: Lesson 6 - Joseph Fielding Smith "The Significance of The Sacrament"

Key Doctrine:
"The partaking of these emblems constitutes one of the most holy and sacred ordinances in the Church."

Invitation to Action: 
"What can we do to remember the Savior and His Atonement when we partake of the sacrament?"

Promised Blessings:
"If a man fully realizes what it means when he partakes of the sacrament, that he covenants to take upon him the name of Jesus Christ and to always remember him and keep his commandments, and this vow is renewed week by week - do you think such a man will fail to pay his tithing?  Do you think such a man will break the Sabbath day or disregard the Word of Wisdom?  Do you think he will fail to be prayerful, and that he will not attend his quorum duties and other duties in the Church?"
Revised lesson schedule for April (some things were switched around because of Ward Conference):

 March 30 - Fifth Sunday Lesson  - We will be combining with everyone (youth and adults) and the lesson  will be on obedience and sacrifice.

 April 6th - General Conference

 April 13th - Ward Conference

 April 20th - Joseph Fielding Smith Lesson #7 - "Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Witnesses for Jesus Christ"

 April 27th - Joseph Fielding Smith Lesson #8 and 21 - "The Church and the Kingdom of God" and "Proclaiming the Gospel to the World"

FAMILY
March Youth Curriculum: The Atonement of Jesus Christ

Primary Curriculum: Jesus Christ is Our Savior

RELIEF

Arianne R., one of our Visiting Teaching Supervisors shares some of her good experiences with Visiting Teaching:

"I have been blessed to have an amazing Visiting Teacher.  She has helped me can food from my garden on a number of occasions, which helped me out tremendously!  And also one time I was sick and she came and visited me, and then she stayed and washed all my dishes that had been piling up.  What a great example she has been to me about serving as a Visiting Teacher."

Calendar:
March 20 - Relief Society Activity - dinner and a speaker
March 23 - Relief Society sings in sacrament meeting
March 29 - General Women's Broadcast

 Missionary moment:  

 I emailed Sister Hammer for an up-date on her mission, and she sent me this picture!  Apparently the Somsen's got to visit her.  Hopefully I'll be able to get some more details soon - she looks like she's doing good!

Announcements:
* The Young Men would like to earn some money for Scout Camp by helping with Spring Cleaning.  If you have any spring cleaning needs, please contact Brother Rigby.

*The Elder's quorum is playing basketball every Wednesday evening. If you are interested in cheering on our Elder's Quorum, or have a husband who would like to play, please contact Brother Hansen for more information!

Week of March 9th

Purposes of Relief Society:
Increase Faith and Personal Righteousness
Seek Out and Help Those In Need
Strengthen Families and Homes

From Our History:

Some women felt reluctant and unprepared to speak in public.  Sister [Eliza] Snow gave the following counsel to such sisters: "Do not let your president have to say all....Has not God endowed you with the gift of speech?....If you are endowed with the Spirit of God, no matter how simple your thoughts may be, they will be edifying to those who hear you."
"Emily S. Richards said that Sister Snow helped her learn to speak in public: "The first time she asked me to speak in meeting, I could not, and she said, "Never mind, but when you are asked to speak again, try and have something to say,' and I did." Sister Richards continued to improve in her ability as a public speaker, and in 1889 she spoke at the National Woman Sufferage Association convention in Washington, D.C.
(Taken from Daughters in My Kingdom page 49)

Lesson Topic:
Teaching

"No greater responsibility can rest upon any man [or woman], than to be a teacher of God's children
(President David O. McKay)
Mormon Sunday school
Key Doctrine:  
We have a responsibility to teach.

"Every person position in the church requires an effective teacher.  It is our most important calling." 
(Elder L. Tom Perry)

"We are commanded to teach one another the doctrines of the kingdom." (Elder Bruce R. McConkie)

"Families should teach their own family members.  Parents are commanded to bring up their children in light and truth.  The home should be the chief teaching center in the life of a Latter-Day Saint."
(Elder Bruce R. McConkie)

Invitation to Action:
What questions do you have about teaching?  Seek through study and prayer to answer those questions.

As you prepare to teach, ponder and prepare inspired questions that will help those you teach discover gospel principles  for themselves.  Invite you class to ask questions so they are in a "learning mode."

"Pray for the gift of teaching" (President Boyd K. Packer)

Promised Blessings:
"You may be an older person who thinks that your ministry is finished, you may be a young person who is frightened about everything, or a mother who is so busy with the children, or a father who is preoccupied, but you can teach, and you can pray, and you can be guided.  And you will.  You'll be blessed of the Lord - I promise you that."

