Feb. 18, 2018: Lesson Recap

"Be Ye Therefore Perfect- Eventually"

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2017-09-1060-jeffrey-r-holland?lang=eng

The scriptures were written to bless and encourage us, and surely they do that. We do thank heaven for every chapter and verse we've ever been given. But have you noticed that every now and then a passage will appear that reminds us we are falling a little short? For example,the Sermon on the Mount begins with soothing, beautiful, gentle beatitudes, but in the verses that follow, we are told--among other things--not only not to kill but also not even tobe angry. We are told not only not to commit adultery but also not to even have impurethoughts. To those who ask for it, we are to give our coat and then give our cloak also. Weare to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and do good to them that hate us.

If that's your morning scripture study, and after reading just that far you are pretty certainyou are not going to get good marks on your gospel report card, then the finalcommandment in the chain is sure to finish the job: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as yourFather ... in heaven is perfect." With that concluding imperative, we want to go back to bedand pull the covers over our head. Such celestial goals seem beyond our reach. Yet surely theLord would never give us a commandment He knew we could not keep. Let's see where thisquandary takes us.

Around the Church I hear many struggle with this issue: "I am just not good enough." "I fallso far short." "I will never measure up." I hear this from teenagers. I hear it frommissionaries. I hear it from new converts. I hear it from lifelong members. One insightfulLatter-day Saint, Sister Darla Isackson, has observed that Satan has somehow managed tomake covenants and commandments seem like curses and condemnations. For some hehas turned the ideals and inspiration of the gospel into self-loathing and misery-making.

What I now say in no way denies or diminishes any commandment of God He has ever givenus. I believe in His perfection, and I know we are His spiritual sons and daughters with divinepotential to become as He is. I also know that as children of God, we should not demean orvilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person Godwants us to become. No! With a willingness to repent and a desire for increasedrighteousness always in our hearts, I would hope we could pursue personal improvement ina way that doesn't include getting ulcers or anorexia, feeling depressed, or demolishing self-esteem. That is not what the Lord wants for Primary children or anyone else who honestlysings, "I'm trying to be like Jesus."

To put this issue in context, may I remind all of us that we live in a fallen world and for nowwe are a fallen people. We are in the telestial kingdom; that's spelled with a t, not a c, yet. AsPresident Russell M. Nelson has taught, here in mortality perfection is still "pending."

So I believe that Jesus did not intend His sermon on this subject to be a verbal hammer forbattering us into our shortcomings. No, I believe He intended it to be a tribute to who andwhat God the Eternal Father is and what we can achieve with Him in eternity. In any case, Iam grateful to know that in spite of my imperfections, at least God is perfect--that at least Heis, for example, able to love His enemies, because too often, due to the "natural man" andwoman in us, you and I are sometimes that enemy. How grateful I am that at least God canbless those who despitefully use Him because, without wanting to or intending to, we alldespitefully use Him sometimes. I am grateful that God is merciful and a peacemakerbecause I need mercy and the world needs peace. Of course, all we say of the Father'svirtues we also say of His Only Begotten Son, who lived and died unto the same perfection.

I hasten to say that focusing on the Father's and the Son's achievements rather than ourfailures does not give us one ounce of justification for undisciplined lives or dumbing downour standards. No, from the beginning the gospel has been "for the perfecting of the saints,... till we ... come ... unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness ofChrist." No, I am simply suggesting that at least one purpose of a scripture or acommandment can be to remind us just how magnificent "the measure of the stature of thefulness of Christ" really is, inspiring in us greater love and admiration for Him and a greaterdesire to be like Him.

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him," Moroni pleads. "Love God with all yourmight, mind and strength, then ... by his grace [you] may be perfect in Christ." Our only hopefor true perfection is in receiving it as a gift from heaven. We won't earn it. Thus, the grace ofChrist offers us not only salvation from sorrow and sin and death but also salvation from ourown persistent self-criticism.

Let me use one of the Savior's parables to say this in a little different way. A servant was indebt to his king for the amount of 10,000 talents. Hearing the servant's plea for patience andmercy, "the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and ... forgave ... the debt." Butthen that same servant would not forgive a fellow servant who owed him 100 pence. Onhearing this, the king lamented to the one he had forgiven, "Shouldest not thou also havehad compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?"

