Be With and Strengthen Them, Elder Holland (Ministering)

Announcements:  Enrichment Night will be July 3rd @ 6 pm at Sherrie Troseth's home.  It is for Mother's and Daughters.  Come and enjoy a peaceful evening in Sister Troseth's yard.
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Today's discussion was led by Maddison Jones.  She is a new sister in the ward.  She and her husband are living with Sister Jones' parents.  They have two daughters and are enjoying our ward.
     
Before the discussion began, Sister Kathy Pinborough asked all of the sisters to please read and pray about President Nelson's Youth Devotional that he and Sister Nelson had with the youth.  This will be what the next RS Council meeting will be about.
    
Maddi Jones introduced herself and told a little bit about her family.  

She then began Elder Holland's talk by asking, "Who has been invited to minister?"  Then she said, "We were all given this invitation from President Nelson.  But then asked, "Who prompted President Nelson to change the way we were doing our visiting teaching to the new way we will minister?"  The answer is Jesus Christ.  This inspiration was given to the First Presidency from our Savior.
    
 She then asked, "What is ministering?"  Sister Bonnie Clark answered by saying that true ministering is putting the needs of others above our own needs.  Joan Richards said it is the pure love of Christ.  Joann Allen said when she thinks of ministering, she thinks about a time of peace.  Where we would be able to walk around in a peaceful atmosphere,  and if you came into contact with someone with a need, we would automatically be able to serve them just as it was with Jesus. 

Sister Jones then talked about how when Jesus was on the earth going from place to place, He didn't have an agenda.  He just ministered to those who were in need.  Sister Phipps then told of the Savior and how even when He was on the cross, He was worried about taking care of others.
    
To answer the question of what is ministering, the quote was then read from Elder Holland's talk.  "... to demonstrate "pure religion" ..... undefiled before God" - "to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light" and to "comfort those that stand in need of comfort," - to minister to the widows and the fatherless, the married and the single, the strong and the distraught, the downtrodden and the robust, the happy and the sad - in short, all of us, every one of us"...   
Sister Jones then said that Pure Religion is the Pure Love of Christ.  It is to be a true friend.
   
Elder Holland said, "As He (the Savior) prepared to leave His still-innocent and somewhat-confused little band of followers, He did not list a dozen administrative steps they had to take or hand them a fistful of reports to be filled out in triplicate.  No, He summarized their task in one fundamental commandment: 'Love one another; as I have loved you ... By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."    
Sister Jones then posed the question, "How is the Relief Society presidency to know the needs of those in our ward if we aren't doing our ministering?"  If we do not go out and visit our neighbors and friends, how can their needs be made known to those in leadership positions that are in authority to help?
 Sister Jones then asked, "When should we begin to minister?"  Several sisters stated at the same time, "Yesterday!"  

Sister Jones then talked about when they lived in their old ward they were a part of the pilot program for ministering.  She said that at the time they didn't know that the new program we are now all taking part in was what they had been asked to do.  Since it was announced she and her husband recognized it as what they had been asked to do.  She said that looking back on what they did as a ward, she sees that it increased the unity in their ward and had begun to be a blessing to everyone that had been involved.
     
The question was then asked,"Where should we minister?"  Sister Bonnie Clark answered everywhere.  Sister Jones agreed and explained that we need to serve wherever we are at.  We can serve anyplace and at anytime.  She told of how one family home evening just after they had moved into our ward, they were out driving getting to know the Tremonton area.  While they were driving, they saw an elderly lady in her yard.  They decided to stop and ask her if they could help, because it looked like she needed help in doing the work.  The sister declined saying her children were coming the next day to help her.  But they had a good visit with her and this sweet sister offered the Jones to come back anytime and partake of her garden.  Sister Jones then said, "We need to get into the habit of getting out of ourselves and get into the habit of thinking of others."
    
The next question was, "How do we minister?"  Elder Holland said, "In addition to whatever schedule you establish for actual visits, that calendar can be supplemented with telephone calls, written notes, texts, emails, video chats, conversations at Church meetings, shared service projects, social activities, and a host of possibilities in the world of social media..."  Sister Jones said, it can be random.  

