Lesson: Covenant-Keeping Women

Aubrey did a good job with the lesson on keeping our covenants. I loved being reminded that we 
are covenant-keeping women who should not be distracted by the world, and that we, like the sisters of old, need to live each day with faith. Take a few minutes in your scripture-study time to read these references and reflect on your life and your covenants. e

1.  The Power of Covenants,  Elder D. Todd Christofferson

2.  Covenants,  Elder Russel M. Nelson

3.  Cleave Unto the Covenants,  Barbara Thompson

4. Chapter 3 of Daughters in My Kingdom, a history of Relief Society

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New Relief Society Book

Diversity and Strength of Mormon Women Highlighted in New Relief Society Book  LDS Newsroom

From LDS Newsroom: All Mormon women over the age of 18 belong to Relief Society, which helps women in their efforts to follow Jesus Christ, increase their personal faith, strengthen families and serve others. This work and Relief Society women both past and present are the focus of a new book soon to be released by the Church, Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society.



Copies of Daughters in My Kingdom will be distributed to women around the world to be used as a resource for personal study and for teaching in the Church and in the home. The book will be mailed next week to all English-speaking Church congregations and will be printed in 25 other languages in the next few months. With this diversity of cultures among the 14 million Church members, President Beck said the book needed to have broad appeal.

It sounds wonderful and very inspiring!  We'll be eagerly awaiting arrival of the book to our area!

Devon

Untold Stories of Mormon Women

Be heard!

Two LDS Church historians are on a quest to tell the world about the inspirational lives of Mormon women.


Richard E. Turley Jr., an assistant church historian and recorder, and Brittany A. Chapman, a historian in the Church History Library, are serving as the editors for a new series of books titled "Women of Faith in the Latter Days." Because half of the people in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been women, the purpose of the project is to bring to light their untold accounts of faith and dedication, both past and present.

"Most of history we've created focuses on men. We've recognized a huge gap there that needs to be filled," Turley said.

For now the two editors are preparing seven volumes. Each volume in the series will contain 50 chapters of 10 pages each on women throughout history and from around the world. The target audience is the general membership of the LDS Church. The source of each story, however, is what makes the project unique.

"We are asking for submissions from public," Chapman said. "A lot of times the same women have been talked about in church history, whereas other women may be famous only in their families. Finally their story gets to be told, and that's exciting."

Article in Mormon Times
www.ldswomenoffaith.org

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From Deb's RS lesson yesterday:

Now, what is our potential influence as we and our sisters across the Earth rally together for the cause of Jesus Christ?

Consider the collective power of one.

What if every woman in Relief Society living near a temple went to the temple just one extra time this year? How much more revelation would flow into the homes of the Church?

Or, what if we each did one thing this month to improve our ability to hear the voice of the Lord? Or one thing to become more pure? Or tuned out one talk show and studied scriptures instead? Or traded one lunch with friends for a day doing family history? Or went to cheer on one Laurel you're not related to.

Notice how many times I have said or?

What is one thing you could do?

Sheri Dew, from Arise, Arise, and Come Unto Christ, May 1, 2008 @ BYU Women's Conference
Photo Credit

Lesson: Daughters in My Kingdom

Teachings for Our Time
Daughters in My Kingdom:The History and Work of Relief Society
Julie B. Beck, taught by Deb Chiapelli

[Here are a few exerpts from the Conference talk, but I encourage you to read the whole talk again if you have time.]

Each of you is precious beyond description and known by our Heavenly Father. As daughters of God, you are preparing for eternal designations, and each of you has a female identity, nature, and responsibility. The success of families, communities, this Church, and the precious plan of salvation is dependent on your faithfulness. Oh, dear sisters, how we love and pray for you!

A warning
Myths and misperceptions regarding the strength, purpose, and position of Latter-day Saint women abound. Prevailing myths imply that we are of lower importance than men, that we are generally sweet but uninformed, and that no matter what we do, we will never be enough to be accepted by our Heavenly Father.

