THOUGHT: “Listen to him who is the advocate with the
Father who is pleading your cause before him--
“Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and
death of him who did no sin, in whom, thou wast well pleased, behold the blood
of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might
be glorified;
“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren
that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life”
(D&C 45:3-5)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Thank you to all who
participated in our RS Birthday Celebration. If you would like to share
your recipes, please e-mail them to Sarah Heiner, sarah77heiner@yahoo.com, and she
will put them in the RS Blog http://manila12thwardrs.blogspot.com
- STAKE WOMAN'S CONFERENCE
– Saturday, April 21, 10:00 am – 12:00 with a light luncheon. “Look unto
me in every thought: doubt not, fear not” It would be fun to car pool and
enjoy the friendship of the sisters.
- Stake semi annual 5K 7 ½
mile fun run
– Sat. April 21st @ 8:00 am at Deerfield Elementary parking
lot. Bring your kids. It'll be fun for the whole family? There will be fun
prized awarded. Any questions, call or e-mail. Ben Higbee (801) 471-8165 benhigbeel@gmail.com
- “Circled in Sewing”
- Thursday, April 24th, 7 pm at Kay Johnson's home. We'll be
sewing blankets, making wonder ovens, & doing humanitarian work or
bring a project you are working on.
- Please be sure to report
your visiting teaching to your supervisor. If you don't know who she is,
you can contact any member of the Relief Society Presidency.
- If you have a chance,
please read the March Ensign article “ Visiting Teaching Understanding
the Power of Ministering. The Church is focusing more on the
principle of ministering to our sisters.
- On April 28th
Sister Megan Duckworth will host the first Birthday Brunch. Those
with birthday in Jan., Feb., and Mar, put it on your calendars. More
information coming.
- “Guilt-Free
Celebration of Motherhood” - Thursday, May 10th at 7 pm.
Special Announcement from Karen Moon:
Sisters,I'm
putting this announcement in the R.S. newsletter because I know it will be read
by everyone quicker. As I have reviewed some of the concerns that
were given back to me on the questionnaires from our party last Thursday
I realized I had left some things of importance out of the Preparedness
Binders. Mostly having to do with filling and emptying the large blue
water barrels. Several of you had questions in that area. I have
learned that there are 25 foot long 1/2" diameter white drinking water
hoses available. Two can be connected to make it longer if your barrel is
too far from a faucet. Fill the barrel with hard water. No need to
add chlorine or anything to the water. If it is stored for long periods
of time it can be put through a charcoal filter and used, never having to drain
and refill the barrel. If you don't want to worry about the filter then
drain and refill annually. Use the water on flowers and gardens.
The best time to drain the barrel would be in the summer but I remind you
in November in case you haven't gotten it done yet. At our house we have
the barrel near our indoor manifold which is in our furnace room. We have
a short hose that is drinking water safe that attaches to the manifold for
refilling. We drain the barrel into the floor drain which is also in the
furnace room. These types of hoses and connections that will fit the
manifold are available at Macey's grocery store. You can add this
information to your binders for future reference. Also, many of your
questions can be answered in the Binders so be sure to look there. www.providentliving.org
is so helpful a website. Click on Becoming Self Reliant, then
click on Home Storage and then chose from a variety of subjects. Between
the Binders and this website you will find a wealth of information to help you
with becoming prepared.
GOOD NEWS:
- Angie Gardner had her
baby girl on April 7th.
- Rebecca Ingram is
engaged. Wedding will be July 27th
Today's lesson is Chapter 7 “The Immortality
of the Soul” presented by Tiffany Weight.
I am so happy to be here. As I have studied this
lesson I thought of my father who died several years ago. That was the most
defining experience regarding my testimony on mortality. I was touched by
George Albert Smith's experience as a speaker at a funeral.
“I have felt, since I was asked to speak
at this funeral, that perhaps I would not be able to do so. My emotions have
been stirred, and I have found myself incapable of controlling them, but since
I came into this building a beautiful, sweet influence of peace
has come into my soul. …
“Instead of
mourning I feel to thank our Father in heaven
for the Gospel of His Beloved Son that has been revealed anew in our day. … To
know that life is eternal is a wonderful blessing,—to know that throughout
eternity the blessings that this good man has lived for will be his. His mortal
life has been terminated but this is only part of eternal life. He has laid the
foundation deep and secure upon which he has built and will continue to build
throughout eternity. The joy that he has experienced here upon earth will be
added upon. …
“As I think of the experiences of people
in the world, on occasions of this kind, I marvel how we have been blessed. I
have no more doubt about eternal life and the immortality of the
soul than I have that the sun shines at midday. … It is a sad thing to part
with our dear ones, even temporarily. We send them upon missions, or they go to
other parts of the world to live and we miss them. When an occasion like this
occurs it seems that they are more distant, but as a matter of fact they are
not, if we but understood. … Instead of extending the condolence that sometimes
might go to those who are bereaved, I feel more like rejoicing this day that I
know that this is not the end. …
“… So
today, as I stand in your presence, when perhaps tears should be flowing, my
soul is filled with comfort and satisfaction.
