Cancelled!

Sorry for this being VERY last minute, but lunch bunch will be cancelled today.

Lunch Bunch

Hi ladies! Just a reminder that we will be having lunch bunch this Wednesday at 12. Pot luck as always! Hope to see you there!

April Visiting Teaching Message

The Purpose of Relief Society

Julie B. Beck
Relief Society General President

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Prayerfully study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit. Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief Society an active part of your own life.

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When our presidency was first called, we were given some resources about the history of Relief Society. We studied them prayerfully, wanting to know the purpose of Relief Society and what the Lord would have us do. We learned that the purpose of Relief Society as established by the Lord is to organize, teach, and inspire His daughters to prepare them for the blessings of eternal life.

To fulfill this purpose of Relief Society, the Lord has commissioned each sister and the organization as a whole to:

1. 1. Increase in faith and personal righteousness.
2. 2. Strengthen families and homes.
3. 3. Provide relief by serving the Lord and His children.

We can do this work in the Lord’s way only when we seek, receive, and act on personal revelation. Without personal revelation, we cannot succeed. If we heed personal revelation, we cannot fail. The prophet Nephi instructs us that the Holy Ghost will show us “all things what [we] should do” (2 Nephi 32:5). We must allow ourselves to be still enough and quiet enough to listen to the voice of the Spirit.

Sisters, we have a vital role to play in helping build the kingdom of God and preparing for the Lord’s coming. In fact, the Lord’s work cannot be accomplished without the help of His daughters. Because of that, the Lord expects us to increase our offering. He expects us to fulfill the purpose of Relief Society as never before.

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president.

From the Scriptures

Deuteronomy 6:5–7; Luke 10:30–37; James 1:27; 2 Nephi 25:26; Mosiah 3:12–13

From Our History

At a June 9, 1842, meeting of the Relief Society, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught the sisters that their society was “not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls.” ¹ This statement of a spiritual as well as a temporal purpose has characterized Relief Society throughout its history. In 1906 President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918) taught: “[Relief Society] has not only to deal with the necessities of the poor, the sick and the needy, but a part of its duty—and the larger part, too—is to look after the spiritual welfare and salvation of the mothers and daughters of Zion; to see that none is neglected, but that all are guarded against misfortune, calamity, the powers of darkness, and the evils that threaten them in the world.” ² In 2001 Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reiterated, “Every sister in this Church who has made covenants with the Lord has a divine mandate to help save souls, to lead the women of the world, to strengthen the homes of Zion, and to build the kingdom of God.” ³

Notes

1. Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 5:25.

2. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith (1998), 185.

3. M. Russell Ballard, “Women of Righteousness,” Liahona, Dec. 2002, 39; Ensign, Apr. 2002, 70.

To read about a woman who was an example of faith and personal righteousness, see page 28.

What Can I Do?

1. 1. What inspiration have I received to help my sisters increase in faith and personal righteousness and strengthen their families and homes? What relief can I provide?
2. 2. How will I use this message to strengthen my faith and increase my own commitment to personal righteousness?

March Visiting Teaching Message

Under the Priesthood and after the Pattern of the Priesthood

"Under the Priesthood and after the Pattern of the Priesthood", Liahona, March 2011, 7

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Study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit. Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief Society an active part of your own life.

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My dear sisters, how blessed we are! Not only are we members of the Church, but we are also members of Relief Society—“the Lord’s organization for women.” ¹ Relief Society is evidence of God’s love for His daughters.

Doesn’t your heart thrill as you recall the exciting beginnings of this society? On March 17, 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith organized the sisters “under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood.” ²

To be organized “under the priesthood” gave sisters authority and direction. Eliza R. Snow, second Relief Society general president, taught that Relief Society “cannot exist without the Priesthood, from the fact that it derives all its authority and influence from that source.” ³ Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained, “The authority to be exercised by the officers and teachers of the Relief Society … was the authority that would flow to them through their organizational connection with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and through their individual setting apart under the hands of the priesthood leaders by whom they were called.” ⁴

To be organized “after the pattern of the priesthood” gave sisters sacred responsibilities. Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, explained: “We operate in the manner of the priesthood—which means that we seek, receive, and act on revelation; make decisions in councils; and concern ourselves with caring for individuals one by one. Ours is the priesthood purpose to prepare ourselves for the blessings of eternal life by making and keeping covenants. Therefore, like our brethren who hold the priesthood, ours is a work of salvation, service, and becoming a holy people.” ⁵

Barbara Thompson, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency.

From the Scriptures

1 Corinthians 11:11; Doctrine and Covenants 25:3; 121:36–46

From Our History

During the construction of the Nauvoo Temple, a group of sisters desired to organize to support the building effort. Eliza R. Snow drafted bylaws for this new group. When she showed them to the Prophet Joseph, he responded: “Tell the sisters their offering is accepted of the Lord, and he has something better for them. … I will organize the women under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood.” ⁶ A short time later, the Prophet told the newly organized Relief Society: “I now turn the key to you in the name of God, and this Society shall rejoice, and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time.” ⁷ The sisters were expected to rise to a new level of holiness and to prepare for the priesthood ordinances soon to be administered in the temple.

What Can I Do?

1. 1. How can I help the sisters I visit enjoy the blessings of Relief Society’s sacred work?
2. 2. What will I do this month to increase my ability to receive personal revelation?

For more information, go to www.reliefsociety.lds.org .

Photo illustration by Brandon Flint

Preparedness Night!

Don't forget about our preparedness night this Thursday!! We will have speakers on living wills and bugeting. They will have some great information to help us all be more prepared for whatever comes our way. We will also be showing how you can compile your own Vital Records Binder that we found here.

 A nursery will be provided so don't let that stop you!! We will also have some yummy refreshments so really you have no excuse not to come!!

Date: Thursday February 17
Time: 7:00
Place: Relief Society Room

See ya there!

Craft time!

We had a wonderful time at the make-n-take activity. Thank you everyone who came! For those of you who didn't, we hope to see you next time!

Make-N-Take Activity!

Don't forget to sign up for the Make-N-Take actvity!

We will be making adorable subway art signs for your home and some cute aprons!

Sign-ups will be in the foyer.

Come and enjoy a night out of the house!

When: Tuesday February 1

Time: 7:00