Keep it Simple, Sisters!

We had a wonderful Relief Society Meeting Tuesday Night “KISS: Keep It Simple Sisters”.   

Confucius said “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”  We do a great job of complicating our lives, our families, our decisions, even gospel living - We should be simplifying!  We should focus on what is most important, plan so we are prepared and partake the joy that comes from simplicity. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” - Leonardo Da Vinci 

As part of the evening’s activities, Sister Kelley taught us a lesson on Keeping it Simple! (based on President Uchtdorf’s talk “Of things that matter most” from Oct. 2010 general conference.) Sister Kelley’s Presentation on Simplicity, http://www.scribd.com/doc/48605981/RS-Simplicity, compares Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to not only what we need physically, but what we need spiritually – She broke it down to keep it simple!

We are also reminded by Sister Julie Beck , “Mothers who know” Oct. 2007 General Conference, that we need to choose what is most important to do with our time.

“The responsibility mothers have today has never required more vigilance. More than at any time in the history of the world, we need mothers who know. 

When mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children.

Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all.

That is influence; that is power.”

Sister Kelley also created this beautiful video to finish the lesson – enjoy! (Thank you Sister Kelley – it was a wonderful lesson!)

"Simple Gifts" is an 1848 Shaker song by Elder Joseph Brackett.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

 

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come round right.