11/29/09

Monty Hamilton gave the combined lesson. We discussed the 3-fold mission of the church--Perfect the Saints, Redeem the Dead, and Preach the Gospel and Monty wrote some examples of each area.
Much of the discussion centered around Home and Visiting Teaching. A visitor thanked the ward for helping her daughter by bringing her food, getting together as friends, and giving her opportunities to share. Another sister said she had a rough year, and she really could have used a friend, or someone to help her through the difficult times.
We are all busy, but don't forget to look around and share your spirit. It reminds me of a story I heard, where several seminary students were asked to write talks on the Good Samaritan, then were told to rush to the place where they were to present their talk. The catch? They had to hurry past someone (a plant) who was in desperate need.
Most people ran past the person who needed them without helping. What would you do? What DO you do? We are all busy. Really busy. How do we balance our time with family, job, friends, church and other responsibilities? How do we know if someone needs us? What do you think?

Our ward has several goals.

1. Book of Mormon: Starting December 1, please read 3 chapters in the Book of Mormon per day. If you can't, at least read the headings too keep up with the rest of the ward. There is a reading list, with one scripture to be marked and pondered each day. If you need one, please contact a member of the bishopric or your home or visiting teachers. The goal is to be finished by Feb. 14.
   
2. Better Home and Visiting Teaching: Most wards and stakes get about 23%. People mean more than numbers, of course, but the numbers give an idea of what is happening. These visits are the eyes and ears of the bishop, who cannot possibly get to everyone he would like to visit. Be a true friend to the people you visit. Do you need to call or visit more than once a month? Use prayer and the Spirit to determine what your families need from you.
3. Missionary work: Next Fast Sunday, fast and pray for someone who you can bring to church with you the following week. This could be a non-member or a less active member. We are so blessed and this is an opportunity to share valuable information with the people around us.
   
4. Temple attendance: Every third Thursday will be a ward Temple Night.
   

Instead of a Relief Society Meeting this month, Erlyn has created an Angel Tree. Please contact her for information about what gifts the children need or would like.

11/22/09

What a special spirit was in Relief Society during Ila Peterson's lesson. First, we heard in Sacrament and Sunday School about sharing the gospel, and the message was repeated in Relief Society. We heard several stories about and from converts. Kleenex's were passed around as the stories touched our hearts.

Sharing the gospel is more than convincing others to listen to the missionaries. We can do simple things: pray for people; get involved with their lives and care about them unconditionally; put their name on the temple prayer roll; stay worthy so we can feel the Spirit and be ready to do things; give service; etc.

Thank you to the sisters who shared their conversion experiences:

• Visiting teachers can make a difference. (Even when you don't feel welcome)
• Be a true, unconditional friend.
  
• You never know how much people are really absorbing.
• Nonmembers listen and watch.
• Never give up.
• The Lord will work on His own time.
• The Spirit does the work. You just need to be the instrument.

Calendar:

• Don't forget to fast and pray on December 6 for a person you would like to invite to Sacrament meeting on December 13 or to the Night of Christmas music at the Stake Center that same night.
  
• Ward challenge to read the Book of Mormon by February 14. If you can read 3 chapters a day, you can make it, but do what you can.
  
• Ward Christmas Party on Friday December 18 6:00 at the Stake Center (so there is more room)
• Welcome to Charlotte Longmore as a Visiting Teacher Supervisor.
• If you'd like to be a Visiting Teacher, please let Melanie know.
• If you didn't get a Relief Society Directory, please let Kathy T. know.
  

October 11, 2009

Calendar:
Oct. 17: 9:00-11:00 @ the church. Relief Society Brunch: Everyone is invited! Nursery provided. Please come! As an added bonus, you will receive a Relief Society Directory.

Oct. 18: 10:00-12:00 Stake Conference broadcast. We will meet at our building. Suggestion--Family Home Evening on Oct. 12: "The Blessings of Modern-Day Revelation through Living Prophets"

Oct 24: Fun Run and Bike Race at the Stake Center

Nov. 1: Daylight Savings Time Ends

Nov. 6: High Priest Social

Nov 13; Ward Temple Session-Oquirrh Mountain Temple Be there by 6:30 PM or you won't be allowed in the ward session.

