lupe's notes March 10, 2013

Good Afternoon sisters. What a wonderful Ward Conference we enjoyed.

THOUGHT: A Message from the First Presidency. Dear Sisters: In grateful recognition of the blessing of Relief Society in the lives of Church members, we have directed the preparation of Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society. We pray that this book will be a blessing to you and to those whose lives you touch. We express our love and admiration for you and recognize that you are beloved daughters of Heavenly Father and dedicated disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are part of a great worldwide sisterhood. Guided by your motto, “Charity never faileth,” you can strengthen families and build up the kingdom of God on the earth. We encourage you to study this book and allow its timeless truths and inspiring examples to influence your lives. We testify that the Lord has restored the fulness of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that Relief Society is an important part of that restoration. Relief Society sisters have a glorious heritage. We pray that this volume will be an important resource for preserving that heritage. The First Presidency

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. We are sadden to announce that Bob Carlisle's son passed away. You will receive information via e-mail from the Bishop.
2. Thank you so very much to all the sisters who participated in providing food for the Daley Funeral luncheon. It is so wonderful to now that we can count on you sisters whenever help is needed.
3. STAKE RELIEF SOCIETY CONFERENCE in celebration of the Relief Society. “Circle of Sisters” will here this Thursday, the 14^th at 7 pm at the Manila Building by the blue silos. Sunday Dress is appropriate since it will be held in the chapel. Robby and Gayla will be part of the program. Invite someone to go with you or you can car pool.
4. Our sweet Lynette is home.
5. Be sure to check out the valuable information for March in your Preparedness Binders.
6. A reminder regarding President Livingston challenge to read “Daughters in My Kingdom by the end of the year with his beautiful promise “If you are having feelings of despair, don't know what your mission is, feel inadequate or need help in any way, if you will search and prayerfully read with a desire to find answers, I promise “If you do so, you will find specific insight for your concerns.”
7. Jenny Holman had surgery and is in Provo at the Aspen Rehab.

BIRTHDAYS: March 11^th – Jenifer Kidd; March 12^th - Amy Smart; March 13^th – Rebecca Poulsen and March 13^th - Sister Francesca Montagnoli. Happy birthday to all of you.

Today, being Ward Conference, we were privileged to hear from our good Bishop Edman.

Sisters, it is a pleasure to be here. It's quite an opportunity to stand here before the sister. Today I want to talk about Truth. John 8:32 says: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The truth is setting us free. When we know what truth is and our motives are good, it does set us free. Heavenly Father has all truth and power and pure motive to do all that He can do to help us return to him. What is truth?

Robby: Facts

Janet S: It's transparent.

Yes, we can see through the facade. Let's turn to Doctrine and Covenants 93:24.

Amy R: “And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;”

Jacob also refers to truth in the Book of Mormon Jacob 4:13

That covers it all. You really know a lot if you know truth. The truth about ourselves, who we really are, what characteristics we have We can see ourselves as our Heavenly Father sees us. It's hared to see the truth as to our characteristics. As I have interviewed people as a principal, for jobs, I would ask them to tell me about their strengths and weaknesses. “I work too hard; I care too much. I don't ask anymore. I once asked a woman to tell me what her current principal would say abut you. “That I was in his office a lot crying too much.”

Let's talk about weaknesses first. The ability to see our weaknesses and our strengths. First, Ether 12:27

Marlene L: “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

Now 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Robby: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Are weakness a good thing? WHY?

Robby: It makes us rely on the Savior.

In Ether, the Lord says that our weakness will make us humble. Will we have eternal weakness? What will be the duration of our weakness?

Karen M: Part of life is overcoming obstacles.

We gain the most strength in overcoming.

Laurie A: Our weakness can stay with us a long time at least until we rely on the Savior. There is no other way.

We tend to get in this mind set – Stan tells us we cannot overcome it. That we will never be able to overcome our weakness. I have no musical talent and feel it will take eternity to turn that into a strength. I have given up on that one. If we take a weakness and have the attitude that we cannot turn it into a strength, we are in trouble.

What did Paul say? “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Now let's talk about strengths. I have given you a piece of paper and pen, pencil. It is hared to see our weakness, but it's even harder to see our own strengths. We are so conditioned to not be able to recognize our strengths If we do not want to recognize our the strengths that we have, we can lose them.

Amy W: We can become discouraged.

Holly B: We can't help others.

The Lord's plan is for all to become like Him. We are to strengthen each other. We can't be an instrument for him if we don't don't and use our strengths. This is difficult for all people of all ages, youths etc., but I have found that Relief Society sisters are the worse.

Gloria L: Sometimes it depends on how we were raised. My mother used to tell me all the time to don't be boastful. As a teenager, I did recognize my strength, but would remember the words of my mother. I have learned to appreciate my strengths.

Robby: As parents we have to be so careful what we tell our kids. Some parents tell their ids how useless they are.

As parents we have a lot to learn. We forget to see our children' strengths. It is hard to do.

I want you to write on your paper the eternal characteristics that you have that's a good strength.
Give yourself credit for doing something good.

How many of you found that hard to do? Why?

Laurie A: It's eternal. It's big.

Robby: But all characteristics are eternal.

