I was visiting my inlaws this weekend and got to attend Relief Society in their ward. It was a wonderful lesson, but one part of it really stuck out to me.
The teacher said she was visiting her friend *Linda (name changed because I can't remember the real one!). Linda was a very happy person. Her friend asked her why she was so happy all the time, what her deal was.
Linda responded, "I have a secret. I probably shouldn't tell you, but I'm going to anyway. I am pretty sure I'm Heavenly Father's favorite!"
Sisters, I now ask you to ask yourself, do you feel like you are Heavenly Father's favorite? Do you even feel like one of his special ones?
I think our lives would be greatly improved if we all thought we were Heavenly Father's favorite. I think we would all strive to do better and be better.
Sisters, you are super special! Live life like you are his favorite! Love you all.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Chapter 4 --Living joyfully in troubling times
Quick announcement: Date change...This will be on the 25th of
Feb. – Appetizer Recipe Exchange 6:30 -8 At Paula Taylor’s House.
Chapter 4 – Living Joyfully in Troubling Times
“Happiness here and now consists in freely, lovingly, joyfully acknowledging God’s will for us—and doing it in all ways and all affairs big and small."
“Happiness here and now consists in freely, lovingly, joyfully acknowledging God’s will for us—and doing it in all ways and all affairs big and small."
This lesson teaches us a wonderful aspect --- JOY!! Sometimes we get so focused on our problems, trials, and tribulations that we can't even imagine being happy, truly happy. I am sure you have heard the phrase accentuate the positive!
In John 10:10, Satan tries to steal our happiness. However, the Savior wants us to not be happy but have "abundant" happiness. Embrace the good things! Let go of the bad, and fill your life with wonderful things--happy things.
We all have our own trials. It gets boring being down. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and we should be happy.
President Benson shared an example of optimism near his home. He said: “I remember attending a meeting near Bancroft, Idaho. … We’d had a wonderful meeting, and after it was over, I was greeting some of the wonderful farmers who were there, and among them was a man by the name of Brother Yost, and I said, ‘Brother Yost, how are things out on the farm?’ Brother Yost said, ‘Oh, things are fine, Brother Benson, but I’m about 20 thousand dollars worse off than I was three days ago.’ I said, ‘What’s the matter—another frost?’ He said, ‘Yes, it hit the wheat just in the dough stage, and you know what that means.’ He said, ‘We’re starting the mowing machines in the morning, but everything’s all right. We’ve still got a little wheat in the bin, and we’ve got at least part of our year’s supply laid away. We’re not going to starve, and there’ll be another crop.’ As we left him, I said to my wife, ‘What a wonderful spirit.’
“We drove on down to Logan [a city in Utah, about 80 miles, or 130 kilometers, from Bancroft]. We had our children with us, and we stopped on Main Street to go into a grocery store to pick up a few cookies for the kiddies. And who should I meet on the sidewalk but Brother Yost. I said, ‘Well, what are you doing way down here?’ He said, ‘Brother Benson, it’s our day to go to the temple.’ And I said, ‘Well, reverses don’t dampen your spirits any, do they?’ Then he taught me a lesson. He said, ‘Brother Benson, when reverses come we need the temple all the more.’
President Benson says, "We will all have disappointments and discouragements—that is part of life. But if we will have faith, our setbacks will be but a moment and success will come out of our seeming failures. Our Heavenly Father can accomplish miracles through each of us if we will but place our confidence and trust in Him."
Our trust in Him is important because with that we CAN make it through our trialing times.
When George A. Smith was very ill, he was visited by his cousin, the Prophet Joseph Smith. The afflicted man reported: “He [the Prophet] told me I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulties might surround me. If I were sunk into the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged, but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I should come out on the top of the heap.” …
There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you. As the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.” (D&C 121:7–8.)
President Benson explains to us how we can enjoy the troubling times that may surface. He said that happiness must be earned from day to day. But, it is worth the effort.
However, your effort and your attitude determines whether you will be happy or not. Only you are in charge of your happiness.
President Benson gives his council in how to be happy. He says, "Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love."
He gives some great advice and that to live perfectly is to live happily. To live happily is to grow in spiritual strength toward perfection.
This is what life is all about! Be happy and if you are not ...well.. I have a scripture for you. It is in D & C 136:29 and it says, "If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful." That means to pray with all your might until you are happy.