Welcome to Nyla Love and Ila Peterson as 3rd and 4th week Sunday teachers.

Thank you to Melody for a beautiful lesson on the worth of sisters and the good they can accomplish. She suggested we live up to our spiritual gifts to help others. When we do that, angels will help us. Relief Society is powerful because we work with the Priesthood (aka the Lord's power)

Joseph Smith warned each sister to guard their tongue. We are so divine in nature and can do so much good, but we can be so hurtful with words. If we offend someone, they may blame the church and lose blessings.

Temple Worship--The Source of Strength and Power in Time of Need by Elder Richard Scott

9-20-09 Relief Society Lesson--Calli

Sometimes it's easier to attend the temple when it's far away from your home. Plans don't get disrupted as much. When we do get a temple close to us, it is wise to set a specific time to attend, so small distractions don't get in our way.
Leona talked of her service in the temple baptistry, and how special the experience was. She and Bob served for about 10 years total--before and after their mission.

Many of us had special experiences as we served at the open house of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. This sacrifice reaped many rewards (children saw the importance the temple, attendee's had good experiences, and the Lord blessed us individually in ways only we can know)
Sisters gave a few ideas that would help us attend the temple more often and get more out of the times we go:

• Trade babysitting with someone else. It not only helps financially, it holds you accountable to make sure you do go.
• Plan lots of extra time to get ready so things don't come up and change your mind. If you're early, you're less likely to be frazzled and can enjoy the Spirit more quickly.
  
• Remove your watch to help prevent you thinking about anything other than the temple.
• Focus on the words being said in whatever ordinance you are participating.
• Pray for and concentrate on the person for whom you are doing work. One sister noticed something had not been done on the card, and they were able to fix the problem before it was too late.
• Do genealogy. When ancestors get their work done, they are empowered to help us with our lives. The story was told where a sister was baptized into the church against her mothers' will and her mother was angry enough that she didn't speak to her for 8 years. This sister prayed for her mother to soften her heart. Meanwhile she did temple work for ancestors, and one day her mother called asking a random question. She asked her mother "Why did you call and ask me that?" Mom replied, "Because it kept bugging and bugging me!" "Thank you" She thought--to those beyond the veil.
  

Lesson #37

Thank you Melody, for a beautiful lesson titled, "Charity, the Pure Love of Christ".

When 2 young men arrived from England, they desperately asked Joseph Smith for work because they couldn't find work elsewhere and needed provisions. One was not a member. Joseph was friendly, and"viewed us with a cheerful countenance, and with a feeling of kindness, said, "Well boys, what can you do?" He helped mark a ditch, and when they were done, said, "Boys, if I had done it myself, it could not have been done better." He then took them to the store and picked out 2 of the largest and best pieces of meat and gave to them. The young man was baptized within a year, and "often had the privilege of seeing [the Prophet's] noble face lit up by the Spirit and power of God".

Stories were shared of the blessing of visiting teaching, and how knowing someone really cares can help us all through difficult circumstances. We can be each others' angels.

A brother in the ward was blessed by caring, love and lack of judgment when he endured a difficult time.
Our goal should be to stay worthy to hear the Spirit whisper to us how we can be of service.

September Birthdays

Happy Birthday to these September-born sisters:
1: Shelley Powell
3: Malissa Park
4: Kirstin Wells
6: Melanie Chivers
6: Debbie Sweat
7: LeVern Jarrad
12: Lisa Bunker
13: Laura Woodruff
15: Amber Brundage
16: Cindy Dodds
20: Erlyn Barlocker
21: Ilene Johnston
22: Sylvia Thomas
25: Erica Coats
25: Calli Ellinger
26: Shawna Pickens
27: Janet Erickson
28: Elsie Barker
30: Janice Bates

September

The Relief Society met with the Elders on Sunday. Thank you to Brother Kendall for a touching lesson. We discussed a talk by Elder Holland "None were With Him" about the Savior:
Jesus the Christ had a support system of family, friends, and church members who were with him during His earthly life. One by one, this support system was taken from him, including His divine Father. This was done so He could complete His mission and understand what WE go through when we do something where we lose the Spirit. He understands us because of the sacrifices He went through. Because He did what He did, we don't have to go through it.