Then Sister Jones referred to the following story told by Elder Holland:    
Last January 14, a Sunday, just a little after 5:00 p.m., my young friends Brett and Kristin Hamblin were chatting at their home in Tempe, Arizona, after Brett’s day serving in the bishopric and Kristin’s busy day caring for their five children.  Suddenly Kristin, a seemingly successful survivor of breast cancer the previous year, fell unresponsive. A call to 911 brought an emergency team trying desperately to revive her. As Brett prayed and pleaded, he quickly placed just two other telephone calls: one to his mother requesting her help with the children, the other to Edwin Potter, his home teacher. The latter conversation in its entirety went as follows:

Edwin, noting caller ID, said, “Hey, Brett, what’s up?”Brett’s near-shouted response was “I need you here—now!”

In fewer minutes than Brett could count, his priesthood colleague was standing at his side, helping with the children and then driving Brother Hamblin to the hospital behind the ambulance carrying his wife. There, less than 40 minutes after she had first closed her eyes, the physicians pronounced Kristin dead.

As Brett sobbed, Edwin simply held him in his arms and cried with him—for a long, long time. Then, leaving Brett to grieve with other family members who had gathered, Edwin drove to the bishop’s home to tell him what had just transpired. A marvelous bishop started immediately for the hospital while Edwin drove on to the Hamblins’ home. There he and his wife, Charlotte, who had also come running, played with the five now-motherless Hamblin children, ages 12 down to 3. They fed them an evening meal, held an impromptu musical recital, and helped get them ready for bed.

Brett told me later, “The amazing part of this story isn’t that Edwin came when I called. In an emergency, there are always people willing to help. No, the amazing part of this story is that he was the one I thought of. There were other people around. Kristin has a brother and sister less than three miles away. We have a great bishop, the greatest. But the relationship between Edwin and me is such that I felt instinctively to call him when I needed help. The Church provides us a structured way to live the second commandment better—to love, serve, and develop relationships with our brothers and sisters that help us move closer to God.”¹¹

Edwin said about the experience, “Elder Holland, the irony in all of this is that Brett has been our family’s home teacher for longer than I have been theirs. Over that time, he has visited us more as a friend than by assignment. He has been a great example, the epitome of what an active and involved priesthood bearer should be. My wife, our boys—we don’t see him as one obligated to bring us a message at the end of each month; we think of him as a friend who lives just down the street and around the corner, who would do anything in this world to bless us. I am glad I could repay just a little bit of the debt I owe him.”    
We need to build our relationships.  We need to have friendships and not be just someone that visits once a month.  We need to be the kind of people that others can turn to in times of need or in times of joy.
    
Sister Kathy Pinborough told of how when she was 19 her father got cancer.  They had to go to Ogden to a doctor there for her father.  She said that it was a lot of time on the road for her family.  She said she really didn't think about it, but that while her family was going through this trial, their yard was always taken care of by people in her ward.  She said that often when they would return from their trips to Ogden, there would be food ready and warm for them to eat.  She said she remembers once that someone left a large bowl of fresh strawberries there for them and someone else brought a large pot of soup.  It was truly a blessing.  They were people she didn't really know, but they were in their ward and they had ministered to her family.
    
Sister Ashby talked about how she was coming home from Tremonton the other day and she saw a sister in a wheelchair going down the road.  She thought to herself, I need to visit her one day.  Then the prompting came that she should turn around and go back.  She followed the prompting and turned her car around.  She rolled down her window and asked the sister if she needed any help.  The sister said she was doing okay.  They had a good visit right there next to the road and both were uplifted because she chose to follow the Spirit.  

Sister Jones then told of a time when a sister had moved out of their ward and then returned back into their ward.  She was prompted to take this sister a loaf of bread.  When she took it to her, the sister gave her a strange look, but Sister Jones had followed the prompting and left the bread.  Sometimes we don't know why we are prompted to do things, but we still need to do them.

Sister Joann Allen then talked of the story given in a conference talk of a sister that kept telling her husband that their neighbor's laundry was dirty when she would look out the window.  It was the woman's own windows that were dirty and after her husband washed the windows she could see clearly.  She said how now not only are to wash our windows so that we can see clearly, but we are being asked to go and wash our neighbor's windows as well to serve them.