Now, there's some little difference of opinion among scholars regarding the monetary valuesmentioned here. And forgive the U.S. monetary reference. But to make the math easy, if thesmaller, unforgiven 100-pence debt were, say, $100 in current times, then the 10,000-talentdebt so freely forgiven would have approached $1 billion--or more!

As a personal debt, that is an astronomical number, totally beyond our comprehension.Nobody can shop that much.

For the purposes of this parable, it is supposed to be incomprehensible; it is supposed to bebeyond our ability to grasp, to say nothing of beyond our ability to repay. That is becausethis isn't a story about two servants arguing in the New Testament. It is a story about us, thefallen human family--mortal debtors, transgressors, and prisoners all. Every one of us is adebtor, and the verdict was imprisonment for every one of us. And there we would have allremained were it not for the grace of a King, who sets us free because He loves us and is"moved with compassion toward us."

Jesus uses an unfathomable measurement here because His Atonement is an unfathomablegift given at an incomprehensible cost. That, it seems to me, is at least part of the meaningbehind Jesus's charge to be perfect. We may not be able to demonstrate yet the 10,000-talent perfection the Father and the Son have achieved, but it is not too much for Them toask us that we be a little more godlike in little things, that we speak and act and love andforgive and repent and improve at least at a 100-pence level of perfection, which it is clearlywithin our ability to do.

My brothers and sisters, except for Jesus, there have been no flawless performances on thisearthly journey we are pursuing. So while in mortality let's strive for steady improvement without obsessing over what behavioral scientists might call "toxic perfectionism." We shouldavoid that latter excessive expectation of ourselves and of others and, I might add, of thosewho are called to serve in the Church--which for Latter-day Saints means everyone, for weare all called to serve somewhere.

In that regard, Leo Tolstoy wrote once of a priest who was criticized by one of hiscongregants for not living as resolutely as he should, the critic concluding that the principlesthe erring preacher taught must therefore also be erroneous.

In response to that criticism, the priest says: "Look at my life now and compare it to myformer life. You will see that I am trying to live ... the truth I proclaim." Unable to live up tothe high ideals he taught, the priest admits he has failed. But he cries:

"Attack me [then if you wish], I do this myself, but [don't] attack ... the path I follow. ... If Iknow the way home [but] am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way simplybecause I am staggering from side to side?

"... Do not gleefully shout, 'Look at him! ... There he is crawling into a bog!' No, [don't] gloat, ...give ... your help [to anyone trying to walk the road back to God.]"

Brothers and sisters, every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeedin living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we arehuman. May we refuse to let our own mortal follies, and the inevitable shortcomings of eventhe best men and women around us, to make us cynical about the truths of the gospel, thetruthfulness of the Church, our hope for the future, or the possibility of godliness. If wepersevere, then somewhere in eternity our refinement will be finished and complete--whichis the New Testament meaning of perfection.

I testify of that grand destiny, made available to us by the Atonement of the Lord JesusChrist, who Himself continued "from grace to grace" until in His immortality He received aperfect fulness of celestial glory. I testify that in this and every hour He is, with nail-scarredhands, extending to us that same grace, holding on to us and encouraging us, refusing to letus go, until we are safely home in the embrace of Heavenly Parents. For such a perfectmoment, I continue to strive, however clumsily. For such a perfect gift, I continue to givethanks, however inadequately. I do so in the very name of Perfection itself, Him who hasnever been clumsy or inadequate but who loves all of us who are, even the Lord Jesus Christ,amen.

Feb. 18, 2018: Lesson Recap

"The Probationary Test of Mortality"

Bruce R. McConkie

Jan. 10, 1982

We don't need to get a complex, or get a felling that you have to be perfect to be saved. You don't. 

There's only been one prefect person, and that's the Lord Jesus, but in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God, and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path- thus charting a course leading to eternal life- and then, being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship. I'm not saying that you don't have to keep the commandments. I'm saying that you don't have to be perfect to be saved. If you did, no one would be saved. The way it operates is this: You get on the path that's named the "straight and narrow." You do it by entering the gate of repentance and baptism. The straight and narrow path leads from the gate of repentance and baptism, a very great distance, to a reward that's called eternal life. If you're on that path and pressing forward, and you die, you'll never get off the path. There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity. Now is the time and the day of your salvation, so if you're working zealously in this life- though you haven't fully overcome the the world and you haven't done all you hoped you might do- you're still going to be saved. You don't have to do what Jacob said, "Go beyond the mark." You don't have to live a life that's truer than true. You don't have to have an excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing. What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people live in the Church- keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path. If you're on the that path when death comes- because this is the time and the day appointed, this is the probationary estate- you'll never fall off from it, and for all practical purposes, your calling and election is made sure. 