In the growing climate of entitlement, excuse, apathy, and enticement, daughters of God who are not watchful, prayerful, and inspired are increasingly at risk of becoming what the scriptures describe as “silly women” who worship a variety of “strange gods.” Sadly, as a result of life’s difficulties and the world’s popular heresies, many sisters believe the myths more than the truth.

A defense and refuge

In order to watch over, teach, and inspire His daughters in these perilous times, God authorized the Prophet Joseph Smith to organize the women of the Church.

Relief Society clarifies our work and unifies us as daughters of God in defense of His plan. In this day of mistaken identities, confusion, and distraction, Relief Society is meant to be a compass and guide to teach the truth to faithful women. Righteous women today seek an outpouring of revelation to resist distractions, fight evil and spiritual destruction, and rise above personal disasters by increasing their faith, strengthening their families, and providing relief to others.

Our history
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.”

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.

In consequence of this, a history of Relief Society for the Church is being completed and will be available for our use next year. In anticipation of this, Relief Society history is receiving increased attention, such as on the visiting teaching page of the Liahona and the Ensign. The preparation of the history has been an inspired and revelatory experience.

As we have studied the history of Relief Society, we have learned that the Lord’s vision and purpose for Relief Society was not of a sleepy meeting on Sunday. He had in mind something much, much bigger than a women’s club or special-interest entertainment group.

He intended Relief Society to help build His people and prepare them for the blessings of the temple. He established this organization to align His daughters with His work and to enlist their help in building His kingdom and strengthening the homes of Zion.

Our history teaches us who we are and what we are to do. It unites us and can help us change.

There is a worldwide hunger among good women to know their identity, value, and importance.

We are as disciples and followers of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our Heavenly Father knows His daughters. He loves them, He has given them specific responsibilities, and He has spoken to and guided them during their mortal missions.

It has always been a responsibility of Relief Society to participate in the work of salvation.

Personal service builds each individual sister, and the united service of millions of faithful women creates a formidable force of faith in the Lord’s work.

Through the history and work of Relief Society, we are connected to a great worldwide sisterhood of young and old, rich and poor, educated and illiterate, single and married, strong and immovable daughters of God.

Ultimately, the value of history is not so much in its dates, times, and places. It is valuable because it teaches us the principles, purposes, and patterns we are to follow, it helps us know who we are and what we are to do, and it unites us in strengthening the homes of Zion and building the kingdom of God on the earth.

As we move the Lord’s work forward, the history of Relief Society will continue to be written by faithful sisters throughout the world. The Lord is strengthening Relief Society in the living present and preparing a glorious future for His daughters.

Thanks for your lesson Deb.

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Notes from Sister Beck's Fireside

 

While I took notes, I know many of you did too and would love for you to add what you heard here too.

 

The Friday Fireside

We had the privilege of hearing from Sister Beck, General Relief Society President, on Friday, May 21 in a fireside at the Valley Forge Stake center. The format of the meeting was essentially questions and answers.

Sister Beck said she loves meetings like this because hearing from the members keeps the church leaders real and connected.

Q.  How are the General Auxiliary Boards chosen and what do they do?

A.  D&C 107:98 - Whereas other officers of the church, who belong not unto the Twelve, neither to the Seventy, are not under the responsibility to travel among all nations, but are to travel as their circumstances shall allow, notwithstanding they may hold as high and responsible offices in the church.

There are five auxiliaries of the church that operate under the direction of the first presidency...Relief Society, Young Women, Primary, Sunday School and Aaronic PH/Young Men each with a general board.

There of 10 women on the Relief Society Board and are called to share the work. When the Presidency is released the board is released. They share the duties of the work. They are often women the presidency knew before. The board is the "farm team" for Presidencies. Sister Beck was a member of the YW board before being called to be the General Relief Society president.

Q. In a recent talk you spoke about developing the skill or ability to receive revelation as the most important ability to develop. Can you speak more about that?

A. Revelation is the Lord's way to teach us. We should crave it. The crassness of the world makes it difficult. Revelation is the key to understanding things of God. It quickens our minds and bodies.We could feel weak but the Spirit gives us power.

