How Much Can One Heart Take?

This last Sunday we had a combined lesson with ALL Relief Society sisters.  What a treat!  It was wonderful to feel the love of this great sisterhood in our cozy little room.  Those who were unable to come were missed dearly.

Brief notes from the lesson:
How Much Can One Heart Take?

We watched the following clip during the lesson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8hoRn4kD8U&feature=player_embedded  

D&C 136:31- The Lord said, “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.”

Do we have to do it alone?
Of course not!  John 16:33- "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  The Lord has blessed us with help through revelation, scriptures, family, friends, leaders...and of course the Relief Society.

Barbara W. Winder, “Art thou greater than he? … “Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.” (D&C 122:7–9.) Few of us will ever pass through such adversity, but we all need our Father’s comfort and counsel many times in our lives. If we rely on the Lord, live his gospel, converse with him daily, and are obedient to his teachings, he will provide the way for us to accomplish his work.”

What is Relief Society? 
Relief society is a personal invitation from the Lord to ALL sisters, asking them to be a part of something that will enrich their lives, by uniting their hearts with the Savior’s and thus preparing them for exaltation.

Bonnie D. Parkin said, “Relief Society was not man-made or woman-made. It was, as President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918) explained, “divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God to minister for the salvation of the souls of women and of men.” There is no other organization for women that has such a place in the Lord’s kingdom. So the question is, do we value this divine organization? Do we value our membership in Relief Society? Do we value Relief Society as individual sisters?”

President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has cautioned us not to drift from the cause of Relief Society: “Too many sisters … think that Relief Society is merely a class to attend. The … sense of belonging to the Relief Society rather than just attending a class must be fostered in the heart of every woman.” And then he makes this earnest assignment: “Sisters, you must graduate from thinking that you only attend Relief Society to feeling that you belong to it!"

What is your role in this organization? Bonnie D. Parkin- For many years Relief Society was part of the National Council of Women in the United States. Shortly after Sister Belle Spafford was called as the Relief Society general president, she said to President George Albert Smith (1870–1951) that going to the meetings in New York was costly and of little benefit. “President Smith gently chastised [Sister Spafford], ‘Do you always think in terms of what you get? Don’t you think it’s well to think in terms of what you have to give?’ ”

Sisters, what do you bring to Relief Society? What are you willing to share? Do you view Relief Society as a place to go on Sundays because you have nowhere else to go? Do you view it as a place to give as well as to get? Would we value our membership in our beloved society more if we lost ourselves in giving?

Bonnie D. Parkin, “With a giving mentality, we would prepare for Sunday lesson discussions in order to make a contribution. We would faithfully attend home, family, and personal enrichment meeting because we had something to offer—maybe just a word of encouragement to the sister sitting next to us. We would use our visits with each other to witness of the Lord’s truth as we discuss the Visiting Teaching Message. The value we place on our membership in Relief Society should be evident in all we do and say.

Additional Reading Material:
We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith (Luke 8:43-48), virtue, vision (Mark 7:25-29), and charity (Mark 12:41-44) who:

• Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study. (Mary and Martha- Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-45; John 12:3-8 and Wife of King Lamoni Alma 19)
• Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. (Deborah- Judges 4-5)
• Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes. (Ruth- Book of Ruth)
• Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood. (Eve- Genesis 2; Moses 3:21-5:12, esp. 5:10-12; Abraham 5:14-18), (The mother of the sons of Helaman- Alma 56:47-48; 57:21), (Hannah- 1 Samuel 1-2:21)
• Delight in service and good works. (Lydia- Acts 16:14-15), (Abigail- 1 Samuel 25:18, 23-33)
• Love life and learning. (Elizabeth- Luke 1, 2, see also Matt. 23:35), (Mary, mother of Jesus- Luke 1, 2, John 2:1-5)
• Stand firm for truth and righteousness. (Abish- Alma 19:16-31), (Esther- Book of Esther)
• Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth. (Sarah- Genesis 11-23, Abraham 2), (Sariah- 1 Nephi)
• Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation. (Anna- Luke 2:36-38)

Bonnie D. Parkin, "I invite you to devote yourself to Relief Society. Work at it. Organize and participate and sustain this great work we have been given by God. Trust each other. Lift each other spiritually in your thoughts, teachings, and discussions. Show charity and love—not by assignment but from the heart."

Sisters you are loved and needed more than you will ever know!  Please come be a part of this grand organization.  If you are already an active part please strive to improve each and every day.

May's Visiting Teaching Message

Because the May issues of the Ensign and Liahona contain a report of general conference, the magazines do not contain a specific Visiting Teaching Message. Visiting teachers are encouraged to prayerfully select a conference address to share with those they teach.

General Conference Links

Scriptures

Shaela Beck was wonderful to fill in for us this Sunday and teach on the importance of scriptures. She covered the importance of all of the scriptures that are available to us today, and what a capstone this lesson was upon the one that Aubrie taught just a week before.

I have such a strong testimony of the Bible, especially the Old Testament. It was so much fun to hear your comments during this lesson. I think the most touching part of the lesson was when Kat, Melissa, and Missy all bore testimony of the times that a particular scripture touched their lives. Shaela concluded the lesson with her testimony, and may I just say that this lesson was exactly what I needed that weekend.

In closing, ponder these questions from the manual as you read your scriptures this week:
 - What are some teachings from these books of scripture that have helped you?
 -What blessings can we receive when we study the scriptures?
 -How can we keep the commitment to study the scriptures each day? Consider planning a time and a place to study the scriptures each day.

Love, Krista

*Ask Melissa Orsak for the adorable story behind these adorable pictures!*