February Visiting Teaching Principles

Visiting teaching is about sincerely coming to know and love each sister so that we can help strengthen her faith and give service.

Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith, expressed her feelings in 1842 about how Latter-day Saint sisters in the newly established Relief Society should feel about one another. She said, “We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together.” This is still true today.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “See yourselves as emissaries of the Lord to His children. … We would hope … that you will establish an era of genuine, gospel-oriented concern for the members, watching over and caring for each other, addressing spiritual and temporal needs in any way that helps.”

The Lord through Moses commanded the children of Israel that “the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love [her] as thyself” (Leviticus 19:34). The sisters we visit may be “strangers” as we begin our service, but as we get to know her and her family, our desire will increase to “bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light” and have our “hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another” (Mosiah 18:8, 21).

Lesson Recap: Sunday, January 21, 2018

"The Living Bread Which Came Down from Heaven"

D. Todd Christofferson

General Conference, October 2017

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/the-living-bread-which-came-down-from-heaven?lang=eng

"If we yearn to dwell in Christ and have Him dwell in us, then holiness is what we seek."

The day after Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000 in Galilee with only “five barley loaves, and two small fishes,”1 He spoke to the people again in Capernaum. The Savior perceived that many were not so much interested in His teachings as they were in being fed again.2 Accordingly, He tried to convince them of the immensely greater value of “that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you.” Jesus declared: 

"I am the bread of life."

"Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead."

"This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die."

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world"

The Savior’s intended meaning was totally lost on His hearers who understood His statement only literally. Recoiling at the thought, they wondered, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”5 Jesus pressed the point further:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

“For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.”6

He then expressed the profound meaning of His metaphor:

“He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

“As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.”7

Still His hearers did not grasp what Jesus was saying, and “many … , when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? … [And] from that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”8

To eat His flesh and drink His blood is a striking way of expressing how completely we must bring the Savior into our life—into our very being—that we may be one. How does this happen?

First, we understand that in sacrificing His flesh and blood, Jesus atoned for our sins and overcame death, both physical and spiritual.9 Clearly, then, we partake of His flesh and drink His blood when we receive from Him the power and blessings of His Atonement.

The doctrine of Christ expresses what we must do to receive atoning grace. It is to believe and have faith in Christ, to repent and be baptized, and to receive the Holy Ghost, “and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.”10 This is the gate, our access to the Savior’s atoning grace and to the strait and narrow path leading to His kingdom.

“Wherefore, if ye shall press forward [on that path], feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

“… Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end.”11

The symbolism of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is beautiful to contemplate. The bread and water represent the flesh and blood of Him who is the Bread of Life and the Living Water,12 poignantly reminding us of the price He paid to redeem us. As the bread is broken, we remember the Savior’s torn flesh. Elder Dallin H. Oaks once observed that “because it is broken and torn, each piece of bread is unique, just as the individuals who partake of it are unique. We all have different sins to repent of. We all have different needs to be strengthened through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom we remember in this ordinance.”13As we drink the water, we think of the blood He shed in Gethsemane and on the cross and its sanctifying power.14Knowing that “no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom,” we resolve to be among “those who have washed their garments in [the Savior’s] blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.”15

I have spoken of receiving the Savior’s atoning grace to take away our sins and the stain of those sins in us. But figuratively eating His flesh and drinking His blood has a further meaning, and that is to internalize the qualities and character of Christ, putting off the natural man and becoming Saints “through the atonement of Christ the Lord.”16 As we partake of the sacramental bread and water each week, we would do well to consider how fully and completely we must incorporate His character and the pattern of His sinless life into our life and being. Jesus could not have atoned for the sins of others unless He Himself was sinless. Since justice had no claim on Him, He could offer Himself in our place to satisfy justice and then extend mercy. As we remember and honor His atoning sacrifice, we should also contemplate His sinless life.

This suggests the need for a mighty striving on our part. We cannot be content to remain as we are but must be moving constantly toward “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”17 Like King Lamoni’s father in the Book of Mormon, we must be willing to give away all our sins18 and focus on what the Lord expects of us, individually and together.

