RS 2015 Theme

This year the Christmas gift from the RS Presidency to the sisters of the ward was somewhat different than what you might have expected. Looking ahead, the RS chose a different route to inspire us for the new year. The presidency gave each sister a lemon. Why on earth would we give you a lemon? Seems odd, seems strange, and yet this simple gift has tremendous meaning to Sister Jessica Welsh, our RS President.

Please visit the link below and read or watch a little bit about her extended family members who have struggled and risen above the devastation of chronic cancer.

Cancer Claims Life of Utah Teen

Here is the letter from Sister Welsh:

Each day is a gift, and the onset of the a new year gives each of us the renewed opportunity to evaluate our role in our own happiness, and the happiness of those around us. A positive attitude can help us rise above our trials when we center our lives on the gospel of Christ.

President Dieter F Uchtdorf stated: "True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life but trusting that one day we will. In any circumstance our sense of gratitude is nourished by the many and sacred truths we do know: that our Father has given His children the great plan of happiness; through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ."

We offer you this humble lemon as a symbol of the possibilities a bright outlook can bring, and the joy of finding happiness in the unexpected. We hope you have a truly Merry Christmas, and a New Year filled with an abundance of 'lemonade.'
With Much Love,
The RS Presidency

This year our RS theme will use this quote from President Uchtdorf to inspire each of us to rise above our circumstances to see our 'day to day' lives with a fresh positive outlook and a desire to lift and bless those around us.

RS Lesson Summary December 21st

Sister Armstrong gave the lesson on the topic of the second coming. If you would like to read the entire talk you can visit lds.org and read Preparing for the coming our Lord.

From the Life of Joseph Fielding Smith

President Joseph Fielding Smith once told a group of Latter-day Saints that he was “praying for the end of the world.” He said, “If it came tomorrow I would be glad.” In response to that declaration, a woman spoke out, loudly enough for others to hear. “Oh, I hope not,” she said.

Sharing this experience some time later, President Smith taught:

“Do you not want the end of the world to come?

“Most people have the wrong idea of what is meant by the end of the world. …

“… When Christ comes there will be an end to the world. … There will not be any war, any turmoil, envying, lying; there will be no wickedness. Men will learn then to love the Lord and keep His commandments, and if they don’t they will not stay here. That’s the end of the world, and that is what the Savior prayed for when His disciples came to Him and said, ‘Teach us to pray.’ What did He do? He taught them, ‘Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.’ [See Luke 11:1–2.]

1 The coming of the Lord is near.

We are rapidly approaching the great day of the Lord, that time of “refreshing,” when he will come in the clouds of heaven to take vengeance upon the ungodly and prepare the earth for the reign of peace for all those who are willing to abide in his law [see Acts 3:19–20].³

2 There will be a judgment when Christ comes.

The parable the Lord taught of the Wheat and the Tares had reference to the last days. According to the story a sower planted good seed in his field, but while he slept the enemy came and sowed tares in the field. When the blades began to show, the servants desired to go and pluck up the tares but the Lord commanded them to let both the wheat and the tares grow up together until the harvest was ripe, lest they root up the tender wheat while destroying the tares. Then at the end of the harvest, they were to go forth and gather the wheat and bind the tares to be burned. In the explanation of this parable, the Lord said to his disciples that “the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.” [See Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43; D&C 86.]⁶

3 To prepare for the coming of the Lord, we need to watch and pray and get our houses in order.

There are many events in the world today which indicate that the great day of the Lord is drawing near when the Redeemer will again appear to set up his kingdom in righteousness preparatory to the millennial reign. In the meantime it is the duty of members of the Church to seek for knowledge and to prepare themselves by study and by faith for the ushering in of that great and glorious day.¹³

We do not need to be worrying about the times and the seasons when Christ shall come, but we do need to watch and pray and be ready.¹⁴

4 Latter-day Saints can be instruments in God’s hands to prepare a people for the Lord’s coming.

Would it not be an extraordinarily strange thing if the Lord should come and begin his reign of peace, take vengeance on the wicked, cleansing the earth from sin, and not send messengers to prepare the way before him? Should we expect the Lord to come to judge the world without first giving it warning and preparing the means of escape for all who will repent?

