Tuesday, February 8, 2011
February Visiting Teaching Message
February message – A Restoration of All Things
Sister Julie B. Beck has taught that "we know through the Prophet Joseph Smith that Relief Society was a formal part of the Restoration." The process of restoration began with the First Vision in 1820 and continued "line upon line, precept upon precept" (D&C 98:12). When the Relief Society was formally organized on March 17, 1842, the Prophet taught the women about their essential place in the restored Church. He said, "The Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized."
February Message
Dear Sisters,
Well here we are at the start of another year. And with it comes new beginnings. We set new goals, we get excited about our new course of study in Relief Society and Sunday School. And we resolve to do better this year than last year in reading the scriptures and set in stone the goal to attend the Temple more often.
I haven’t always been able to go to the Temple because my husband was a non-member. But when President Kimball said that all worthy brothers and sisters could get Temple Recommends and attend the Temple, I was ready. I would have been the first sister in our stake to go – but I waited for my Dad to come over from Idaho Falls to baptize our youngest, so I was the second in the stake.
We had to go to Seattle then and we would have to be on the road at 5:30 a.m. in order to beat the Seattle traffic and try to make the 9:00 session. We would have lunch in the Temple cafeteria, go to another session and try to beat the afternoon traffic and be home by 5:30 p.m. I tried to go every month and always had a carload of sisters.
I was so excited when our Temple was dedicated in 1989 – that meant that it would only take me 30 minutes to get to the Temple. I was still working at that time and wasn’t able to go as often as I would like to have done.
About four years after our Temple was dedicated I began working as a volunteer in the bridal department – I worked until we got a new Temple President and he discontinued the volunteer bridal department. And it was a couple of years after that I was called as an Ordinance Worker.
So it’s been 13 years now and I’ve had some wonderful, spiritual experiences and blessings and many, many prayers answered because of my Temple attendance; three of which are witnessing the sealing of my three children. When our youngest, Natalie, went to receive her endowment, we met her brother and sister at the Temple on a very cold and very wet December morning. I watched her walk ahead of me with her brother and sister on either side. They were so excited and probably wanted to run, but they walked fast. What a special blessing it has been for me to witness their sealings and knowing they were worthy.
Another time, I had had pneumonia during most of December and January and was unable to attend the Temple. I missed it so much. In February I was finally able to go. I remember walking into the third floor chapel where the Ordinance Workers met for prayer meeting and I sat close to the front. Being in the Temple again was so wonderful and listening to the beautiful organ music and just feeling the spirit I began to cry. I looked around for a tissue and realized that everyone was crying. Heavenly Father was in the Temple that day and we felt His spirit.
I know that Heavenly Father loves us and that Jesus is our Savior. I know that the Temple is The House of God and he walks the halls and corridors often, because I have felt His presence there.
My challenge to each of you is to set a goal to attend the Temple more often – attending the Temple is the most important thing we can do.
Thank you all for your love and support,
Melva Liberatore
Well here we are at the start of another year. And with it comes new beginnings. We set new goals, we get excited about our new course of study in Relief Society and Sunday School. And we resolve to do better this year than last year in reading the scriptures and set in stone the goal to attend the Temple more often.
I haven’t always been able to go to the Temple because my husband was a non-member. But when President Kimball said that all worthy brothers and sisters could get Temple Recommends and attend the Temple, I was ready. I would have been the first sister in our stake to go – but I waited for my Dad to come over from Idaho Falls to baptize our youngest, so I was the second in the stake.
We had to go to Seattle then and we would have to be on the road at 5:30 a.m. in order to beat the Seattle traffic and try to make the 9:00 session. We would have lunch in the Temple cafeteria, go to another session and try to beat the afternoon traffic and be home by 5:30 p.m. I tried to go every month and always had a carload of sisters.
I was so excited when our Temple was dedicated in 1989 – that meant that it would only take me 30 minutes to get to the Temple. I was still working at that time and wasn’t able to go as often as I would like to have done.
About four years after our Temple was dedicated I began working as a volunteer in the bridal department – I worked until we got a new Temple President and he discontinued the volunteer bridal department. And it was a couple of years after that I was called as an Ordinance Worker.
So it’s been 13 years now and I’ve had some wonderful, spiritual experiences and blessings and many, many prayers answered because of my Temple attendance; three of which are witnessing the sealing of my three children. When our youngest, Natalie, went to receive her endowment, we met her brother and sister at the Temple on a very cold and very wet December morning. I watched her walk ahead of me with her brother and sister on either side. They were so excited and probably wanted to run, but they walked fast. What a special blessing it has been for me to witness their sealings and knowing they were worthy.
