Relief Society: Something Extraordinary

For Monday, March 1, 2010

The month of March is special to us as a sisterhood.  We celebrate the anniversary of the Relief Society with millions of other sisters around the world.  For the next 17 days, leading up to the anniversary date I will post a number of videos, musical selections and other tid bits, to help each of us remember the significance of  our organization.

This video is a powerful reminder of who we are as Relief Society Sisters and a reminder that this organization is the Lord’s organization.

Sunday Report: Prayer and Promptings

Sunday, February 27, 2010 - Teachings for Our Time: "Prayer and Promptings" President Boyd K. Packer  Ensign, Nov 2009, Taught by Sister Deandrade

Excerpts from the lesson:

You can know the things you need to know. Pray that you will learn to receive that inspiration and remain worthy to receive it. Keep that channel—your mind—clean and free from the clutter of the world.

These experiences of prompting and prayer are not uncommon in the Church. They are part of the revelation our Heavenly Father has provided for us.

One of the adversary’s sharpest tools is to convince us that we are no longer worthy to pray. No matter who you are or what you may have done, you can always pray.  Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil. And I have learned to conclude all my prayers with “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10; see also Luke 11:2; 3 Nephi 13:10).   Do not expect to be free entirely from trouble and disappointment and pain and discouragement, for these are the things that we were sent to earth to endure.

The Savior said, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (D&C 88:63).

There is a perfect manner of communication through the Spirit, “for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).  Following baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there comes a second ordinance: “Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:4).  That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration comes more as a feeling than it does as a sound. Pure intelligence can be spoken into the mind. The Holy Ghost communicates with our spirits through the mind more than through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings through promptings and impressions. We may feel the words of spiritual communication more than hear them and see with spiritual rather than with mortal eyes.

The Lord has many ways of pouring knowledge into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach us, to correct us, to warn us. The Lord said, “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart” (D&C 8:2).

VT Reminder: as you pray, be sure pray for those you visit teach by name and listen to the promptings you receive and act on them.

Lot’s of Love, Lot’s of Laughs!

Feb 23, 2010 Tuesday Night Relief Society Activity

Thank you to Sister Fox, Sister Gast, and all those who helped out, submitted stories, and attended the activity! It was wonderful!

We laughed – good laughs – belly laughs – laughing together together. We enjoyed each other’s company. We were reminded to be positive. Laughing does our minds, bodies, and spirits well! “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine”  Proverbs 17:22

If you missed it and want a good laugh just ask… Sister Lambdin about a traveling chicken, Sister Skane about spinach and milk, Sister Kimball about playing footsie, Sister Moss about “prison” fences, Sister Tholen about loud AMEN’s, Sister Coyle about pant seems and many many more hilarious stories!

Sister Deandrade shared with us the importance of having a good sense of humor –here are the highlights:

“If We Can Laugh at It, We Can Live with It” Humor can improve our perspective and lighten our load. Humor helps. Humor heals. In fact, many medical studies have linked laughter with better physical and mental health. Such studies confirm the scripture that states, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Prov. 17:22). Humor allows us to view our lives in a more positive light, deal with personal conflicts and intolerance, and cope with trials and frustrations that might otherwise seem overwhelming. As we are told in Ecclesiastes, there is “a time to laugh” (Eccl. 3:4). President Gordon B. Hinckley affirmed the value of humor for all: “We’ve got to have a little humor in our lives. You had better take seriously that which should be taken seriously but, at the same time, we can bring in a touch of humor now and again. If the time ever comes when we can’t smile at ourselves, it will be a sad time.” Humor improves our attitude, strengthens our relationship skills, and helps us successfully cope with challenges. Whether we are experiencing an anxious moment on an airplane, trying to get around sibling rivalry, or just trying to handle the trials of everyday living, humor can be a constructive and beneficial part of our lives. If we can appropriately laugh at it, we can live with it. So go ahead and laugh—it’s good for you! Brad Wilcox, “If We Can Laugh at It, We Can Live with It,” Ensign, Mar 2000, 27

Another great quote:

Learn to Laugh: The first thing we can do is learn to laugh. Have you ever seen an angry driver who, when someone else makes a mistake, reacts as though that person has insulted his honor, his family, his dog, and his ancestors all the way back to Adam? Or have you had an encounter with an overhanging cupboard door left open at the wrong place and the wrong time which has been cursed, condemned, and avenged by a sore-headed victim? There is an antidote for times such as these: learn to laugh.