Not long ago, a friend recounted to me an experience he had while serving as a mission president. He had undergone a surgery that required several weeks of recuperation. During his recovery, he devoted time to searching the scriptures. One afternoon as he pondered the Savior’s words in the 27th chapter of 3 Nephi, he drifted off to sleep. He subsequently related:

“I fell into a dream in which I was given a vivid, panoramic view of my life. I was shown my sins, poor choices, the times … I had treated people with impatience, plus the omissions of good things I should have said or done. … [A] comprehensive … [review of] my life was shown to me in just a few minutes, but it seemed much longer. I awoke, startled, and … instantly dropped to my knees beside the bed and began to pray, to plead for forgiveness, pouring out the feelings of my heart like I had never done previously.

“Prior to the dream, I didn’t know that I [had] such great need to repent. My faults and weaknesses suddenly became so plainly clear to me that the gap between the person I was and the holiness and goodness of God seemed [like] millions of miles. In my prayer that late afternoon, I expressed my deepest gratitude to Heavenly Father and to the Savior with my whole heart for what They had done for me and for the relationships I treasured with my wife and children. While on my knees I also felt God’s love and mercy that was so palpable, despite my feeling so unworthy. …

“I can say I haven’t been the same since that day. … My heart changed. … What followed is that I developed more empathy toward others, with a greater capacity to love, coupled with a sense of urgency to preach the gospel. … I could relate to the messages of faith, hope, and the gift of repentance found in the Book of Mormon [as] never before.”19

It is important to recognize that this good man’s vivid revelation of his sins and shortcomings did not discourage him or lead him to despair. Yes, he felt shock and remorse. He felt keenly his need to repent. He had been humbled, yet he felt gratitude, peace, and hope—real hope—because of Jesus Christ, “the living bread which came down from heaven.”20

My friend spoke of the gap he perceived in his dream between his life and the holiness of God. Holiness is the right word. To eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ means to pursue holiness. God commands, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.”21

Enoch counseled us, “Teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ.”22 As a boy, I wondered why in the New Testament Jesus is often referred to (and even refers to Himself) as the Son of Man when He is really the Son of God, but Enoch’s statement makes it clear that these references are actually a recognition of His divinity and holiness—He is the Son of Man of Holiness, God the Father.

If we yearn to dwell in Christ and have Him dwell in us,23then holiness is what we seek, in both body and spirit.24 We seek it in the temple, whereon is inscribed “Holiness to the Lord.” We seek it in our marriages, families, and homes. We seek it each week as we delight in the Lord’s holy day.25 We seek it even in the details of daily living: our speech, our dress, our thoughts. As President Thomas S. Monson has stated, “We are the product of all we read, all we view, all we hear and all we think.”26 We seek holiness as we take up our cross daily.27

Sister Carol F. McConkie has observed: “We recognize the multitude of tests, temptations, and tribulations that could pull us away from all that is virtuous and praiseworthy before God. But our mortal experiences offer us the opportunity to choose holiness. Most often it is the sacrifices we make to keep our covenants that sanctify us and make us holy.”28 And to “the sacrifices we make” I would add the service we give.

We know that “when [we] are in the service of [our] fellow beings [we] are only in the service of [our] God.”29 And the Lord reminds us that such service is central to His life and character: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”30 President Marion G. Romney wisely explained: “Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.”31

Zechariah prophesied that in the day of the Lord’s millennial reign, even the bells of the horses would bear the inscription “Holiness unto the Lord.”32 In that spirit, the pioneer Saints in these valleys affixed that reminder, “Holiness to the Lord,” on seemingly common or mundane things as well as those more directly associated with religious practice. It was inscribed on sacrament cups and plates and printed on certificates of ordination of Seventies and on a Relief Society banner. “Holiness to the Lord” also appeared over the display windows of Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution, the ZCMI department store. It was found on the head of a hammer and on a drum. “Holiness to the Lord” was cast on the metal doorknobs of President Brigham Young’s home. These references to holiness in seemingly unusual or unexpected places may seem incongruous, but they suggest just how pervasive and constant our focus on holiness needs to be.

Partaking of the Savior’s flesh and drinking His blood means to put out of our lives anything inconsistent with a Christlike character and to make His attributes our own. This is the larger meaning of repentance: not only a turning away from past sin but also “a turning of the heart and will to God”33going forward. As happened with my friend in his revelatory dream, God will show us our flaws and failings, but He will also help us turn weakness into strength.34 If we sincerely ask, “What lack I yet?”35 He will not leave us to guess, but in love He will answer for the sake of our happiness. And He will give us hope.