This is what life is all about! Be happy and if you are not ...well.. I have a scripture for you. It is in D & C 136:29 and it says, "If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful." That means to pray with all your might until you are happy.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Chapter three--Freedom of Choice
Chapter 3: Freedom of Choice -- an eternal principle
Here is quote from President Benson that sums up the whole lesson:
"The biggest business of any life is making decisions. While one of the greatest gifts of God to man is … the right of choice, he has also given man responsibility for these choices. … We put our own lives in the direction of success or failure."
Ezra Taft Benson does a superb job of explaining where agency comes from and what it means to us now during our turn at mortality:
"The central issue in that premortal council was: Shall the children of God have untrammeled agency to choose the course they should follow, whether good or evil, or shall they be coerced and forced to be obedient? Christ and all who followed Him stood for the former proposition—freedom of choice; Satan stood for the latter—coercion and force."
Ezra Taft Benson frequently taught about agency:
"His teachings about the principle of agency included more than just a reminder to “choose between right and wrong.” He spoke of agency as the ability to “make important decisions that will have bearing on our salvation” and that will “affect our happiness in eternity.” He encouraged Latter-day Saints and others to use their agency to “act on their own,” without waiting to be commanded in all things. The principle of agency, he said, “runs like a golden thread throughout the gospel plan of the Lord for the blessing of his children."
"This life is a probation: a probation in which you and I prove our mettle, a probation that has eternal consequences for each of us. And now is our time and season—as every generation has had theirs—to learn our duties and to do them."
Mettle means strength of spirit!
In regards to the presence of evil and/or tragedy and its sorrowful consequences, President Benson teaches:
"That the Lord is displeased with wickedness is true. That He desires that it not occur is also true. That He will help those who oppose it is true. But that He allows wickedness to occur at all through His children here in mortality is proof of His having given them their freedom to choose, while reserving for Him a basis for their final judgment."
"There is no evil that [Jesus Christ] cannot arrest. All things are in His hands. This earth is His rightful dominion. Yet He permits evil so that we [and others] can make choices between good and evil."
"There are boundaries beyond which Satan cannot go. Within those bounds, he is presently being permitted to offer an unrighteous alternative to God’s righteous principles, thus allowing men to choose between good and evil and thereby determine the station they shall occupy in the next life."
President Benson reminds us just what Satan is really all about and what the consequences of sin actually do to us and those we care about:
"Your Father in heaven is mindful of you. He has given you commandments to guide you, to discipline you. He has also given you your agency—freedom of choice—“to see if [you] will do all things whatsoever [He] shall command.” (Abr. 3:25.)
"Satan is also mindful of you. He is committed to your destruction. He does not discipline you with commandments, but offers instead a freedom to “do your own thing.” … Satan’s program is “play now and pay later.” He seeks for all to be miserable like unto himself [see 2 Nephi 2:27]. The Lord’s program is happiness now and joy forever through gospel living."
"While a man may take some temporary pleasure in sin, the end result is unhappiness. “Wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10.) Sin creates disharmony with God and is depressing to the spirit."
Read the whole lesson, it was great!
"The biggest business of any life is making decisions. While one of the greatest gifts of God to man is … the right of choice, he has also given man responsibility for these choices. … We put our own lives in the direction of success or failure."
Ezra Taft Benson does a superb job of explaining where agency comes from and what it means to us now during our turn at mortality:
"The central issue in that premortal council was: Shall the children of God have untrammeled agency to choose the course they should follow, whether good or evil, or shall they be coerced and forced to be obedient? Christ and all who followed Him stood for the former proposition—freedom of choice; Satan stood for the latter—coercion and force."
Ezra Taft Benson frequently taught about agency:
"His teachings about the principle of agency included more than just a reminder to “choose between right and wrong.” He spoke of agency as the ability to “make important decisions that will have bearing on our salvation” and that will “affect our happiness in eternity.” He encouraged Latter-day Saints and others to use their agency to “act on their own,” without waiting to be commanded in all things. The principle of agency, he said, “runs like a golden thread throughout the gospel plan of the Lord for the blessing of his children."
"This life is a probation: a probation in which you and I prove our mettle, a probation that has eternal consequences for each of us. And now is our time and season—as every generation has had theirs—to learn our duties and to do them."
Mettle means strength of spirit!
