Wednesday, October 30, 2013

November


November Presidency Message: Establish a House of Thanks and Giving

Since it's November, my thoughts have been focused on the upcoming holidays. I've been pondering how we can increase both our gratitude and generosity this season. I was reading about gratitude in an article entitled Selfless Gratitude (Yoga Journal, http://www.yogajournal.com/gratitude) and I was quite surprised by what I found I had overlooked when thinking of gratitude. It is a much more complex concept than I had realized. 

Think about the variations of gratitude. Sometimes people feel gratitude in a way that is indebted or feeling like they owe something in return. Sometimes people feel gratitude in what could be described as a judgement & discernment spectrum; this happens when we compare situations. It can be a negative form, when we are comparing and contrasting what is good in our lives to what we judge to be bad in someone else's or vice versa. Or it can be positively motivated, when we prayerfully acknowledge God's hand in all we have and feel gratitude for recognizing our ability to meet another's need. We feel appreciation for our abundance which motivates selfless generosity, freely giving out of Christ-like love for Heavenly Father's children. 

This is the essence of the true spirit of the law of the fast. When Bishop challenged us to give a "more generous fast offering," some of us may have felt like we were already giving our version of the "widow's mite". With a heart full of gratitude for the Lord's blessings in our lives, we may be able to prayerfully discover that we can increase our fast offerings. Only through guidance by the Holy Spirit of truth can we honestly evaluate our circumstances and offer a sacrifice that is acceptable unto the Lord. Through careful budgeting and attention to our finances we can discern the difference between our needs and wants and keep our desires within the bounds the Lord has set. It is our prayer as a Relief Society presidency that we will each be able to Establish a House of Thanks and Giving, as we reflect on the variety of blessings we receive.

With love,

Jennifer, Tiffiny, Yvonne and Breann
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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

October

October 5 & 6, 2013 GENERAL CONFERENCE
go to Oct 2013 General Conference on lds.org
October 13, 2013 Missionary Work: "To Reach Every Human Heart"
listen to this lesson recording
go to this lesson on lds.org
October 20, 2013 The Kingdom of God Moves Forward
listen to this lesson recording
go to this lesson on lds.org
October 27, 2013 "It's a Miracle" by Neal A. Andersen
listen to this lesson recording
go to this talk on lds.org
October 27, 2013 Primary Program
listen to the recording of the Primary Program


OCTOBER PRESIDENCY MESSAGE:

For the month of October we are focusing on “Establishing a Christ-centered home.” 

What a great time to be thinking about this with conference this month.  We will each be spiritually fed by the prophet and apostles.  We understand and believe in the eternal nature of the family.  This understanding should inspire us to do everything in our power to establish a Christ-centered home. 

Our eternal happiness is not one of Satan’s objectives.  He knows that an essential key to making men and women miserable like himself is to deprive them of family relationships which have eternal potential.  Because Satan understands that true happiness in this life and in the eternities is found in the form of family, he does everything in his power to destroy it.  We do not want this.

Learning, teaching, and practicing the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our homes helps create a culture where the Spirit can dwell.  Through establishing these celestial traditions in our homes, we will be able to overcome the false traditions of the world and learn to put the needs and concerns of others first.

When parents preside over the family in love and righteousness and teach their children the gospel of Jesus Christ by word and through example, and when children love and support their parents by learning and practicing the principles their parents teach, the result will be the establishment of a Christ-centered home.

I bear you my testimony that as you strive to do this, you will have more love in your family and in your homes and Christ will be in your homes and in your hearts. 

I pray that as you each listen to Conference, you will each gain a stronger testimony of this and many other things that you are each in need of at this time.
With Love, Jennifer, Tiffiny, Yvonne and Breann
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September

September 1, 2013 Presidency Message: "Establish a House of Order"
listen to this lesson recording
September 8, 2013 Priesthood--for the Salvation of the Human Family
listen to this lesson recording
go to this lesson on lds.org
September 15, 2013 Church Leadership and Selfless Service
listen to this lesson recording
go to this lesson on lds.org
September 22, 2013 "Sacred Duty to Minister" by David L. Beck
listen to this lesson recording
go to this talk on lds.org
September 28, 2013 GENERAL RELIEF SOCIETY MEETING
go to this broadcast on lds.org
September 29, 2013 Bishopric Message "Hastening the Work of Salvation"
listen to this lesson recording
go to the special broadcast on lds.org

September Presidency Message "Establish a House of Order"

I have been contemplating what truly is a "House of Order"? I think for most of us we think of a clean, non-contentious home. These things are good, but they are just the basics for a "House of Order".

To set our houses in an order "pleasing to the Lord," we need to do it His way. We are to employ His attributes of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness. When we are focused on the gospel principles and use them regularly in our lives and homes, great blessings can be ours. President Monson reiterated the scripture in a general conference, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." Such is true in our lives. Let us provide time for family, time for work, time for study, time for service, time for recreation, time for self--but above all, time for Christ.

If we set our houses in order now and faithfully cling to the gospel, we will feel our home to be a "House of Order". We are so thankful for the examples each of you are to us and to one another!

We love you dearly!

Jennifer, Tiffiny, Yvonne and Breann
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August

August 4, 2013 Presidency Message "Establish a House of Learning"

August 11, 2013 Faithful, Energetic Service in the Kingdom of God
go to this lesson on lds.org

August 18, 2013 "That We May Become One"
go to this lesson on lds.org
listen to this lesson recording
August 25, 2013 STAKE CONFERENCE

August Presidency Message "Establish a House of Learning"

It’s that time of year again; school is just around the corner! This month we’re focusing on Establishing a House of Learning. I love President Kimball’s quote in July’s visiting teaching message about women needing to become scripture scholars to facilitate the nurturing and teaching in which we engage. As we personally learn the gospel from the scriptures, conferences, temple attendance and other worthy sources, we are also under covenant to nurture testimony growth in those around us. The Doctrine and Covenants reminds us of the need to gain knowledge and wisdom before we can teach and preach the word. Additionally, there are multiple references to the importance of acquiring secular knowledge in our eternal progression (see sections 6, 88, 90, 93 and 130). How do we find time to fit it all in and how do we avoid being overwhelmed by all there is to know? The scriptures teach us to pray always, use wisdom and order in all things and allow the Spirit to guide us. We are also counseled to apply both study and faith in the process of learning. In her talk titled “Rowing Your Boat,” Sister Chieko Okasaki compares study and faith to the twin oars used in rowing a boat. The visual imagery she invokes is that of moving in circles when one neglects to use both oars as needed to progress in the desired direction. Maybe we should also remember not to try to “row” faster than we have strength. Lent Hadley Read points out some of the benefits of learning, “Fortunately, in addition to the duty and responsibility associated with learning, we also gain pleasure from learning [and the] pursuit of learning…leads away from sorrow and despair.” (Learn and Live, Ensign. Sep 1991) We testify that you will find joy and fulfillment as you renew your efforts to Establish a House of Learning in this season of your life.
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