D&C 133:58-59 - To prepare the weak for those things which are coming on the earth, and for the Lord’s errand in the day when the weak shall confound the wise, and the little one become a strong nation, and two shall put their tens of thousands to flight. And by the weak things of the earth the Lord shall thresh the nations by the power of his Spirit.

Keeping the Spirit is hard when life isn't perfect. Sister Beck tells of babsitting grandchildren and trying to prepare for a talk about the Spirit. One of her granddaughters cried and screamed for hours. When she spoke to the sisters later that day she realized God had given her that experience to help her understand how it is for the young moms she was speaking to.

D&C 11: 12-14 - And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy; And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.

 Q.  What is there for single sisters over 30 in the church?

A. Establish spiritual habits. Think of it as training. What training? Sister Beck's 86-year-old mother is dealing with being a widow during the last year. Her years of scripture study, praying every morning, and temple covenants and attendance continue to help her. The pattern pays off.

Also we all need to help each other create, support and sustain marriage.

Young Women feel the loss of the cheering and clapping for them that stops when they go to Relief Society. But when we make covenants in the temple to give our all to building up the kingdom, the focus is no longer on ourselves. We don't need to be noticed but need to turn and help others and serve.

D&C 84:20 - Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

When we become a covenant people we have a lot more to give than we get. Help each other, sustain one another, look out for each other.

Other tidbits:
Scripture study: As a young mother commit yourself to spend some time every day in the scriptures, even if it's just one verse. They will have a cumulative effect on your life. She like to get a cheap copy of the Book of Mormon, write a question in the front, read with that in mind and write the answers in the back as she goes.

Tough economy: Don't spend more than you bring in. Read the pamphlet "All Is Safely Gathered In". Get out of debt. When you are out of debt you will be able to better serve.

Role of women in the church: The Lord expects his daughters to contribute equally to building the kingdom. Choosing the good part means being a part of the work. LDS women serve on councils, in presidencies, and in organizations in 30,000 units worldwide.

Help for those in need: The Bishop has a "toolbox" to help those in need...employment services, welfare, and Addiction Recovery Program. Do you believe you can be healed? Matt. 9:27-28 - And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Feel free to post what you remembered.

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Sister Beck: The Role of Women in God's Plan

Sister Beck just spoke to an audience of 10,000 in Rexburg, Idaho. Read the full article here.

On our role:

“We … are engaged in the work of salvation,” she said. “I hope that was one of the clear messages that came through in all the leadership training meetings we’ve had.”

... “Relief Society is part of that,” she said. “We don’t plan anything; we don’t do anything that is outside of the Lord’s work of salvation.”

On finding balance:

“We know there are some essential things that must be taken care of if we are going to achieve eternal life,” she said. “To get the spirit and know what that is we’re going to have to read the scriptures, and pray every day, and go to the temple, and fast, and do the things the prophets have told us to do.”

She emphasized the importance of the Holy Ghost in prioritizing. “No woman ever has enough time, enough energy, and enough strength to do all the good things that are in her mind to do,” she said. “We have to have the help of the Holy Ghost to take care of what is most essential.”

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The 2010 History of our Relief Society

Every year the Stake asks us to give a brief history of our Relief Society. This is what we sent for 2010.

2010 History of the Valley Forge First Ward Relief Society

“Relief Society prepares women for the blessings of eternal life by helping them increase their faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and help those in need. Relief Society accomplishes these purposes through Sunday gospel instruction, other Relief Society meetings, visiting teaching, and welfare and compassionate service.” (new Handbook 2)

Along with the overall purpose of Relief Society, our focus this year was on love, friendship and unity. Our heart’s desire is that every sister feel needed, included, valued and loved.

March brought change to our presidency. We said good-bye to Nancy Martin who moved with her family to California. We said hello to a new presidency: Devon Linn, president; Ellen King, first counselor; Charity Wolf, second counselor; and Missy Gochoco, secretary. Later Madelyn O’Farell was called as secretary. Other board members included Shellie Blake as compassionate service leader; Shobha Kothapalli and later Connie Thornloe as visiting teaching coordinator; Miranda Searle and later Cheryl Wentzel as music leader; and Meredith DuPass and later Melissa Tafuna as pianist.

