Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Lords Law of Health - RS Lesson, March 13, 2011
This lesson was about the Lord's Law of Health, Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, by Sister Pam Bitsch who provided this summary.
We started out by reviewing the history of this section as told by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson in April conference 1983. The brethren came from miles around to attend the "School of the Prophets" where Joseph Smith instructed them in things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. In the absence of a temple, the meetings were held in a room in the home of Bishop Newel K. Whitney. After breakfast, the brethren would meet together in this room where they would light up their pipes and smoke while discussing the gospel. Then when the pipes had gone out, they would take a large chew of tobacco. The Prophet would find himself in a large cloud of smoke. This, and the complaints of his wife at having to clean the floor, led him to inquire of the Lord relating to this and the Lord gave him the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom.
We went on the talk about this being a "principle" and not a hard and fast set of rules. Yes, many things are spelled out as to what we should put into our bodies and should not, but not everything is listed. How could it be? We need to be in touch with the Spirit and think about the principle of this revelation and relate it to the things we eat. Science, in our day, has borne out the proof of the things which Joseph Smith received. In his time, no one would have guessed that smoking or chewing tobacco or drinking tea and coffee could be bad for your health. The Word of Wisdom does not specifically say "tea and coffee", but not to use "hot drinks". Brigham Young said that hot drinks referenced tea and coffee -- and those were the drinks of that day. Sometimes today we will see studies saying that drinking tea and coffee are good for one. But we should know that following the Lord's counsel will always lead us to the best thing and not following the counsel of man. It also does not say to not use caffeine, but science in our day has shown us that caffeine has many bad side effects, too. There must be wisdom in the things we partake of. God gave us a body to house our spirits. It becomes a temple for our spirits and we need to care for it the best we can. Another thing Brigham Young commented about was resting to renew our strength and not to try to do "two days work in one" by using stimulants and drugs to keep ourselves going when we are tired.
We made a point of looking at the promises associated with keeping the Word of Wisdom, "to run and not be weary and to walk and not faint" and to have "great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures" made available to us. These are certainly wonderful promises and something we should all be striving to obtain.
I am so grateful to know that I have a Heavenly Father who cares about me so much that He even has revealed things that help me keep my body healthy. It is so hard to increase one's spirituality when you don't feel good so I know that God is helping us have the ability to have our good health and a healthy spirit work together for our good.
We started out by reviewing the history of this section as told by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson in April conference 1983. The brethren came from miles around to attend the "School of the Prophets" where Joseph Smith instructed them in things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. In the absence of a temple, the meetings were held in a room in the home of Bishop Newel K. Whitney. After breakfast, the brethren would meet together in this room where they would light up their pipes and smoke while discussing the gospel. Then when the pipes had gone out, they would take a large chew of tobacco. The Prophet would find himself in a large cloud of smoke. This, and the complaints of his wife at having to clean the floor, led him to inquire of the Lord relating to this and the Lord gave him the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom.
We went on the talk about this being a "principle" and not a hard and fast set of rules. Yes, many things are spelled out as to what we should put into our bodies and should not, but not everything is listed. How could it be? We need to be in touch with the Spirit and think about the principle of this revelation and relate it to the things we eat. Science, in our day, has borne out the proof of the things which Joseph Smith received. In his time, no one would have guessed that smoking or chewing tobacco or drinking tea and coffee could be bad for your health. The Word of Wisdom does not specifically say "tea and coffee", but not to use "hot drinks". Brigham Young said that hot drinks referenced tea and coffee -- and those were the drinks of that day. Sometimes today we will see studies saying that drinking tea and coffee are good for one. But we should know that following the Lord's counsel will always lead us to the best thing and not following the counsel of man. It also does not say to not use caffeine, but science in our day has shown us that caffeine has many bad side effects, too. There must be wisdom in the things we partake of. God gave us a body to house our spirits. It becomes a temple for our spirits and we need to care for it the best we can. Another thing Brigham Young commented about was resting to renew our strength and not to try to do "two days work in one" by using stimulants and drugs to keep ourselves going when we are tired.
We made a point of looking at the promises associated with keeping the Word of Wisdom, "to run and not be weary and to walk and not faint" and to have "great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures" made available to us. These are certainly wonderful promises and something we should all be striving to obtain.
I am so grateful to know that I have a Heavenly Father who cares about me so much that He even has revealed things that help me keep my body healthy. It is so hard to increase one's spirituality when you don't feel good so I know that God is helping us have the ability to have our good health and a healthy spirit work together for our good.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Of Things that Matter Most - RS Lesson, March 6, 2011
Sister Christine Breshears gave the lesson taken from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's General Conference talk of October, 2010 titled, Of Things that Matter Most.
