The Precious Gift of a Testimony

Sunday Lesson: May 14th

Our lesson today in Relief Society was on the Precious Gift of Testimony. Our teacher started by sharing a personal experience of being sealed to her family when she was six years old. She said it was such a special experience being within the walls of the temple and it was the first time she remembers recognizing the Spirit. That experience started her personal testimony.

Our testimonies are a precious gift that is given to us through the Spirit. To keep them strong, we must daily nourish them by praying, reading our scriptures, serving and being obedient to all God’s commandments. Each member’s personal testimony is the great strength of the Church. It is worth any effort it might take to keep it strong. It will be a strength to us in times of need and help us make choices that will lead us closer to God.

When we have a testimony, it causes each one of us to act; to obey God’s commandments. Some of those actions will be very small and may seem insignificant, but when we act because of our testimony it will bring changes for the better in our lives. This will not only make us worthy before God, it will also bring a peace into our lives that we cannot otherwise experience.

When we share our testimonies with others, we are sharing what we have found to be true. President Hinckley said it is powerful to share our testimonies because, “when one says, ‘I know,’ there can be no further argument…” It is a great way to share the Gospel in a non-contentious way, even if our testimony is not accepted.

The testimony of each member of the church is what unites us around the world. President Hinckley explained that although we live in many different locations and speak many languages, we are one because we know “that Jesus is our Redeemer, who stands at the head of this Church which carries His name. We know that Joseph Smith was a prophet…We know that the priesthood was restored…We know that the Book of Mormon is a true testament of the reality and divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.” These powerful truths change lives one person at a time and help us find peace and happiness.

Gratitude

May RS Activites

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

LUNCH BUNCH

TUESDAY, MAY 16^TH 11:30 AM – DAIRY QUEEN

Everyone is invited – Each person pays for their own.

WARD TEMPLE DAY – MAY 17^TH

BOOK GROUP

THURSDAY, MAY 18^TH 7:00 PM – KENDRA MAUGERS

We will be discussing “The Hired Girl” by Laura Amy Schiltz

All are welcome even if you haven’t read the book.

STAKE CONFERENCE MAY 21^ST 10:00 am

RS MEETING - Thursday, June 8^th at 6:30

“WHAT’S YOUR SUPER POWER?”

Special guest speaker: Patriarch Bashford

Potluck – Salads 

Friends are welcome! Please RSVP to the Evite

Service Opportunity: Bring a NEW baby item(s) to donate to Babies in Need.

Items include: 

Diapers size NB, 1, 2 

Onsies; Sleepers (3-6 mth)

Nursing Pads - reusable

Fitted Crib Sheets

Baby Wipes

Burp Cloths

Sleep Sacks - NB or 0-3 mths

May Newsletter

Presidency Message by Marty Rozeski
I had a wonderful mother. I remember some summer mornings she would give me a small cup of sugar and a slice of bread to take out to the corner of our yard, to feed the ants. Yes! the ants! I sat and watched with wonder and satisfaction as these busy creatures carried each tiny morsel into their home. I respected their strength, determination, and care for the colony. I felt and appreciated these small creatures, and also felt I was helping in their survival.

I agree with statements made by Mark J. Nielsen. “It seems to me that by virtue of living on the earth we shoulder two responsibilities. The first is to care for our beautiful home. At the Creation of the world, God placed Adam and Eve as caretakers with dominion over ‘every living thing that moveth upon the earth, and gave them instructions to ‘replenish the earth and subdue it’. (Abr. 4:28) The earth, then, was created for us and given in our care. It is within our power to do with it what we like, but since it is God who entrusted it to us, it is to Him we shall answer for what we choose to do.

A second responsibility man owes, it seems to me, is gratitude. Gratitude is an essential ingredient in accepting any gift from God. ‘And it pleaseth God the he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion. And in nothing doth man offend God, to against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.’ (D&C 59:20-21)” Ensign Mar. 2004

Now, I am not proposing you go out and feed the ants. This is only one example in which my mother taught me to feel reverence and awe for the gifts of Creation. Each day, since then, the Holy Ghost has confirmed to me God’s power and love. All I have to do is look out my window.