5 The Millennium will be a time of peace and a time to labor in the work of the Lord.

The righteous will rejoice when he comes, because then peace will come to the earth, righteousness to the people, and that same spirit of peace and joy and happiness which prevailed upon this continent for two hundred years [see 4 Nephi 1:1–22] shall again be established among the people and eventually shall become universal, and Christ shall reign as Lord of lords and King of kings for a thousand years. We are looking forward to that time.²³

For one thousand years shall this happy time of peace prevail and in due time all the inhabitants of the earth shall be brought into the fold of the Church.²⁴

"The Lord has said through his servants that during the Millennium those who have passed beyond and have attained the resurrection will reveal in person to those who are still in mortality all the information which is required to complete the work of these who have passed from this life. Then the dead will have the privilege of making known the things they desire and are entitled to receive. In this way no soul will be neglected and the work of the Lord will be perfected.³⁰

I pray every day of my life that the Lord will hasten His work. … I am praying for the end of the world because I want a better world. I want the coming of Christ. I want the reign of peace. I want the time to come when every man can live in peace and in the spirit of faith, humility and prayer."

RS Lesson Summary: December 14th

Sunday Sister Walter gave the lesson on the Birth of Jesus Christ. You can read the entire lesson here.

Why does the story of the birth of the Savior never get old? A lot of sisters had wonderful answers. For many its a simple, beautiful story that teaches us about incredible love. It's a miracle. We are humbled by Mary and Joseph's willingness to be the parents of Christ.

Sister Walter quoted Elder Holland's talk "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a Store"

"Part of the purpose for telling the story of Christmas is to remind us that Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Indeed, however delightful we feel about it, even as children, each year it “means a little bit more.” And no matter how many times we read the biblical account of that evening in Bethlehem, we always come away with a thought—or two—we haven’t had before.

There are so many lessons to be learned from the sacred account of Christ’s birth that we always hesitate to emphasize one at the expense of all the others. Forgive me while I do just that in the time we have together here."

Then Sister Walter read this article "Christmas Came Anyway". Christmas comes to us with or without presents or stress! When we embrace the real reason for the Christmas season we will enjoy it much more. 

Psalms 16:10 "Be still and know that I am God" Each of us should try this Christmas to turn our hearts to the Savior. Sister Walter ended with this wonderful quote by President Hunter and challenged each of us to do just one of these things this holiday season, and we would feel the true meaning of Christmas even more. 

 

"This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again."

RS Lesson Summary Dec. 7th

Last Sunday Sister DeFreitas gave an excellent talk from Elder Holland's conference talk "Are We Not All Beggars"?. 

In what would be the most startling moment of His early ministry, Jesus stood up in His home synagogue in Nazareth and read these words prophesied by Isaiah and recorded in the Gospel of Luke: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and … set at liberty them that are bruised.”¹

"From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus loved the impoverished and the disadvantaged in an extraordinary way. He was born into the home of two of them and grew up among many more of them. We don’t know all the details of His temporal life, but He once said, “Foxes have holes, and … birds … have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."Apparently the Creator of heaven and earth “and all things that in them are” was, at least in His adult life, homeless."

The Savior of the world loved everyone regardless of circumstance. He saw everyone as a unique child of our Heavenly Father. By watching our Lord's example we are here to help carry burdens that we cannot carry alone. We take turns being the weak and the strong. Each of us has something to offer- we all have gifts and talents. We are all sent here with tools to help lift each other and be the Savior's hands. Don't worry if you think what you are doing isn't enough. We are not asked to run faster than we have strength, we are enough in the acts of service that we provide.

“Why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work. …

“She hath done what she could.”

“She hath done what she could”! What a succinct formula! A journalist once questioned Mother Teresa of Calcutta about her hopeless task of rescuing the destitute in that city. He said that, statistically speaking, she was accomplishing absolutely nothing. This remarkable little woman shot back that her work was about love, not statistics. Notwithstanding the staggering number beyond her reach, she said she could keep the commandment to love God and her neighbor by serving those within her reach with whatever resources she had. “What we do is nothing but a drop in the ocean,” she would say on another occasion. “But if we didn't do it, the ocean would be one drop less [than it is].”Soberly, the journalist concluded that Christianity is obviously not a statistical endeavor. He reasoned that if there would be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety and nine who need no repentance, then apparently God is not overly preoccupied with percentages.

Find your strength, cultivate it and offer your strengths to another. How do we do 'what we can'?