I remember when one of our daughters went on a blind date. She was all dressed up and waiting for her date to arrive when the doorbell rang. In walked a man who seemed a little old, but she tried to be polite. She introduced him to me and my wife and the other children; then she put on her coat and went out the door. We watched as she got into the car, but the car didn’t move. Eventually our daughter got out of the car and, red faced, ran back into the house. The man that she thought was her blind date had actually come to pick up another of our daughters who had agreed to be a babysitter for him and his wife. We all had a good laugh over that. In fact, we couldn’t stop laughing. Later, when our daughter’s real blind date showed up, I couldn’t come out to meet him because I was still in the kitchen laughing. Now, I realize that our daughter could have felt humiliated and embarrassed. But she laughed with us, and as a result, we still laugh about it today.

The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable. Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Come What May, and Love It,” Ensign, Nov 2008, 26–28

Other Talks and Church Articles that are a good read or would make a great Family Home Evening Lesson: Click on the colored title for a direct hyperlink to the article.

Get On with Our Lives, Steven E. Snow, Ensign, May 2009 Laughter and a good sense of humor can soften the bumps along life’s journey. He had a great love for the Lord and demonstrated strong, unbending faith with amazing good humor and grace.

Come What May, and Love It, Joseph B. Wirthlin Ensign November 2008 When I was young I loved playing sports, and I have many fond memories of those days. But not all of them are pleasant. I remember one day after my football team lost a tough game, I came home feeling

Is Anyone Laughing? Russell Wilcox, New Era, February 2007 It sounds like everyone enjoys the negative humor. Negative humor hurts, and the resulting wounds go deep.

The Power of Laughter, Gary K. Palmer Ensign, September 2007 Humor in the Home Humor, used with sensitivity, can unite spouses. The trick is finding humor in the event now.

Slow to Anger Gordon T. Watts, Ensign, February 2003 Use Humor Another tool that can turn the tide of anger into a calming wave of peace is the wise use of humor. Time and again he has used humor to defuse a tense moment.

If We Can Laugh at It, We Can Live with It, Brad Wilcox, Ensign, March 2000 We must be careful to distinguish between genuine humor, which everyone can enjoy, and hurtful humor, which is at someone else’s expense. In fact, he now serves as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, but President Boyd K. Packer still remembers the thoughtless words and mocking laughter. It is wise to use humor sparingly in Church settings, in talks, lessons, and so forth, and only humor of unquestionable good taste.

The Need for Balance in Our Lives James E. Faust , Ensign, March 2000 There is, however, a defense against adversity: humor. A thoughtful man said, “There is certainly no defense against adverse fortune which is, on the whole, so effectual as an habitual sense of humor.” For many years as I have blessed newborn children, including my own, I have blessed them with a sense of humor.

Sense of Humor, Family Home Evening Resource Book , 1997   “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine - Proverbs 17:22 Good humor truly is medicine to the soul. Humor can ease tension, relieve uncomfortable or embarrassing situations, change attitudes, generate love and understanding, and add sparkle to life. A properly developed sense of humor is sensitive to others’ feelings and is flavored with kindness and understanding.” “Sense of Humor,” Family Home Evening Resource Book, (1997),197

A Year’s Supply of Humor, Eileen Gibbons Kump, Ensign > August 1983 A sense of humor is not simply a gift bestowed on a few. A family’s humor storage is a delightful tool for creating humor in the home.

A Good Sense of Humor, Chris Crowe New Era, May 1986 What I didn’t understand then was that cutting humor isn’t good humor. Remember, too, that no matter what you see in the TV sit-coms and movies, put-down, cutting humor is not good humor.

