Relief Society General Broadcast
September 24, 2011
On Saturday we had the opportunity to hear from the General Relief Society Presidency and from President Uchtdorf. It was a wonderful evening and the talks were very inspiring. I took some notes during the broadcast and thought I would share them with all of you here. I hope that you will take the time to watch the full broadcast. It will be well worth your time.
*Julie Beck (General President of the Relief Society): "What I hope my granddaughters will understand about Relief Society"
-The Relief Society is patterned after the ancient church.
-The Lord has always needed women in His church (missionary work, sustaining the Priesthood, compassionate services, charity).
-The Lord ordered Joseph Smith to organize the Relief Society under the Priesthood after the pattern of the Priesthood.
-Relief Society is an essential part of preparing members to go to the Temple.
-The RS will provide relief that will strengthen and bring joy to its members
-Your discipleship can lift others.
-Visiting teaching is a significant way to honor your covenants:
-help to grow spiritually
-care sincerely
-extension of the Bishop's charge to care for his flock
-opportunity to participate in miracles
*Silvia Allred (First Counselor in General Relief Society Presidency): "Charity Never Faileth"
-Charity is love- It's a state of being, not an act.
-It is a divine gift that we must seek and pray for.
-We must have a desire to be more charitable (read Scriptures, pray, follow the Savior's example, follow the Prophet).
-When we have charity it becomes part of our very nature (visiting teaching helps us to be more charitable).
-We must live up to our privileges.
-Small acts of charity have a healing power.
-We must use all our resources to bring relief to all those around us.
*Barbara Thompson (Second Counselor in General Relief Society Presidency): "The importance of cleaving to our covenants and the joy that comes."
-Cleave=adhere firmly and closely to something
-Joy and protection will be given to us as we cleave to our covenants.
-When we have died, will people find evidence of our cleaving to the covenants?
-By going to the Temple we will find peace, joy, and comfort.
*President Uchtdorf (Second Counselor in the First Presidency): "Forget me not"
1. Forget not to be patient with yourself.
-We create false expectations and then don't celebrate our accomplishments.
-It is part of our mortal existence to have weaknesses.
-Be thankful for small successes in the home; God notices them and they are not small to Him.
-Our journey is long.
2. Forget not to recognize the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish one.
-Ask yourself, "Am I committing my time and energy to something worthwhile?"
3. Forget not to be happy now.
- There is nothing wrong with righteous yearnings; the problem comes when we put everything else on hold.
-Never stop striving for the best that is within you.
-Savor the beauty in everyday things.
4. Forget not the why of the Gospel.
-The gospel is not an obligation, but a pathway.
-It illuminates the path before us.
-It will cease to be a burden to us, but will bring us joy; It will inspire and uplift us.
-Seek out the majesty and beauty of they why... It will sanctify our actions.
5. Forget not that the Lord loves you.
-We are never forgotten.
-We are loved with an infinite love.
-We must allow his divine love into our lives.
-Cherish the gift of service.
Sisters, I want to let you know that I felt the Spirit so strongly as I listened to the words of our leaders. As I listened to President Uchtdorf speak, I knew that our Father in Heaven was answering prayers in my life and giving me the words that I needed to hear. I felt that love that our Heavenly Father has for me as he spoke. I encourage each of you to listen, to read, and to study the words that we heard this weekend HERE.
Love,
Amanda Call