I pray that that comfort may be in the lives of each of those who are bereaved.”
I too can say that I have no doubt of the
eternal relationships.
Alisa J: Quote
“If you have received the witness that has
come to me and know as I know that our Heavenly Father has revealed himself to
the children of men, that he is a personal God, that we are created in his
image, that our spirits were begotten b him, that he has given us an opportunity
to dwell upon the earth to receive a physical tabernacle, in order that we may
be prepared to return into his presence and live eternally with him, I say, if
you have received that assurance, then you have a foundation upon which you may
build your faith.” George Albert Smith
I love that quote. It sums up the theme of the
lesson.
We're going to go through the principles of
mortality.
Robby: “We lived before we came here; that
which is intelligence, that which is spirit, did not have its beginning in this
life.”
As a convert, this concept was most amazing. I
still wonder why I got to be so lucky to live where I live today, because of
the things that I did in the pre-existence. It is a true and sacred thing.
I was touched in General Conference by Elder
Scott's talk on personal revelation and the influence by those who have passed
on. It is an eternal relationship.
Karen M: One of the comments in my Patriarchal Blessing
says that I was righteous in the spirit world. If It was so, then I don't want
to mess one while here on the earth.
Visitor: I have two daughters who came with strong
spirits and strong testimonies, who have embraced the gospel but that I know
that they have lived before.
Lynette: This concept about pre-mortal life is modern
revelation. I have not found much about it in the Bible. I have a brother who
emailed me and wanted scripture references regarding the pre-existence.
Amy W: I have a cousin who taught seminary and the way
she would explain mortal life to her students was compare this life to the
'Empire Strikes Back' It is very impressive and she would tell them that all
was going to be clear up in the end.
Sometimes we need creative ways to explain it to
our children.
Luone: Quote:
“The physical portion that we see is of
earth, earthy (1 Cor 15:47), but that portion which leaves the body when our
lives go out is that which is spiritual, it never dies...”
People believe this life is it. How sad to think
that. I am grateful for the knowledge and the scriptures.
Karen M: I would like to share a tender story. My
sister-in-law has a deaf grandbaby who is not really talking yet. He had a
hearing implant put in and one day he said to his mother in very clear language
'grandpa wants you to know he misses you very much'.
Another example of revelation is this guidance
given to President Joseph F. Smith: “I believe we move and
have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings.
We are not separate from them.... We are closely related to our kindred, to our
ancestors...who have preceded us into the spirit world. We can not forget them;
we do not cease to love them; we always hold them in our hearts, in memory, and
thus we are associated and united to them by ties that we can not break...If
this is the case with us in our finite condition, surrounded by our mortal
weaknesses,...how mulch more certain it is...to believe that those who have
been faithful, who have gone beyond...can see us better than we can see them;
that they know us better than we know them.... We live in their presence, they
see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever.
For now they see the dangers that beset us;...their love for us and their
desire for our well being must be greater than that which we feel for ourselves.”
I have a beautiful testimony of this as I have
gone through the experience of my father's death. I feel his strength from
beyond the veil.
Robby: Quote
“We believe that we are here because we
kept our first estate and earned the privilege of coming to this earth.”
Robby gave a testimony of that earlier.
Robby: I have a friend whose husband died 5 years ago
at the age of 54. He was one of my bishops, a good, nice man. She never was
really a very spiritual person as he was. Now, she says that all the fluff of
the world is gone. She has felt him around her, so she has become so focus and
feels she has to do everything right. She reads her scriptures, good books,
doesn't even watch TV anymore because she now has a goal, not to stop short of
being with him again. She is a strong, spiritual person who was to get where
her husband will be.
Quote:”The treasures that we will find when
we go to the other side will be those that we have laid up there by ministering
to our Father's other sons and daughters with whom we have associated here.”
How do we go about doing that, leaving the
distraction behind.?
Carol B: At our prayer meeting at the Temple, a member
of the Temple presidency told us about a young man who was studying philosophy.
He was not LDS and had attended many churches, but couldn't find what he was
looking for. One day he met a girl who he saw such a light in her eyes. He
asked her out and she accepted. Then she invited him to church. He figured that
they could go, sit in the back row where he would not be seen by anyone. He
picked her up late and of course they ended up in the back. In the front row
was a little boy who was standing up, looking to the back and right in the
middle of the meeting he said to his mother, 'Mama, there is Jesus' Of course
all the congregation turned to see. And he had long hair and a beard. As soon
as the meeting was over, the Bishop came to greet him. He says, 'the Bishop
took my hand and then put his other hand over mine and ssid: 'You are so
welcomed here'. The feeling was that I felt the love of God. Of course he dated
and married and raised a family in the church. The Bishop's comment made such
an impart on him.
Luone: I have been reading 'Daughters in my Kingdom'
and she was President from 1945 – 1974.