It is a consuming endeavor, and it would be terribly daunting if in our striving for holiness we were alone. The glorious truth is we are not alone. We have the love of God, the grace of Christ, the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship and encouragement of fellow Saints in the body of Christ. Let us not be content with where we are, but neither let us be discouraged. As a simple but thoughtful hymn urges us:

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;

spend much time in secret with Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus, like him thou shalt be;

thy friends in thy conduct his likeness shall see.36

I bear testimony of Jesus Christ, “the living bread which came down from heaven,”37 and that “whoso eateth [His] flesh, and drinketh [His] blood, hath eternal life,”38 in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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Please Pray for Sister Dana Kim

Sister Dana Kim is recovering tonight from surgery. Please include her and her family in your prayers. If you would like to sign up to bring meals to the Kim family please contact Sister Shirley Maney at smtravel@juno.com.

We love you Dana! And hope you get better super fast!!!

Happy Birthday Elsie!

We hope you have an amazing Birthday this Friday. We Love you!

Lesson Recap: January 14, 2018

"TURN YOUR LIGHT ON"

BY SISTER SHARON EUBANKS

Lesson by Lisa Hanson

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/turn-on-your-light?lang=eng

The prophets are speaking about women. Sister Eubanks implores us sisters to hear their words. She referenced a talk given almost forty years ago, written by President Spencer W. Kimball, but delivered at the 1979 Women's General Conference by his wife Camila Eyring Kimball. 

"Finally, my dear sisters, may I suggest to you something that has not been said before or at least in suite this way. Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world... will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church relent righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different in happy ways, from the women of the world."

"Among the real heroines in the world who will come into the Church are women who are more concerned with being righteous than being selfish. These real heroines have true humility, which places higher value on integrity than on visibility... It will be... female exemplars of the Church [who] will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days."

• It will be the good relationships of the women that will trigger much of the major growth coming to the Church in years ahead. 
• The friendships that Relief Society women, young women, and Primary girls build with sincere, faithful, godly women and girls of their faiths and beliefs will be a significant force in how the Church grows in the last days.
• President Kimball called these women from other backgrounds "heroines" who will be more concerned with being righteous than selfish, who will show us that integrity is more valuable than visibility.

Five Things to Help us Play our Part:

• The first is to be righteous:
• Being righteous doesn't mean being perfect or never making mistakes
• It means developing an inner connection with God, depending of our sins and mistakes and freely helping others.
• Repenting continuously allows the Atonement and Christ's sacrifice to work in our lives daily.
• Women who have repented have changed the course of history
• When we repent we change our individual world, which changes our families, which causes change in our communities and the world. 
• Even when our lives are in peril, and utter chaos, we can cry out to the Lord for help.
• Jesus Christ is stronger than any terrible circumstance. We can rely on His strength.
• By following the Lord we can change the course of our lives, the lives our children, spouses, family members and friends. We can be righteous by living with an open heart for others who have made mistakes and want to change. None of us are perfect, but we can always repent and keep trying.
• The second is to be articulate:
• Being articulate means to clearly express how you feel about something and why.
• Each of us needs to be better at articulating the reasons of our faith:
• How do you feel about Jesus Christ?
• Why do you stay in the Church?
• Why do you believe the Book of Mormon is scripture?
• Why does it matter that the prophet has something to say in 2017?
• How do you know he is a real prophet?
• Use your voice and your power to articulate what you know and feel.
• The third is to be different:
• In July of 2017 at Panama City Beach in Florida, a number of swimmers had been caught in a riptide. The stranded swimmers were caught in a strong current and were being carried out to sea. A near by couple tried to help the swimmer but then got caught in the current themselves. Quickly the number of those caught in the riptide grew as more people tried to help those in trouble. There were no ropes and no lifeguard. The police sent for a rescue boat, the the swimmers had been caught in the tide for twenty minutes and were exhausted. Jessica Mae Simmons and her husband were on the beach and she had the idea to form a human chain to reach the swimmers caught in the current. They shouted at the people on the beach to help them, dozens linked their arms and marched into the ocean. People of all walks of life, races and, genders linked arms and marched into the ocean
• 
  