A Serious Look at Humor Peter B. Rawlins New Era, August 1974 The suffering, the discouraged, and those who mourn can be cheered through humor. This can hardly be considered humor but is instead a cruel form of berating.

Sunday Report: Visiting Teaching Colloquium

Sunday, February 21, 2010 – Special Relief Society Meeting, Taught by Sister VanGosen and Sister Kimball

Thank you to the Bishopric and other Priesthood leaders for making it possible for all our sisters to gather together by teaching primary and youth!

Thank you for being a visiting teacher in the Chesapeake Ward!  As we work together to serve each other through visiting teaching, we will bring unity, strength, peace, and love to the Ward as a whole.
Together, We Can Do It!

What are a visiting teacher’s responsibilities?

For the Visiting teaching Handout - click on this link: Visiting Teaching “We Can Do It” Documents
1. Come to know and love your sisters. – This is personal, not a business transaction.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Personal.  Our Heavenly Father knows and loves us each individually. Visiting teaching is a matter of personal watchcare.
A visiting teacher cares for her sisters and helps them prepare for the blessings of eternal life.
2. Minister through regular contacts – Consider each sister’s needs and circumstances. Contact each sister at least monthly: Priority being a visit, letter being the last resort – as it is an unconfirmed contact and the least personal. 
3. Learn of needs and offer appropriate assistance — Let your sisters feel that in times of distress they can ask you for help. Help could be listening, caring for children or household needs when a sister is ill, let them know you are praying for them or writing a letter of encouragement. Be quick to observe and quick to provide needed support. Help the Relief Society president identify both temporary and long-term needs. Visiting teachers are a channel through which the president can be sure all sisters are cared for.  Keep private matters confidential.  As you offer and give assistance, you will come to love your sisters more.
4. Look for specific ways to help – Show your sisters you honestly want to share their burdens. Sisters may be more willing to accept help if you offer to do something specific. Whatever you feel to say or do, be sincere.
5. Share and testify of gospel doctrines.
Pray for those you visit teach. Prayerfully prepare for your visit. Ideas will come. You will know what to say or do. When appropriate, share a gospel message, especially with less-active sisters. The gospel message you provide may be the only one that sister receives. Use the monthly visiting teaching message printed in the Ensign and Liahona magazines or the scriptures, whatever best fits your sisters’ needs.  Be aware of the spiritual and temporal needs of your sisters. Sometimes the most important message you can share is to do something to lift their burdens.

You Did it! Now What? Return and Report!
Call, Tell, or Email your supervisor – with your results! Whether you contacted all of your teach-ees or not! Reports MUST be in before the 3rd of the Month!  Yikes!  Where did the month go? If you weren’t able to make any contact with your Sisters – Do better next month! Remember it is important we make these contacts – Spiritually and Physically.

FYI: The Lesson that was for today (Gospel Principles #4 - "Freedom to Choose" ) will be combined with the March 14th Lesson: Chapter #5 - “The Creation”

Sunday Report: Bit by Bit - We can filter our words and “Speak with the Tongues of Angels”

Sunday, February 14, 2010 - Relief Society Presidency Message, “The Tongue of Angels,” Taught by Sister Ellison

Happy Valentine’s Day!  It was nice to see most of  you were able to dig out of the snow and come to church today and worship together! 

Sister Ellison was able to give her lesson we missed from last week - blogged from last Sunday – it was a beautiful lesson.  Read the scripture and the previous entry just below to understand what this picture has to do:  

James 3:2-10 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

 Ephesians 4:29–32 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Sunday Report: The Tongue of Angels

Sunday, February 7, 2010 - Relief Society Presidency Message, “The Tongue of Angels,” Taught by Sister Ellison

Hello Sisters,

I’m sorry we couldn’t be together today for Relief Society. But, here are a few thoughts from the lesson I was going to teach today, based on Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s conference talk “The Tongue of Angles.” Jeffery R. Holland, “The Tongue of Angels,” Ensign, May 2007.

Elder Holland reminds us the power and sanctity of our words. He cautions us, if caution is needed, regarding how we speak to each other and how we speak of ourselves.