"For one thing, we can, as King Benjamin taught, cease withholding our means because we see the poor as having brought their misery upon themselves. Perhaps some have created their own difficulties, but don’t the rest of us do exactly the same thing? Isn’t that why this compassionate ruler asks, “Are we not all beggars?”  Don’t we all cry out for help and hope and answers to prayers? Don’t we all beg for forgiveness for mistakes we have made and troubles we have caused? Don’t we all implore that grace will compensate for our weaknesses, that mercy will triumph over justice at least in our case? Little wonder that King Benjamin says we obtain a remission of our sins by pleading to God, who compassionately responds, but we retain a remission of our sins by compassionately responding to the poor who plead to us."

"You will recognize that I speak here of difficult societal needs that go well beyond members of the Church. Fortunately the Lord’s way of assisting our own is easier: all who are physically able are to observe the law of the fast. Isaiah wrote:

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? …

“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him … ? [that thou] undo the heavy burdens, and … let the oppressed go free … ?”¹⁶

"I bear witness of the miracles, both spiritual and temporal, that come to those who live the law of the fast. I bear witness of the miracles that have come to me. Truly, as Isaiah recorded, I have cried out in the fast more than once, and truly God has responded, “Here I am.” Cherish that sacred privilege at least monthly, and be as generous as circumstances permit in your fast offering and other humanitarian, educational, and missionary contributions. I promise that God will be generous to you, and those who find relief at your hand will call your name blessed forever. More than three-quarters of a million members of the Church were helped last year through fast offerings administered by devoted bishops and Relief Society presidents. That is a lot of grateful Latter-day Saints."

RS Lesson Summary- November 30th

This week Brother Maseda introduced the new ward mission plan for 2015. The plan has four points:

1) Become Familiar with Preach my Gospel
2) Create a Family Mission Plan
3) Involve the Missionaries in your efforts
4) Pray Daily for missionary experiences

Brother Maseda testified of the importance of the work we are doing everyday. Missionary work should be like offering a friend a glass of water on a hot day, easy and no stress. The success we find is in the invitation, not whether or not our friend accepts the invitation. We each have our moral agency to choose to accept the invite, so no matter the outcome, we are doing our part, and hastening the work during this very important time.

The missionaries talked about the preach my gospel manual. Preach my Gospel- in the opening section there is a message from the first presidency. It encourages us, and gives each of us a challenge to be a better missionary. It quotes Moses 1:39. Preach my Gospel is a great resource for teaching and understanding the basics of the gospel. As we study the manual we should 'pray to know the truth' as it states in Moroni 10:5.

Brother Welsh gave a great message on planning and goal setting. Planning- wise men plan, successful people use their time wisely. 'setting goals reflect the desires of our hearts and what we want to accomplish'. When doing this work, we should focus our goals on people and not numbers. We should set specific and realistic goals that measure progress. It's important to make efforts to go outside our comfort zone. Be a good example, don't isolate ourselves from the world. Service to others is a big part of our success.

Sister DeFreitas talked about how easy it can be to involve the missionaries in our lives. Sometimes we worry about our homes, kids and other details. The most important thing is to just have fun and not worry too much about appearances. Make a simple meal, invite friends or someone who you think would enjoy a discussion with the missionaries. Have the missionaries over for dinner and let them teach you, and your family, you'll feel their spirit and that will help you gain more confidence in doing the work.

The Bishop then talked about the importance of prayer. Pray Daily- It is important to realize what has been placed in front of us. When we are praying for missionary experiences, and the Lord puts something in our path, we must act on it. Alma 6:6- pray for the welfare of souls who don't know the Lord. The Bishop issued a request to add those 'who do not know the Lord' to our fast on December 7th.

RS Lesson Summary- Nov. 16th

Bishop Walter taught the combined lesson last Sunday. It was an exciting message about family history work. The church is put together a 'new approach' to family history. Some members of the church may have reservations about doing family history. Maybe it's due to the fact that you have an aunt or grandpa or cousin who is 'doing the work' for your family. Maybe it's because the task seems very daunting. 'Where do I start?' 'It's too overwhelming', or 'I'll do it when I have more time.' The church would like us to put all of those feelings aside and start thinking differently.

