5th Sunday Lesson

The We May All Be Edified Together

On Sunday, October 30 we had an opportunity to meet together as Relief Society sisters—including those who currently serve in the Primary and Young Women organizations.  Thank you to everyone who helped make our time together possible.  Here are a few highlights and links to resources used during the lesson.

Daughters In My Kingdom—The History and Work of Relief Society

“Our presidency has prayed, fasted, pondered, and counseled with prophets, seers, and revelators to learn what God would have us do to help His daughters be strong in the face of “the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth.”⁶ An answer has come that the sisters of the Church should know and learn from the history of Relief Society. Understanding the history of Relief Society strengthens the foundational identity and worth of faithful women.” (Julie B. Beck, Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society, October 2010 General Relief Society Broadcast)

Then we watched a video called Open the Gift--Daughters in My Kingdom.  Sister Beck related an experience she had as a girl with a gift she received and the blessing she missed by not opening it right away.

 Prioritizing Our Lives

“The ability to qualify for, receive, and act upon personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life.”  Julie B. Beck, Ensign May 2010.

Sister Beck recently spoke at BYU-Idaho and shared some basic guidelines to help us prioritize our time and energy.  To watch the clip, click here and scroll down to Prioritizing Our Lives.   Her words were also made into a display in the Relief Society Building in Salt Lake City and are transcribed below.

“A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do.  Life is calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important.  A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence.  But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently.”  Julie B. Beck, Ensign May 2010

Essential Personal Preparation that Strengthens Home and Family

”The things that must be taken care of and if I don’t take care of them, the blessings of eternal life won’t be mine nor will they be the blessings of my family.”
·         Revelation
·         Pray Always
·         Daily Scripture Study
·         Time to ponder and fast
·         Making and keeping covenants (Sacrament Meeting/Temple)
·         Love On Another

Necessary

“Things we have to do as part of mortal life in order to be self-reliant and be of service to our families and the Lord.”
·         Marriage and Family Relationships
·         Homemaking (cooking, cleaning, working)
·         Self-reliance and provident living
·         Compassionate Service
·         Temple and Family History
·         Sharing the gospel
·         Church Service

Nice To Do’s

“These add variety to our lives, but they won’t save us.”
·         Crafts
·         Hobbies
·         Recreational Reading
·         Lunches with Friends
·         Movies
·         Travel
·         Blogging and Recreational Computer Time
·         What is on your list?

Visiting Teaching

Sister Bergquist shared a variety of thoughts with us about Visiting Teaching.  Sometimes changes have to be made and like dominoes they cause even more.  Please don’t take them personally. 

We watched a video of Mary Ellen Edmunds (who served on the RS General Board) speaking at Women’s Conference.  Sister Edmunds said, “My friends, I am convinced that we will never be asked to do anything stupid—anything that doesn’t really matter.  We just maybe don’t understand it all yet.” She also talked about the Savior’s words, “In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”  As we minister and care for each other, we show our dedication to follow the Savior’s example. 

The time of visiting teaching as a monthly visit with a lesson that is reported and checked off our “to do lists” is passed.  Just as the law of Moses was replaced with a higher law, we have an opportunity to increase our vision of Visiting Teaching by letting CARING COUNT.   Visits don’t always have to be two by two with a formal lesson.  As we serve and meet our sister’s needs, we live the higher law that “charity never faileth”.  On page 123 of Daughters in My Kingdom, we learn How Visiting Teachers Love, Watch Over, and Strengthen a Sister.  We can do more than just offer “Call us if you need anything”.  We can pray for our sisters and consider the questions found on page 115 or the questions posed in Sister Edmunds talk. 

Sister Barbara W. Winder taught: “It is vital that each sister have visiting teachers—to convey a sense that she is needed, that someone loves and thinks about her.  But equally important is the way the visiting teacher is able to grow in charity.  By assigning our women to do visiting teaching, we give them the opportunity to develop the pure love of Christ, which can be the greatest blessing of their lives.”  (Daughters in My Kingdom p. 120). 

We closed with a wonderful video called A Visiting Teacher (scroll down below Sister Thompson’s picture). 

Take some time to look at the amazing resources available on the Relief Society portion of the Church’s website http://lds.org/service/serving-in-the-church/relief-society?lang=eng