President Uchtodorf reminds us that "when stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be". How many of us judge our self worth as a mother, wife, grandmother, etc. by the length of our TO DO list? The wise "resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life".
How can we stay focused on what matter most?
Elder Oaks gave a wonderful talk several years where he taught us that "we have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best". Remember this Good, Better, and Best talk? When we have decisions to make regarding how to spend our time and efforts, we can ask ourselves "What is the best use of my time?" Again President Uchtdorf reminds us that we "would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most". All of our circumstances are different, we need to evaluate ourselves (not the woman next to us) and decide what Heavenly Father expects of us.
So what are the Basics?
President Uchtdorf tells us that four key relationships are the basics of things that matter most. As we improve one relationship, the other relationships are strengthened.
1) Relationship with Heavenly Father - This relationship is nourished as we learn of Him and of His Son, Jesus Christ. As we keep His commandments, pray daily, study the scriptures, attend the temple, and spend meaningful time alone with Him our relationship with Him is strengthened.
2) Relationship with our Families - This bond is strengthened as we spend time together by doing simple things - family dinner, family home evening, etc. These are activities that don't require money as we are giving of our time. In fact President Uchtdorf says that love within a family is spelled T-I-M-E. He tells us that spending time together is the "key for harmony at home". Sounds like a great promise to me!
3) Relationship with our Fellowman - we develop relationships with others one person at a time. As we share our time and talents with others, we develop lasting relationships with those in our ward and neighborhoods. Visiting teaching provides us the opportunity to develop new relationships. We may find missionary opportunities also as we reach out to those around us.
4) Relationship with Ourselves - We need to remember that we our children of a Heavenly Father and we are of divine worth to Him. Let us focus on our strengths and not criticize and belittle ourselves.
One final reminder by President Uchtdorf " If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most."
President Uchtodorf reminds us that "when stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be". How many of us judge our self worth as a mother, wife, grandmother, etc. by the length of our TO DO list? The wise "resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life".
How can we stay focused on what matter most?
Elder Oaks gave a wonderful talk several years where he taught us that "we have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best". Remember this Good, Better, and Best talk? When we have decisions to make regarding how to spend our time and efforts, we can ask ourselves "What is the best use of my time?" Again President Uchtdorf reminds us that we "would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most". All of our circumstances are different, we need to evaluate ourselves (not the woman next to us) and decide what Heavenly Father expects of us.
So what are the Basics?
President Uchtdorf tells us that four key relationships are the basics of things that matter most. As we improve one relationship, the other relationships are strengthened.
1) Relationship with Heavenly Father - This relationship is nourished as we learn of Him and of His Son, Jesus Christ. As we keep His commandments, pray daily, study the scriptures, attend the temple, and spend meaningful time alone with Him our relationship with Him is strengthened.
2) Relationship with our Families - This bond is strengthened as we spend time together by doing simple things - family dinner, family home evening, etc. These are activities that don't require money as we are giving of our time. In fact President Uchtdorf says that love within a family is spelled T-I-M-E. He tells us that spending time together is the "key for harmony at home". Sounds like a great promise to me!
3) Relationship with our Fellowman - we develop relationships with others one person at a time. As we share our time and talents with others, we develop lasting relationships with those in our ward and neighborhoods. Visiting teaching provides us the opportunity to develop new relationships. We may find missionary opportunities also as we reach out to those around us.
4) Relationship with Ourselves - We need to remember that we our children of a Heavenly Father and we are of divine worth to Him. Let us focus on our strengths and not criticize and belittle ourselves.
One final reminder by President Uchtdorf " If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most."
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
RS Birthday Dinner, March 1, 2011
We enjoyed a wonderful evening to honor the organization of Relief Society.
After a delicious dinner we were privileged to hear from Sister Rodriguez, first counselor in the Stake Relief Society presidency.
Sister Rodriguez spoke about the legacy of Relief Society. Relief Society has provided so much for women over the years and for many has been a blessing and influence.
She quoted Sister Julie B. Beck, who said, "the purpose of Relief Society, as established by the Lord, is to organize, teach, and inspire His daughters to prepare them for the blessings of eternal life. I would like to say that again. The purpose of Relief Society, as established by the Lord, is to organize, teach, and inspire His daughters to prepare them for the blessings of eternal life."
The sisters are organized under the priesthood and in the manner of the priesthood. The Prophet Joseph said, "that the Society of Sisters might provoke the brethren to good works in looking to the wants of the poor—searching after objects of charity, and in administering to their wants—to assist by correcting the morals and strengthening the virtues of the community."