Family history work should be a family affair. Using the church's webpage and https://familysearch.org/ we can compile information about our families together. The site has been redesigned to work anywhere on any device. There is also a new booklet published by the church that you can fill in and then transfer the information online. My family booklet is a great way to get everyone in your home excited about family history. The booklet is a great place to put stories, info and pictures about your family.

Need help? Family History consultants and specialists can lead you in the right direction. The youth in the church have been leading the way in family history work. In October of 2011 Elder Bednar issued a challenge and a promise to become more involved in Family history.

Family history can be fun! Involve your children and families in this work. Tell stories, share experiences, role play, there are lots of ways to enjoy family history work. 

"He was a Blacksmith video"

The youth of the church especially have been asked to get involved. There are many stakes leading the way in 40 day challenges: 40 days to the temple. Take a family name that you your self have researched to do the work for that person. 

Here is a video of the Stake in Lehi that has inspired many to take hundreds of names to the temple. 

"Now I'm Converted" Video

Are you ready to take the 40 day challenge to take a name to the temple?

 Building a strong family narrative is another way we can be involved in family history. How do we do this? Record events in our journals, enjoy family traditions, engage in spiritual habits, and talk to each other. Tell each other about experiences and record them. Create connections to your family past and present. 

Our lives are full of experiences. As we create and live our own stories, and we want tor record our stories for future generations. 'It's about the dash'.

It's about the 'dash' video

 The blessings that will come from doing this important work are limitless. As we dig in and take the challenge to do the work, we will be 'converted' to family history. Our families will be strengthened as we do the work together, as will our ties to those who have gone before. 

Turn our Hearts

RS Lesson Summary- Nov 9th

Sister Walter gave an excellent lesson last Sunday. The topic was Individual Responsibility. You can read the lesson from President Joseph Fielding Smith here. Sister Walter began by reading the story of the "Little Red Hen." We are all familiar with the story of the little red hen. She found wheat and grew it, harvested and made bread all by herself without the help of her neighbors, who she asked to participate in many times in the wheat growing and bread making process. Each time the neighbors declined. When she was ready to eat the wheat she had grown, this time instead of saying no, of course they all wanted to 'reap' the benefits of her hard work. Sister Walter asked us what lessons we have each learned from this story.
One of the most important things we learn from the story  is that it is important to work hard. Enjoying the fruits of our labor is very hard work, but satisfying. As we go through our lives, it is important to help others learn what we know, so that they can take care of themselves as well. 
D&C 75: 28-29

We should be industrious in spiritual and temporal matters.

We need to remember that our own salvation is most important. We work to sustain our testimonies and then help others to grow into their testimonies.

On page 293 of the manual: "It is an important fact, shown by direct acts and by implication in all the scriptures, that God has done for men all that men cannot do for themselves to secure salvation, but he expects men to do all for themselves that is in their power."

Sister Walter then read the parable of the 5 foolish and 5 wise virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom in Matthew 25. This opened up a very interesting discussion about preparedness and testimony. Some of us when reading the scriptures may feel uncomfortable reading the story, feeling bad for the five virgins who needed oil. The wise virgins sent them to buy oil, telling them they couldn't share their oil. We discussed that back in that time, it would have been physically impossible to pour oil out of their lamps into another lamp. 
We interpret these passages in this way: each of us has a testimony and each has our own personal experiences which bring us closer to our Heavenly Father. Each of us must build a relationship with Christ, and prepare ourselves for his coming. No one can do that for us,  we must do it for ourselves. We must work everyday to be prepared. How can we put our testimony in another? We each must gain our own testimony.

Further in the chapter of Matthew 25 we read: 'Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not'. Joseph Smith translation it reads: "You knew me not". Clarifying the point that we all must know the Savior individually, and we cannot borrow another's light, testimony or spiritual oil to to return to the Savior.

One sister mentioned that one of the biggest tragedies of the story of the five foolish virgins is that at the beginning of the story all of the women had their lamps lit. As the night went on, the foolish virgins did not have enough oil to return to Heavenly Father. We all want to return to Heavenly Father, and we must work daily to keep our light burning brightly.

We then began talking about self reliance. Skills like spiritual oil, must be experienced and learned to be internalized. We can't give someone skills in gardening, financial planning, cooking or sewing. We can teach someone, but they must learn and practice their skills to become proficient. 

