A review of how David O. McKay changed the church - August 7, 2016

Colette discussed many stories from the life of President David O. McKay and noted that the Church changed from one that looked to the past to one that looked to the future.

He was determined to change the chapel experience of those who joined the Church outside of Utah, directing that chapels and temples be built closer to their own homes around the world.  So that they would grow where they were planted.

He also had an extraordinary personal secretary in Clare Middlemiss, regarded at the time as the most powerful woman in the Church.  She protected President McKay and kept meticulous records of his thoughts in multiple volumes of books.  She served in the otherwise male role for over 30 years.

Being Fast Sunday we also heard testimonies from Nanci, Alice and both Alisons.

October 25, 2015 - “Why the Church"

This week's lesson was taught by Lanae S. using the October 2015 General Conference talk by Elder D. Todd Christofferson “Why the Church".

• When you think of the church what do you think of?
• How has the church been a tool to getting closer to Heavenly Father?

The ancient purpose remains: that is, to preach the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and administer the ordinances of salvation--in other words, to bring people to Christ.
Without the capabilities of His Church in place, the Savior’s commission to take the gospel to all the world could not be realized. There would not be the apostolic keys, the structure, the financial means, and the devotion and sacrifice of thousands upon thousands of missionaries needed to carry out the work. Remember, “this Gospel of the Kingdom [must] be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” “Why the Church"

• How have you been helped by the aggregate strength of the church?

...a major reason the Lord has a church is to create a community of Saints that will sustain one another in the “strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life. “Why the Church"

• How can you help the community of saints in their path of discipleship?

In the Church we not only learn divine doctrine; we also experience its application. As the body of Christ, the members of the Church minister to one another in the reality of day-to-day life. All of us are imperfect; we may offend and be offended. We often test one another with our personal idiosyncrasies. In the body of Christ, we have to go beyond concepts and exalted words and have a real “hands-on” experience as we learn to “live together in love.” “Why the Church"

• Which element of discipleship will you work on as you serve this week?

LESSON SUMMARY JUNE 1, 2014

 WHAT RELIEF SOCIETY MEANS TO ME, taught by Sue A. 

Purposes

Gospel purpose -- Bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.  

Moses 1:39

Church purpose --

1.  Provide saving ordinances & covenants that go with them

-baptism -- Mosiah 18:8-10

  -temple covenants -- gospel of love, chastity, sacrifice & law of consecration

Relief Society purpose --

History of RS -- founded in 1842 by Sisters who wanted to do good in their community.  Support the men working on the Nauvoo Temple.  Pattern at that time was to organize ladies societies with elected leaders, bylaws, etc.  They started to do that, but Prophet Joseph Smith came and said no -- don’t be a secular society.  Organize as part of the priesthood.  Once that had been done, the church was fully organized.

RELIEF part -- giving service and charity.  GIving to others -- inside and outside the church

   Q -- How have you received service thru RS?  Or given…..

• Sister Bliss discussed how her mother and family received a lot of help from the relief society when her mother was sick
• Susan explained her overwhelming support from the relief society during her recent difficult times
• Becca J explained how she got the relief society engaged in helping a non-member neighbor

   Q -- How would you like to see our PA2 RS give service -- inside and outside the church?

• Be open with what you need
• Accept help
• Be in tune with the spirit
• Be on lookout for those who might not have service otherwise

SOCIETY part -- we need sisters and friends

Q -- How have you made/kept friends thru RS?

• Stay in touch- make an effort

Externally we are lots of different kinds of women.  At All Hands Meeting in Feb, Catherine did chart of ages/marriages/kids, etc.  We are all over the map.

I’d like to mention some other ways that we are different, and yet the same.  

We look at life differently, and yet come to the same conclusion that we want to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and live His Gospel.

Happened in another context last week to re-read Richard Poll’s talk in PA1 Sacrament meeting in August 1967.  You can find it in several places on the internet.  

Liahona’s vs. Iron Rodders -- Some just grab the commandments and march forward.  Others have to ask and find their own way.  Both are equally faithful.  I love John Bytheway statement, “I have lots of questions, but I don’t have doubts.”    I feel that way, too because I’ve felt the spirit in my life and know that God lives.  I know that someday, somehow my questions will be answered.

This week I also listened to a Mormon Channel interview of Elder Perry and his wife by Sherri Dew.  Sister Perry said that she is more Martha than Mary.  Luke 10:38-42.   Some of us are good at sitting and holding hands and listening.  Some of us are better at making sure the meals are cooked and the laundry is done.  Both are necessary.

Pair share -- talk to a neighbor about your own attitudes and behaviors.  Do you feel like you are an iron-rod or a Liahona person?  Or do you identify more with Mary or with Martha?   Or can you see through your life how you have grown from one to another?

Share with the whole group

I come from a long line of RS Sisters.  My mother told me stories of playing on the lawn outside people’s homes when her mother made RS visits as President of Long Beach Ward and Stake RS.  I grew up watching my mother prepare to teach the Shakespeare lessons that they did in RS, and we all sewed things that were sold at the annual ward Bazaar.  I’ve become such good friends with women I have visit taught, and especially with my VT companions.  As we drive around town and share ways to serve our Sisters, we become closer.  We provide Relief and enjoy our society together.  It can’t get much better than that.

Thank you Nettie W, Katie S and Donna P for sharing your testimony about what RS means to you.

Thank you Sue for the wonderful lesson!

February 23, 2014 - All-hand Relief Society Meeting

We had all the blessing of our Relief Society sisters who serve in Primary and Young Women join us for a meeting of uplift, encouragement and peace.