Relief Society is to strengthen families. We need to focus and come closer to the Savior.
Our challenge is to see what we can do to let the light of Relief Society shine in us. There is no other organization like Relief Society. We need to reach out.
Sister Vannucci closed the evening with this statement: "As Satan grows stronger, Heavenly Father needs us to be strong and focus on what is right and to strengthen each other."
After a delicious dinner we were privileged to hear from Sister Rodriguez, first counselor in the Stake Relief Society presidency.
Sister Rodriguez spoke about the legacy of Relief Society. Relief Society has provided so much for women over the years and for many has been a blessing and influence.
She quoted Sister Julie B. Beck, who said, "the purpose of Relief Society, as established by the Lord, is to organize, teach, and inspire His daughters to prepare them for the blessings of eternal life. I would like to say that again. The purpose of Relief Society, as established by the Lord, is to organize, teach, and inspire His daughters to prepare them for the blessings of eternal life."
The sisters are organized under the priesthood and in the manner of the priesthood. The Prophet Joseph said, "that the Society of Sisters might provoke the brethren to good works in looking to the wants of the poor—searching after objects of charity, and in administering to their wants—to assist by correcting the morals and strengthening the virtues of the community."
Relief Society is to strengthen families. We need to focus and come closer to the Savior.
Our challenge is to see what we can do to let the light of Relief Society shine in us. There is no other organization like Relief Society. We need to reach out.
Sister Vannucci closed the evening with this statement: "As Satan grows stronger, Heavenly Father needs us to be strong and focus on what is right and to strengthen each other."
Monday, February 28, 2011
Ward Conference - RS Lesson, February 27, 2011
Our 9th Ward Conference was on Sunday and we were privileged to hear from our Stake President who spoke to the Relief Society in addition to being the main speaker in Sacrament Meeting.
The Ward Conference theme was "Stand Ye in Holy Places" from D&C 87:8.
Some notes from President Smith's remarks:
We need to make the places we're in, as holy as we can.
When the spirit is present, ordinary places can become holy because of the spirit of the Lord.
The power of the priesthood is real God is aware of each of us and He wants to be able to reach and touch us wherever we happen to be. We need to be receptive and ready to feel that spirit.
If we take the time to make a holy place wherever we are, the spirit will visit us.
1. If we make scripture study as a daily part of our lives, the Lord will speak to us daily. President Smith referenced a talk given by Elder David A. Bednar at a Feb 4, 2007 BYU Fireside titled, "A Reservoir of Living Water".
Read the Book of Mormon cover to cover and you will gain a testimony.
Study by Topic and you will gain knowledge.
Search the scriptures and you will gain understanding.
2. Prayer.
Pray constantly (3 Nephi 18:18)
Prayer gives us strength and communication with our maker. Who better to go to to ask, "How do I make my home a holy place?".
You need to be in holy places more often. As you attend the temple regularly the spirit will attend you when you are outside the temple and will become familiar to you. What is "often"? "Often" is personal. President Waite, the Boise Temple president, encourages weekly attendance.
The Ward Conference theme was "Stand Ye in Holy Places" from D&C 87:8.
Some notes from President Smith's remarks:
We need to make the places we're in, as holy as we can.
When the spirit is present, ordinary places can become holy because of the spirit of the Lord.
The power of the priesthood is real God is aware of each of us and He wants to be able to reach and touch us wherever we happen to be. We need to be receptive and ready to feel that spirit.
If we take the time to make a holy place wherever we are, the spirit will visit us.
1. If we make scripture study as a daily part of our lives, the Lord will speak to us daily. President Smith referenced a talk given by Elder David A. Bednar at a Feb 4, 2007 BYU Fireside titled, "A Reservoir of Living Water".
Read the Book of Mormon cover to cover and you will gain a testimony.
Study by Topic and you will gain knowledge.
Search the scriptures and you will gain understanding.
2. Prayer.
Pray constantly (3 Nephi 18:18)
Prayer gives us strength and communication with our maker. Who better to go to to ask, "How do I make my home a holy place?".
You need to be in holy places more often. As you attend the temple regularly the spirit will attend you when you are outside the temple and will become familiar to you. What is "often"? "Often" is personal. President Waite, the Boise Temple president, encourages weekly attendance.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Work and Personal Responsibility - RS Lesson, February 20, 2011
This month's lesson was on Work and Personal Responsibility given by Sister Pam Bitsch, who provided the lesson summary.