By being good examples, we encourage others to live well, and seek for the good. Finally, this wonderful quote by President Kimball:
"The foolish asked the others to share their oil, but spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant.  This was not selfishness or unkindness.  The kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the darkness is not shareable.  How can one share obedience to the principle of tithing; a mind at peace from righteous living; an accumulation of knowledge?  How can one share faith or testimony?  How can one share attitudes or chastity, or the experience of a mission?  how can one share temple privileges?  Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself.  The foolish virgins were not averse to buying oil.  They knew they should have oi.  They merely procrastinated, not knowing when the bridegroom would come.  In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market.  In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living.  Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years.  Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures- each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store.  Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity- these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps".

RS Lesson Summary- Oct 26th

Sister Armstrong gave a lovely lesson about the importance of prayer on Sunday. Her lesson came from the teachings of the prophets of the church, lesson #22, Prayer, a Commandment and a Blessing. You can read the talk online at lds.org.
President Joseph Fielding Smith taught us that the 'spirit of prayer part of our very being'. President Smith taught us by example. He quotes several times in his life when prayer was vital and life saving.
Sister Armstrong commented that prayer can open the windows of heaven, and pour out blessings to us.
During President Smith's 62 years of apostolic ministry, he often included prayers in his talks. President Smith's prayers revealed the 'depth of his testimony. '

Prayer is a deeply personal activity. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father grows and is sustained by our prayers. When we make prayer a personal priority, we are strengthened in everything we do.

1- We are commanded to draw near to Heavenly Father in Prayer
"… It is the duty of parents to teach their children to pray as soon as they commence to understand. Let them form the habit of approaching their Father in heaven, and with the understanding of the reason for prayer. If this habit is formed in childhood, it may remain through mature years, and the man or woman who has earnestly sought the Lord and thanked him for blessings, may expect that the Lord will not forsake them in the hour of need."

2-The season of prayer is always
" Some of us may have the idea that the season of prayer is when we arise in the morning, and when we are about to retire at night when our work is done, and that there is no other season for prayer. But I say unto you, and I have good backing for it, that the season for prayer is always. "

3-All we do should be in harmony with the expressions of our prayers
"We should not pray merely with our lips; but in every act, in our conversation, in all that we undertake to do, we should try to carry out the expressions of our prayers, and be in harmony with the thoughts that we declare to the Lord in our daily supplications."

4-In our prayers we should pour out our souls in Thanksgiving
" In our prayers we should pour out our souls in thanksgiving for life and being, for the redeeming sacrifice of the Son of God, for the gospel of salvation, for Joseph Smith and the mighty work of restoration brought to pass through him. We should acknowledge the hand of the Lord in all things and thank him for all things both temporal and spiritual."

5- We should plead to the Father for all our righteous desires
' We should plead with [Heavenly Father] for faith and integrity and for every godly attribute, for the triumph and success of his work, for the guidance of his Holy Spirit, and for salvation in his kingdom. We should pray for our families, for our wives and children, for food and shelter and clothing, for our business concerns, and for all our righteous desires.'

In Closing: 
" In these troublesome and difficult times, I pray that all men may be guided by that light which lighteth every man who cometh into the world [see John 1:9; D&C 93:2], and that they may gain thereby the wisdom to solve the problems which beset mankind."

RS Lesson Summary- Oct 19th

Sunday we learned how we can positively flood social media with messages about the gospel and the church. On Saturday November 1st, our ward will be participating in social media 'splits' with the missionaries. Members are asked to sign up for two hour blocks when they can interact with the missionaries of the ward. The goal is to take pictures with our phones and share them via instagram, facebook and twitter, adding the hastags: #lds, #socialmediasplit, #bookofmormon, #bennettscreekward and other tags. The purpose of these splits is to humanize the elders and sisters of the church. This activity is in response to the Book of Mormon musical which is coming to Norfolk VA. If you would like to sign up to participate, speak to a member of the bishopric or the missionaries. 

Our presence on social media can be a force for good. Elder Bednar recently gave a talk at a BYU education week entitled: Sweep the Earth as with a Flood. In this talk he stresses the importance of our influence on others, and the blessings of technology. He gives wonderful instruction on how to 'plug in' to these social media platforms. 