Gayla: We feel like we are kind of good at it, but not perfect.

I had you write it down because it felt safe If I asked you to pass your paper to someone else, would you have written something else? Would you have erased what you wrote? Would you have change what you wrote?

Marlene L: Maybe they won't think I'm that way.

Emily T: I could hear my mother's voice ring through my head, “You're such a peace maker”

The Lord's voice came in your mother's voice.

Karen M: If we don't know what our strengths are, look at your Patriarchal Blessing.

It's a good place to look. I want to remind you that truth sets us free. The truth about our weakness. We can't hide those but with the Lord's help we can overcome them. And acknowledge your strengths. Say, I'm really good at that. Then use that strength to serve the Lord. Ask yourself: how can I use those strengths to be an instruction for the Lord. He has plans for you to use those strengths. I encourage you to ask Heavenly Father, your spouse, your friends, your visiting teachers, Megan to help you find your own strengths.

If you get into a depression because you can't see your strengths, get help. My testimony is that we all have strengths.

So important to know the truth. Then you can discern what is from Satan and what is from God.

You are all wonderful daughters of Heavenly Father. He loves you. We can't meet here and not feel the love of Heavenly Father. Help his kingdom Know what a privileged it is for me to be here with you. Know what great strengths you have. You are a blessing to your families and everyone else.

President McCallister

Who remembers 1983-84? How many missionaries were out? 30,000 missionaries and we had a membership of 3 million. Fast forward into the 90's. 60,000 missionaries. The bar was raised and there was a higher standard for missionaries. It dropped to 42,000 – 45,000. Recently we have 60,000 missionaries with 80,000 projected by mid summer. By 2015 they expect 100,000 plus. We now have 58 new missions.

Do you think the Brethren feel that this will fade away? How is it going to continue? What is our role as mothers in Zion to accomplish that? Who has a 16-17 years old son or 18 years old daughter st home? What were your feelings when you heard the announcement?

Karen M: I cried because I knew we would be affected. They were excited tears.

Laurie A: We were with our just- returned missionary visiting his mission, sitting there with his Mission President. My thoughts turned to the Mission President and I thought: how is he going to handle this. My compassion was for him. I thought, it's great but a huge undertaking.

Emily T: I felt relieved. It means I will not have to babysit my sons after high school until they go on a mission.

Nichole: Same thing. Now we lose potential missionaries after high school. They get out of high school and don't rally know what to do. It is a good idea

Jami E: I have 5 boys and felt that I still had some time with my oldest son. Now I feel that I have lost time. He could be gone by June. I feel such pressure as a mom to get him ready. He's all freak out, messed up his plans. So I tell him, it's not about you. However, for him, I feel he needs to go away from home for a semester or two. I felt pressured, but it's good they have more options. Besides, he has eating issues.

There is a time factor, but don't feel that they have to go at age 18. That is an option,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, some will work to prepare for their mission. We need to recognize that it's not the standard. We must be careful to not make them feel bad if they don't go at 18. Don't say, what are you still doing here? Shouldn't you be on a mission?

Robby: Our granddaughter is 18 and she is excited. She did ask: 'Do you think there will be any boys left when I get back?

She will make a better wife. Can you see, husband and wife returned missionaries. They will have a better understanding of grace and the atonement. Family Home Evenings will be different. Lets turn to Doctrine and Covenants 88:73

Gloria L: “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.”

The work is hastening and we are there. Think of the numbers. How are we going to pull that off? We have less time to help them prepare. There was a symposium in Salt Lake and they emphasized place for Family History Centers is in the home. MTCs are also in the home. Like we talked about Family Councils and the importance of obtaining and knowing and following the Lord's will. Turn to D&C 33:3

Cheryl: “For behold, the field is white already to harvest; and it is the eleventh hour, and the last time that I shall call laborers into my vineyard.”

We are there. The work is hastening. D&C88:74 is the recipe to raise missionaries.

Gayla: “And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean;”

What is it talking abut here? What do the young people need to know?

Repentance, the spirit, the Atonement, the grace of Christ and his grace is sufficient for them. If it is handled properly and teach them how it works, it will make them stronger. Don't ground, but say: Let's talk about it, talk about the atonement. Interact on a pure level.

Verse 75

Gloria: “That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you, when I will.”

It concerns the whole repentance.

Verse 76: “Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.”

This is a recipe. Teach them what fasting is for. Teach them the concept of fasting and prayer.

Verse 78

“Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

How does this work?

Robby: If you are teaching, you are learning too. I watch my husband as he deals with his Parkinson's disease. He spends every minute studying the scriptures about grace. He is teaching me. By teaching the children and being an example, we are improving our own grace.

Have them teach.

Robby: I used to let my children do the FHE lessons and all three of them have confidence in their ability to teach.

It's great point. Involve your youth. If some of them fail, it's a good learning opportunity. It is Christ's way of teaching. Give them positive feed back. Put the burden of learning on the learner. Implement better.

You play a big role in implementing these things with your children. Are they learning to repent? Through the Grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ, they can repent. The Lord is hastening this Work. You play a big role. Recognize our role and opt into that role.

Have a good week sisters, and next week's lesson is #6 'Becoming Perfect before the Lord: “ A litter Better Day by Day'