Relief Society Lesson Sunday December 4

LDS Women Are Incredible - May 2011 Ensign - talk by Elder Quentin L. Cook

We'd like to thank the Young Women for joining us on Sunday and for making Relief Society extra special. We'd also like to thank you for leading us in the Young Women theme.

LDS women really are incredible. Women have enthusiasm and love to help ward families. We can be a quiet example of living the gospel. What would someone find if they came upon our handbag and had to do a little bit of searching to discover the identity of who owned the purse? Would they find things that would tell them that we are a quiet example of being a virtuous and upstanding LDS woman?

The way we face trials and challenges of life is another thing that makes us incredible. Women can help the sick and the feeble, the poor and the needy, people in need of a spiritual uplifting.

President Gordon B. Hinkley stated that we need to "...labor in the vineyard for the work of salvation." We can be member missionaries, activate the less actives, do temple work and family history, and care for the poor and needy. In order to do these things, we need to be open to opportunities to serve the Lord. We can also do these things through Visiting Teaching!

Lift, strengthen, and fortify our fellow sisters. Be uplifting and kind. Be friends with the women in the ward.

The Lord loves us and knows us. We are not perfect, but he loves us, blesses us, and challenges us for who we are.

Thank you Cindee Bailey for your wonderful lesson. I would like to add my testimony to hers, that the Lord does in fact know each and every one of us, and he loves us. He has entrusted women with a great and sometimes overwhelming task. We are nurturers, and caretakers. Rely on the Lord, and he will give you the strength and serve others. What a great message for this time of year, when life is extra hectic, and we sometimes feel inadequate. In the midst of all the hubbub and craziness of the season, take a moment to remember the true reason for Christmas, and that we are all truly amazing! Merry Christmas sisters!

Megan Melville, Education Counselor

President Uchtdorf Reminds Sisters of Five Things to ‘Forget Not’

Hello, sisters!


I hope you all caught the General Relief Society meeting. I don't know about you, but I absolutely loved President Uchtdorf's talk. It seemed to really hit home to me, and I'm sure every one of us can relate to it. If you happen to have missed it, you can read it here.


“No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love.”


Enjoy!


Abby

Visiting Teaching Interviews

Hi sisters! We've been conducting our visiting teaching interviews this month, and if you have not yet met with us- please schedule a time! It's a quick 10 minute visit and we really appreciate your feedback. They will be held the following dates/times: 

Wednesday, September 21
6:30-7:30 
Megan Melville's Home: 
10652 TopView Drive 


Sunday, September 25
12:30-2:30
Megan's Home 

We will have treats :). Please call Abby DeGraff to schedule an apt. if she hasn't already called you. 801-244-7201. 

Thanks sisters! 

Abby 

Love At Home: Counsel from our Prophet

If you haven't had the chance to read the first presidency's message for the month of August, I encourage you to do so. Great message! Check it out here.

“Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is most important.”

Part-time Nanny Wanted!

Barbara Brown is looking for a part-time nanny for her two children, ages 5 and 9. She needs someone to come to her home on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The pay is $8/hr. If you are interested or know someone who might be, please email Barbara at bjonesbrown@gmail.com.

The Power of Early Preparation

Hello, sisters!  


I recently read a great talk by Elder Bartholomew and I wanted to share it with you all. Find the link here. 


I think it really hit home to me as a new mother, and trying to keep my focus on gospel truths. He talks about how we can loose focus of gospel truths by being distracted by things that may be true, but are not important. This can lead to a multitude of problems - frustration with oneself, family, friends, and even the gospel. He uses the example of the doctrinal truth about having babies. How its simple and joyful - babies are Heavenly Father’s spirit children who need to come to the earth and receive bodies as part of His eternal plan of bringing to pass their immortality and eternal life. We get to participate in this wondrous plan as parents, advisors, friends, and teachers. Yet, there are some things about having babies that people deem as not always so pleasant. These ideas can even distract us from the heavenly plan. He uses examples that, babies are cute, but inconvenient, adorable but expensive. Babies often smell bad and keep one awake in the night. The more babies you have, the more stretched your financial and physical resources may become. Babies can cause stretch marks and weight gain. Having babies may disrupt a woman’s long-term career aspirations. He goes on to explain that each of these observations about babies is true—and the emotional distress such issues can cause are certainly real. However, none of them encourages us to embrace the saving truth about babies and their role in the plan of salvation. He says if we place too much of our focus on these true facts about having babies, we may find ourselves at odds with Heavenly Father’s plan for us as individuals and as members of a family. As we raise a family, we learn to be unselfish, to love others more than ourselves, to serve, to sacrifice, and to teach. Learning these traits helps us to become more like our Heavenly Father, who has said that His work is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life” of His children (Moses 1:39). 
(http://lds.org/ensign/2011/02/the-power-of-early-preparation?lang=eng)


I think we all get caught up in how hard it may be (inconvenient at times) to raise our little ones. I know from experience that my twins have definitely thrown me a curve ball, but I wouldn't change it for the world and I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to raise these special spirits. It's in the moments that I look at their precious faces with all their light and realize how I'm the one actually gaining from this whole experience. Its a miracle that they grew and developed in my body and then came to this earth with their perfect little bodies and spirits. I'm the lucky one. God entrusted me with these special little spirits... and I need to remember to thank him everyday for the blessing of motherhood. Even in the hard and stressful times. 


I'm so grateful that I can be a mother. I'm going to try and focus on their Eternal objective and try to never complain about it. Even when my boys refuse to sleep and my energy is drained ;). I encourage all of us as Relief Society sisters to remember our divine role as mothers (in every form) and to keep our focus on the essential gospel truths. 


Love, 


Abby 

Visiting Teaching Sisters are Wonderful

Sisters....thank you for your support with Visiting Teaching. This is a calling from the Lord to watch over each other, comfort one another, and serve one another. You do this as a visiting teacher. We had 80% in June. I am not a "percent" watcher but it tells me that 80% of our sisters had contact with others in the ward. Friendships will grow, love and support will continue. Thank you again! Sister Bailey