Jenni Knight talked about a concept that she heard of, where it takes 5 seconds for our brain to talk ourselves out of doing something.  Instead of waiting when prompted and second guessing ourselves, she said we need to just go and do it.  

Celeste Miller said that she tends to question whether it is the Spirit speaking to her, or if it is her own thoughts.  She has decided that if it is a good thought, whether it is the Spirit or not she is going to do it because it won't hurt anyone if it is a good thought.  

Sister Jones then asked, "Why are we asked to minister?"  The quote was then given, "In the spirit of President Nelson's marvelous declarations and testimonies last night and this morning, I bear my own witness that these adjustments are examples of the revelation that has guided this Church from its beginning.  They are yet more evidence that the Lord is hastening His work in its time."

Sister Jones then went on to quote Brother Tibbets from sacrament meeting.  Brother Tibbets said, "The work is going forward and if we're not doing the work, it will go forward without us."

Celeste Miller told of a talk that Sister Tammy Jensen gave in Stake Conference.  In her talk she said that BUSY is an acronym for  Being Under Satan's Yoke.  We need to not be so busy that we put off serving those around us.  

Sister Anne Welling read a part of the lesson,  "as the work of quorums and auxiliaries matures institutionally, it follows that we should mature personally as well—individually rising above any mechanical, function-without-feeling routine to the heartfelt discipleship articulated by the Savior at the conclusion of His earthly ministry."  She said, we need to really truly learn to love those we serve.

Sister Jones then talked about how the Israelites asked to be told what to do and how to do what they were instructed to do.  It lead to the Jews holding fast to the law, as in how many steps you could take on Sunday, etc.  Today we are being shown a higher law, where we need to not only know the law, but adhere to the Spirit of the law.  It was talked about how if our neighbor needs to be served on Sunday, then go and serve.  We need to go forward and do it no matter when the need is.  Brigham Young closed a conference so that the people could serve their brothers and sisters who were out on the plains freezing.  We need to serve our neighbors in that same way.  

Sister Jenni Knight said, this is teaching us to listen to the Spirit.  The more that we act on the promptings that we are given, the more we will be given.  She then referred to the talk in conference given by Larry Wilson regarding a young man who served on a transport ship.  The ship was in the middle of a hurricane and this young man helped save the ship and it's crew.  He listened and heard the Spirit, but not only did he do that, but he acted on those promptings.  So we need to not only pray, but we too need to act.

Sister Glori Alsop told of a time this past year when she was in Hurricane.  She was driving around trying to find a house address of an acquaintance,  when out of the corner of her eye she saw what she thought was someone falling.  She backed her car up and there on the ground was an older sister.  Glori rolled down her window and asked if the sister needed help.  The sister responded that she did and was Sister Alsop going to come and help her.  Sister Alsop promptly pulled into the driveway and went over and helped the sister up.  The sister she was helping was kind of cranky and cross until Sister Alsop was done helping her.  

Sister Alsop pointed out that sometimes Heavenly Father puts us in a place to help even when others don't appreciate it or it seems like they don't.  But she said that had she not stopped, that little sister who Glori found out was 90, could have laid on the ground for a long time without anyone seeing her.  It was December and the sister had been out putting up her Christmas lights.  

Again, it was stated that the more we learn to act on promptings from the Spirit, the more we will be given.

Sister Kim Miller told of a woman that had passed her home that was looking for an address in Fielding.  This woman couldn't seem to find it even after directions from Kim.  Finally, Kim got into her own car and lead the lady to the home she was trying to find.  The woman offered Kim money for her troubles, but Kim declined.  She was just happy to help.  Kim said, "sometimes we don't think about the little things and how sometimes they are the greatest help."

Sister Marie Bywater told of how she and Milt have been blessed by their good neighbors.  She said that their sprinkler system has not been working and that a few of their neighbors have worked on it to help them.  She feels so blessed to have good neighbors.  

Kathy Pinborough said, "We need to keep it simple." Just be good neighbors.

