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

RS

RS