Taking the Gospel to All the World - May 1, 2016

Miriam D.  led our discussion using Chapter 8: Taking the Gospel to All the World from the Howard W. Hunter manual.

It is in understanding and accepting this universal fatherhood of God that all human beings can best appreciate God’s concern for them and their relationship to each other. This is a message of life and love that strikes squarely against all stifling traditions based on race, language, economic or political standing, educational rank, or cultural background, for we are all of the same spiritual descent. We have a divine pedigree; every person is a spiritual child of God.

In this gospel view there is no room for a contracted, narrow, or prejudicial view. The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” (Taking the Gospel to All the World)

“The purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to bring about love, unity, and brotherhood of the highest order,” he said. (Taking the Gospel to All the World)

Miriam brought up a quote from a book that saw deep feelings emerge as a friendship grew between a successful art dealer and a homeless man.
“You was the onlyest person that looked past my skin and past my meanness and saw that there was somebody on the inside worth savin...We all has more in common than we think. You stood up with courage and faced me when I was dangerous, and it changed my life. You loved me for who I was on the inside, the person God meant for me to be, the one that had just gotten lost for a while on some ugly roads in life.”
― Ron Hall, Same Kind of Different as Me

We need to battle the 'walls' we build in our own mind that slow us in sharing the gospel: the comfort wall, financial wall, grandchildren wall, health wall, lack of self-confidence wall, self-satisfied wall, transgression wall, or the walls of fear, doubt, or complacency.

We heard from the sister missionaries serving in our ward about how we just need to open our mouths and show true caring for others that will open the door to sharing the gospel.  Sinclaire also told of a success story with inviting people - even those who seem disinterested - to hear the gospel message.

Continuous Revelation through Living Prophets - April 17, 2016

Colette gave us an original presentation of the lesson as the host of Late Night with Ginny Fallon complete with a humorous opening monologue and applause breaks.

She hosted 3 guests who answered the question:

• When you were a missionary, what did you tell people that was unique about our Church?

First up was faux author of a book entitled "The Bishop's Wife," Andrea.  She served in France and said that she often taught that we have a living prophet and only he can receive revelation for the entire Church from Christ who is the head of the Church.

Only the President of the Church has the right to receive revelations for the entire Church or to give official interpretations of the scriptures or the doctrines of the Church:

“No one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting [the President of the Church], for he receiveth them even as Moses” (D&C 28:2). (President Howard W. Hunter Continuous Revelation through Living Prophets)

Next up was faux host of the TV show "First Time Moms," Lanae who served in Winnipeg, Canada. She would teach people about the eternal nature of the plan of happiness and about the preexistance.

Finally, our recently returned Sinclaire was the faux star of the movie "On Trial in Taiwan." Temples and the Book of Mormon stood out as powerful doctrines that recurred in Taiwan.

We who are met here today [in general conference] claim a special, unique knowledge of the Savior’s gospel. Most striking of all, to those who first became acquainted with us, is our declaration to the world that we are guided by a living prophet of God—one who communicates with, is inspired by, and receives revelation from the Lord. (President Howard W. Hunter Continuous Revelation through Living Prophets)

Thanks for the entertaining and enlightening lesson 'Ginny', we'll 'stay tuned' for more!

60 years as the Palo Alto 2nd Ward Relief Society

In March we had a Rock n' Roll themed birthday party to take us back to 1956 when our ward Relief Society was established.

The night began with a service activity creating comfort kits for the local Ronald McDonald House.

Our program included a 50's quiz including a photo quiz of our sisters back-in-the-day.

We ate roast beef, potatoes, rolls and pie for our retro dinner then were graced with a musical number of "Mr. Sandman" and stories from the decade from Karen, Lorna, Colette, Wendy, Miriam, and Carolyn.

What fun was had from the music, food, decor and photo booth!  Can't wait to see what the next 60 years has in store for all of us!