• .
• Everyone on the beach could think only of traditional solutions, and they were paralyzed. But one couple, in a split second thought of a different solution. Innovation and creation are spiritual gifts. When we keep our covenants, it may make us different from others in our culture and society, but it gives us access to inspiration so we can think of different solutions. We aren't always going to fit in the world, but being different in positives ways can be a lifeline to others who are struggling. 
• The fourth is to be distinct:
• Distinct Beams to be recognizably well defined
• Jessica Mae Simmons recognized that she had her own distinct talent for holding her breath for an extended period of time. She knew she could swim out to the struggling swimmers once the chain was formed and pull them on a boogie board to shore. She had a distinct skill, she knew how to swim against at rip current. 
• The restored gospel is recognizably well defined. But we have to be distinct how we follow it. Just as Jessica practiced swimming, we need to practice living the gospel before the emergency so that, unafraid, we will be strong enough to help when others, (or ourselves) are being swept away by the current. 
• Finally, the firth thing to do is to do one through four in happy ways:
• Being happy doesn't mean to slap a plastic smile on your face no matter what is going on. But it does mean keeping the laws of God and building and lifting others.

When we building, when we lift the burden of others, it blesses our lives in ways our  trials cannot take a away. 

"You don't build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith and things happen."

-President Gordon B. Hinckley

First-Sunday Council Meeting: January 7, 2018

"Unity"

"Revelation is Scattered Among Us" - Elder Neil L. Andersen

On the first Sunday of each month, Relief Society will no longer include a lesson "taught" by a teacher. Instead, presidencies or group leaders will lead a council meeting. We will council together about local responsibilities, opportunities, and challenges; learn from each other's insights and experiences; and plan ways to act on impressions received from the Spirit. 

Why Do We Need Unity Among Us Sisters?

"And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but they should look forward with one eye, having one faith, and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another."

-Mosiah 18:21

"We are all in this together. We need each other. Oh, how we need each other. Those of us who are old need you who are young, and hopefully, you who are young need some of us who are old... We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other. These friendships are a necessary source of sustenance. We need to renew our faith everyday. We need to lock arms and help build the kingdom so that it will roll forth and fill the whole earth"

- Marjorie Pay Hinckley

As a Relief Society we need each other to lift us up, inspire us, and help carry heavy burdens. In order to help one another carry those burdens we have to know what each sister is going through. We have to make a concerted effort to get to know one another, so that we may better understand each other's needs. The more we get to know one another, and look upon one another with love like the Savior does, we can then begin to know how to minister to each sister, and become united through Christ's love.

Every sister is important to our organization, every voice is needed, and will be heard.

When we are united through Christ, we can begin to move forward with one eye, having one faith...having our hearts knit together in unity,  then we can accomplish amazing things together! Like Emma Smith said, "We are going to do something extraordinary!"

How Do We Make Sure Every Sister Feels Included?

Visiting Teaching can be an effective tool in growing closer to one another and connecting on a more personal level. 

Convening in small groups may be a good idea for sisters who share the same interests, have the same schedule or are in similar situations in life, i.e. mountain biking group, hiking group, morning devotional group, mother's with small children groups, book clubs...

We can use technology such as texting and using social media to reach out to one another and to get to know one another better. 

How We Could Use This Blog To Grow Closer and Unify Us?

We can continuously use this blog to ask questions of one another, whether it be spiritual or practical. We all have different talents, experiences, and expertise. We can ask one another questions in a safe, non-judgmental forum on the blog, unhindered by the time constraints and business that we sometimes feel on Sundays. 

We can share our "Salty and Sweet" experiences, both good and bad. We can mourn with each other during times of sadness and rejoice in each other's victories. 

We can ask our sisters to pray or fast for us or a close friend or family member who could use extra prayers.

We can try to connect and reach out those who are unable to attend Church on Sundays. 

 What are Topics That You Would Like To Discuss at Future First-Sunday Council Meetings?

The purpose of those surveys that were handed out two weeks ago, were to get feedback as to what you would like to discuss in future First-Sunday Councils. The Church has given a number of possible topics such as:

• How can we better prioritize all of our different responsibilities?
• How can we come closer to God and receive more guidance from the Spirit in our lives and in our homes?
• How will we share the gospel with our friends and neighbors?
• What will we do to help mentor and strengthen our children and youth in our ward?
• How can we increase unity in our Relief Society?
• How can we be more involved in family history and temple work?
• How do we invite the Lord's help as we seek answers to our questions, and a deeper understanding of the gospel?
• How can parents be better leaders in the home?
• How can we strengthen our testimonies of the Lord and His gospel and help our families be spiritually self-reliant?