In regards to the presence of evil and/or tragedy and its sorrowful consequences, President Benson teaches:
"That the Lord is displeased with wickedness is true. That He desires that it not occur is also true. That He will help those who oppose it is true. But that He allows wickedness to occur at all through His children here in mortality is proof of His having given them their freedom to choose, while reserving for Him a basis for their final judgment."
"There is no evil that [Jesus Christ] cannot arrest. All things are in His hands. This earth is His rightful dominion. Yet He permits evil so that we [and others] can make choices between good and evil."
"There are boundaries beyond which Satan cannot go. Within those bounds, he is presently being permitted to offer an unrighteous alternative to God’s righteous principles, thus allowing men to choose between good and evil and thereby determine the station they shall occupy in the next life."
President Benson reminds us just what Satan is really all about and what the consequences of sin actually do to us and those we care about:
"Your Father in heaven is mindful of you. He has given you commandments to guide you, to discipline you. He has also given you your agency—freedom of choice—“to see if [you] will do all things whatsoever [He] shall command.” (Abr. 3:25.)
"Satan is also mindful of you. He is committed to your destruction. He does not discipline you with commandments, but offers instead a freedom to “do your own thing.” … Satan’s program is “play now and pay later.” He seeks for all to be miserable like unto himself [see 2 Nephi 2:27]. The Lord’s program is happiness now and joy forever through gospel living."
"While a man may take some temporary pleasure in sin, the end result is unhappiness. “Wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10.) Sin creates disharmony with God and is depressing to the spirit."
Read the whole lesson, it was great!
Sunday, February 8, 2015
How you spend your time matters the most
I shared this with my BYUI students so I thought I would share it with you as well. At the end of January, I was able to attend a women’s
gathering up at BYUI with my sister-in-law. We had the privilege
of listening to Wendy Nelson, wife of Russell M. Nelson. The theme of her whole
talk was that how we spend our time really matters. I couldn't write down everything and I can't find the link to a video of her talk anywhere.
After she shared an experience of taking time to clean out her
garage, she realized that she neglected the spiritual aspects of her life. When she was driving to speak at a stake meeting, she
received these two words in a personal revelation—weightier matters. She then
shared this scripture which really stuck with me because she personalized it
and put her name in it. Here is how it goes:
It is Matthew 23:23, it says “Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise
and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to
have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
In her version, she wrote about cleaning her
garage, she neglected to go to the temple. So I thought I would do one for me…
Here is the version with me: Woe unto Angie! for
ye go on Facebook and Pinterest too much and spend too much time grading papers,
and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, reading your scriptures and
attending the temple: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other
undone.
She tells us to make the most of our time. She
challenged us to reboot our spiritual lives. Here are the steps for this
challenge:
1.
Set aside the things that do not matter.
2.
Create your wakeup call – after 7 days – see what
activities are a time waster. Make a list of your highlights and lowlights.
3.
Sacrifice time to the Lord by doing temple work –
see what you discover.
4.
Sacrifice time to do family history – again, see
what you discover.
She ended with Jeffery R Holland who said in a 2006 conference
talk, “…Anything we can change we should
change.”
This week, I challenge you to find how to make
the most of your time.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Labels
Hello sisters!
I have added the year's calendar for RS to the blog and also the Sunday Lesson schedule. To have quick access to these without having to scroll all through the blog, just look on the left for the section entitled 'labels'. Under that you will see the calendar and the schedule. Just click on which one you want and you can view it.
Hope this is helpful to all you sisters.
I hope you are having a fabulous day. It is my wish that each one of us could see ourselves as our Heavenly Father sees us. To have the self confidence and self image that we had when we were little.
I told my Daphne (2) this morning that she was beautiful. She said no, gorgeous! I said you're gorgeous and she said, yep.
Ladies, you are all gorgeous, especially to our father in heaven. It is my prayer that you each know that. Love ya!!
I have added the year's calendar for RS to the blog and also the Sunday Lesson schedule. To have quick access to these without having to scroll all through the blog, just look on the left for the section entitled 'labels'. Under that you will see the calendar and the schedule. Just click on which one you want and you can view it.
Hope this is helpful to all you sisters.
I hope you are having a fabulous day. It is my wish that each one of us could see ourselves as our Heavenly Father sees us. To have the self confidence and self image that we had when we were little.
I told my Daphne (2) this morning that she was beautiful. She said no, gorgeous! I said you're gorgeous and she said, yep.