We first talked about the principle of working being eternal. We first see evidence of God's work in the scriptures as the creation is described. Then we know that Adam was commanded to work so that by the sweat of his brow he could sustain his life and his family. We know Adam and Eve also taught their children to work. Jesus said that He was here to do the work of His Father. All kinds of work are required to get through life and are necessary and good. It is so important in the home to teach children how to work.
I assembled a panel of "experts" to talk to us about how they did and are teaching their children to work.
First was Priscilla Koudelka. Her family is grown but she said that they always worked together with their children and taught them to work. They have a farm so it was essential for everyone to help out. She said if should could do anything different, she would yell less. But at the same time she was yelling from the house to the kids on the banks of the canal out on the farm so I'm pretty sure that was the only way to make her voice reach that far.
Then was a new sister in our ward, Laurel Nicolayson. (Hope I spelled that right.) She has a 14 month old son whom she is teaching how to work by allowing him to help her to things like vacuuming. He loves to do that so she holds him and lets him put his hand on hers as they push the vacuum cleaner. It's much more efficient to do it herself, but she lets him help because that teaches him how to work.
Our last sister was Maryann McRoberts. She has raised a big family and several members of her extended family. She had lots of young children close together so she said it was essential to their survival for her to get organized. She made a chart that spelled out in detail what the requirements were for doing the job in each room of the house. Each child was assigned a room as their job and they had to do all the things associated with that job before they could go out and play. She told them that passing off their job was their "ticket out of the house" so they all learned to work and get the job done so they could play. Now that they are adults with children of their own, they continue to know how to work hard. Teaching children how to work and provide for their own needs will be a blessing to them for as long as they live.
I was also very privileged that same day to teach singing in the Primary and I loved every minute of it. Your who teach Primary have a stewardship that is priceless beyond measure.
We first talked about the principle of working being eternal. We first see evidence of God's work in the scriptures as the creation is described. Then we know that Adam was commanded to work so that by the sweat of his brow he could sustain his life and his family. We know Adam and Eve also taught their children to work. Jesus said that He was here to do the work of His Father. All kinds of work are required to get through life and are necessary and good. It is so important in the home to teach children how to work.
I assembled a panel of "experts" to talk to us about how they did and are teaching their children to work.
First was Priscilla Koudelka. Her family is grown but she said that they always worked together with their children and taught them to work. They have a farm so it was essential for everyone to help out. She said if should could do anything different, she would yell less. But at the same time she was yelling from the house to the kids on the banks of the canal out on the farm so I'm pretty sure that was the only way to make her voice reach that far.
Then was a new sister in our ward, Laurel Nicolayson. (Hope I spelled that right.) She has a 14 month old son whom she is teaching how to work by allowing him to help her to things like vacuuming. He loves to do that so she holds him and lets him put his hand on hers as they push the vacuum cleaner. It's much more efficient to do it herself, but she lets him help because that teaches him how to work.
Our last sister was Maryann McRoberts. She has raised a big family and several members of her extended family. She had lots of young children close together so she said it was essential to their survival for her to get organized. She made a chart that spelled out in detail what the requirements were for doing the job in each room of the house. Each child was assigned a room as their job and they had to do all the things associated with that job before they could go out and play. She told them that passing off their job was their "ticket out of the house" so they all learned to work and get the job done so they could play. Now that they are adults with children of their own, they continue to know how to work hard. Teaching children how to work and provide for their own needs will be a blessing to them for as long as they live.
I was also very privileged that same day to teach singing in the Primary and I loved every minute of it. Your who teach Primary have a stewardship that is priceless beyond measure.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Choose Ye This Day to Serve the Lord - RS Lesson, February 6, 2011
Sister Kerri Vannucci shared a message from Sister Julie B. Beck's 2010 Women's Conference talk. Which you can watch in its entirety here. You can read/print the written transcript here.
"Sisters, you are each like the lioness at the gate. This means that there has to be some prioritizing…when our priorities are out of order, we lose power. If we need power and influence to carry out our mission, then our priorities have to be straight… how important it is to safeguard that home, that family, to have that kind of power. We discussed that nothing really powerful happens in a home or a family if the lioness doesn’t care about it or invest in it. To move the Lord’s work forward, we have to have a powerful faith, a strong faith. We need stronger families and homes and we are to seek out and help those who are in need."
"Sisters, you are each like the lioness at the gate. This means that there has to be some prioritizing…when our priorities are out of order, we lose power. If we need power and influence to carry out our mission, then our priorities have to be straight… how important it is to safeguard that home, that family, to have that kind of power. We discussed that nothing really powerful happens in a home or a family if the lioness doesn’t care about it or invest in it. To move the Lord’s work forward, we have to have a powerful faith, a strong faith. We need stronger families and homes and we are to seek out and help those who are in need."
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