These are just suggested topics. The whole purpose is to really address the needs of each other in the Woodland Hills Ward Relief Society, and the surrounding community. If there is a topic you would like to understand more about, or seek the "revelation" that is scattered among us, you can email Hailey, and we will work to address those topics and discussions during future First-Sunday Councils. 

We need your participation, inspiration and cooperation. Please comment with your idea's and impressions. We look forward to growing closer as sisters and coming closer to Christ through our unity as a Relief Society. 

The Passing of President Thomas S. Monson

Remembering Thomas S. Monson

1927-2018

On January 2, 2018, President Thomas S. Monson passed away at the age of 90. President Monson dedicated his life to serving others. At age 36 he was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the youngest in 53 years, he bore his testimony saying, "I know that God lives, my brothers and sisters. There is no question in my mind. I know that this is his work."

His life, not just his years of service in the highest quorums of the Church, were marked by his constant attention to those in need. For more than 50 years, President Monson reached out to rescue the lonely, bereft, unnoticed, and unrecognized. He gave the clothes off his back and the shoes off his feet; he spent countless hours with widows and those in care centers and hospitals; he gave comfort and encouragement to those discouraged, lacking faith, or far from home; he shared his cheerful nature with anyone in his path; and to the delight of youth, he wiggled his ears.

“We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.”

                                  THOMAS S. MONSON

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Funeral services for President Thomas S. Monson, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held in the Conference Center on Temple Square Friday, January 12, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. MST. The funeral will be open to the public ages 8 and older. A public viewing open to all ages will take place Thursday, January 11, from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Conference Center.

Cancellation of stake conference and other special meetings weekend of Jan. 12-14

Following the death of our beloved prophet and church president, Thomas S. Monson, the following upcoming stake conference meetings have been cancelled:

• YSA Special Fireside Meeting on Friday, Jan. 12th
• Relief Society Meeting with Sister Nelson and other visiting leaders on Saturday, Jan. 13th
• Priesthood leaders Council Meeting (bishoprics and stake presidencies) on Saturday, Jan. 13th
• Special Canoga Park Stake Conference on Jan. 14th.

Elder Russell M. Nelson, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had been scheduled to hold these meetings with us but now must remain in Salt Lake City to conduct other church business. He expressed his sadness at not being able to visit with us this month.

We do still expect to be holding the special broadcast stake conference on Sunday, Jan. 28th at 9am at the Stake Center.

January 2018: Visiting Teaching Principle

Beginning this month, "Visiting Teaching" is changing sisters "minister" to each other in a more personal way. Rather than providing a specific "visiting teaching message," each month a "visiting teaching principle" will be given to provide ideas to help us minister more effectively to each other. 

Visiting teaching is about ministering. Jesus ministered anytime and anywhere. We can do the same.

To "minister" is to give service, care, or aid that contributes to the comfort or happiness of another. Visiting teaching is about discovering new ways to minister to those we visit. Jesus Christ ministered to all, anytime and anywhere. He fed the 5,000, comforted Mary and Martha at the death of their brother, and taught His gospel to the woman at the well. He did it because of His sincere love. 

Following His example, as visiting teachers we can come to know and love each sister we visit, remember that love is the foundation of all we do. When we pray for inspiration to know how to serve her and help her strengthen her faith, "the angels cannot be restrained from being [our] associates."

Making personal connections, listening with an attitude of love is the essence of visiting teaching. Modern technology and face-to-face visits help us to do it anytime, anywhere, and in many ways. That is ministering as Jesus did. 

Let us stop worrying about "what counts" as visiting teaching and instead focus on what each sister needs from us. Do what she needs. 

December Visiting Teaching Message

President Thomas S. Monson said, "We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness." "We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us."

President Henry B. Eyring, said: "A great change began in your heart when you came into the Church. You made a covenant and received a promise that began changing your very nature." "You promised that you would help the Lord make [other's] burdens light and be comforted. You were given the power to help lighten those loads when you received the gift of the Holy Ghost."

"We want to use the light of the gospel to see others the way the Savior does- with compassion, hope, charity." Per Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President. "The day will come when we will have a complete understanding of others' hearts and will be grateful to have mercy extended to us- just as we extend charitable thoughts and words to others... Our obligation and privilege is to embrace  improvement in everyone as we strike to become more like our Savior."