Sister Tammy Jensen told of how she and her daughter had been at a leadership camp recently.  There was a man there that brought back a wonderful memory of service for her.  She said that this man, whose name was also Peter Jensen, like her husband.  Anyway, he had been their home teacher before cell phones were around.  Tammy had been threatening to miscarry and a neighbor took Tammy to the hospital.  The neighbor couldn't stay with Tammy and she didn't know how to get ahold of her husband.  When she finally came out of the doctor's office, not knowing how she was going to get back home there was her home teacher waiting to take her home.  She was blessed by home teacher that was willing to serve.  Seeing this man at the leadership conference brought tears to her eyes because he had been a blessing to them in a time of need.

The Lord knows the key moments when we are in need and He will provide for those needs.  We need to ask ourselves, "Will we be in tune to help serve and bless those that are in need; so we can be His hands on the earth?" 

 

Meek and Lowly of Heart, Elder Bednar

Today's lesson was from the talk given by Elder Bednar in the last General Conference.  The teacher today was Sister Jamie Johnson.

Sister Johnson asked all of the sisters what meekness meant to them.  Then she asked us to go to the lesson and look and find all of the descriptions of meekness that Elder Bednar gave in his talk.  This is what was found.  



Sister Johnson talked about how when you are meek, you have a settled, calm demeanor.  Meekness also acknowledges the accomplishment of others. 

Similar but different from meekness is humility.  In the talk it said, "Humility generally denotes dependence upon God and the constant need for His guidance and support, a distinguishing characteristic of meeknessis a particular spiritual receptivity to learning both from the Holy Ghost and from people who may seem less capable, experienced, or educated, who may not hold important positions, or who otherwise may not appear to have much to contribute." 

In the Webster dictionary Meekness is describes as such: 
1: Enduring injury with patience and without resentment. (What we would see as being a doormat.)
2: deficient in spirit and courage.
3: not violent or strong. 

But in the 1828 dictionary we get a totally different description:
1: Softness of temper; gentleness.
2: In an evangelical sense, humility; resignation; submission to the divine will. 

Meekness is a grace which Jesus alone inculcated, and which no ancient philosopher seems to have understood or recommended. 

Sister Johnson then separated the sisters into 3 groups.  She asked the first group to read and comment on the differences between the Rich Young man spoken of in the New Testament and Amulek.  

This was the group I was in.  We saw a willingness in Amulek that the rich young man didn't have.  Tammy Jensen commented on how the rich young man went away in sorrow because he knew he was trading dirt for diamonds.  

Sister Andrea Stringham commented on how we need to be meek even though we are so blessed and how we need to keep ourselves from being worldly.  Kathy Pinborough said that like Amulek we need to be Spiritually awakened.  She also said, "The best experiences are found at church.  That is why we need to keep coming."

The second group was to read about and see how Pahoran was meek.  This was their findings: 
He was grateful to Moroni.  He didn't take offence at Moroni's rebuke.  He was restrained and compassionate.  Sister Cheri Smith commented that we shouldn't judge others until we've had to walk in their shoes.  Pahoran was not a doormat. 

The third group was to read about and show how President Nelson and also President Eyering were meek.  This is what they found:  They were active in following and they were righteously responsive to the admonition of the Prophets.  We need to figure out how we need to follow and then do it.

Sister Johnson asked, "What examples have you had in your life?"

Sister Calli Richards commented on the Prophet Joseph Smith.  She talked of his example of patience and kindness.  She said she has never been hurt or persecuted, but his example was truly one of meekness.   We need to act and not react, but be meek like the Savior. 

Sister Annalee Ashby told of how when she was in a nursing class.  When the class began she found that there weren't any other LDS people in the class and many of the students had very negative views of the Mormons.  As she continued to take the class and live like she should as well as talking to her fellow students their hearts were softened and she was able to show them that their perceptions were incorrect.  She was a great example of meekness.

Sister Mindy Anderson said that in dealing with people that aren't righteous she has been blessed to be able to stay calm with those around her have been irrational.  She has been able to be non-judgmental.  

Sister Johnson then asked, "what blessings have meekness brought in your lives?"

Sister Merlyn Kent said, "through being meek you are able to be true to what you believe."

