Presidency Message - March

Dear Sisters,             

I have enjoyed my time with you in Relief Society. I didn't think I was missing anything while I was serving in Primary, YW etc. I am not saying that you cannot be filled spiritually while serving outside of Relief Society; I am saying, that we need the spiritual boost we get from taking a look at our own lives from time to time.  The last few months have caused much introspection on my part. It has filled me and lifted me up to share with you your beautiful spirits, comments, and experiences.

As we take a personal inventory, I find myself and perhaps you do too; weeding out habits that have crept into our lives with non-essential fillers; gets in the way of doing good things that are so much more rewarding than some of the endeavors we get involved with in our day to day living.  We need to do a Spring cleaning of our inner houses. Repenting of things we need to repent of; getting rid of old habits that weigh us down.

Jesus taught a parable known as the "Empty House." He taught that repentance requires we fill the void left by discarded sins/habits with good actions to keep the bad actions from returning.  President Kimball stated, "The devil knows where to tempt, where to put in his telling blows, He finds the vulnerable spot. Where one was weak before, he will most easily  be tempted again. In abandoning sin one cannot merely wish for better conditions. He must make them...He must eliminate anything which would stir the old memories."

In March 2003, Elder Victor D.  Cave said, "True repentance, then, is not merely eliminating the negative in our lives; it also must involve replacing the negative with positive attitudes and actions.   

As we strive to fill our "empty houses" with good actions; we will find ourselves taking time for personal study; reaching out to others; helping lift them up and they in turn will lift us in the process; we will be walking in the Savior's footsteps and filling our lamps with oil; helping others fill theirs as we strengthen them and help them learn to walk with Christ

With love,

Linda Rogers, Assistant Secretary

Presidency Message - February 2013      

Dear Sisters,                                           

Many sisters had the opportunity to meet with the Relief Society Presidency in Visiting Teaching interviews last month, to share their joys, strengths and challenges. We were uplifted by your sweet spirits and the love you have for one another, the sacrifices you make and the care and concern you share for those sisters in our ward. We appreciate the way you uplift each other, are quick to accept service opportunities and share your talents.

Taking a personal inventory, expounding on what we see in ourselves and setting goals, will help us to improve our “caring”. How can we be a better friend? How can we prepare ourselves to be open to the spirit and willing to obey the promptings we receive so we can be in tune with our sisters needs? Robert D. Hales said "As we follow [the Savior], He blesses us with gifts, talents, and the strength to do His will, allowing us to go beyond our comfort zones and do things we’ve never before thought possible."

How well we prepare will help to define the way we emulate our savior as we fill our lamps with oil. As I sit in Relief Society Meeting taking roll, looking out at each of you sisters, I am often awestruck at how I feel. I’m amazed at the caliber of sisters in our ward, talented, beautiful, righteous sisters. A room full of magnificence. And yet, we are missing so many; they are not there to share in the gospel light with us. They are not there to help strengthen their testimonies and their families. They are not receiving the blessings that are offered to them through the Savior. Our lives would also be enriched if these same sisters were with us.

As we walk with Christ this year, as we fill our lamps, let us beckon those who are missing, to walk with us.

Many of our sisters are simply in need of a friend, someone who will take the time to get to know then, love then unconditionally and not give up on them.

Who will we beckon to walk with us, as we Walk with Christ this year?

Hugs,

Shelly Ward, Secretary

Presidency Message-January 2013

Dear Sisters,
I think many of us, at this time of year, find our hearts and homes turned toward the Savior. It is near impossible, with the constant reminders of Christmas, like decorations, being with family, gifts, lights, and music, to turn away from the Savior. Would it be a horrible thing if we thought of the Savior as often as we do during Christmas, all year long? Now, I am definitely not suggesting that we leave our Christmas decorations up all year long as a reminder (although if you would like to, please do so).

This year, our wonderful Stake Presidency has decided that our theme for the year will be "Walking With Christ". This will be a great way for us, both as individuals and families, to work to grow closer to our Savior and be more like Him. On the first Sunday in January, we will be passing out "Walking With Christ" goal cards to assist us on our journey back to the Savior.

My daughter, Savannah, loves to listen to the Primary music CD that is passed out to the children to help them learn the words to the songs for the Primary program. Because she does not have a CD player of her own, we often listen to the CD in the car. In a previous year, there was a song called "If the Savior Stood Beside Me". When I heard the words to the song, I cried. I have included the lyrics from the first verse here for you, as we begin together here on our journey to Walk With Christ.

"If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?"

With Love,
Tara Poulsen, Second Counselor

December Presidency Message

Dear Sisters:

It’s now December, and the Christian world turns its heart and mind to Jesus Christ. President David O. McKay said: “If we are to have the best Christmas ever, we must follow in the Savior’s footsteps.” This month alone will give us more opportunities to act like Christ, to love like Christ, to BE like Christ, and it also gives us the opportunity to speak to others about Christ. In our contemplation of the Christmas season and its place in our hearts, take a moment to ponder on the needs of others and the gift that so many of our sisters need and desire, a welcoming hand, a visit to the lonely, help for the busy young mother, a kind note.

An important guide to celebrating the season is making family experiences at Christmas memorable, not expensive or showy, but those that touch the heart and enrich the spirit. Give first to the Lord, directly through obedience, sacrifice, and love, and then to give to him indirectly through gifts of love and sacrifice to friends and those in need as well as to our own. Christ’s gifts had no monetary value, his gift to us was eternal life and what he asks for in return is that we love one another, not only during the Christmas season, but throughout the year. May you all have a blessed Christmas with many wonderful memories to warm your hearts as you extend yourself to others.

Love, Carol Rhodes and The Relief Society Presidency

November Presidency Message-

Presidency Message

How can four little words be so hard to say? The four little words are “thank you” and “I’m sorry.” I think it is a matter of being “in tune.”

When you are in tune everything looks so much better. A friend of mine who was a starving artist said when she was in tune her little run down apartment looked to her like a romantic little cottage where her art work came out with light and beauty, it was a wonderful place to her, but when her days became gloomy and dark she noticed the broken tiles, peeling paint and noticed the art work she created also seemed to be filled with darkness and despair. I used to say to her that I always knew where she was in her art and personal life based on her attitude and the Spirit I seemed to notice that surrounded her.

It is so much easier to be out of tune- to find fault, criticize and complain, to be ungrateful and argumentative and non apologetic; others find it hard to be around such a person; but when we are “in tune” or filled with the Spirit, life looks wonderful and we find it easier to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and it is so much easier for us to be the first one to offer “I’m sorry,” in the most heartfelt way.

I would encourage you to stay “in tune” Cultivate an attitude of gratitude and practice it daily, your whole world will change. There is someone out there who prays daily for just what you have. When things go wrong and they will, be as quick to kneel as you are to text! On the other hand when we are “in tune” and things go wrong between friends, neighbors or loved ones, be quick to offer an apology. I’m reminded of some families who spend years with no contact or extreme awkwardness when they’re together because neither of them could be the first to say “I’m sorry.”

Psalm 100:3-4. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gate with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Love, Lorraine Anderson