Monday, June 24, 2013

July

July 7, 2013 Presidency Message "Establish a House of Sacrifice"
July 14, 2013 Relief Society: True Charity and Pure Religion
listen to this lesson recording
go to this lesson on lds.org
July 21, 2013  "With God All Things Are Possible"
go to this lesson on lds.org
July 28, 2013 ʺLord I  Believeʺ by Jeffrey R. Holland
listen to this lesson recording
go to this talk on lds.org


July Presidency Message "Establish a House of Sacrifice"

In Relief Society this month we will be talking about “Establishing a House of Sacrifice.” I have been pondering and praying about this as I have been preparing for the lesson this month. Sacrifice means giving to the Lord whatever He requires of our time, our earthly possessions, and our energies to further His work. This can sometimes feel like a lot to be asked of us.

What examples of sacrifice have you observed in the lives of people you know? What examples of sacrifice have you seen in the lives of your ancestors?

Sacrifice helps us prepare to live in the presence of God. Only through sacrifice can we become worthy to live in the presence of God. Only through sacrifice can we enjoy eternal life. Many who have lived before us have sacrificed all they had. We must be willing to do the same. We may not be asked to sacrifice all things, but be willing to sacrifice what we can.

The principle of sacrifice should be taught in every home and should be practiced in many simple yet important ways. The Lord will bless us for doing what he has asked and doing our best to sacrifice.

Sisters, Thank you for your service and sacrifice each and everyday.

With Love,

Jennifer, Tiffiny, Yvonne, and Breann

June

June 1, 2013: Presidency Message Establish a House of Fasting
Listen to the lesson recording
June 9, 2013: I Seek Not Mine Own Will, But the Will of the Father
Listen to the lesson recording
Go to this lesson on lds.org
June 16, 2013: Tithing, a Law For Our Protection and Advancement
Listen to the lesson recording
Go to this lesson on lds.org
June 23, 2013: The Law of Chastity & Virtue (several conference talks were used)
Listen to the lesson recording
Go to "Obedience to Law is Liberty" on lds.org
Go to "We Believe in Being Chaste" on lds.org
Go to "The Savior Wants to Forgive" on lds.org
Specific Talks for Young Women:
Go to "When You Save a Girl, You Save Generations"
Go to "Guardians of Virtue"
Go to "A Return to Virtue"
June 30, 2013: Bishopric Message Strengthening the Family Through the Priesthood.
Listen to the lesson recording
Go to "Blessings of the Priesthood in Every Home" on lds.org
Go to "The Power of the Priesthood in the Family" on lds.org
Go to the World Wide Leadership Training "Strengthening the Family and the Church Through the Priesthood" on lds.org


June Presidency Message "Establish a House of Fasting"

How can fasting increase our spiritual power to resist temptations? To receive revelation? To do righteous acts?

As we increase the spirituality of our fasting, we can improve our relationships within our families. We can also receive great spiritual blessings of comfort and insight. We should always begin our fasting with prayer. At that time we can ask Heavenly Father to give us strength to complete the fast. We should express our desire to fast, the purpose of our fast, and its importance to us. We should also ask for help in obtaining the needed blessing. We should break our fast with prayer, exercising faith concerning the purpose of the fast. I know that spiritual strength from fasting comes through obedience and faith. As we fast and pray exercising our faith, we can be blessed with the power we need. As we fast,the strength of our testimonies will increase. We will have a desire to share our testimonies at fast and testimony meeting. As our children hear and feel our love of the gospel, they will also grow spiritually.

I challenge myself and all of you to practice this in our homes and lives; to live the law of the fast; to have a "House of Fasting".

Sisters we love you all! We thank you all for your prayers and fasting in behalf of others.