Sister Jamie Johnson said, "by being meek you always feel love from the Lord and it doesn't matter what others think."

Sister Tammy Jensen told a story of when they lived down south.  She said that she used to walk everyday with the bishop's wife.  They were good walking buddies.  She told of how a sister in that ward had gotten offended and began to cause problems in the ward, to the point where the Stake President came and spoke with the ward.  But during this whole process, the bishop was kind.  He kept asking himself what have I done to cause this offense?  He racked his brain trying to figure it out but was never able to find an answer.  He was very humble and meek.  His wife was also meek and during their walks, not once did she ever mention this sister or what was going on in their lives because of the problems that had been raised.  They, the bishop and his wife, were a great examples to Tammy of meekness and humility.  

Sister Anne Welling commented on how in the talk by Elder Bednar, Pahoran said to Moroni, "In your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart..  She said it is a becoming, not a doing!  You become a person of meekness.

Sister Jamie Johnson then said, "the word meekness comes from the Greek word praus and is defined as:
1: In Greek literature the word is used to describe a soothing medicine.
2: Used by sailors to describe a gentle breeze.
3: Used by farmers to describe a broken colt or tamed animal.

All three are examples of great power under control. 

*Medicine does not give up its strength or power to cure the sick, but it's strength is controlled.
* The wind does not give up power to push the ship across the sea, but the sail are set to control it's power.
* A horse does not give up it's strength or power when broken to it's owners command, but its strength is brought under control of it's rider.

When this last thought was talked about one of the sisters said that she liked the thought of the breaking and taming of a wild animal.  And that we should be as such and that the Lord is the one that holds the reins. 

Sister Johnson bore her testimony and mentioned in it that the Savior had perfect meekness.  That as we listen and answer his call and also if we seek for this our joy will be increased and we will become more like Him.

This was a beautiful lesson.  I would encourage you if you haven't had the opportunity to read this talk it is beautifully given and will bless us all if we seek to become meek in our lives. 

June RS Council Mtg

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 
Enrichment Night: Tuesday June 5 @ 6:pm.  
There will be a Taster's Table and a Nursery.  
We will be having a Sewing Evening with a Take and Trade Fabric Table.  Come and visit.

Stake Conference: June 16 and 17th.  
Adult Mtg Saturday the 16th @ 7 pm.  
General Session June 17th @ 10 am at the Garland Tabernacle.
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RS Council Meeting:  Facilitator was Jessica White

     Jessica Reviewed the past few lessons that were geared toward Unifying our Families with the Savior.  They were taught by Jamie Johnson and Tammy Ward.  Jamie taught two lessons, the first being  about Family Councils.  It entailed holding family councils - General (whole family), Executive (Husband and Wife), Limited (Parents with one child) and One-on-one (A Parent with a single child).
Her next lesson was on Teaching in the Home.  This lesson was about taking the opportunity to teach children in various ways.  
     Sister Tammy Ward taught a lesson on Temple Work and Family History.  Sister White encouraged all of the sisters to go back and read about these lessons on the blog if we weren't able to attend or if we wanted to remind ourselves about the things that have been taught.

     Sister White then began our lesson by reiterating what the Relief Society Council Meetings were to be like. In these first-Sunday council meetings, the Relief Society counsels together about local responsibilities, opportunities, and challenges; learns from each other’s insights and experiences; and plans ways to act on impressions received from the Spirit. These discussions should draw upon relevant scriptures and the teachings of living prophets.

     Sister White again stated that we needed to share topics and experiences to strengthen each other.  

     Sister Jean Bingham stated, "One of the beautiful things about this council meeting is that you actually come up with an action plan at the end of the meeting.”

     So in keeping with the direction given, Sister White began this lesson by introducing the topic that the Relief Society Presidency decided on at the first of the year, Unifying our families with Christ. She then asked us to listen to the Spirit and share our thoughts and feelings. As we began she suggested that it is okay when there are moments of silence as that may be when the Spirit is teaching and touching hearts.  