Another time, I had had pneumonia during most of December and January and was unable to attend the Temple. I missed it so much. In February I was finally able to go. I remember walking into the third floor chapel where the Ordinance Workers met for prayer meeting and I sat close to the front. Being in the Temple again was so wonderful and listening to the beautiful organ music and just feeling the spirit I began to cry. I looked around for a tissue and realized that everyone was crying. Heavenly Father was in the Temple that day and we felt His spirit.
I know that Heavenly Father loves us and that Jesus is our Savior. I know that the Temple is The House of God and he walks the halls and corridors often, because I have felt His presence there.
My challenge to each of you is to set a goal to attend the Temple more often – attending the Temple is the most important thing we can do.
Thank you all for your love and support,
Melva Liberatore
January Message
Welcome, my 3rd Ward Sisters, to the New Year!!
New Year’s Day is my favorite day of the year! To me, it holds the promise of starting over, a brand new chapter with blank pages to fill, a clean slate, an empty calendar to fill! I feel I can lift up my weary head, finding strength to bear my burdens, as if I’ve been given another chance to try again, to make a change, or as the inspiring words of the song, “Ring Out Wild Bells”, tell us: “...Ring out the old, Ring in the new, Ring happy bells across the snow…Ring out the false, Ring in the true…Ring in the valiant men and free, the larger heart, the kindlier hand, Ring out the darkness in the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be…”
I love the words, “Ring out the darkness in the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be…”. In order for us to begin to “Ring out” the darkness in our lives, we need to look to our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world. He is the one who will lead us to eternal life. He is the one who will show us what we need to be doing to feel His peace in our lives.
Mosiah tells us: “Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ,…may seal you his…” (Mos 5:15)
What does it mean to be steadfast and immovable? Elder Bednar tells us that “…a building or structure that is stable and steadfast and immovable must be built upon a strong foundation. If you and I desire to become disciples of the Master, we must build appropriately and effectively upon Him as our foundation.” “…and when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which you are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” (Hel 5:12)
What does it mean to be “always abounding in good works”? I propose that it is more than just giving service to each other. It is following in the Savior’s footsteps, recognizing that each one of us is “…His workmanship, created in [Him] unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them”. (Eph 2:10) We look to the Savior’s example in the scriptures to find out what those “good works” are, and then we “walk in them” – prayer, scripture study, obedience, exercising Faith, being converted, hearkening to the prophets, practicing repentance and forgiveness, and patience and endurance. It is being valiant, courageous, and full of gratitude. It is being prepared. Most of all it is “…being willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord…” (3 Ne 6:14), and finally, “laboring exceedingly for the welfare and safety of [our] people” (Alma 48:12)
Sisters, I encourage each of you to “Ring out the darkness in your lives, and Ring in the Christ”, being steadfast and immovable, repairing, strengthening, and building your foundation on the “rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God…” (Hel 5:12)
We, as a presidency, love you and pray for you! We recognize and appreciate your good hearts, your kind words, and all the service that you give! Thank you so much!
With love…Robbyn England
New Year’s Day is my favorite day of the year! To me, it holds the promise of starting over, a brand new chapter with blank pages to fill, a clean slate, an empty calendar to fill! I feel I can lift up my weary head, finding strength to bear my burdens, as if I’ve been given another chance to try again, to make a change, or as the inspiring words of the song, “Ring Out Wild Bells”, tell us: “...Ring out the old, Ring in the new, Ring happy bells across the snow…Ring out the false, Ring in the true…Ring in the valiant men and free, the larger heart, the kindlier hand, Ring out the darkness in the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be…”
I love the words, “Ring out the darkness in the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be…”. In order for us to begin to “Ring out” the darkness in our lives, we need to look to our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world. He is the one who will lead us to eternal life. He is the one who will show us what we need to be doing to feel His peace in our lives.