"Teaching is a sacred calling, a holy calling.  The thing I think I would tell teachers is that they never teach alone.  They never have to be alone.  The Lord has promised that in the scriptures." 
(President Boyd K. Packer)

The Lord said, "Teach ye diligently and my grace will attend you." (D&C 88:78)

Recommended Reading:
Teaching As The Savior Taught - (Elder Walter F. Gonzalex, Ensign, September 2004)
Questions, the Heart of Learning and Teaching (Ensign, January 2008)
Worldwide Leadership Training - Teaching and Learning (February 2007)



Sunday, March 2, 2014

The Relief Society Birthday Month!

Purposes of Relief Society: 
Increase faith and personal righteousness
Seek out and help those in need
Strengthen families and homes

From Our History:

This month in commemoration of the 172nd anniversary of the organization of Relief Society, we would like to share some highlights from the history of Relief Society.
"In one of the first meetings of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, Joseph Smith  admonished the sisters to "live up to their privilege."  With that encouragement as a foundation, sisters in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been taught to live up to their divine potential by fulfilling God's purposes for them.  As they come to understand who they really are--God's daughters, with an innate capacity to love and nurture--they reach their potential as holy women.  With charity in their hearts, they fulfill the purposes pf Releif Society to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need."  
"Established as an integral part of the Restoration, the Relief Society helps Latter-day Saint women live up to their privilege.  Through this organization, sisters receive opportunities to serve and the direction and authority they need to fulfill those responsibilities." 
(Taken from pg. 171 in "Daughters in My Kingdom")
FAITH
Lesson Review: Joseph Fielding Smith lesson 5 - Faith and Repentance
Doctrine:
"Repentance is the second principle of the gospel and is essential to our salvation and exaltation."
Invitation to Action: 
"God is not going to save every man and woman in the celestial kingdom.  If you want to get there, and you have failings, if your are committing sins, if you are breaking commandments of the Lord and you know it, it is a good time right now to repent and reform."
Promised Blessings: 
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." [John 3:16-17]

 "If the Father had not sent Jesus Christ into the world, then there could have been no remission of sins and there could have been no relief from sin through repentence."

Updated Lesson Schedule:

March 9th - President's Instruction
March 16th - Joseph Fielding Smith lesson 6 - The Significance of the Sacrament
March 23rd - Teachings For Our Time - The Moral Force of Women by Elder Todd D. Christofferson

FAMILY
March Youth Curriculum: The Atonement of Jesus Christ

Primary Curriculum: Jesus Christ is Our Savior

RELIEF
Last week Sister Powell gave a lesson on Visiting Teaching.  I will be drawing from that lesson as I write for this section of the blog for a while:

"Ask helpful questions.  Questions can lead to opportunities to give comfort, share relevant gospel principles, and provide meaningful service.  You might ask: "What worries or concerns you?"  "What questions do you have about the gospel?" Or you could be specific; "Could we help you with a household task?"  "Would you like a ride to the store or a doctor's appointment?"  Questions will often bring better results than simply saying, "Call us if you need anything."


MARCH BIRTHDAYS
March 10 - S. Robison
March 11 - C. Briggs
March 22 - W. Bressler
March 22 - E. Manning
March 22 - J. Powell
March 23 - S. Haslem
March 24 - B. Eissler
March 26 - L. Bair
March 26 - S. Bland
March 31 - J. Hill

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF YOU!!!

Calendar:
March 20 - Relief Society Activity - dinner and a speaker
March 23 - Relief Society sings in sacrament meeting
March 29 - General Women's Broadcast

Noteworthy:

We wanted to make you aware of an inspirational art exhibit at BYU's Museum of Art.  The exhibit is entitled, "Sacred Gifts," and features paintings of the life of Jesus Christ by three European master painters - Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann, and Frans Schwartz.  According to the museum, most of these works have never before been on view in the United States, and are being loaned to the BYU Museum of Art under extraordinary circumstances from churches and museums in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and New York.  

The exhibit is free of charge, although you do need to reserve tickets for entry into the museum.

There is an iPad app that can be downloaded before you get to the Museum, or for $3.00 you can rent an iPad at the Museum.  The iPad features descriptions of the paintings, information about the artists, panoramic views of the interior and exterior of the Churches that have loaned the artwork to BYU, excerpts of talks about the Savior from General Authorities, and sacred music.  

It is a great opportunity to feel the Spirit through art, music, and the spoken word.  We have included photos of some of the paintings that are featured at the exhibit, and included an article giving additional information.  Following the article, we have also included a link to the BYU Museum of Art.






     




  



For more information on this art exhibit please visit BYU Museum of Art's website at:

http://sacredgifts.byu.edu/
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