What is the deal with all this social media? Why should you share your positive images and messages? Why should you hashtag? That's the old pound sign: #. The hashtag links your images, and messages to an online data base. The more hashtags an item gets, it begins what is called a 'trend' and more people can see what you are doing. If you were to Google the hashtag #sharegoodness for example, you would see all the links that are attached to that hashtag. You can read more about the #sharegoodness campaign here. To read more about hashtags and their importance on social media please go here.

"The popularity and reach of current social media tools are staggering. For example, Facebook is a networking service used to share messages, images, links, and videos with family, friends, and followers—and has approximately 1.2 billion average monthly users."
Our reach on social media can be very powerful! When we share our positive messages and pictures on these sites we are generating positive information and hopefully interest to the church. 
It is important to remember that once you put something out into the internet and the digital world, you can't erase it or take it back, so choose your posts carefully and thoughtfully.  Elder Bednar said it best in his talk: 'Be Wise and Diligent: the internet never forgets. Anything you communicate through a social media channel will indeed live forever.'

Elder Bednar: "A technology known as social media is evolving in our day and playing an increasingly important role in hastening the work of salvation. The term social media refers to various channels of Internet and mobile-based communication that are used by individuals, families, and large groups of people to create digital communities wherein they share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content such as pictures and videos."
In 1862 Brigham Young said: "Every discovery in science and art, that is really true and useful to mankind has been given by direct revelation from God, though but few acknowledge it. It has been given with a view to prepare the way for the ultimate triumph of truth, and the redemption of the earth from the power of sin and Satan. We should take advantage of all these great discoveries, the accumulated wisdom of ages, and give to our children the benefit of every branch of useful knowledge, to prepare them to step forward and efficiently do their part in the great work” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 18–19). 

“I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood.”—Elder David A. Bednar

Need help 'plugging in' to social media? Here are some links to help you out.

Instagram: A wonderful way to upload, edit and share photos with friends and family. your instagram 'friends' can see your pictures and make comments. You can 'share' these photos on Facebook, twitter and other social media sites. Instagram Creating an instagram takes a few simple steps, and you can edit privacy settings.

Twitter:  Twitter is a little different from Facebook, in that your actions and activities are in a constant stream, and in 'real time', in other words things that are happening to you right now. Twitter

Pinterest: A very fun online board where you can 'pin' or save images, recipes, quotes, pictures, videos that you want to view later and use in your life. Want a pinterest account? Go here.

Facebook: Did you know the Prophet, the First Presidency and 12 apostles all have a FB accounts? See President Monson's page here: President Thomas S. Monson Their posts and updates are wonderful. Facebook is a great way to connect with family, friends and church members. You can adjust your privacy settings to limit who sees your posts, but when you post something church related, please let everyone share if you are comfortable. Sign up with an email account on Facebook here.

Still confused? Why is this important? Elder Bednar: 'We are blessed to live, learn, and serve in this most remarkable dispensation. An important aspect of the fulness that is available to us in this special season is a miraculous progression of innovations and inventions that have enabled and accelerated the work of salvation: from trains to telegraphs to radios to automobiles to airplanes to telephones to transistors to televisions to computers to satellite transmissions to the Internet—and to an almost endless list of technologies and tools that bless our lives. All of these advancements are part of the Lord hastening His work in the latter days.'

RS Lesson Summary- Sept 7 2014

On Sunday Sister Welsh gave a wonderful lesson on the importance of healthy communication. Communication is something each of us can improve, whether it be with our families, friends or those we work with. 
Sister Welsh opened her lesson with the following quote by George Bernard Shaw:
'The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.' The talk that Sister Welsh chose to use Christlike Communications by Elder Kendrick for the basis of her remarks. 

"Heavenly Father has given us a priceless gift in our capacity to communicate with each other. Our communications are at the core of our relationships with others. If we are to return home safely to Heavenly Father, we must develop righteous relationships with His children here in mortality."

What and how we communicate is extremely important. Words have a deep affect on people in ways we may not understand or see. We need to choose our words carefully and consider the spirit in which they are delivered. Sister Welsh brought up the point that we teach communication through example, and we need to put our fears aside. 

"Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can be strengthened or shattered by the message and the manner in which we communicate."

Sarcasm replaces good communication. Many years ago whit and a good vocabulary were prized in conversation, now sarcasm is used in everyday speech. 