If you would like to watch the video Brother Kendall showed, go to:
http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/membership-in-christ-s-church/membership-in-christ-s-church?gclid=CKCO0pqiz5wCFShGagodfBGZYA

Upcoming Events:

• Sept 6--Lesson: Melanie Chivers: Provident Living
• Sept 12--Super Saturday coming up 9:00--2:00 Great luncheon planned. Sign up for classes such as gratitude journals ($5.00) or haircutting (kit with clippers, scissors, spray bottle, and cape $10.00 or $5.00 without clippers). A quilt will be set up for those who like to sew and visit. Other classes available--see the sign-up sheet outside of the Relief Society room on Sunday.
  
• Oct 17--RS Brunch: 9-12 at the church
  

July Upcoming Events

July 21 9 AM to 1 PM Dry Pack Canning at the Sandy Home Storage Center
July 26: Ward Conference
August 8 9 AM to 12 PM Stake clothing exchange

March 13, 2010: Stake Preparedness Fair (This is WAY into the future--but if you have any ideas of what you would like to learn, or know someone who would be a good presenter or be in a booth, please let Sister Wright know)

July Birthdays:
2: Melody Markus, Teri Fitch,
5: Marion McMurrin
12: Judy Pettit
16: Natalie Harward
26: Lily Rodrigues
29: Diane Fowles
30: Monica Livingston

July 12, 2009

Cheri gave a beautiful lesson on service today taken from the Conference Ensign "Unselfish Service". The Savior is the ultimate example of unselfish service. Comments were written on the board of a few service oriented groups, such as temple workers, missionaries, parents, home and visiting teachers, and ward teachers and leaders.

Cheri passed out colorful papers on which we wrote down someone who exemplified service for us, or someone who has given service to us. Mentioned were:
1. A friend who was always there to help a pregnant sister move. She packed up the kitchen while the poor sister puked downstairs. This same friend was there again for the next move, even though there was no pregnancy this second time.
2. A sister in the ward spend hours sewing costumes for the youth. (She humbly thanked all of those who helped her)
3. Those who help at funerals at no cost ( some other religions charge for the building, the speakers and prayers, and food afterward). Relief Society comes to the aid of the mourners with food and many hours of service and many people take work off.
4. Those who are friendly and greet people. One beloved sister and her husband made visiting family who were not members feel very welcome.

There was not time to go over many of the papers, but we were left to reflect on those who have given service to us and inspired to continue to give service.
Thank you Cheri, for your time and efforts in preparation!

March 10 2009

We had a wonderful Relief Society Birthday Enrichment Night on Tuesday. Much time and effort was put into decorations, program, and a marvelous dinner (hmmm...dutch oven potatoes, tender meat, salad, rolls with butter, lemonade or water, super-yummy cake--choice of white or chocolate--or both!, and Sylvia's to-die-for butter mints). Zane and Lorena and their crew did a great job!
While we waited to the program to start, we were able to sit, talk and enjoy each others company. That doesn't happen often enough. It feels good to hear about your day and have others listen to your comments.
Several sisters participated in a program where we enjoyed Emma Smith and a few of her fellow Relief Society sisters sharing their feelings about Relief Society through words and music. It's always a joy to hear Layne Dansie sing and his Mom, Rhonny, play the piano (different songs, though). We then received a Relief Society bookmark with a cute charm. There was a special spirit that attended this night.
Thank you to everyone responsible for sharing talents, food, set-up and clean-up, and yourselves! (Don't kid yourself--if you were not there, it did not go unnoticed. Every sister in this ward adds to the character of the ward and we love you all.)

March calendar

Sunday March 1 Fast Sunday; Presidency Message
Sunday March 8 (Daylight Savings) Lesson 25 /Truths from the Saviors Parables in Matthew 13--Amy
Tuesday March 10 6:30 Relief Society Birthday Party @ the church
Sunday March 15 Lesson 26 Elijah And the Restoration of the Sealing Keys--Sylvia
Sunday March 22 TFT Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship--Elder Hales--Janette
Sunday March 29 Bishopric Message

New Relief Society Presidency

President: Melanie Chivers
1st Counselor: Cheri Christoffersen
2nd Counselor: Erlyn Barlocker
Secretary: Kathy Turner