I hope you are all well
and I give you lots of love from our Relief Society Presidency. This year
has been a focus on the Old Testament. I have personally challenged
myself to read the Old Testament this year. I have enjoyed this challenge
even though I don’t fully understand what I am reading a lot of the time.
To be in Sunday School with our wonderful teachers has helped me to understand
more of what I have read. We as a Presidency also decided to focus
our year on the Women of the Old Testament. I have decided to choose
Ruth. I chose her because she also has the same name as my grandmother, my
father’s mother. She was the sweetest person I know. She definitely
reminded me of Ruth in the Old Testament. Ruth was an example of
fidelity, and loyalty, love, generosity, humility and gentleness. I loved
the story of Ruth and Naomi. Naomi was unselfish after the deaths of her
husband and two sons and was willing to let her two daughters-in-law go back to
their own people and customs. She demonstrated great strength during this
adversity in her life. It was during this adversity and sacrifice that
Ruth told Naomi that she wanted to go with her. Ruth was a great example
of love and devotion to Naomi in a time of great sadness for them both.
We too live in an age of
conflict and adversity. The relationship that Ruth and Naomi have is a
great example to us about unity and devotion in community and family relationships.
We can learn so much from these two daughters of our Heavenly Father. We
too can strive to cultivate loyalty, devotion, humility and gratitude in our
own families. We can listen to the whisperings of the Spirit; reach out to
someone who seems to need encouragement in his or her life through our
friendship and support. We can ask in prayer for guidance in
improving our lives and then listen for answers. I hope that all of us
understand the spirit of eternal womanhood. I know that our Father in
Heaven blesses us who live by hope and faith.
May each of us use that
spirit to spread the gospel in our homes and lift up those with whom we come into
contact.
Thanks to all of you for
your continued service and love.
Janet Sims
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