Ladies, you are all gorgeous, especially to our father in heaven. It is my prayer that you each know that. Love ya!!
2015 Relief Society Calendar
January
8th – Visiting Teaching Conference 4-7
13th – Stake Humanitarian Project 10-11:30
25th – It’s great to be 8 (primary)
February
6th – Combined Relief Society and Priesthood Dinner and
a Show
10th – Stake Humanitarian Project 10-11:30
25th – Appetizer Recipe Exchange 6:30 -8 At Paula
Taylor’s House
March
10th – Play group 10-12 @the church
11th – Stake RS birthday Dinner, 6:30-8:30
28th – General Women’s Broadcast 6-8
April
4th&5th – General Conference
14th – Play group 10-12 @the church
16th – Temple Trip, meet at the church at 6pm.
23rd – Salad Recipe Exchange 6:30 – 8 @Holly Beck’s
home
May
12th - Play group 10-12 @the church or Park,
weather depending
June
9th - Play group 10-12 at a park
15th – 19th Girls Camp
25th – Summer RS Activity
July
14th – Play group 10-12 at a park
23rd – Main Dish Recipe Exchange 6:30-8 @ Natalie
Kraus’s house
TBD – Primary Water Activity
August
11th – Play group 10-12 at a park
22nd – Ward Summer Party at Green Canyon
29th – Great Exchange (Multi Ward)
September
8th - Play group 10-12 at a park
17th – Temple Trip – meet at the church at 6pm
26th – General Woman’s Broadcast 6-8
Humanitarian Drive
October
3rd &4th – General Conference
13th – Play group 10-12 @the church
22nd – Dessert Recipe Exchange
30th – Harvest Dinner and Trunk or Treat
November
10th - Play group 10-12 @the church
14th – Super Saturday 10-12
December
8th - Play group 10-12 @the church
2015 Sunday Lesson Schedule
January 4th RS Presidency Lesson Choice- BECKIE
January 11th Lesson #1- SERENA “The Great Commandment-
Love the Lord”
January 18th Lesson #2- TONI “Pray Always”
January 25th Bishop’s Choice Conference Talks- JANA
“Finding Lasting Peace & Building Eternal Families” -
L. Tom. Perry
“Parents: the Prime
Gospel Teachers of Their Children” - Tad R Callister
“Are We not
All Beggars?” - Jeffery R Holland
“The Law of the Fast: A personal
Responsibility to Care for the Poor”
-
Dean M Davies
“Sustaining the Prophets” - Russell M Nelson
“Live According to the Words of the Prophets”
- Carol F McKonkie
March 29th 5th Sunday Instruction Combined Relief Society/Priesthood
“Lord is it I?” - President Uchtdorf
“Flooding
the Earth and Our Lives with The Book of Mormon”
June 21st Lesson 12- TONI “Seek
the Spirit in All You Do”
June 28th Bishop’s Choice Conference Talks- JANA TBD
July 5th RS Presidency Lesson Choice- HOLLY
July 12th Lesson #13- SERENA “Priceless
Blessings of the House of the Lord”
July 19th Lesson #14- TONI “Marriage
and Family- Ordained of God”
July 26th Bishop’s Choice Conference Talks- JANA TBD
August 2nd RS Presidency Lesson Choice- NATALIE
August 9th Lesson #15- SERENA “The Sacred Callings of
Fathers and Mothers”
August 16th Lesson #16- TONI “The Elderly in the Church”
August 23rd Bishop’s Choice Conference Talks- JANA TBD
August 30th 5th Sunday Instruction Combined
Relief Society/Priesthood
Sept. 6th RS Presidency Lesson Choice- BECKIE
Sept. 20th Lesson #18- TONI “Beware
of Pride”
Sept. 27th Bishop’s Choice Conference Talks- JANA TBD
Oct. 4th GENERAL CONFERENCE
Oct. 11th Lesson #19- SERENA “Leadership”
Nov. 8th Lesson #21- SERENA “Principles of Temporal and Spiritual Welfare”
Nov. 15th Lesson #22- TONI “Carrying
the Gospel to the World”
Nov. 22nd Bishop’s Choice Conference Talks- JANA TBD
Nov. 29th 5th Sunday Instruction Combined Relief Society/Priesthood
Dec. 6th RS Presidency Lesson Choice- HOLLY
Dec. 13th Lesson #23- SERENA “Strengthen
Thy Stakes”
Dec. 20th Lesson #24- TONI “A
Christ-Centered Life”
Dec. 27th Bishop’s Choice Conference Talks- JANA TBD
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Announcements
Elders and Relief Society activity: Dinner and an improve group from BYU-I.
