R.S. Meeting: January 27, 2019

Today in Relief Society, we talked about Elder Bednar's October 2018 Conference Talk: Gather Together in One All Things in Christ

In his talk, Elder Bednar said, "The power of the Savior’s gospel to transform and bless us flows from discerning and applying the interrelatedness of its doctrine, principles, and practices."

Elder Bednar talked about the strength of a rope and said, "Just as a rope obtains its strength from many intertwined individual strands, so the gospel of Jesus Christ provides the greatest perspective of truth and offers the richest blessings as we heed the admonition of Paul to 'gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.'"

He said this gathering is a principle of the Savior's gospel, "centered in and focused upon the Lord Jesus Christ because He is 'the way, the truth, and the life.'"

Elder Bednar said that "the fourth article of faith is one of the greatest illustrations of gathering together in one all things in Christ." 

The specific part we focused on is below, but I highly recommend reading the whole thing:

1st: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 
- trust in Him
2nd: Repentance
- trust in, and rely upon Him
3rd: Baptism
- trust in, rely upon, and follow Him
4th: Gift of the Holy Ghost
- trust in, rely upon, follow, and press forward in Him

However we choose to practice this important principle, it's important to keep working to be blessed with this "precious perspective."

The thing I'm going to end with is a really awesome promise from the talk: 

"I promise that increased perspective, purpose, and power will be evident in our learning and living of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as we strive to gather together in one all things in Christ--even in Him." 

Please note that Elder Bednar says, "as we strive," not "once we've succeeded." 

...because we only fail if we stop trying, right?

R.S. Meeting: January 13, 2019

 

Today in Relief Society, Sister Adams facilitated our discussion about President Nelson's talk from the General Women's Session of the October, 2018 General Conference: Sisters' Participation in the Gathering of Israel. 

This talk is about our role as sisters in helping the whole world come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer. 

In his talk, President Nelson said:

"...whenever I have been asked why I chose to become a medical doctor, my answer has always been the same: 'Because I could not choose to be a mother.'

Please note that anytime I use the word mother, I am not talking only about women who have given birth or adopted children in this life. I am speaking about all of our Heavenly Parents’ adult daughters. Every woman is a mother by virtue of her eternal divine destiny." 

He said that the sisters of the church were key to the two of the major recent changes to the church - the standard for ministering, and the structure of the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums.

The leaders of the church are looking to the examples of women.  

We each have a unique and important role to fill. We are amazing daughters of our Heavenly Father, and will gain important knowledge about our divine strengths as we follow the prophet's guidance when he said, "My dear sisters, you have special spiritual gifts and propensities. Tonight I urge you, with all the hope of my heart, to pray to understand your spiritual gifts - to cultivate, use, and expand them, even more than you ever have. You will change the world as you do so."