Lesson on Sisters' Participation in the Gathering of Israel by Sister Joy

To begin Relief Society today, Sister Jensen spoke to the sisters about the ministering changes that they were making as a presidency.  She talked about the survey that was given to the sisters the past fall and how it opened up a discussion on what the sisters needed and how we as sisters were a part of the decision on whom and where we need to serve.  They passed out the new assignments today (called pods) to those that were there and will try to finish handing them out by next week.  Enjoy these pods that you will be in.  Get to know you sisters and love them.  What a blessing we can be in the lives of those we are called to serve with.
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Our lesson was given by Sister Joy today and it was based on the talk given in the last October 2018 talk by President Nelson to the sisters.  Here is a link to that talk if you would like to read it.  

In his talk President Nelson talked about the important role of women.  He talked about our Spiritual gifts and the ways in which we can make a difference in the lives of others.  He also talked about the Gathering of Israel.  In his talk he said, "This gathering is “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today”! This work is going on at this time on both sides of the veil and we have been invited to be an integral part of this work.

President Nelson then gave the women of the church four invitations.  This is where sister Joy began her lesson.  She focused on the invitations that were mentioned.  

The first invitation we were given was to do a 10-day social media fast. President Nelson said, "I invite you to participate in a 10-day fast from social media and from any other media that bring negative and impure thoughts to your mind. Pray to know which influences to remove during your fast. The effect of your 10-day fast may surprise you. What do you notice after taking a break from perspectives of the world that have been wounding your spirit? Is there a change in where you now want to spend your time and energy? Have any of your priorities shifted—even just a little? I urge you to record and follow through with each impression."   Sister Joy asked the sisters if they had participated in this invitation and what the experiences were that they had.  These are some of the answers that were given.

• One sister talked about how when she did the fast it made her aware of how critical she had been of others and what they were posting and doing with their lives.  She felt that this had been very damaging to her Spirit as she was so critical and felt the blessing of doing the fast that made her aware of this.
• Another sister talked about how she was blessed by being made aware of how much time she was wasting.  She found that by doing the fast she was able to get a lot more done during the day.
• One sister found that she was a happier person letting social media go.  She found that she had been comparing her life to the lives she was seeing on her social media feed and felt that she wasn't living up to what they posted.  By letting it go she has found much more joy at just being able to be herself and not worrying about what others think of her.
• A sister talked about how doing the fast helped her focus more on what was happening in her home and what they were doing rather than focusing on others and what their lives were like.  It helped her put her energy where it needed to be.
• A sister commented on how much better it was not to be so focused on the negativity.  

Sister Joy commented on how for us to become the women that the Lord would have us be we need to focus more on the good things.  She said how interesting it was to listen to the comments and see how it tears us down and keeps us in a place that isn't healthy.  The Prophet knows what he is doing in helping us to see how this affects us as sisters.

• A sister talked about how she moved her social media app to a different area on her phone so she isn't so prone to look at it all of the time.
• One of the sisters commented on how the weeks she is able to stay away for not just social media, but the media of the world, she is able to accomplish so much more.  She said when she focuses on what the prophet has asked she gets a lot more done.   When she is focused on media, she tends to let those things that would bring her closer to  our Father in Heaven slide and doesn't do what she needs to do and she gets very overwhelmed.  

Sister Joy commented on how Satan knows our weaknesses and then he tempts us to do what would bring us down.  

• This sister said that after her fast she recognized how much media was taking away from her days and she didn't get on her social media as much, but then as the days went by she got on more and more until now she is back to where she was before the fast.  

She was so open and honest and we all can understand because I think we have been there.

• Sister Jensen commented and told of a quote that she read this week by Harriet Tubman.  She was the one that helped save people in the underground railroad.  In the quote Harriet said, "I saved 200 slaves, I could have saved 10,000 if they would have known they were in bondage."  Then sister Jensen commented saying that when she did the fast she realized how much media was controlling her and realized that she was in bondage to it.
• A sister talked about how she had come to the realization before the fast that she was tired of trying to keep up with the lives of others.  She has gotten rid of the negative things.  She has found that there are positive things on social media that has helped to uplift her and now she tries to focus on the positive.

It was talked about how the missionaries use social media for a good purpose.  And that we need to use it for the purpose that the Lord intended and to be a positive force for good on the earth.

President Nelson then invited us to do the second invitation.  He said, "Second, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year. As impossible as that may seem with all you are trying to manage in your life, if you will accept this invitation with full purpose of heart, the Lord will help you find a way to achieve it. And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.

As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends.2 You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen."