February 6 - 6:30-8:30. Babysitting available.
A-K - bring a dessert
L-Z - bring a side dish.
Choir practice is starting up again. Practices will be immediately following the block, at 4pm.
February 10th, 10-11:30am Stake Relief Society Humanitarian Service Project:
February 6 - 6:30-8:30. Babysitting available.
A-K - bring a dessert
L-Z - bring a side dish.
Dry pack canning. February 26 - 6-8pm Order form in Binder or you can get it online.
Choir practice is starting up again. Practices will be immediately following the block, at 4pm.
February 10th, 10-11:30am Stake Relief Society Humanitarian Service Project:
Using Prayer
Think of a cave. What are you imagining? What is a cave? Some words that were used to describe one in relief society were: dark, damp, scary, claustrophobic, and others. What are you thinking of?
Sister Beck told us that she is afraid of caves. In her life she has suffered from depression. She compared the depression to a cave. It was overwhelming for her. It was her Gethsemane. How did she over come it? Prayer.
Her lesson came from a talk given in April 2007 conference, by Richard G. Scott, Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer.
When she was at her lowest, she was just waiting for general conference so she could feel uplifted. This was the first talk of the Saturday morning session. And it was for her.
Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. Actually, because He knows how desperately we need His guidance, He commands, “Thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.”
It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer.
Sister Beck shared a comparison that her husband heard at a scouting event.
Prayer is like a steering wheel or a life boat. You can use it to steer you through life or when you are flailing. He encouraged the use of both. Use it as a steering wheel and as a life boat. It will steer you as you should go, but be sure, you will need it in times of trial as a life boat.
Sister Beck told us that she is afraid of caves. In her life she has suffered from depression. She compared the depression to a cave. It was overwhelming for her. It was her Gethsemane. How did she over come it? Prayer.
Her lesson came from a talk given in April 2007 conference, by Richard G. Scott, Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer.
When she was at her lowest, she was just waiting for general conference so she could feel uplifted. This was the first talk of the Saturday morning session. And it was for her.
Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. Actually, because He knows how desperately we need His guidance, He commands, “Thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.”
It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer.
We will know our father through prayer and he will know us.
Sister Beck shared a comparison that her husband heard at a scouting event.
Prayer is like a steering wheel or a life boat. You can use it to steer you through life or when you are flailing. He encouraged the use of both. Use it as a steering wheel and as a life boat. It will steer you as you should go, but be sure, you will need it in times of trial as a life boat.
The constant and most recurring question in our minds, touching every thought and deed of our lives, should be, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6.) The answer to that question comes only through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost. Fortunate are those who so live that their being is filled with both.
We must always remember that we are NEVER unworthy to pray.
Gordon B. Hinckley admonished us to: Pray to the Lord with the expectations of answers.
President David O. McKay testified, “It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication.” Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase. There is a relationship between those two: the greater your faith, the stronger your character; and increased character enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith.
We need to struggle so we can grow and develop.
It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want. It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result. The Savior taught, “Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you.” 4 At times it is difficult to recognize what is best or expedient for you over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good.
Some example of prayer from the scriptures.
Esther 4:16
Daniel 6:14, 16, 18
Mosiah 27: 14 (never underestimate the prayer of a parent)
JSH: 14-17
Luke 22:42
Mosiah 15:7 - Have we ever had a trial that we just wanted to go away? That we just wanted to end? Jesus, our Savior did.
It is not always our will to pass through trials.
Holly said as she was preparing this lesson, she had Disney lullabies going and a song from Pinocchio came on. She felt it fit this lesson.
"When you wish upon a star (prayer) makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you." Sung by: Jiminy Cricket
When we contemplate the incomparable gift of prayer and the limitless blessings that flow from it, honest appreciation fills our mind and heart to overflowing with thanksgiving. Should we not, therefore, continually and profoundly express to our beloved Father, as well as we are able, our unbounded gratitude for the supernal gift of prayer and for His answers that meet our needs while motivating us to grow?
I testify our Father will always answer your prayers in the way and in the time that will be for your best eternal good.
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