With our tongues we can bare sacred testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and utter fervent prayers unto him. But by the same tongue we can criticize, embarrass, demean and inflict pain.

Our challenge is to speak with the tongue of angels and speak the words of Christ. Christ was and is "the Word," according to John the Beloved, full of grace and truth, full of mercy and compassion.

Please click on these two links to scriptures before watching a few of my favorite clips from Elder Holland’s talk (the video clip begins after Elder Holland reads verse 10 of the second reference).

D&C 63:64

James 3:2-10


May we remember the words of James, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren (and sisters), these things ought not so to be.”

I join my testimony with Elder Holland’s. Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity. If we do so, I know our lives, and the lives of those around us, will be eternally blessed.

Sister Sarah Ellison, First Counselor Chesapeake Ward Relief Society Presidency

February 2010 Ensign

Want to read something good tomorrow, while you are snowed in!  Read the Ensign Magazine Online:

To view the text version of the February Ensign click here: Ensign: February 2010 

To view a pdf or actual page by page version of the February Ensign click here: Ensign: February 2010 pdf

Do you receive the Ensign, Friend, or New Era Magazines to your home? Order or renew your subscription, click on the link below: http://www.ldscatalog.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10151&categoryId=13720&langId=-1&cg1=13719&cg2=&cg3=&cg4=&cg5=

Yummy Snow! What to do with our bumper crop of snow – Let’s Eat it for Dessert!

SNOW CREAM (Snow Ice Cream)  Mmmm… We just made this – it’s tasty treat – really good and fun treat!

• 1 cup cream or half & half or milk or evaporated milk(refrigerated) or soy milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2-quart bowl filled with clean, compacted snow

Mix cream, sugar and vanilla in a small bowl. Pour cream mixture into bowl of snow, stir until well mixed. Serve immediately.
From Joy of Cooking , 1980 Edition.

Variations: Add chocolate syrup and have chocolate snow cream, mix in almonds or pecans, or top with ice cream toppings!

Worried about eating snow!  From the Baltimore Sun: Food columnist Rob Kasper reports that he has made this recipe for ice cream made with fresh snow and fed it to his sons with no ill effects. Just to be sure, he called the Maryland Department of the Environment, who reported that pollution is exceptionally low in cold weather and the air quality for this weekend is very good.  http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/recipes/bal-snow-food-pg,0,1848118.photogallery

FRUITY SNOW BALLS  Put on shorts and remember Summer time – have a snow ball!

• Cup full of Clean Snow
• Flavored snow ball syrup*

*Syrup options:  If you don’t have ready made flavored syrups use: juice, lemonade, or make you own syrup by mixing dry unsweetened Kool-aid drink mix with 1 cup sugar and 2 –3 cups of water – it will be pretty concentrated use sparingly! – drizzle on snow ball

CHOCOLATE SNOW BALL

• Cup full of Clean Snow
• Chocolate Syrup*

*Syrup options:  If you don’t have ready made Hershey’s liquid syrups you can make some with Nesquick chocolate milk powder mix  just add a couple tablespoons of water to a few spoon full of powder – viola you have chocolate syrup!

SNOWY ORANGE JULIUS

Instead of Ice use Snow!

• 6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 Cups Packed Snow

1. Combine all ingredients except snow in blender.
2. Blend for about 1-2 minutes, add snow – blend till mixed!

SUGAR ON SNOW RECIPE

• Real Maple Syrup
• Pure white snow

Boil syrup to 255 degrees Fahrenheit. Scoop snow into large bowl or pan. Drizzle hot maple syrup lightly over snow. Use forks to eat the sticky top layer. Follow with a bite of sour pickle or your favorite donut.

When hot maple syrup is drizzled over snow, it results in a remarkably delicious candy-like substance that northern New Englanders crave.  You must be very precise with your drizzle and the temperature of the syrup - too hot a syrup and the snow melts too fast - too cool a syrup and it becomes watery, straining through the snow to the bottom of the pot.  The perfectly heated syrup will form a lace-like pattern across the top of the snow and quickly harden to be gobbled up by eager sugar-eaters. http://www.vtliving.com/maple/sugaronsnow.shtml