• One sister commented on how she felt like she was underlining the whole Book of Mormon.  But she felt that it was a good thing because it showed her that the Book of Mormon is a second Testament of our Savior on the earth.
• Another sister commented on how she has never in her whole life read the Book of Mormon cover-to-cover.  She  began in December and she hasn't finished yet, but she is doing it.  It has been a blessing to her to try and do this. She finds that the days she reads there is just a power that helps her through her days.  She is also finding a greater understanding this time in reading it.  It has made her more mindful of what she is doing with her days.
• A sister commented on how doing this challenge she was able to understand Isaiah better.  
• Sister Joy commented on how she wasn't able to finish by the end of the year and she felt guilty.  But she is continuing to read and she finds a great power in reading it and trying to do what she has been asked to do.
• A sister commented and told of the opportunity that she had while traveling to share with another woman how the Book of Mormon was another Testimony of our Savior. 
• A sister read a post by President Nelson after this challenge.  It said, "I hope that these invitations have brought you closer to the Savior.  If you have struggled with any of these please don't be hard on yourself.  You can start today.  The Lord is happy with any effort we make to draw closer to Him.  I promise as you prayerfully study the  Book of Mormon the heavens will be open to you.  The Lord will bless you with increased revelation and inspiration."  She then commented on how President Nelson knows that we as women are hard enough on ourselves and he just wants us to do our best.  This gives her so much hope in her life.

Sister Joy then talked about how President Nelson then talked about establishing a regular pattern of Temple attendance in our lives.  He said, "Third, establish a pattern of regular temple attendance. This may require a little more sacrifice in your life. More regular time in the temple will allow the Lord to teach you how to draw upon His priesthood power with which you have been endowed in His temple. For those of you who don’t live near a temple, I invite you to study prayerfully about temples in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. Seek to know more, to understand more, to feel more about temples than you ever have before."

Sister Joy then asked for sisters to share their experiences.  She said that she herself has tried to be in the temple more.  It has been such a blessing for her. She has received a lot of inspiration since she has done this.

• One of the sisters commented on how she serves in the Temple as an ordinance worker, but she feels that she also needs to go through as a patron.  She has set a goal to try and go at least once a month.  She feels that when we go through for others we are also blessed. 
• A sister commented on how when she was a child her parents went to the temple once a month with her aunt and uncle.  She could tell when it was close to the time for them to go once again, because it seemed that as the month went her mother was more sharp with her father.  Her father was more sharp with the children.  Then when they went back to the temple, things settled back down and life was calmer.  So she and her husband have tried to set this goal of attending once a month for themselves. 

Sister Joy told of an experience that they had doing sealings.  There was a sister that had been at the temple for just one name.  As she went to leave, she asked sister Joy if they needed help doing their names.  They welcomed her help as they needed someone to stand in as a daughter for them.  Sister Joy told of how as this sister was sealed as the daughter to her family the sister began to cry.  She told sister Joy how the woman she had been proxy for was so grateful and had wanted to be sealed to her family.  And that the family was so special.  

• Sister Joy then talked about how important the work of gathering Israel is, not only on this side of the veil, but on the other side also.  This is what President Nelson is trying to help us understand.  It is such an important work.   We need to be doing this work in the temples and in our communities.
• A sister told of a special needs student that she works with.  She didn't think that this sweet girl really understood, but as she was driven home this girl told the sister that she was so excited for conference.  Because they would announce new temples and then we can go to the temples and be baptized and help families be together.  This sweet girl truly understands what is important.  
• One of the sisters commented on how you don't have to have family names to go to the temple.  She told of how the temples are behind on some of the names and they need to have them done also.  It is just important that we go.
• A sister commented on how she and her husband serve as ordinance workers, but when asked they have set aside another day to go as patrons.  She said, "If you try to find the time to serve, you will never find it.  You just have to commit to go and then make sure that you go and things will fall into place for you to attend." She told of how going to the temple puts life into perspective.  She told of how there were 40,000 more ordinances done in the first quarter of this year compared to last year in the Brigham City Temple.  

The final invitation given by President Nelson was this, "My fourth invitation, for you who are of age, is to participate fully in Relief Society. I urge you to study the current Relief Society purpose statement. It is inspiring. It may guide you in developing your own purpose statement for your own life. I also entreat you to savor the truths in the Relief Society declaration published almost 20 years ago."

We weren't able to discuss this due to time constraints, but sister Joy read a quote by Sister Mary Ellen Smoot.  This was given when the Relief Society Proclamation was given. She said, "We testify that each of us has a vital role, even a sacred mission to perform as a daughter of Zion.  It is new day.  The dawning of a new era.  It is our time and it is our destiny to rejoice as we fill the earth with greater kindness and gentleness, greater love and compassion, greater sympathy and empathy than has ever been known before.  It is time to give ourselves to the Master and allow Him to lead us into fruitful fields where we can enrich the world filled with darkness and misery.  Each of us no matter who we are, no matter where we serve must arise and make the most of each opportunity that comes.  We must follow the counsel given by the Lord and His servants and make our homes houses of prayer and havens of security and safety.  We can and must deepen our faith by increasing our obedience and sacrifice.  In this individual process a miracle will take place." 

This is as applicable today as it was 20 years ago when it was given.  We are able to take this Gospel forward and be a part of the Gathering of Israel.

We would like to thank sister Joy for the beautiful lesson she gave and thank those that participated in the discussion.