President Henry B. Eyring: Our Perfect Example
I was assigned this talk as the 4th Sunday lesson in High Priest's Group for January. It is a great talk with a number of very good quotes.
For all, the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and must expect to become better as long as we live.
If we think of "getting better" as, improving on a long checklist of commandments, then that counsel can get pretty discouraging. Fortunately, the message of this talk, and one of the themes of this conference is "Love." It can all be summed up in that quality. So, "we can and must expect to become better" at love, "as long as we live."
If we work on following Christ's example of love, we will accomplish many of the things President Erying mentioned early in the talk (from Moroni 7:48)
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."
Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be. We believe that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become like the Savior, who is perfect.
President Eyring talked about attending a Primary class where the children sang "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" and how they sang like they really believed it, and that they expected to be able to do it. For the lesson I played the song as sung by some children from tthe Sunset Hills Ward Primary for the Cedar Mill Stake Primary Program in 2007.
One of the key statements from the whole talk was this:
It is love of God that will lead us to keep His commandments. And love of others is at the heart of our capacity to obey.
President Eyring then talked about how we can practice love:
He has offered us the family as an example of an ideal setting in which we can learn how to love as He loves. [the family is a sort of laboratory for practicing love, because] The greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. And the sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love.
The ideal God holds for us is to form families in the way most likely to lead to happiness and away from sorrow. That is very profound. That is one reason we have families and the main thing we are to do with them.
He then gave counsel to three groups: husbands and wives; parents of a wandering child; and children.
He concludes with this advice and counsel:
I hope you will go out today looking for opportunities to do as He did and to love as He loves. I can promise you the peace that you felt as a child will come to you often and it will linger with you.
None of us is perfect yet. But we can have frequent assurance that we are following along the way. He leads us, and He beckons for us to follow Him.
For all, the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and must expect to become better as long as we live.
If we think of "getting better" as, improving on a long checklist of commandments, then that counsel can get pretty discouraging. Fortunately, the message of this talk, and one of the themes of this conference is "Love." It can all be summed up in that quality. So, "we can and must expect to become better" at love, "as long as we live."
If we work on following Christ's example of love, we will accomplish many of the things President Erying mentioned early in the talk (from Moroni 7:48)
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."
Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be. We believe that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become like the Savior, who is perfect.
President Eyring talked about attending a Primary class where the children sang "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" and how they sang like they really believed it, and that they expected to be able to do it. For the lesson I played the song as sung by some children from tthe Sunset Hills Ward Primary for the Cedar Mill Stake Primary Program in 2007.
One of the key statements from the whole talk was this:
It is love of God that will lead us to keep His commandments. And love of others is at the heart of our capacity to obey.
President Eyring then talked about how we can practice love:
He has offered us the family as an example of an ideal setting in which we can learn how to love as He loves. [the family is a sort of laboratory for practicing love, because] The greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. And the sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love.
The ideal God holds for us is to form families in the way most likely to lead to happiness and away from sorrow. That is very profound. That is one reason we have families and the main thing we are to do with them.
He then gave counsel to three groups: husbands and wives; parents of a wandering child; and children.
He concludes with this advice and counsel:
I hope you will go out today looking for opportunities to do as He did and to love as He loves. I can promise you the peace that you felt as a child will come to you often and it will linger with you.
None of us is perfect yet. But we can have frequent assurance that we are following along the way. He leads us, and He beckons for us to follow Him.
Relief Society President Julie B. Beck: Relief Society-A Sacred Work
Tonight I hope to enlarge our testimony and understanding of Relief Society as a faith-based work.
We know that the purpose of Relief Society as established by the Lord is to prepare women for the blessings of eternal life by helping them:
Relief society is a faith-based work and has a three-fold mission. Next, Sister Beck talked about the role of Relief Society in relation to the Priesthood. This was the first time I've had the relationship between the two explained.1. Increase their faith and personal righteousness.
2. Strengthen their families and homes.
3. Serve the Lord and His children.
Relief Society is unique because it was organized after the “pattern of the priesthood”3 and we operate on a general and local level under the direction of priesthood leaders. We work in partnership with priesthood leaders, who hold keys which give them authority to preside in the name of the Lord. We operate in the manner of the priesthood—which means that we seek, receive, and act on revelation; make decisions in councils; and concern ourselves with caring for individuals one by one. Ours is the priesthood purpose to prepare ourselves for the blessings of eternal life by making and keeping covenants. Therefore, like our brethren who hold the priesthood, ours is a work of salvation, service, and becoming a holy people.
