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.

RS Summary August 24th 2014

Sister Tealen Hansen gave a wonderful lesson on August 24th 2014. Thanks to Sister Welsh who took notes in my absence. You can read the full lesson here.
The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood  By Elder Dallin H. Oaks  (April 5, 2014)

Relief Society general president Linda K. Burton said, “We hope to instill within each of us a greater desire to better understand the priesthood.” We must exercise that desire.  Many times we have an understanding of the desire, but don’t know how to exercise it.  This is something each of us must learn to address individually.

Why do we need a better understanding of the priesthood?  This subject is of equal concern to men and women. We can’t be complacent.  The nature of the priesthood is not to bless ourselves, but to bless others. 

Elder Oaks broke down the priesthood into three separate areas:

1 1)     Power – Blesses everyone.

How has priesthood power influenced your life?  The scriptures teach that “this same Priesthood, which was in the beginning, shall be in the end of the world also” (Moses 6:7).  Thus, the priesthood is the power by which we will be resurrected and proceed to eternal life.

2 2)   Keys – Authority given to priesthood holders to direct, control and govern the use of the priesthood on earth.

All keys of the priesthood are held by the Lord Jesus Christ, whose priesthood it is.  He is the one who determines what keys are delegated and how those keys will be used.  President Spencer W. Kimball reminded us that there are other priesthood keys that have not been given to man on the earth, including the keys of creation and resurrection.

3 3)  Authority – Pertains to all of us. 

A) Priesthood is the power of God delegated to man to act for the salvation of the human family.

B) Priesthood authority is governed by priesthood holders who hold priesthood keys.

C) Since the scriptures state that “all other authorities and offices in the church are appendages to this [Melchizedek] priesthood (D&C 107:5), all that is done under the direction of those priesthood keys is done with priesthood authority.

How does this apply to women?

In an address to the Relief Society, President Joseph Fielding Smith, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said this: “While the sisters have not been given the Priesthood, it has not been conferred upon them, that does not mean that the Lord has not given unto them authority. … A person may have authority given to him, or a sister to her, to do certain things in the Church that are binding and absolutely necessary for our salvation, such as the work that our sisters do in the House of the Lord. They have authority given unto them to do some great and wonderful things, sacred unto the Lord, and binding just as thoroughly as are the blessings that are given by the men who hold the Priesthood.”

Whoever exercises priesthood authority should forget about their rights and concentrate on their responsibilities. Men are not “the priesthood”.  Men hold the priesthood, with a sacred duty to use it for the blessing of all of the children of God. 

RS Monthly Mtg-Christmas in August!

We had a super fun time at our monthly meeting on August 17th. Christmas in August! Three fun crafts and lots of good snacks. The sisters made a vintage winter sign, handmade Christmas cards, and clothespin ornaments.We had a wonderful group of sisters come out for the fun. Thanks to the committee and all the crafty ladies who donated their time to make this night so successful!