With Love,

Jennifer, Tiffiny, Yvonne and Breann

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

May

May 5, 2013: Sacred Family Relationships
Listen to the lesson recording
Go to this lesson on lds.org
May 12, 2013: Establish a House of Ministering
Go to this talk on lds.org
May 19, 2013: Come into the Temples
Listen to the lesson recording
Go to this lesson on lds.org
May 26, 2013: "Becoming Goodly Parents" by L.Tom Perry
Go to this talk on lds.org
Listen to the lesson recording

May’s Presidency Message: Establish a House of Ministering

Ministering to those in need is an integral part of being Christian. Serving others is fundamental to keeping our Baptismal Covenant as well as our Temple Covenants, but how do we go about it? John the Beloved recorded the Savior’s teaching “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). In John chapter 21 the Savior asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Christ’s response to Peter’s declaration of love is, “If ye love me, feed my sheep.” Elder Holland outlines specific ways to do this: “we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back…Your Father in Heaven expects your loyalty and your love at every stage of your life.” We truly demonstrate our love for the Savior and our Father in Heaven by acting with compassion for those in need.

Elder David Beck declared, “Ministering is not just something we do—it defines who we are. Minister every day. Opportunities are all around you. Look for them. Ask the Lord to help you recognize them. You will find that most consist of small, sincere acts that help others become followers of Jesus Christ…I testify that as you do, you will be an instrument in God’s hands to help others. Your life will be richer and more meaningful. You will find greater strength to resist evil. You will find true happiness—the kind that is known only by true followers of Jesus Christ. May you feel the joy of fulfilling your sacred duty to minister.”  Don’t be held back by fear or self-doubt; don’t limit yourself. This is God’s work and you have accepted His call to minister as He did. He will direct you and you will be enabled by His power. 

President Eyring taught the Relief Society sisters, “You will be strengthened and yet inspired to know the limits and extent of your ability to serve…the Lord will be with you and… your way will be prepared and marked for you by Him in your service to those He loves in their needs and trials.” Just as good actors follow the stage directions of a script, director and producer, we too can follow the doctrines of the scriptures, the promptings of the Holy Ghost and the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. This month, let us evaluate how we act as Christ’s disciples in our homes and how we minister in our ward and neighborhood. As we strive to establish a House of Ministering, we will be empowered to go where He wants us to go and do what he wants us to do!

With Love,

Jennifer, Tiffiny, Yvonne, and Breann
April

April 7, 2013: General Conference
Go to conference on lds.org
April 14, 2013: Faithfulness in Times of Trial: "From the Shadows into the Glorious Sunshine"
Go to this lesson on lds.org
April 21, 2013: Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart
Go to this lesson on lds.org
April 28, 2013: "Protect the Children" by Dallin H. Oaks
Go to this talk on lds.org

Presidency Message
Prepare Every Needful Thing: "Establish a House of Faith"

April is such an amazing month. We celebrate Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are also blessed to partake of General Conference. We have been spiritually fed by our Prophet and Apostles.

This month in Relief Society we are talking about “Establishing a House of Faith”. It is so challenging to just go through life with complete Faith. Our Faith is challenged each and every day. Richard C. Edgley put it well when he said in a conference talk, “Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism.” Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today’s world, we have a choice of peace and protection, and that choice is faith. This is not just given to you; you must choose it and want it.

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Faith is the basis of testimony. Faith underlies loyalty to the Church. Faith represents sacrifice, gladly given in moving forward the work of the Lord.” I know that my faith grows each and every day and by staying close to my Heavenly Father and serving the Lord, I have faith in His eternal plan.

We love each of you and want for each of you to “Establish a House of Faith” and to strengthen your testimonies.

With Love,

Jennifer, Yvonne, Tiffiny, and Breann

Thursday, March 14, 2013

March

Mar 3, 2013: Establish a House of Prayer
listen to the recording of this lesson
Mar 9, 2013: Relief Society "Zion's Mall" Activity
listen to the recording of the speakers at this activity
Mar 10, 2013: The Grand Destiny of the Faithful
go to this lesson on lds.org
listen to the recording of this lesson
Mar 17, 2013: Becoming Perfect Before the Lord: " A Little Better Day by Day."
go to this lesson on lds.org
listen to the recording of this lesson
Mar 24, 2013: "Where is the Pavilionʺ by President Eyring
go to this talk on lds.org
listen to the recording of this lesson
Mar 31, 2013: Bishopric Message


March Presidency Message:
Prepare Every Needful Thing "Establish a House of Prayer"

What is prayer? In the Bible dictionary it says, "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other." This is a beautiful description!