She then quoted Elder Boyd K. Parker who gave some interesting insights as to how seriously the sisters should take Relief Society - As seriously as men take the priesthood. That tells me two things: Men need to take the priesthood seriously and women need to approach Relief Society with a new found (for most) respect.
“Attendance at the Sunday meeting is but a small part of your duty. Some of you have not understood this and have set aside much of what Relief Society has meant over the years—the sisterhood, the charitable and practical parts of it.”
“The Relief Society, the Prophet [Joseph] told us, is organized after the pattern of the priesthood. When a man holds the priesthood, . . . it requires full dedication and loyalty. . . .
“If you sisters follow after that pattern, . . . you will serve your organization, your cause—the Relief Society. . . .
“Service in the Relief Society magnifies and sanctifies each individual sister. Your membership in Relief Society should be ever with you.”
Under the heading "Working in the Lord's Way, Sister Beck discusses a key issue for women AND for men - time. She also models a great method for understanding what we are doing: understand the group's purpose; and, find the appropriate way to carry out individual responsibilities. And then says that we are respecting the Lord other sisters when you use Relief Society in the appropriate way. Then comes a great quote and some thoughts from President Uchtdorf about getting rid of "non-essential" things.
When our purpose is clear, it naturally follows that there is an appropriate way to carry out our responsibilities. One of the most precious commodities we all have is time. Most women have many responsibilities and never have sufficient time to do everything their hearts and minds want to do. We show respect for the Lord and the sisters when we use Relief Society time in an inspired way.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught: “A wise man once distinguished between ‘the noble art of getting things done’ and ‘a nobler art of leaving things undone.’ True ‘wisdom in life,’ he taught, consists of ‘the elimination of non-essentials.’ ” President Uchtdorf then asked: “What are the nonessential things that clutter your days and steal your time? What are the habits you may have developed that do not serve a useful purpose? What are the unfinished or unstarted things that could add vigor, meaning, and joy to your life?”5 We can apply his questions to all Relief Society meetings and work.
She talked about the different types of Relief Society meetings. This entire section should serve as a training manual for Relief Society Presidencies and Bishops. I started copying points down and found myself copying most of this long section! If you need to, review the actual talk and what it had to say about the role of the Sunday meeting and the weekday meetings.
Then Sister Beck talked about Visiting Teaching. She talks about how it is important and how it is set up. I like this quote about Visiting Teaching because it applies very nicely to Home Teaching:
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.
Great talk for both the sisters AND the brothers!
Then Sister Beck talked about Visiting Teaching. She talks about how it is important and how it is set up. I like this quote about Visiting Teaching because it applies very nicely to Home Teaching:
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.
Great talk for both the sisters AND the brothers!
SIster Silvia H Allred: Every Woman Needs Relief Society
I will speak today about why every woman needs Relief Society in her life. Sister Allred's thesis statement.
The deepest desire of our presidency is to help each woman in the Church prepare to receive the blessings of the temple, to honor the covenants she makes, and to be engaged in the cause of Zion. The Relief Society inspires and teaches women to help them increase their faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families, and seek out and help those in need.
I wonder if this should also be the goal of the Priesthood and if every bishop, high priest group leader, and elder's quorum president has the same desire.
But we are also aware of the many women in the Church who are not fully enjoying the blessings of activity in the Church and in Relief Society. To those of you who already attend Relief Society, we extend a call. We ask you to go to the women who are not engaged in Relief Society work in your wards and branches to teach them with love what Relief Society will do for them. Testify to them that Relief Society will enrich their homes and personal lives. Offer your friendship and sisterhood. Watch over and strengthen them. Help us reverse society’s trend of disintegrating families. Help your sisters turn to the Lord and His plan of happiness for His children. They will find guidance, comfort, peace, understanding, and inspiration. They will know Heavenly Father loves them and cares for them in ways beyond measure.
This is quite a charge to the active women of the church. I should say, active women who attend Relief Society. What can Relief Society do for you? That is probably a question we should ask about every organization in the church. And every activity.
The deepest desire of our presidency is to help each woman in the Church prepare to receive the blessings of the temple, to honor the covenants she makes, and to be engaged in the cause of Zion. The Relief Society inspires and teaches women to help them increase their faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families, and seek out and help those in need.