     Sister Bonnie Clark began by telling how her life has been blessed through the priesthood this past few months.  She has been blessed by others through their ministering.  She has made new friends, people that she never thought she would have been blessed by.  She is so grateful.  She talked about how learning from these councils she and her family have been blessed and it has brought them closer.  She talked about her son and how because of these councils they are able to talk and she feels that because of these blessings they will be close throughout their lives. 

     Sister Tammy Ward talked about how on council Sundays she takes notes on her phone so that they are always with her and because of this she is more able to implement the ideas into her life.  She has asked Sister Teri Garn to come to her home and give a Family Home Evening lesson on family history work so that her children can understand how to do this work.  
  
     Jamie Johnson said that she is trying to begin to do family history work, but she feels like it could be overwhelming to her children.  So she is beginning by telling them stories from their ancestors.  She feels that it is a basic way to begin and that because of telling them these stories, her children will have a greater appreciation for their ancestors.  

     Kathy Pinborough has told her husband that she will do family history work.  It is a commitment that she plans on keeping.

     Sister Kent told of how she has begun taking a beloved aunt over to the family history center in Logan.  She told of how they have a studio over there where they place a person in a chair and that person can be filmed telling stories or whatever.  She is able to have video of her sweet aunt telling stories.  This will be a great blessing to Merlyn's children.  They will have the stories in her aunt's own voice and they can also see her.

     Sister Tonya Hess told of how when her son Wade was living here with them, she had a table covered with her scrap booking materials.  Her sweet son left her a note on top of it saying, "If this isn't family history, I don't know what is!"  I have to agree with him.  She is keeping a visual history with stories and pictures for her posterity.  What a talent!  She is doing modern family history work.

     Sister Bonnie Ashby said that they have a program on their computer that you can turn on the microphone and speak into it and then you can print what you have said.  It makes it easier for her and brother Coy to record stories, etc. this way.

     Jamie Johnson said that the reason she has been thinking so much about these stories is that she heard a quote, but she wasn't sure of the exact quote, but it said that by knowing your ancestor's stories it gives us strength to handle our problems.  (Well, I looked it up on the Internet and here is the quote by President Oaks.)
     A recent study by a university in the South concludes persuasively that if you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the stories of your ancestors' positive moments.  Emphasize their ability to bounce back and persist through adversity.  That act alone will increase the odds that  your family will thrive for many generations to come.  
     Family stories count.  Children should know that they belong to something bigger than themselves.  

     Sister Teri Garn also said that there is a Time Magazine article about family history stories strengthening our families.  I couldn't find one from Time Magazine, but I did find a link for one from the NY Times.  The link is here .

     Kara Welling who is the ward historian talked about how she has gained a testimony about how our ward history will bless the church.  That through us sharing stories and journaling it helps the church to know how programs are working and how people are being strengthened.  Although she talked about how right now there are privacy issues because the people that they are gaining stories about are alive right now, so the only way you can read about what is happening in our ward history is by going down to Salt Lake City and going to the Church Offices where these histories are stored.

     Kathy Pinborough told how in their family they did family history work by coping their (her and Alan's mother's) recipe books.  She said that it was a neat way for her grandchildren to see what recipes these grandmother's used because of the stains that were on the copies.  She and brother Pinborough then gave these copies to their children as gifts.

     Sister Norene Rawlins talked about how she organized their family histories and pictures and then bound them and gave them to her grandchildren as gifts. What an awesome gift. 

     Sister Merlyn Kent said that there is an app that you can use that lets you see which of your ancestors you look like.  She told of how her son had some of the characteristics that was like one of the women in her family.  We all got a laugh out of that.  You can find this at: familysearch.org/discovery/compare.

     Sister Norene said she likes to go to relativefinder.org.  

These are some ideas that we can all use in our family history work.  We need to make it fun and enjoyable so that everyone wants to become involved. 

     At the end of the discussion, Sister Jessica White asked what our next topic of discussion might be.  Some of the suggestions were: 

• Christ-centered traditions.
• Instilling patriotism, gratitude and sacrifice in our children.
• Examples of being unified through Christ to build our ward family.

     It was then suggested that maybe we could somehow incorporate all of these suggestions into our next discussion to help strengthen our families.

     Sister Pinborough ended this Relief Society by saying, "there is such a Spiritual strength through counselling with each other as ward sisters."