The average woman today, I believe, would do
well to appraise her interests, evaluate the activities in which she is
engaged, and then take steps to simplify her life, putting things of first
importance first, placing emphasis where the reward will be greatest and most
enduring, and ridding herself of the less rewarding activities.”
That's what living is today. We need to treasure
ministering. As a mother, a mother's heart, serving our family as well. When we
serve our children, we're doing the same thing. Ministering. It's so critical.
Bobby: Some people are Indexing while I am on
facebook. Chris Redd posted on facebook about a link for Indexing, she said if
you have a few minutes to spare check this website. They said it was not
addictive. They lied. I started to do it and it is about helping other people.
Gayla: My brother got into Indexing and loves it. It
is a great power that can come to the life of youth. It helps them to have a
different focus in their lives. I set with our older boy and helped him do some
names. It's a good thing to do with them. Neat to have the opportunity. Such a
power in youth's life.
Amy: Elder Nelson spoke about a wealthy man who had
a lot of wealth. At the end of his life, the question was asked how mulch did
he leave behind'. All of it was the answer. It was such a tragedy that he
missed so such about his relationships while working to acquire his wealth.
I recently
visited with a woman who has been battling a life-threatening disease for over
two years. She indicated that prior to her illness, her days were filled with
activities such as cleaning her house to perfection and filling it with
beautiful furnishings. She visited her hairdresser twice a week and spent money
and time each month adding to her wardrobe. Her grandchildren were invited to
visit infrequently, for she was always concerned that what she
considered her precious possessions might be broken or otherwise ruined by tiny
and careless hands.
And then she received
the shocking news that her mortal life was in jeopardy and that she might have
very limited time left here. She said that at the moment she heard the doctor’s
diagnosis, she knew immediately that she would spend whatever time she had
remaining with her family
and friends and with the gospel at the center of her life, for these
represented what was most precious to her.
Relationships are more important than earthly
things. It is important to learn to sacrifice. Our responsibility is to rear
children, take care of our family. It's the expression of our desire for
eternal kinship..
Quote:
“The purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
is to prepare every man, woman and child for the time when all those who have
died will be brought forth from their graves, and when our Heavenly Father will
establish his kingdom upon this earth and the righteous will dwell...”
This has helped me to recommit to spreading the
good news of the gospel. My life should reflect what I believe.
TRUTH ABOUT THE RESURRECTION:
“Because of the sacrifice of the Son of
God, the hour will come when 'all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;
and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
“Our bodies are to be raised from the
tomb...and that the spirits that possess these tabernacles now will inhabit the
same tabernacles after they have been cleansed and purified and immortalized.
“Whatever principles of intelligence we
attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a
person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence
and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to
come.”
I want to underscore several points that will
bring eternal life. It is wonderful to make choices that will qualify us to the
next phase of eternal life.
Donna R: All will have eternal life. We need to process
to eaqrn the right to be better. That is the choice we have.
Rosemary S: I am the only member in my family and have
experienced conversations where I try to say sweet things about eternal
families and my sister will say; Are you crazy? Who wants to spend eternity
with someone. To me, when I heard about the principle of eternal families, I
wanted to know more about the church. That our tabernacles will be clean, that
we will be centered on the Savior's atonement, that we can look ahead and know
that our spouses will be most handsome, more considerate, will have no faults,
be beautiful and wonderful and that we will love them. The Savior will fix it.
I agree. It is easy to feel overwhelm, to feel
our weaknesses, but the Atonement will cover it all, our weaknesses, sorrow,
despair. We will enjoy those wonderful relationships with those we love.
Quote:
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him”.
“This is not an idle dream. These are
facts: To you who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ, this story is a
simple one, but it is true. There are sacred volumes of scripture that our
Heavenly Father has placed within our reach, teaching us that we live
eternally....The Lord has given us this information in great plainness, and
from the depths of my heart I thank him for the knowledge that he has given us,
that those who mourn maybe comforted and that we ourselves may understand our
purpose in being here. If those who have passed on could speak to us, they
would say, “Press on, press on, for the goal that will bring us eternal
happiness together.”
I want to share one last story about my sister
and her experience. One day, she , my dad and a friend went mountain climbing.
As we climbed up, it got more steep, more warm and I became more whinny. I told
them to go ahead and I would wait for them on their way back. My dad said that
I did not want to miss the view from the top. To encourage me, he walked behind
me and with his hand would gently push me. As we moved up, I could feel his
hand and we kept moving until we got to the top. The view from the top was
indeed worth it. As he was behind me, pushing, it made all the difference and I
knew the reward would be great. Mountains are a symbol of temples. Remember
that the view is not far from us.
We can be assured that we can get there if we keep moving and that we can see the view from above.
We can be assured that we can get there if we keep moving and that we can see the view from above.
Quote: “I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
That is my testimony also. In the name of Jesus
Christ.
Next week's lesson is # 8 “Temple Blessings for
Ourselves and Our Ancestors”
Have a wonderful week.
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