Mosiah tells us: “Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ,…may seal you his…” (Mos 5:15)
What does it mean to be steadfast and immovable? Elder Bednar tells us that “…a building or structure that is stable and steadfast and immovable must be built upon a strong foundation. If you and I desire to become disciples of the Master, we must build appropriately and effectively upon Him as our foundation.” “…and when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which you are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” (Hel 5:12)
What does it mean to be “always abounding in good works”? I propose that it is more than just giving service to each other. It is following in the Savior’s footsteps, recognizing that each one of us is “…His workmanship, created in [Him] unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them”. (Eph 2:10) We look to the Savior’s example in the scriptures to find out what those “good works” are, and then we “walk in them” – prayer, scripture study, obedience, exercising Faith, being converted, hearkening to the prophets, practicing repentance and forgiveness, and patience and endurance. It is being valiant, courageous, and full of gratitude. It is being prepared. Most of all it is “…being willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord…” (3 Ne 6:14), and finally, “laboring exceedingly for the welfare and safety of [our] people” (Alma 48:12)
Sisters, I encourage each of you to “Ring out the darkness in your lives, and Ring in the Christ”, being steadfast and immovable, repairing, strengthening, and building your foundation on the “rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God…” (Hel 5:12)
We, as a presidency, love you and pray for you! We recognize and appreciate your good hearts, your kind words, and all the service that you give! Thank you so much!
With love…Robbyn England
December Message
Dearest Sisters,
As I consider how quickly the year is coming to a close and wonder if I have done all I set out to do-if I have accomplished my goals and grown in testimony and love of the Savior – I ponder what the new year may bring and think of the words of Louise Fletcher Tarkington:
“I wish that there were some wonderful place in the Land of Beginning Again
Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches and all of our poor selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door and never be put on again.
We would find all the things we intended to do but forgot,
And remembered too late:
Little praises unspoken, little promises broken, and all of the thousand and one
Little duties neglected that might have perfected the day for one less fortunate.
It wouldn’t be possible not to be kind in the Land of Beginning Again
And the ones we misjudged and the ones whom we grudged
Their moments of victory here,
Would find in the grasp of our loving hand-clasp,
More than penitent lips could explain.
For what had been hardest we’d know had been best,
And what had seemed loss would be gain;
For there isn’t a sting that will not take wing,
When we’ve faced it and laughed it away;
And I think that the laughter is most what we’re after
In the Land of Beginning Again.” And so on –
As sisters in Relief Society we have enjoyed a year of “Finding Joy” in so many areas and one particular lesson that Sister Hadfield taught us is still vivid in my memory in that we “choose to be happy regardless of what circumstances we face in life and not be discouraged.” All of our lessons through the year have pointed us in ways where we can find joy.
We have opportunities to begin again as we face each new day with courage – each new year with added commitment to strengthening our own conversion. Thank goodness for Christmas! Where we are reminded of the Savior’s love for all of our Heavenly Father’s children and the reminder to think of others and share that love that we receive from him. The Lord in trying to teach Simon Peter said, “Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat: but I have PRAYED FOR THEE, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (sisters too) Could the Savior be praying for us as well? Do we sometimes feel we are being “sifted as wheat”? Conversion is a step by step process. Striving for strong testimony day by day.
As we focus our attention in the coming year on doing those things that help our testimonies to grow and having that faith that the Lord is praying for us and wants us to succeed, we can find lasting joy in helping others and lifting their burdens. There is great need all around us – can we each find time to reach out and share that love and in doing so have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thank you for your love and support to us as your sisters in Relief Society.
Zelma Christensen
As I consider how quickly the year is coming to a close and wonder if I have done all I set out to do-if I have accomplished my goals and grown in testimony and love of the Savior – I ponder what the new year may bring and think of the words of Louise Fletcher Tarkington:
“I wish that there were some wonderful place in the Land of Beginning Again
Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches and all of our poor selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door and never be put on again.
We would find all the things we intended to do but forgot,
And remembered too late:
Little praises unspoken, little promises broken, and all of the thousand and one
Little duties neglected that might have perfected the day for one less fortunate.
It wouldn’t be possible not to be kind in the Land of Beginning Again
And the ones we misjudged and the ones whom we grudged
Their moments of victory here,
Would find in the grasp of our loving hand-clasp,
More than penitent lips could explain.
For what had been hardest we’d know had been best,
And what had seemed loss would be gain;
For there isn’t a sting that will not take wing,
When we’ve faced it and laughed it away;
And I think that the laughter is most what we’re after
In the Land of Beginning Again.” And so on –
As sisters in Relief Society we have enjoyed a year of “Finding Joy” in so many areas and one particular lesson that Sister Hadfield taught us is still vivid in my memory in that we “choose to be happy regardless of what circumstances we face in life and not be discouraged.” All of our lessons through the year have pointed us in ways where we can find joy.
