July Relief Society Newsletter
Dear Relief Society Sisters,
We hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July! The past few days I have been thinking about the blessings we enjoy and the freedoms we have because of the many people who have stood up for what is good and right. Yet, there is a great concern for the way our nation and world keeps heading. I have often thought: What can I do to make a difference in this world? My thoughts always bring me back to my own little family…for it is there that I and we, have the greatest power to make a difference.
Since the beginning of time when Adam and Eve began their mortal journey here, our wise and loving Heavenly Father gave them directions, guidance and counsel needed to help them make choices that would enable them to navigate correctly through their lives. Adam and Eve served the Lord and were obedient to the counsel and commandments given.
In Moses 5 Adam and Eve showed us by example how to live our lives. They began to work together. They worked to survive and to take good care of the things our Father had given them. They had a family and taught their children. They ceased not to call upon the Lord in prayer. They were obedient and kept the commandments. They worshipped the Lord and showed faith by sacrificing to the Lord. They showed gratitude and were filled with the spirit. Adam prophesied concerning all things. Adam and Eve mourned…things were not always perfect for them. They also rejoiced together. They made all things known unto their children. Through all of this, Adam and Eve strengthened their family and home.
In Daughters in My Kingdom, page 134, Elder Dallin H, Oaks says, “the common objective…in our priesthood quorums and…in our Relief Societies is to bring men and women together in the sacred marriage and family relationships that lead toward eternal life, ‘the greatest of all the gifts of God.’” That is our purpose and focus here on this earth and the purpose and focus of Relief Society – to Strengthen Families & Homes.
I love the Primary song, “Follow the Prophet.” The very last verse says,
“Now we have a world where people are confused. If you don’t believe it, go and watch the news! We can get direction all along our way, if we heed the prophets – follow what they say.”
As we think about our world and how ‘family’ is being defined and as we hear of so many sad stories of many people who are truly confused, we as Relief Society sisters need to take a stand in defending the family, which starts in our very own homes. As we teach our children ‘all things’ just as Adam and Eve did. In Moses 5:12 it says, “And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters.”
In a talk given by Julie B. Beck entitled, “Teaching the Doctrine of the Family,” she says, “This generation will be called upon to defend the doctrine of the family as never before in the history of the world. If they don’t know it, they can’t defend it. They need to understand temples and priesthood. If you don’t know that they are meant to be fathers and mothers, then they won’t know that they are meant to be fathers and mothers. Your efforts will be wasted…the time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us.”
How do we work together to strengthen, sustain, teach, uplift and love our families? It is as simple as the words found in our Primary song…”we can get direction all along our way – if we heed the prophets – follow what they say.
I know that each one of us could make a list of counsel, guidance and direction from our prophet. We as a stake Relief Society presidency would like to share with you one way that we know will strengthen the sisters and homes of our stake. We strongly encourage every sister to read and study our new Relief Society book, Daughters in My Kingdom. Study it, talk about it, think about the messages found within its pages. It is a gift given to each one of us and will serve to strengthen our testimonies and guide us in our lives, our families, and in our callings.
We encourage you to read this on your own and with your husband and children. This book is set up to enable you to read and study small sections at a time. We have a testimony of the messages found within this book and we feel that it will help strengthen the sisters of our stake and their families. We know that this book can help give us direction, guidance and counsel needed in our daily lives.
May the power of the Holy Ghost be with each one of us as we seek for ways to strengthen our own families and homes and make ‘all things known unto our children,’ as we work together to accomplish the purposes of our Heavenly Father and strengthen our nation and world.
With much love,
Lisa Hunt
Barbara Chamberlain
Jocelyn Walker
Kay Sampson