Relief Society Lesson Sunday, January 26th 2014

 Sister Harman shared a lesson on obeying the law of Tithing.

There are many blessings that come from obeying the law of tithing. Most of those blessings are significant but subtle. One of the biggest blessings we can receive by paying our tithing is an increase of gratitude in our lives.

Elder Bednar says, "The imagery of the “windows” of heaven used by Malachi is most instructive. Windows allow natural light to enter into a building. In like manner, spiritual illumination and perspective are poured out through the windows of heaven and into our lives as we honor the law of tithing."

Sis. Larkin Harman helped us understand that this spiritual illumination and perspective can help us see the subtle blessings in our lives. If we are looking for employment, a blessing from obeying the law of tithing may not be that someone offers us a job right away, but that we are enlightened on where to look for employment and where to apply.

Elder Bednar made a promise:
I promise that as you and I observe and keep the law of tithing, indeed the windows of heaven will be opened and spiritual and temporal blessings will be poured out such that there shall not be room enough to receive them (see Malachi 3:10). We also will remember the Lord’s declaration:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9).

Comments made during the lesson also taught and reminded us that a blessing we receive by obeying the law of tithing is the opportunity to attend the temple. Paying our tithing is also a commandment that we can be perfect at.

Relief Society Lesson Sunday, January 19th 2014

Sister Bashford shared with us just how strong yet tender President Joseph F Smith was.  Through his words and example we learn how close he was to the Savior and his hope and knowledge of the atonement.  She also reminded us that we should emulate the Savior and walk the path he walked.   

He wrote such a beautiful letter to his wife, Ethel, while he was away at a stake conference.  She was seven months pregnant at the time doing her best to care for the children at home.  In a letter to her, he said, "I am thinking of you and wish I could be with you constantly for the next few weeks, to help take care of you."  He closed the letter with a poem he had written.  Some of those words to that poem now appear in our Hymn book on page 127, "Does the Journey Seem Long?" {see pg 20 of lesson manual}

President Smith showed us a great example by bearing his testimony to his children.  It is so important that we too share our testimonies to our loved ones.  One of President Smith's sons recounted: "[Once] as I sat alone with my father in his study, I observed that he had been in deep meditation.  I hesitated to break the silence, but finally he spoke. 'Oh, my son, I wish you could have been with me last Thursday as I met with my Brethren in the temple.  Oh, if you could have heard them testify of their love for their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!' Andy then he lowered his head, and tears streamed from his face and dropped to his shirt.  Then, after many seconds, without as much as raising his head, but moving his head back and forth, he said, 'Oh, how I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!" {see pg 50 of lesson manual}

Click HERE to see the entire lesson. 

Relief Society Lesson Sunday, January 12th 2014

Sister Tanner gave a wonderful lesson this week!  We learned about and discussed our relationship with our Father in Heaven and His nature.  Here are a few quotes that were shared.  We hope you will take some time to think about your relationship with Him and how you can strengthen it.

“It is my desire to remind you of the nature and kind of being that God is, so that you may worship him in spirit and in truth and thereby gain all of the blessings of his gospel.”  

-Joseph Fielding Smith

"Brothers and sisters, you may already know, deep in your soul, that God lives. You may not know all about Him yet and do not understand all His ways, but the light of belief is within you, waiting to be awakened and intensified by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ, which you are born with." 

-Elder Robert D. Hales

"No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us."

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Isn't it wonderful to know that we don’t have to be perfect to experience the blessings and gifts of our Heavenly Father? We don’t have to wait to cross the finish line to receive God’s blessings. In fact, the heavens begin to part and the blessings of heaven begin to distill upon us with the very first steps we take toward the light..."

"The perfect place to begin is exactly where you are right now. It doesn’t matter how unqualified you may think you are or how far behind others you may feel. The very moment you begin to seek your Heavenly Father, in that moment, the hope of His light will begin to awaken, enliven, and ennoble your soul..."

"Lift up your soul in prayer and explain to your Heavenly Father what you are feeling. Acknowledge your shortcomings. Pour out your heart and express your gratitude. Let Him know of the trials you are facing. Plead with Him in Christ’s name for strength and support. Ask that your ears may be opened, that you may hear His voice. Ask that your eyes may be opened, that you may see His light."

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Click HERE to read the entire lesson. 

January Newsletter

Presidency Message
This year, Relief Society sisters and Melchizedek Priesthood holders will study Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith.  This manual will help ensure that President Smith’s inspired teachings will be available for current and future generations, since he died in 1972 when Church membership was just over 3 million.  Few who are now living will have a personal memory of President Smith’s exemplary life, but all may be lifted and inspired by the power of his teachings.
As you prayerfully study and ponder President Smith’s teachings, you will discern how the Lord used him as a spokesman to clearly teach principles that bring immeasurable blessings when they are applied.  You will study subjects such as these:
Our relationship to our Father in Heaven and our Savior
The influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives
The mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith
The importance of temple covenants
How to be in the world but not of the world
How to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ by being true and faithful
You are encouraged to study the chapter before the lesson and bring your books with you each second and third Sundays. If you do so, you will be better prepared to participate in discussions and edify one another.
Manuals are provided by the Relief Society Presidency or can be found online at LDS.org and for mobile devices at mobile.lds.org.
To quote President Joseph Fielding Smith, “Let us be true and faithful always, with a desire to keep the commandments of the Lord and honor Him and remember the covenants we have made with Him.”
We wish you all a very Happy New Year and look forward to studying the life and ministry of President Joseph Fielding Smith together this coming year.
Sincerely, Sue, Amy, Lisa, Debbie and Jenny

Birthdays
  5  Kimberly Brown
  6  Ranya Kelly
  6  Linda West
  9  Janet Bunn
  9  Linda Spano
 22  Nancy O’Berry       
23  Larkin Harman
23  Debbie Orvin
30  Diana Dahlberg
30  Suzi Erekson  
31  Susi Maximoff

Lesson Schedule
Jan 5 Presidency message taught      by Jenny Maxwell
Jan 12 Chapter 1 “Our Father in Heaven” taught by Kristen Tanner
Jan 19 Chapter 2 “Our Savior, Jesus Christ” taught by Kay Bashford
Jan 26 Oct 2013 Conference talk “The Windows of Heaven” by David A Bednar

Upcoming Events
Jan  8       Lunch Bunch at 11am meet at Chipotle (64th & Ward)
Jan 15   Ward Temple Day
Jan 20-Feb 2 Temple closed
Feb 16   Ward Conference
Mar 13   Relief Society Birthday Party
Mar 19   Stake All-Day Temple Day

Articles of Faith 1:1
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.