Prayer is a commandment, but it is also one of the sweetest blessings in our lives here on earth. In my life, prayer has been something I have to do and not something that I consider a blessing most of the time. But it truly is a blessing! D&C 19:38 says, "Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing yea even more than if you should obtain treasures of the earth."

My challenge for us all...Pray for ways in which you can "Establish a House of Prayer" in your life. We love you sisters. We love serving with you! Thank you for your prayers on behalf of each other and us.

With Love,

Jennifer, Tiffiny, Yvonne and Breann

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

February Lesson Schedule

Feb 3, 2013: Establish Your Best Self
go to President Monson's talk Be Your Best Self on lds.org
listen to the recording of this lesson
Feb 10, 2013: Lifelong Conversion: Continuing to Advance in the Principles of Truth
go to this lesson on lds.org
listen to the recording of this lesson (the batteries died part way through this recording...sorry!)
Feb 17, 2013: STAKE CONFERENCE
Feb 24, 2013: Converted Unto the Lordʺ by Elder Bednar
go to this talk on lds.org
listen to the recording of this lesson

February Presidency Message

Our focus for the month of February is Establish Your Best Self.  The key to becoming our best is recognizing that we come from the best. The Relief Society theme teaches that “we are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction”. Our Father in Heaven wants us to become our best selves! Because He loves us and wants us to succeed in our life’s mission, He hasn’t sent us here empty handed. What qualities and characteristics have you inherited from Him? What gifts has He given you? What talents have you been blessed with? Reflect on your divinity for a while and ask Him to help you see yourself through His eyes. You will be filled with gratitude for the knowledge of His love for you. Your path to establishing your best self doesn’t start from nothing! You are already an awesome woman! Let Him reveal your individual worth and divine nature.

Starting from that divine perspective creates an amazing power, motivation and personal hope with in us. It generates the confidence necessary to ask yourself, what gifts does my Father in Heaven still want to bestow on me? What qualities does He want me to work on and improve upon? Are there gifts that I desire to ask of Him? Have you talked to Him about these thoughts? President Monson taught that “with God on our side we cannot fail.” He also asks us, “Are we prepared for our journey through life?” He then outlines a way for us to prepare ourselves, “determine to study diligently, pray fervently, and live righteously. Let us never despair, for the work in which we are engaged is the work of the Lord.”  President Monson, the prophet of the Lord also promises, “Miracles are everywhere…When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposes.”  God’s primary purpose is to help us all to become like Him. As we study, pray and seek to live righteously we will be led by the Spirit on a personal path of refinement and we will know how to establish our best selves.  We testify of these truths and promise that as you strive to establish your best self, you will be filled with joy and you will be a blessing to those around you.
Love,
Jennifer, Tiffiny, Yvonne and Breann


January Presidency Message: Prepare Every Needful Thing

January is the beginning of a New Year and a time of new beginnings, and a great time to put everything in order. Just like in the scripture, D&C 88:119: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."

In Relief Society, our Theme for 2013 is to “Prepare Every Needful Thing”. We have prayed and discussed as a Presidency the importance of this scripture in each of our lives. It is so very important that we prepare every needful thing in each of our lives but it is so very important that we Seek the One Thing That is Needful. We need to each bring the spirit of Christ into our homes and families. We can ask ourselves these questions: How can I find God’s personal plan for my life? How can I learn to trust in His direction for me?

We hope you each have had a great holiday season and are excited for a New Year and to set new goals for you and your families. We love each of you and love the testimonies you share and love you show to each of us.

With Love, Jennifer, Yvonne, Tiffiny, and Breann