Relief Society: True Charity and Pure Religion

"This is what we desire to instill into the hearts of the sisters -- to be useful in their sphere and not be discouraged because of the difficulties in the way, but to trust in God and look to Him, and His marvelous blessings, I promise you, will be poured out upon you.  This shall be your experience . . . Let me reiterate again, don't be discouraged, but go on and accomplish good, exercise faith, and every opportunity that is presented seek to improve upon it.  We want you to exercise all the talents that God has bestowed upon you.  And there is this about it in reference to your prospects of success.  When a person commences to travel over a path that the Lord has marked out, and by which to accomplish good in His interest, he is sure to succeed.  He is precisely where God wants him to be, and there is the place that you may, with the greatest propriety ask God for His blessing." (Lorenzo Snow)

Taken from Teachings of the Presidents:  Lorenzo Snow.  Lesson taught by Cheryl Demke.

Stewardship and the Law of Consecration

"Usually when I think of herding sheep, I think of the requirement, or stewardship, of the shepherd to do everything he can for all of his sheep.  this experience, however, reminded me that it is the parable of the lost sheep, and my thoughts turned to the precarious nature of that one lost ewe, all alone and unable to take another step up the rock face and equally unable to turn around and find her way down.  How frantic and hopeless she must have felt, completely powerless to rescue herself one step away from certain disaster.

Such Shepherds may need the expertise and assistance of the search and rescue team, but they are present, account for, and climbing right beside them to save those who are infinitely valued in the sight of god, for they are His children. " (Elder L. Tom Perry, April 2009 General Conference)

“Every day, every hour, every minute of your span of mortal years must sometime be accounted for. And it is in this life that you walk by faith and prove yourself able to choose good over evil, right over wrong, enduring happiness over mere amusement. And your eternal reward will be according to your choosing.
“A prophet of god has said: Men are that they might have joy – a joy that includes a fullness of life, a life dedicated to service, to love and harmony in the home, and the fruits of honest toil – an acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – of its requirements and commandments. Only in these will you find true happiness, the happiness which doesn’t fade with the lights and music and the crowds.”

These statements express the reality that our life on earth is a stewardship of time and choices granted by our creator. The word stewardship calls to mind the Lord’s law of consecration, which has an economic role but, more than that, is an application of celestial law to life here and now. To consecrate is to set apart or dedicate something as sacred, devoted to holy purposes. True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives – that is, our time and choices – to God’s purposes. In so doing, we permit Him to raise us to our highest destiny.” (D. Todd Christofferson, October 2010 Conference)

Lesson given by Cassi Campbell

Note: I thought you'd like these other photos of lamb rescue by ordinary people . . . . .

Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness

President John Taylor taught that peace is not only desirable, but "it is the gift of God."

The peace to which I am referring is not just a temporary tranquility.  It is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.

President Heber J. Grant described the Savior's peace this way:  "His peace will ease our suffering, bind up our broken hearts, blot out our hates, engender in our breasts a love of fellow men that will suffuse our souls with calm and happiness."

We all long for peace.  Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention.  Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life's devastating trials and tragedies.

Lesson Taken from April 2013 General Conference.  Talk by Elder Quentin L. Cook, Saturday Afternoon Session, pg. 32 in the May 2013 Ensign.

Tithing, a Law for Our Protection and Advancement

"The Law of Tithing is one of the most important ever revealed to man. . .. Through obeying this law the blessings of prosperity and success will be given unto the Saints.

If we will keep that law . . . the land will be sanctified, and we shall be counted worthy to receive the blessings of the Lord and to be sustained and supported in our financial affairs and in everything we do, temporal as well as spiritual."

Lesson taken from Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 12.  Taught by Cheryl Demke.

I Seek Not Mine Own Will, but the Will of the Father

"There is a course for every person to pursue in which there will be no failure.  It will apply to temporal as well as spiritual matters.  . . Now what we want is to have that spirit in every act of our lives and in every undertaking, whether temporal or spiritual, and not think of self.  We should try to ascertain how we should spend the money and the information that God has given us.  The answer is simple - for the glory of God."

"Thus let us devote ourselves to righteousness, help each and all to be better and happier; do good to all and evil to none; honor God and obey His Priesthood; cultivate and preserve an enlightened conscience and follow the Holy Spirit; faint not, hold fast to what is good, endure to the end, and your cup of joy shall be full even to overflowing, for great shall be your reward for your trials and your sufferings under temptations, your fiery ordeals, your heart yearnings and tears; yea, our God will give you a crown of unfading glory."

Taken from the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 11.  Taught by Kristy Bateman.

Come to the Temple

Sisters, the Someday is . . . . 

Thursday, June 20th

6pm Session

If you'd like to carpool, meet at the 

Greenbluff Building at 5pm.

See you there!

LOVE

8 Mighty Changes God Wants for You Before you get to Heaven

1. Mighty Scripture Study
2. Mighty Prayer - come to the throne of Grace, daily (Hebrews 4:16)
3. Mighty Faith  - look forward with an eye of faith (Alma 5:15).  Instead of moving along the lazy river, move your arms! (proverb by Juli)
4. Mighty Repentance - It is the Lord's Celestial system for making things right.
5. How to Get and Receive the Spirit.  Have a desire, be obedient, and learn to love living with it so that you'll never want to be without it.
6. Obedience - strict obedience brings blessings.
7. Humility - "Man wrapped up in self make mighty small package." (Old Chinese Proverb)
8. LOVE  - read this obituary and be inspired.

Lesson Based on the Book, 8 Mighty Changes God Wants for You Before you get to Heaven by D. Kelly Ogden.  Lesson given by Juli Shogan.