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."

R.S. Meeting: October 28, 2018

Ministering is Motivated by Christlike Love

Sister Lomat facilitated today’s Relief Society meeting. We talked a lot about the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman found in John 4.

Here's the story in video form:

Our progression in the gospel, from Moses’ time until now, line upon line, has brought us to this newest calling to minister to our sisters and those around us. 

The Savior taught the gospel to the Samaritan woman and showed us that her circumstance didn’t matter. She was worthy of respect and he loved her. Elder Russell M. Nelson said that “this was the first time the Lord acknowledged Himself to be the Christ.”  Just as the Samaritan woman, we are each loved and respected by the Savior. He knows us and all the details of our lives.

Christ’s whole ministry was love. His love is infinite, and we are all worthy of His love, regardless of where we are in our journey. Ministering gives us the opportunity to share a portion of that love with our sisters, and to figure out what our sisters need, and maybe what we need

It’s important to keep in touch with Heavenly Father and to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. As we follow the promptings we receive, our ability to hear them will become stronger and we’ll know how to best help those around us.