I wonder if this should also be the goal of the Priesthood and if every bishop, high priest group leader, and elder's quorum president has the same desire.
But we are also aware of the many women in the Church who are not fully enjoying the blessings of activity in the Church and in Relief Society. To those of you who already attend Relief Society, we extend a call. We ask you to go to the women who are not engaged in Relief Society work in your wards and branches to teach them with love what Relief Society will do for them. Testify to them that Relief Society will enrich their homes and personal lives. Offer your friendship and sisterhood. Watch over and strengthen them. Help us reverse society’s trend of disintegrating families. Help your sisters turn to the Lord and His plan of happiness for His children. They will find guidance, comfort, peace, understanding, and inspiration. They will know Heavenly Father loves them and cares for them in ways beyond measure.
This is quite a charge to the active women of the church. I should say, active women who attend Relief Society. What can Relief Society do for you? That is probably a question we should ask about every organization in the church. And every activity.
RS Sister Barbara Thompson: Mind the Gap
Many of us have gaps in our own lives. Sometimes it is the difference between what we know and what we actually do or the gap between our goals and what we actually accomplish. These gaps can be reminders of ways in which we can improve or, if ignored, can be stumbling blocks in our lives.
I want to mention a few gaps I see either in my own life or in the lives of others. The ones I will address tonight are the following:
First, the gap between believing you are a daughter of God and knowing in your heart and soul that you are a precious, beloved daughter of God.
Second, the gap between completion of the Young Women program and becoming a fully participating member of Relief Society—“the Lord’s organization for women.”1
Third, the gap between believing in Jesus Christ and being valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Sister Thompson started with a nice analogy to signs found in "The Tube" in London. We need to pay attention to those gaps in our lives - to 'mind' them. We need to be aware of who we are (children of a Heavenly Father), beware of the gap of inactivity, and live our testimony and belief in Jesus Christ.
RS President Henry B. Eyring: The Enduring Legacy of Relief Society
The history of Relief Society is recorded in words and numbers, but the heritage is passed heart to heart.
This is a great sub-title for President Eyring talk. It says a lot just by itself. He said he is going to talk about charity and the role it has played in the history of the Relief Society. I like the following description of the early sisters in the church as they moved and moved, having very little for themselves, they still gave:
The history of the Relief Society is filled with accounts of such remarkable selfless service. In the terrible days of persecution and deprivation as the faithful moved from Ohio to Missouri to Illinois and then across the deserts going west, the sisters in their poverty and sorrows cared for others
He then relates, through the circumstances and desires of those sisters, what we could (and should) be:
They were from many lands and peoples, as you are today. But they were of one heart, one mind, and with one intention. They were determined to help the Lord build His Zion, where there could be the happy existence the Book of Mormon had described so vividly for them. You remember some of the scenes from 4 Nephi which they carried in their hearts wherever the Lord led them on the journey to Zion:
He also talked about Visiting Teaching and how it provides the localized support for members.
This next section is a good description of the relationship between the bishop and the relief society president:
The members of Relief Society have always been trusted by local priesthood shepherds. Every bishop and every branch president has a Relief Society president to depend upon. She has visiting teachers, who know the trials and the needs of every sister. She can, through them, know the hearts of individuals and families. She can meet needs and help the bishop in his call to nurture individuals and families.
This was a very good talk that home teachers should read and apply as they feel impressed.
Congratulations Mom! The other champion.
Mom and Marseille were the only two to complete the Breakfast of Champions for the April 2009 General Conference, so they will enjoy a nice breakfast together during Christmas Break.
I'm not discouraged though. I have learned from the last six months and have recommitted to becoming a Breakfast of Champions Champion for the October 2009 Conference. It looks like we will be adding Keith to the challenge too. Welcome!
I will set up the blog for the recently completed conference. We will use the same address. I am even going to get started this week with the Relief Society talks from last week's General Relief Society meeting. The October Conference talks are supposed to be online by Thursday, October 8th.
Dad
I'm not discouraged though. I have learned from the last six months and have recommitted to becoming a Breakfast of Champions Champion for the October 2009 Conference. It looks like we will be adding Keith to the challenge too. Welcome!
I will set up the blog for the recently completed conference. We will use the same address. I am even going to get started this week with the Relief Society talks from last week's General Relief Society meeting. The October Conference talks are supposed to be online by Thursday, October 8th.
Dad
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