Gospel instruction
Our teachers this year have been Marie Jurecki-Tiller, Margie Clark, Cheryl Wentzel, Jill Farichild, and Debbie Horton. Our curriculum included the Gospel Principles topics and selected conference talks, along with instruction from the presidency on topics relevant to our ward sisters. We so appreciate the dedicated service of these sisters.

We maintain an unofficial blog (ValleyForgeWoman.blogspot.com) to post announcements and reminders, but more importantly to instruct, inspire and encourage one another. It includes articles written by sisters in the ward about their lives and spiritual insights, recaps of Sunday lessons, and inspirational videos, articles and websites from the Church and its members. It is a place for parenting tips, recipes, social media information, and digital resources. Each month we’ve focused on a topic such as goal-setting, showing love, feeling lucky or blessed, empowerment, motherhood, a single’s perspective, missionary work, unity, prophets, gratitude and many more gospel topics. We’ve linked to sisters’ blogs so we may increase friendship, and better sharing and caring about the ups and downs of one another’s lives.

Other Relief Society meetings
Quarterly we have gathered to educate and lift one another. We love being together.

In March we gathered for an early morning breakfast to celebrate the birthday of the Relief Society, with inspirational talks and then a trip to the Washington DC temple.

In June we learned how we choose to walk with the Lord in “Walk with Me,” with three mini classes on what is essential, necessary or nice-to-do, how to fortify our family and home using the Book of Mormon, and how to provide a safety net for each other in our lives.

In August we enjoyed a dip in the pool and good food at Wolf’s home and learned about being “A Light in the Darkness” for one another. The talks and slide show (on a makeshift outdoor screen) were thought-provoking and uplifting.

In October we focused on “Peace in Preparation” with dinner of food from food storage and three classes on different aspects of preparedness: prophetic counsel about food storage, emergency preparedness, paying off debt and living within our means; 72-hour kits and some fun things to entertain children with; and a hands-on class where everyone canned one can of oats to take home, using the dry pack canner from the Bishop’s storehouse. This meeting spawned a new monthly meeting called Be Prepared Valley Forge (BPVF) to support one another in our efforts to be better prepared in our food storage and for emergencies.

Other weekday meetings included several book discussions to focus on truths in literature, a mad skilz class (a topic taught by a sister who excels in it) on photography, and monthly “mentoring moms” where our sisters meet to set goals and encourage each other in achieving them. Weekly institute classes also enrich our lives.

Visiting teaching
We had two visiting teaching conferences, one in May (Circle of Sisters) and one in November (To Support and Uplift) where all the sisters were able to meet together for instruction. Devon quoted Sister Beck on each occasion. “It has been my experience that each ward Relief Society has the capacity to give to one another the support that is needed. ...If we seek and receive the help of the Holy Ghost, all answers can be found in each circle of sisters.” And, “Visiting teaching becomes the Lord’s work when our focus is on people rather than percentages. In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task.”

Welfare and compassionate service
One of our regular service activities was to gather and assemble dozens of newborn kits for our local hospital to give to low-income moms who need a blanket, clothes and booties for their baby to leave the hospital. At Christmas time we gathered gifts for some of the families in the city ward who needed a little help with Christmas for their children. We’ve also participated in on-going clothing drives for our fellow stake members.

But the real work of compassionate service goes unheralded: countless meals delivered to new or sick moms and families, fasting and praying for ward members, generous fast offerings, smiling, listening, yard help, cleaning and packing for a move, rides to and from church, hours of babysitting, lunch dates, kind notes or e-mails, dedicated visiting teaching and writing letters to missionaries. We have sought unity and strength in caring for one another.

This year we welcomed nine new babies into the world to these families: Wentzels, Carrs, Fairchilds, Tingeys, Boyers (twins), Tafunas, Behunins, and Templetons. We congratulated Kelsey Howell on her mission call and the Vagnonis on their wedding in the temple. We had a few young sisters here with their husbands for summer employment, and made friends quickly knowing our time was short. We had a lot of families moving in and out due to the changes in the economy and will miss old friends, but warmly welcome new friends to our ward family.