"May we be found communicating with each other in a manner in which the Savior would communicate. Christlike communications are expressed in tones of love rather than loudness. They are intended to be helpful rather than hurtful. They tend to bind us together rather than to drive us apart. They tend to build rather than to belittle.

Christlike communications are expressions of affection and not anger, truth and not fabrication, compassion and not contention, respect and not ridicule, counsel and not criticism, correction and not condemnation. They are spoken with clarity and not with confusion. They may be tender or they may be tough, but they must always be tempered."

Emailing, social media and texting should not be our primary means of communication. We need to practice our one on one communication skills. One of the most important things we can do in communication is listening to the other person- listening without interjecting our opinions shows the other person we truly care about what they are saying. 

Also we have been asked to limit our electronic usage in church, to limit it only to church related issues, and not abuse the technology during church. 

Don't allow social media to run your life. Don't focus on what everyone else is doing online, go out and live your life. Don't allow your phone to ruin your day. Enjoy your family and friends. Social media brings us together but it can be counterproductive. Instead of focusing on real people and real relationships we foster those online.

Technology has it's place, but let's do a better job picking up the phone, talking face to face and fostering our relationships in person. 

"The real challenge that we face in our communications with others is to condition our hearts to have Christlike feelings for all of Heavenly Father’s children. When we develop this concern for the condition of others, we then will communicate with them as the Savior would. We will then warm the hearts of those who may be suffering in silence. As we meet people with special needs along life’s way, we can then make their journey brighter by the things that we say.

Christlike communications will help us to develop righteous relationships and ultimately to return to our heavenly home safely. May we treasure the divine gift of communication, and may we use it wisely to build and to assist others on this marvelous journey through mortality."

Sister Welsh closed with the scripture in Proverbs 16:24, Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

September 2014 Newsletter

RS Lesson Summary- August 31st 2014

Brother and Sister Kyle from the Stake came and presented a very informative lesson on the addiction recovery program. This is a wonderful program that can be found all over, and it is important to realize that addictions are not limited to substances such as alcohol, drugs and pornography. Co dependency, and other physical addictions can be debilitating. An addiction is anything that has 'taken control of your life'. We realize there is an underlying pathology to addiction, i.e. depression or other psychological ailments that contribute to addictions.
It is important to have contact with the bishop of the ward where the person is attending meetings. It adds to the support and healing process. Sponsors are assigned after a few meetings, and they are those that are familiar with the program and have been approved by priesthood leadership. You don't need approval to attend meetings, anyone living within the ward boundaries can attend meetings, but again, it is important to have priesthood support if a person is struggling with addiction. The Church's site has a wonderful information about the entire program, as well as the description of each of the steps online. You can view them all here.

Brother Kyle read a quote by President Packer: 'Addiction has the capacity to disconnect the human will and nullify moral agency. It can rob one of the power to decide.'

Sister Kyle brought up the point that these addictions should not be reduced to 'simply bad habits' or by will power alone can someone overcome their addictions. It is not possible to recover from an addiction without the help of the Savior. People lose perspective inside their addictions, they are unable to see the truth of the illness that they have, the addiction has taken over their life. When people simply 'abstain' from the thing they are addicted to, it can create emotional, physical and spiritual pain. Addicts need spiritual help to fight their battles.

'People, places and things' contribute to addictions. We must remove the 'triggers' if the person addicted is to be successful in their pursuit of peace and healing.

The Addiction Recovery Program takes the addict through 12 steps, very similar to the steps taken in the Alcoholics Anonymous program. The gospel is central to these steps.

THE 12 STEPS

• Step 1: Admit that you, of yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable.
• Step 2: Come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health.
• Step 3: Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
• Step 4: Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.
• Step 5: Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.
• Step 6: Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses.
• Step 7: Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings.
• Step 8: Make a written list of all persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them.
• Step 9: Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.
• Step 10: Continue to take personal inventory, and when you are wrong promptly admit it.
• Step 11: Seek through prayer and meditation to know the Lord’s will and to have the power to carry it out.
• Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do.

There is a family support group that meets to help the family members of those who have been affected by the choices of people with addictions. They are taught how to forgive, cope, and support the person who is recovering. The program focuses on hope through the atonement of Christ. Family members can attend even if their family member who is has the addiction is attending meetings in another location. There are helpful videos on lds.org that offer support and education for those wanting help. If you or a loved one is in need of help, please seek the guidance of the bishop.