We had beautiful muscial numbers by a quartet of Brandon W., Erik J., Todd M., and Dave D. singing "There is a Green Hill Far Away" and by Lanae S. accompanied by her husband Daniel with "Savior Redeemer of My Soul".

Using President Henry B. Eyring's "To My Grandchildren" talk from the October 2013 General Conference, the Relief Society Presidency delivered messages about the atonement in their lives.

• Sue A. spoke about how through parenthood she has learned more from the Savior, of forgiveness, of patience.  He doesn't hold grudges and forgives her mistakes she makes as a mother.  In the Family Circus cartoon, it was noted in Grandma Quotes: The road to heaven allows u-turns. She shares her deep love for her children with them so that they know and she feels how much she is loved by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
• Kim H. shared that she doesn't have the ah-ha moments that some report of spiritual learning, she has a lot of faith in the principles and applies them.  She has always felt God's love for her and through repentance has grown in her understanding of what the Atonement means and leads her to a deeper love of the The Lord.
• Catherine B.'s thoughts centered around her struggle in mothering, she has felt the transformative power of the atonement bring joy that has empowered her abilities.  In choosing a picture of Christ for her home, she values one of Him looking at a child and learns to love as He does.

We ended our meeting with a symbolic snack as Christ did when he shared fish and honeycomb with his disciples.

Each of you are a special and vital part of our Relief Society and we cherish knowing and serving you!
Thank you to everyone who attended and for those who helped make the meeting extra special.


A special thank you to the men and youth that filled in for our sisters in their teaching roles for this special meeting.

Lesson Summary: February 2, 2014

President Hancock gave a wonderful stake presidency message. The following summary is only a summary and can never be a substitution for the wonderful presentation of President Hancock.

There were 4 topics of discussion
1) The stake presidency loves us
2) They want to tell us (the women) what they are telling the men in the stake
3) Discuss a few observations about women in the stake
4) The stake presidency wants our feedback. Q&A

1) The stake presidency loves us

• This is a topic of Infinite expanse. We are women of different backgrounds, goals and life challenges.
• The stake presidency wants to love us and support us. They acknowledge that women in our stake don't get enough help 

2) What are they telling the men?

• Understanding priorities
• First- wife, second- children, third- employer, fourth- church 
• They want all families to eat dinner together every night
• Do whatever it takes to eat dinner together every night – we believe this practice has welding power for families.
• We, of the stake presidency, don’t want ANY church activities scheduled anytime between 5-7 p.m.
• Read to children (together with wife)
• This should be a regular part of the rhythm of life, 
  that reading together becomes a regular family activity.
• Private things should be between you (couple) and the Lord 
• The way you carve out roles and responsibilities between husband and wife is a private matter.
• Stake presidency will never prescribe how it is done 
• ie: how your organize around your priorities, how you raise your children, when you conceive your children, what kind of employ you accept is completely up to you/your spouse/God.
• Both men and women are nurturers
• All men should feel like they are nurturers of children
• Men are capable of nurturing- they are encouraged to seek and acquire virtues. 
• Unity is the crowning virtue in the home
• All husbands and wife should be truly unified
• reference: John 16&17,  pray they will be one(as the father and son are one)

3) A few observations about the woman

• A lot of the women don't think they are good enough
•  The stake presidency loves us the way we are, they wish we would feel more secure
• Message: we think you are MORE than sufficient. 
• They have observed that the women seem to be more prone to insecurities
• For example: women will see something in another women.  But instead of celebrating this talent, she will see this as something as her own inadequacy.
• Message:  We wish you would feel more secure. 
• We are under stress
• Message: The way you prioritize your life is between us and lord (have confidence in life choices
• Worst place to turn is to society. 
• We don't get enough help 
• Message:  This grieves us.  We’re trying to talk to the men about this. We’re trying to work on this.
• We are prone to depression
• Depression doesn't need reason and doesn't require explanation
• Message: They understand this and are anxious to be providing love and tenderness for those battling these issues
• Reference: Elder Hollands talk in October 2013 conference 
• We should talk about this, not whisper about it
• Society tells terrible lies about women
• Suspect this is grievous to the The Lord
• Message: Stake presidency acknowledges this and doesn't want the women in stake comparing themselves to impossible standards
• Find confirmation of own worth from The Lord.  
• We make long checklists
• Checklists stress us out
• See if you can make a shorter check list
• Be strategic about how to use time
• Message: They think we do enough... Think about being instead of doing  

4) Q&A

• Q. How do you not stress out about callings? 
• A: Is this the right calling for me right now in my life?
• Cycle is completed when you confirm this calling is right for you with the Lord
• Q. How do you build spirituality in a marriage? (Deserves lesson of own) 
• A: The wonderful thing about marriage is that we’re completely incompatible --- no one has the same spiritual DNA; wonderful thing about marriage is that is a school. Have to figure out how to build. Sometime it requires recognizing the differences and celebrating them. It is so important to have dialog – if your lips are moving that’s a great sign. If the partners go silent, then something fundamental has happened and surgery is required.

The Gospel is not a club to beat ourselves with, 

but a pillow we lay our head 

    This poem reflects how the stake presidency feels about you. 

LOVE

Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,

Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack

From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning

If I lacked anything.

“A guest,” I answered, “Worthy to be here.”

Love said, “You shall be he.”

“I, the unkind, ungrateful?  Ah my dear,

I cannot look on Thee.”

Love took my hand, and smiling, did reply,

“Who made the eyes but I?”

“Truth, Lord, but I have marred them; let my shame

Go where it doth deserve.”

“And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?”

“My dear, then I will serve.”

“You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.”

So I did sit and eat.

George Herbert

1593-1633