At the beginning of the year President Julie B. Beck urged all sisters to focus on the three responsibilities of Relief Society. She said, “As Latter-day Saint women we have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and testimonies of the plan of salvation. We are responsible for the female half of that plan. It cannot be delegated to others. We are accountable before the Lord for the discharge of our duties.” We have done our best this year to carry on the work of the women in the kingdom and to find unity and love in that labor.

The Valley Forge First Ward Relief Society Presidency
Devon Linn, Ellen King, Charity Wolf, Madelyn O’Farrell

General Relief Society Meeting

So did you miss it? Can't remember what they talked about? Here were the general themes!

ashley (8) asked (7) away (9) beautiful (8) blessings (22) building (9) called (6) care (9) charity (23) children (20) christ (30) church (17) commandments (10) compassion (10) continue (10) covenants (8) daughters (18) dear (8) difference (7) earth (7) eternal (16) experience (9) faith (23) families (13) father (21) friend (9) general (7) gives (8) god (35) gospel (10) happy (8) heavenly (18) help (18) history (32) home (13) hope (8) important (9) increase (11) inspired (8) jesus (19) judge (8) kingdom (10) knew (8) learn (13) life (21) lives (11) lord (32) love (54) man (10) mary (10) meetings (11) members (7) message (9) mind (8) mother (8) name (7) needs (8) neighbor (7) organization (8) others (24) people (9) personal (15) plan (12) pray (9) prepare (9) purpose (10) receive (13) relief (61) responsibility (12) revelation (7) savior (19) scriptures (13) serve (14) service (7) share (7) sisters (31) society (56) spiritual (8) strengthen (20) study (11) taught (7) teacher (16) teaching (25) temple (14) things (10) thoughts (7) times (10) together (6) understand (9) unto (9) visiting (45) ward (7) watch (8) woman (20) women (39) work (26) world (9) ye (8) years (7) young (9)

created at TagCrowd.com

Just what we should be talking about...strengthening, visiting, working, teaching, and loving each other!

Catch all the talks here...transcripts, videos, and MP3s.

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General Relief Society Broadcast

Our RS history teaches us what we should do

We had a nice get-together with the 2nd ward Relief Society before the broadcast began. It was nice to see old friends and hopefully you were able to meet as least one new sister. That is always my goal at such gatherings. The food was good too. Thank you to all who came and contributed.

Watch it here! Broadcast in 82 languages to over 100 countries!!!

Get meeting highlights here.

Now for some thoughts from the speakers...

Sister Julie Beck:
This meeting is a gift to all his daughters who long to know God's mind and will and to understand their responsibilities as Relief Society sisters.

Be watchful, prayerful and inspired...not "silly" women.

Do the essential things everyday - prayer and scripture study.

Know and learn from the history of Relief Society. A new history will be available next year. Our history is valuable because it teaches us principles, purposes and patterns. It elevates and validates the value of women. It demonstrates how we work with the Priesthood brethren.

Sister Allred:
What helps you be steadfast and immovable?
- Knowledge of His love
- Hope of fulfilled blessings
- Knowledge of truth

4 things you can do:
1. Prayer
2. Scripture study
3. Obedience
4. Service

Sister Thompson:
Early sisters of the Relief Society traveled from house to house, moved with compassion, love, mercy, to succor, teach, minister, know and serve. Making a difference.

The beauty of visiting teaching is seeing lives change...having our hearts knit together in love.

To be a better visiting teacher...just LISTEN. Know that it is never "done".

President Monson:
Judge not.

Do no judge another's actions, inaction, words or appearance.

We don't know another's heart or circumstances.

Appearances can be so deceiving.

Charity is the opposite of judging. Charity manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions; the kind of charity that forgives; the kind of charity that is patient.

Mother Theresa said, "If you judge people you have no time to love them."

Each one of us is doing the best we can with the challenges that come our way.

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