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
Sunday, November 7, 2010
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
September Message
Dearest Sisters,
Last week in Evening Relief Society we were wonderfully taught to “FIND JOY IN CHANGE”. I sat back and thoroughly enjoyed Sister Shirley and her recently returned missionary son Madsen describe the benefits of being flexible to change in our lives. Little did I know of the change that was soon to occur in my own life? Service in Relief Society can be a life changing challenge and I hope and pray that I am capable of that challenge as I learn the duties of Relief Society President.
Sisters Hadfield, Aschieris, Stevenson and Fowler have been tireless in providing a wonderful and spirit filled program for us. Our hearts wish them well in new callings. My great desire is that we can continue the Lord’s plan for the sisters and reach out to all of you. First we must become acquainted and I hope that soon we will.
How blessed we are to have the Gospel in our lives and be led by priesthood leaders that carry out the Lord’s plan for our Heavenly Fathers children. As we listen to their counsel, we come to realize that in following the principles of Provident Living and staying close to the Lord, we are a happier people and the stresses of life in a changing world are less frightening. Perhaps now is the time to be seriously practicing what we hear from our leaders – enjoy the benefits of paying a full tithing, avoid unnecessary debt, set aside some food, use resources wisely. How often did we hear from President Hinckley the counsel to “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” A tidy, well kept cottage can be more comfortable than a mansion full of worldly goods bought on credit.
A favorite story from the scriptures is of Joseph in Egypt. Because of his obedience to righteous principles, he was blessed by the Lord in devising a plan of provident management for the survival of the people of Egypt during a great seven year famine. In doing so, he won the favor of the Pharaoh and was granted permission to bring his family, the House of Israel into Egypt and they were saved from the famine.
With faith in the Lord’s promises, we can take joy in following our leaders counsel. President Monson reminds us that “The future is as bright as your faith.” May we all exercise great faith in following our leaders and realize the blessings of provident living.
With great love,
Zelma Christensen
Last week in Evening Relief Society we were wonderfully taught to “FIND JOY IN CHANGE”. I sat back and thoroughly enjoyed Sister Shirley and her recently returned missionary son Madsen describe the benefits of being flexible to change in our lives. Little did I know of the change that was soon to occur in my own life? Service in Relief Society can be a life changing challenge and I hope and pray that I am capable of that challenge as I learn the duties of Relief Society President.
Sisters Hadfield, Aschieris, Stevenson and Fowler have been tireless in providing a wonderful and spirit filled program for us. Our hearts wish them well in new callings. My great desire is that we can continue the Lord’s plan for the sisters and reach out to all of you. First we must become acquainted and I hope that soon we will.
How blessed we are to have the Gospel in our lives and be led by priesthood leaders that carry out the Lord’s plan for our Heavenly Fathers children. As we listen to their counsel, we come to realize that in following the principles of Provident Living and staying close to the Lord, we are a happier people and the stresses of life in a changing world are less frightening. Perhaps now is the time to be seriously practicing what we hear from our leaders – enjoy the benefits of paying a full tithing, avoid unnecessary debt, set aside some food, use resources wisely. How often did we hear from President Hinckley the counsel to “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” A tidy, well kept cottage can be more comfortable than a mansion full of worldly goods bought on credit.
A favorite story from the scriptures is of Joseph in Egypt. Because of his obedience to righteous principles, he was blessed by the Lord in devising a plan of provident management for the survival of the people of Egypt during a great seven year famine. In doing so, he won the favor of the Pharaoh and was granted permission to bring his family, the House of Israel into Egypt and they were saved from the famine.
With faith in the Lord’s promises, we can take joy in following our leaders counsel. President Monson reminds us that “The future is as bright as your faith.” May we all exercise great faith in following our leaders and realize the blessings of provident living.
With great love,
Zelma Christensen
August Message
Dearest Sisters,
Change is inevitable; sometimes the changes in our lives are welcome and bring us joy. Other times they are unexpected and catch us off guard and cause us frustration, grief and even pain. Some people say that change is the only constant in our lives. While it is true that change is constant, there is another constant in our lives. This is the love of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. They are there for us in our joys and in our sorrows.
As I reflect on my life, there have been many things that have turned out different than I had planned or expected. In May of 2007 our family was living in Colorado; my husband was sick and unemployed due to those health related issues. My oldest son had decided to join the Air Force after his fist year of college. I found no end to our difficult times. Even though I couldn’t see the end, with the help of my youngest son’s unwavering faith and wonderful visiting teachers, I could still feel my Savior’s love.
By mid June 2007, our family unexpectedly moved to Vancouver, WA to help with the family business. In three short and blessed years my husband is working, my oldest son is faithfully serving a mission, and my youngest son is preparing to serve. It is easy to feel our Savior’s love through the many changes that bring us joy. It can be more challenging when our changes are difficult or disrupt our lives. I encourage each of us to strive to feel our Savior’s love in all the changes of our lives, especially when they seem more than we can bear.
Sisters I love each of you, and thank you for strengthening me and helping me to feel my Savior’s love through the changes that happen in my life.
With love,
Sister Shari Aschieris
Change is inevitable; sometimes the changes in our lives are welcome and bring us joy. Other times they are unexpected and catch us off guard and cause us frustration, grief and even pain. Some people say that change is the only constant in our lives. While it is true that change is constant, there is another constant in our lives. This is the love of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. They are there for us in our joys and in our sorrows.
As I reflect on my life, there have been many things that have turned out different than I had planned or expected. In May of 2007 our family was living in Colorado; my husband was sick and unemployed due to those health related issues. My oldest son had decided to join the Air Force after his fist year of college. I found no end to our difficult times. Even though I couldn’t see the end, with the help of my youngest son’s unwavering faith and wonderful visiting teachers, I could still feel my Savior’s love.
By mid June 2007, our family unexpectedly moved to Vancouver, WA to help with the family business. In three short and blessed years my husband is working, my oldest son is faithfully serving a mission, and my youngest son is preparing to serve. It is easy to feel our Savior’s love through the many changes that bring us joy. It can be more challenging when our changes are difficult or disrupt our lives. I encourage each of us to strive to feel our Savior’s love in all the changes of our lives, especially when they seem more than we can bear.
Sisters I love each of you, and thank you for strengthening me and helping me to feel my Savior’s love through the changes that happen in my life.
With love,
Sister Shari Aschieris
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