We have opportunities to begin again as we face each new day with courage – each new year with added commitment to strengthening our own conversion. Thank goodness for Christmas! Where we are reminded of the Savior’s love for all of our Heavenly Father’s children and the reminder to think of others and share that love that we receive from him. The Lord in trying to teach Simon Peter said, “Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat: but I have PRAYED FOR THEE, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (sisters too) Could the Savior be praying for us as well? Do we sometimes feel we are being “sifted as wheat”? Conversion is a step by step process. Striving for strong testimony day by day.
As we focus our attention in the coming year on doing those things that help our testimonies to grow and having that faith that the Lord is praying for us and wants us to succeed, we can find lasting joy in helping others and lifting their burdens. There is great need all around us – can we each find time to reach out and share that love and in doing so have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thank you for your love and support to us as your sisters in Relief Society.
Zelma Christensen
Sunday, November 7, 2010
November Message
I love fall! I love the change in the air, the brilliant colors of the leaves falling from the trees! I love it when the clouds break apart after a rain, and there’s that beautiful blue in the sky that you only see in the season of fall! It seems to me a more brilliant blue, which coordinates so beautifully with the whites and grays in the clouds, and the yellows, oranges, reds, golds, browns, and greens of fall! This time of year always is a significant time of change for me. Summer is over, school has begun, the holidays are just around the corner, and another year is winding down to a close. It signals to me that a new routine is needed to get into the swing of the things of life.
I don’t know about you, but I have felt overwhelmed by all the changes in the ward in the past few months! As I think about the “new 3rd Ward”, I can’t help but compare it to this time of year! This “new ward” is like the arrival of the fall season! It is here! The “old ward” is gone away! It was beautiful, and it had its time and season. Now we are in a “new season”, full of beautiful color and bursting with possibility! It is a significant change and a needed change! And most of all we are so blessed to be a part of this wonderful change!
I pray that each one of you sisters would recognize that you are a significant part of this beautiful ward Relief Society, no matter where you serve and no matter what your circumstances! Each one of you is one of those brilliant “colors of fall”, which coordinate so beautifully together! We are not strangers! Recognize that each of you are daughters of our Heavenly Father and you love him! We are sisters in Zion, sisters in the gospel, beautiful Relief Society sisters, and friends, belonging to an inspired and powerful organization of unity, compassionate care-giving, and love!
We can strengthen ourselves individually and as a “new ward” family through these beautiful principles. We can do this with a phone call, a visit, a smile and “hello” on Sunday or wherever you are, or just simply introducing yourself to or sitting by someone new. Think about your visiting teaching “sister friends”, and ask Heavenly Father how you can get to know them better, and serve them more fully. Even though we all appreciate a plate of treats or a meal (and I do!), be willing to pray and be sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit, and then go outside yourselves and your normal routine, and follow the Savior’s example:
“‘Come Follow Me’, the Savior said,
Then let us in his footsteps tread.
For thus alone can we be one,
With God’s own loved Begotten Son”. (Hymn #116 – Matt 22: 36-40)
He did not give one pat answer or a loaf of bread on every occasion, but he did give the kind of service that precisely fit the needs of those he so sensitively perceived. “If the people had a physical need he fed them. Sometimes he healed them or calmed a storm. If they had an emotional need that was crying out, he listened or taught a principle. He prayed with them, and sometimes wept with them.” (Lori Boyer, Compassionate Service: With or Without a Casserole”, Jan Ensign 1985)
Please know we are here for each of you. Please reach out and be there for each other, for that is the great work of our Father in Heaven and inspiration of Relief Society. Please know that you are a special daughter of our Heavenly Father, with unique spiritual gifts that will help you grow in your testimony and help you to strengthen the testimonies of those around you! We love you, we are praying for you, and we appreciate all that you do!
With love, Sister Robbyn England
I don’t know about you, but I have felt overwhelmed by all the changes in the ward in the past few months! As I think about the “new 3rd Ward”, I can’t help but compare it to this time of year! This “new ward” is like the arrival of the fall season! It is here! The “old ward” is gone away! It was beautiful, and it had its time and season. Now we are in a “new season”, full of beautiful color and bursting with possibility! It is a significant change and a needed change! And most of all we are so blessed to be a part of this wonderful change!
I pray that each one of you sisters would recognize that you are a significant part of this beautiful ward Relief Society, no matter where you serve and no matter what your circumstances! Each one of you is one of those brilliant “colors of fall”, which coordinate so beautifully together! We are not strangers! Recognize that each of you are daughters of our Heavenly Father and you love him! We are sisters in Zion, sisters in the gospel, beautiful Relief Society sisters, and friends, belonging to an inspired and powerful organization of unity, compassionate care-giving, and love!