As we bear one another's burdens and keep our covenants, we are more aware of Jesus Christ's healing power. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has said, "Considering the incomprehensible cost of the Crucifixion and Atonement, I promise you, He is not going to turn his back on us now. When He says to the poor in spirit, 'Come unto me,' He means He knows the way out and He knows the way up. He knows that because He has walked it. He knows the way because HE is the way."

Let us embrace the example of Christ, and help bear each other's burdens and lighten their loads, just as the Savior does for us.

There Are Exciting New Changes For Relief Society in January of 2018!

The Church Announces a new theme/program for Relief Society and Melchizedek Priesthood starting in January of 2018

https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-announces-come-follow-me-for-melchizedek-priesthood-and-relief-society?lang=eng

The Church will be implementing changes to the Relief Society and Melchizedek Priesthood quorum meetings as of January 2018. Portions of the October issue of the Ensign and Liahona magazines offer more information regarding the changes. 

According to the magazines, the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church will be replaced with a "greater emphasis on learning from general conference messages, counseling together, and studying special topics selected by general leaders." These changes will also address local needs and involve more collaboration among its members. 

"God has organized his covenant sons and daughters into Priesthood quorums and Relief Societies to help accomplish his work... So while gospel instruction is important, Sunday Priesthood and Relief Society meetings are MORE than just classes. They are also working meetings where we learn together from general conference messages, counsel about the work of salvation, and organize to accomplish the work."

Here's What To Expect:

• First Sunday: Meeting to discuss local needs
• Second and Third Sundays: Sunday priesthood and Relief Society to study and apply recent general conference messages
• Fourth Sunday: Specific topic of study chosen by general LDS Church Leaders
• Fifth Sunday: Bishopric chooses topic for priesthood and Relief Society to study

President Grasteit addressed the Stake Auxiliaries and implored us to focus more of our attention on "ministering" to each other and to others in the community. He remarked that the Savior administered to the people and that we are to follow his example, but instead of focusing on the "admin" part of our callings, he wants us to focus on "ministering." These new changes will allow us as sisters to come closer, learn from one another, and serve one another in a more personal and meaningful way. 

Visiting Teaching is also changing. Our Stake Relief Society Presidency emphasized that the purpose of Visiting Teaching is meeting the needs of the sisters that you assigned to. Instead of operating in the formal way of sharing a message with the sisters once a month, we are being asked to pray, prepare, and recognize the real needs of the sisters we are visiting and do what we can to meet those needs, and help each other in meaningful and personal ways. It can be a text, an email, a lunch or a "pop-in." It can be anything that the sisters need at that time that will make a difference. 

We are so excited for the new changes that the upcoming year has for Relief Society. And we are certain that with time and cooperation, we will grow stronger in friendship and sisterhood. 

November Visiting Teaching Message

This month we are encouraged to choose a talk from the October 2017 General Conference to share as our visiting teaching message. Such as President Uchdorf's talk "Three Sisters." He told us about three sisters; one who was sad, one who was mad, and one who was glad. Of course, we want to be like the "glad" sister. 

"The third sister represents the authentic disciple of Jesus Christ. She did something that can be extremely hard to do; she trusted God even int he face of ridicule and hardship. Somehow she maintained her faith and hope, despite the scorn and cynicism around her. She lived joyfully not because her circumstances were joyful but because she was joyful."

None of us makes it through life's journey unopposed. But let us seek to be joyful despite our circumstances and put Christ first. 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/three-sisters?lang=eng

October Visiting Teaching Message

Enfolding with Love Those 

Who Stray

"The reality is that there is no perfect families...," said President Uchtdorf. "Whatever problems your family is facing, whatever you must do to solve them, the beginning and the end of solution is charity, the pure love of Christ."

Of those who are not participating fully in the gospel, Linda K. Burton, former General President of the Relief Society, said, "Heavenly Father loves all of His children... No matter where they are, on or off the path, He wants them back home."

President Joseph F. Smith taught, "However wayward [your children] might be, ... when you speak or talk to them, do it not in anger, do it not harshly, in a condemning spirit...Speak to them kindly."

May you and I receive revelation to know how to best approach those in our lives who are lost, and when necessary, to have the patience and love of our Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ, as we love, watch, and wait for the prodigal.

President Eyring said, "I have prayed with faith that someone I loved would seek and feel the power of the Atonement. I have prayed with faith that human angels would come to their aid, and they came. God has devised means to save each of His children.