DECEMBER PRESIDENCY MESSAGE

This year our theme has been 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 faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.”

At this time of year when things seem to be ever more crazy and hectic, we are reminded of the Glory of our Savior!  We too can be glorified like the Savior.  It is the direct result of what we do with this life.  The fruits of our labors will either be good or bad, bitter or sweet.  The harvest we speak of will be what we've sown in this life.  To have part of God's Glory in the next life we must do that which adds to God's Glory in this life.

The Savior of the World came just like each of us, a babe with all the potential for good or evil. And like Jesus, by partaking of that which is good, we increase in power and glory.  We can use that power to perform miracles and help those around us.  By doing His work, we also sanctify ourselves and make ourselves like the Savior.  We can inspire others by our good, just like the Savior did.  By using our power for good we add to God's Glory and further ‘Establish a House of Glory’.  Let us focus on the glories around us this season by striving in our lives and homes to have a ‘House of Glory’.

We want to wish you a wonderful holiday season and many blessings in the New Year!

                                                                       With Love,

                                                                              Jennifer, Tiffiny, Yvonne and Breann

December's Lesson Recordings

December 1, 2013 Presidency Message: Establish a House of Glory
listen to this lesson recording
December 8, 2013 The Prophet Joseph Smith
go to this lesson on lds.org
listen to this lesson recording
December 15, 2013 Reflections on the Mission of Jesus Christ
go to this lesson on lds.org
listen to this lesson recording
December 22, 2013 "Come Join With Us" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
go to this talk on lds.org
listen to this lesson recording
December 29, 2013 Bishopric Message
listen to this lesson recording

Pressing Forward with Faith

I watched a CES fireside by Elder Bednar this morning. I know his message is true. The title of the talk is "That We Might Not...Shrink" from  D&C 19:18. He talks about how we come to earth to gain experience and become like Christ. Often people find it is easier to have faith in Christ's ability to perform miracles in our lives, but do we also have the faith to trust in His will when it seems that miracles are not part of His plan for us. He said we must learn to drink the bitter cup without becoming bitter. I've been thinking about this same idea a lot lately as I've pondered the trials I've experienced in my life and have struggled with how to help the many sisters in our ward who are currently struggling with trials in their lives.

We all are given opportunities to demonstrate our faith in various situations. We are all given opportunities to grow and develop our faith and talents and abilities. We are all given opportunities to serve and love and bear testimony. I would like to take this opportunity to express my testimony of, love for and faith in our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for their plan of happiness and their willingness to give us this earthly experience and trust us to use the atonement in our lives.

I am grateful for the faith I developed as a young woman by following the personal progress program that prepared me for the aftermath of a car accident which left me with amnesia at 17 years old. I am grateful for the knowledge that experience gave me of the reality of our Savior, His atonement and the eternal nature of our existence which further strengthened my faith and prepared me for coping with the death of my father just 3 years later. I am grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord which I experienced after my father died. They assured me of our Father in Heaven's love and awareness of each of us which further prepared me for the experience of sending my husband to Iraq for a year when our daughter was only 7 months old. I am grateful for the strength and support I received from experiences where I could feel the companionship and comfort of the Holy Ghost when my home teachers served me, at general conference, during my personal prayers and scripture study.  I learned to turn to the Lord for peace and assurance which prepared me for the experience of having micro-preemies in the NICU for months. I am so grateful for the patience and endurance I developed at that time which enables me to continue to press forward with faith as a mother and wife and more importantly as a daughter of God come what may.

There is another talk that has influenced my thinking in this area, "Timing" by Elder Oaks. I have been amazed at how perfectly both the trials and blessings in my life have been tailored to my individual needs. I could never have mapped out a better plan for my life. I am so grateful for the Lord and His perfect plan for me. Of course I haven't always been the most grateful child. I have definitely had my tantrums and stubborn periods, but the Lord patiently waited for me to calm down and turn back to Him.

I only share these things as way of illustrating my faith. I can share my testimony, but without a bit of background it might come across as naive or brain-washed-sheep-like regurgitation. My point is that I know the Savior loves us and is there for us, because I have experienced loneliness, sorrow and pain. I KNOW HE IS THERE BECAUSE HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE WHEN I SOUGHT HIM. I pray that my testimony will strengthen yours and that you too can find the Savior standing near, watching over you. And I pray that the Holy Ghost will help you to recognize Satan's lies if  he tries to tell you that your situation is different or insignificant or whatever he says to try to convince you that your experience doesn't fit the Lord's plan and that He won't be there for you. I testify that He is there for you, right now! He always has been there and always will be there, no matter what! So take the time to feel His love for you and recognize His hand in your life! Pray for help to see Him and become like Him; you will be able to, I promise! In His Holy name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

November

November 3, 2013 Finances and Budgeting
listen to the recording of this lesson

go to "Finances" on lds.org

go to "The Guide to Family Finances" on lds.org

go to "Finances" lesson on lds.org

go to the personal finance course at byu.edu

November 10, 2013 Loving God More Than We Love the World
listen to the recording of this lesson

go to this lesson on lds.org

November 17, 2013 Doing Good to Others
listen to the recording of this lesson

go to this lesson on lds.org

November 24, 2013 "No Other Gods" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks

listen to the recording of this lesson
go to this talk on lds.org

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

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

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

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.

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