Birthdays
1 Deborah Fiore
2 Claudia Forbes
2 Laura Hernbloom
14 Jamie Schenck
16 Mary Opidee
19 Kayla Cook
20 Stephanie Anderson
21 Margaret Rhoades
23 Amy Johnson
26 Nicole Farris
29 Sharon Rankin
30 Jacquelyn Brady
30 Roxie Warren

Lesson Schedule – (Gordon B Hinkley)
May 7 Presidency message Marty Rozeski
May 14 #9 “The Precious Gift of Testimony”
May 21 Stake Conference
May 28 TFOT

Upcoming Events
May 17 Ward Temple Day
May 20 & 21 Stake Conference
June 8 Relief Society Meeting at 6:30

Other Opportunities
May 4 Ladies Night Out at El Senor Sol
May 16 Lunch Bunch at 11:30 at Dairy Queen
May 18 Book Group 7 pm at Kendra’s “The Hired girl” by Laura Amy Schlitz

Wednesdays 9 am Playgroup
Saturdays 8 am basketball Stake Center
Mon & Wed 9 am Aerobics

Service Opportunity
Collect/Buy new items for Newborns in Need - Collecting now through June 8th. There will be a box in the RS room for donations.

Sunday, April 30th

We had fifth Sunday instruction by members of the Elder’s Quorum, Young Women, and Sunday School presidencies.

First, we discussed Elder Rasband’s talk on the Holy Ghost. Some things we can do to become more receptive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost are to quiet our lives, listen to conference while we commute, make sure we are having meaningful scripture study and prayer. We should also ask for guidance and promise to act on promptings we receive. Above all, we need to be meek and humble.
We will not always see immediate confirmation that following the Spirit made a difference in our lives but this doesn’t mean that we were not acting on a prompting. Promptings can help us be in the right place at the right time or help us avoid mistakes or accidents that would have otherwise occurred. Don’t question or second guess, just respond to the first prompting.

It is important to teach children to recognize the Spirit. We do this by pointing out the feeling of the Spirit when it is being felt, but also but pointing out when the Spirit has to withdrawal because of a child’s poor choice. It is also our responsibility as parents to make our homes a holy place where the Spirit can be felt.

Next, we discussed a couple of talks on teaching children. Elder Palmer discussed the phrase, “Then Jesus beholding Him, loved Him” (Mark 0:21). We should never withdrawal love from a child, regardless of their choices. We should also help them be a part of the decision making process for personal choices instead of just telling them they can or can’t do something. This will help them learn how to seek the Spirit to make the right choice.

Finally we discussed Elder Anderson’s talk on overcoming the world. We need to work to overcome the natural man within each of us. Whatever our weaknesses are, we need to begin by being humble and recognizing that we need the Savior to overcome our sins and weakness.

Sunday Lesson, Apr 23rd

The Whisperings of the Spirit

Our lesson in Relief Society this Sunday was on recognizing and using the gift of the Holy Ghost in our lives. The Spirit is known by many names in the scriptures and has many roles, but one of the primary roles of the Holy Ghost is to teach us all things because He knows all things. Prophets speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; this is where the gift of prophesy comes from. The Holy Ghost bears record of the Father and Son, which allows people to come to gain a testimony and move towards greater truth. We discussed that the power of the Holy Ghost can touch anyone when they are seeking and have found truth.

The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of life’s greatest gifts to us and it comes only after baptism and confirmation into the Church. President Hinckley taught, “There is no greater blessing that can come into our lives than the gift of the Holy Ghost—the companionship of the Holy Spirit to guide us, protect us, and bless us, to go, as it were, as a pillar before us and a flame to lead us in paths of righteousness and truth. That guiding power of the third member of the Godhead can be ours if we live worthy of it.”

President Hinckley taught that we can learn to recognize the promptings of the Spirit by paying attention to the fruits of what we feel. Those things that lead us to grow or do good and to be better than we were are prompted by the Spirit. The Spirit testifies of truth no matter where it is found, and so it is the perfect gift to help us discern and make choices.

The teacher then taught us from Elder Rasband’s talk from April Conference. He taught that it is our sacred responsibility to recognize and respond to the Spirit. He suggested four ways for us to become better at recognizing promptings we receive. 1. Strive to live worthy of the Spirit. 2. Be willing to receive the Spirit; to listen and obey. 3. Recognize that the Spirit usually speaks through feelings, small but powerful 4. Respond quickly when we do recognize a prompting.

The teacher challenged us to look up the many different names and roles of the Holy Ghost in the Topical Guide and study them throughout the year. There are hundreds of scriptures that will teach us more about the third member of the Godhead. As we study and ponder we will gain greater understanding of this amazing gift and know how to recognize and respond to the Spirit’s promptings.