We can strengthen ourselves individually and as a “new ward” family through these beautiful principles. We can do this with a phone call, a visit, a smile and “hello” on Sunday or wherever you are, or just simply introducing yourself to or sitting by someone new. Think about your visiting teaching “sister friends”, and ask Heavenly Father how you can get to know them better, and serve them more fully. Even though we all appreciate a plate of treats or a meal (and I do!), be willing to pray and be sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit, and then go outside yourselves and your normal routine, and follow the Savior’s example:
“‘Come Follow Me’, the Savior said,
Then let us in his footsteps tread.
For thus alone can we be one,
With God’s own loved Begotten Son”. (Hymn #116 – Matt 22: 36-40)
He did not give one pat answer or a loaf of bread on every occasion, but he did give the kind of service that precisely fit the needs of those he so sensitively perceived. “If the people had a physical need he fed them. Sometimes he healed them or calmed a storm. If they had an emotional need that was crying out, he listened or taught a principle. He prayed with them, and sometimes wept with them.” (Lori Boyer, Compassionate Service: With or Without a Casserole”, Jan Ensign 1985)
Please know we are here for each of you. Please reach out and be there for each other, for that is the great work of our Father in Heaven and inspiration of Relief Society. Please know that you are a special daughter of our Heavenly Father, with unique spiritual gifts that will help you grow in your testimony and help you to strengthen the testimonies of those around you! We love you, we are praying for you, and we appreciate all that you do!
With love, Sister Robbyn England
October message
Dearest Sisters,
Children In primary learn a beautiful song entitled, “I Love to See Temple.” The words are:
I love to see the Temple. I’m going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray.
For the temple is a house of God, A place of love and Beauty.
I’ll prepare myself while I am young; this is my sacred duty.
I love to see the temple. I’ll go inside some day.
I’ll covenant with my Father; I’ll promise to obey.
For the temple is a holy place, where we are sealed together.
As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth: A family is forever.
As a children of God, many of us have been to the Lord’s temple. We have seen the love and beauty that abounds in our temples. We have made those sacred covenants with our Heavenly father and we have been sealed together with our families forever. How blessed we are to live in the time when the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth and temples now dot the entire earth.
As a new temple worker , I look forward to each Wednesday when I know Blaine and I will be working and serving in the Portland temple. I love to see all the patrons as they come to serve that day in the temple of the Lord, and to “covenant with their Father and obey.” How blessed we are to have a temple within 25 minutes of our homes.
As the song says,” we prepare ourselves, to go inside one day”. It is my prayer that each of us, as children of our Heavenly Father, will make a commitment in going to the temple often; whether it be to visit the grounds and study and pray with our families, to do baptisms for the dead, to take out our endowments, to do endowment work for the dead, or to be sealed with our families forever. May we all share in the “JOY OF THE TEMPLE.”
With great love,
Sister Judy Stevenson
Children In primary learn a beautiful song entitled, “I Love to See Temple.” The words are:
I love to see the Temple. I’m going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray.
For the temple is a house of God, A place of love and Beauty.
I’ll prepare myself while I am young; this is my sacred duty.
I love to see the temple. I’ll go inside some day.
I’ll covenant with my Father; I’ll promise to obey.
For the temple is a holy place, where we are sealed together.
As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth: A family is forever.
As a children of God, many of us have been to the Lord’s temple. We have seen the love and beauty that abounds in our temples. We have made those sacred covenants with our Heavenly father and we have been sealed together with our families forever. How blessed we are to live in the time when the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth and temples now dot the entire earth.
As a new temple worker , I look forward to each Wednesday when I know Blaine and I will be working and serving in the Portland temple. I love to see all the patrons as they come to serve that day in the temple of the Lord, and to “covenant with their Father and obey.” How blessed we are to have a temple within 25 minutes of our homes.
As the song says,” we prepare ourselves, to go inside one day”. It is my prayer that each of us, as children of our Heavenly Father, will make a commitment in going to the temple often; whether it be to visit the grounds and study and pray with our families, to do baptisms for the dead, to take out our endowments, to do endowment work for the dead, or to be sealed with our families forever. May we all share in the “JOY OF THE TEMPLE.”
With great love,
Sister Judy Stevenson
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