Sunday Lesson, April 16th

Our lesson for Easter Sunday was on looking to Christ. The lesson started with the story of a minister who asked President Hinckley, “If you do not use the cross, what is the symbol of your religion?” President Hinckley replied, “the lives of our people must become the only meaningful expression of our faith and…the symbol of our worship.” We have a great responsibility to have a strong testimony of our Savior and to pattern our lives after His. As a personal assessment, we can tell if our testimonies need work based on our actions.

We discussed events in the life of Christ and things we can learn from them. We learned that He knew His mission and was always about His “Father’s business”. Despite all the opposition He faced throughout His life, He still continued to do good wherever He went. His example up to the very end of His life is inspiring.

One phrase we discussed in detail was “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Our teacher reminded us that from this phrase we learn that there is never a reason for revenge. Many of the things that we respond with anger to are really quite silly. We discussed that we can change our attitude and be charitable in our response as the Savior always was when others are thoughtless or unkind. We also discussed the power to forgive that comes from praying for our enemies and those who are unkind to us.

President Hinckley then presented questions for us to ponder to assess our faith. Do we believe in Jesus Christ as the literal Son of God, that He performed miracles throughout His life and was resurrected the third day following His death? If we do, do our lives show that belief?

We need to gain a knowledge of Christ’s “unique and incomparable position as the divine Redeemer and an enthusiasm for him and his message as the Son of God.” He then shared three ways we can gain this understanding and enthusiasm. “The first is to read…the word of the Lord.” Second, President Hinckley shared, “serve in the work of the Lord… The cause of Christ does not need your doubts; it needs your strength and time and talents; and as you exercise these in service, your faith will grow and your doubts will wane.” What a powerful promise from a prophet of God! Third, we should pray. President Hinckley promised that as we do so, “there will come a heaven-sent assurance, peaceful and certain.”

What should we do with the teachings and our testimony of Jesus Christ? We need to forgive as He forgave, to be kind and merciful, and to serve others. We need to strive to become like Him. In closing, our teacher repeated her invitation for us to ponder our testimony of the Savior and to ponder if our lives are a meaningful expression of that testimony.

Sunday Lesson: Apr 9th

Ward Conference: Developing a Bedrock Understanding of the Doctrine of Christ

Our lesson in Relief Society this Sunday was taught by the Stake RS Presidency. They discussed the three principles that Sister Oscarson discussed during General Women’s Conference last fall. She quoted President Russell M. Nelson who said, “Attacks against the Church, its doctrine, and our way of life are going to increase. Because of this, we need women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ and who will use that understanding to teach and help raise a sin-resistant generation.” Sister Oscarson expressed her confidence in us to have the faith and strength to meet the challenges of living in the last days and gave us three tools to help us.

“First, we need to acknowledge the centrality of God our Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, to our faith and salvation.” The teacher explained that the Savior must be our foundation. We discussed the hopeless state we would be in without the atonement and that it is through the atonement that we can get out of the sink-hole of sin and depression. His atonement is like a ladder that Christ made through His perfect life, His suffering for us, and His resurrection. There is no other good choice than to come unto Jesus.

Second, “we need to study and understand temple ordinances and covenants.” The temple can give us the perspective and orientation that are so vital to help us stay in the world but not of the world. Without the temple, it is easy to lose our understanding of what is important and what we are trying to achieve.

Third, “we need to understand the need for the restoration of the doctrine, organization, and keys of authority in these latter days”. The teacher reminded us that the great apostasy was a rebellion against God’s authority. People were taking society’s culture and trying to make it fit in with the truth of the Gospel.

Today we have similar issues. We cannot go along with those things that society thinks is acceptable but God has says is not. It is easy to be personally deceived in our day, but because of the restoration through Joseph Smith we have the truth and we have been promised that the Gospel will not be taken from the earth again. This means we can and should rely on the living prophets and apostles, as well as make scripture study and prayer a priority so that we do not experience a personal apostasy.
Each of us were invited to study these three principles so that we can build bedrock faith in Christ that will be needed to stand in these last days.

Spring 2017 General Conference

We hope that you will be able to spend some time this weekend listening to General Conference. What a blessing and a privilege to be taught, inspired, and uplifted by modern day Apostles and Prophets. Our Savor, Jesus Christ, lives and loves each one of us!

Watch at LDS.org or BYUtv

Activities for Children can be found HERE.