Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day, a day filled with mixed emotions by those whom the day is supposed to honor and celebrate. The subject of motherhood is a very tender one and may evoke a large range of feelings from joy (for those first time mothers), gratefulness (for all that our mothers have done for us), guilt (for those with older children because we don’t think we have done enough or done it right), or heartache (for those who may not have yet had the opportunity to have a child.)

Instead, let us as woman toss the emotions listed above aside and instead look at the doctrine of motherhood as has been taught by the Prophets.

In her booklet, Are We Not All Mothers?, Sister Sheri Dew she reminds us that “When we understand the magnitude of motherhood, it becomes clear why prophets have been so protective of woman’s most sacred and divinely appointed role. While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity and to, in effect, limit it to that definition, in the Lord’s language the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words or titles they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve “the mother of all living” (Moses 4:26) – and they did so  before she ever bore a child. “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living; for thus have I, the Lord God, called the first of all women, which are many” (Moses 4:26).

“Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly and definitely that. It is the essence of who we are as women. Motherhood defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits, talents, and tendencies with which our Father endowed us.” (Dew, 5)

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated that “God planted within women something divine” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 387). That something is the gift of and the gifts associated with motherhood. Elder Matthew Cowley of the Quorum of the Twelve taught that “men have to have something given to them [in mortality] to make them saviors of men, but not mother’s, not women. [They] are born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be the saviors of human souls…and the regenerating force in the lives of God’s children.” (Matthew Cowley Speaks, 109)

“Motherhood is not what was left over after our Father blessed His sons with the privilege of priesthood ordination. It was the most ennobling endowment He could give His daughters, a sacred trust that gave woman an unparalleled role in helping His children keep their second estate.” (Dew, 6) As President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., declared, motherhood is “as divinely called, as eternally important in its place as the Priesthood itself.” (Our Wives and Our Mothers in the Eternal Plan, 801)

Sisters, our Father-in-Heaven and His Only Begotten Son have given us a sacred stewardship. Let us rejoice in our divine role of motherhood. May I invite you to look around to see who may need your nurturing touch, your loving support, and your gospel centered influence. In the process we will find joy for as Elder John A. Widtsoe declared, “Where women choose to magnify their motherhood, either direct or vicarious, progress and happiness is the sure result.” (Priesthood and Church Government, 90)

Love,

The Stake Relief Society Presidency

Mother's Day

General Women's Meeting

Provident Living

Dear Sisters,

I will begin by introducing myself. My name is Renee Kocherhans and my family (consisting of myself, my husband, and our 2 crazy-wonderful boys) has lived here in Lehi for just over 6 years. I recently was called to be the Stake Provident Living Specialist. I am lucky enough to reside within the 1^st Ward boundaries (where I have the chance to associate with many provident-minded people from whom I have learned much). As part of this assignment I was asked to contribute to our blog and I must admit that after having had the opportunity to attend numerous well-planned, informational provident living meetings, I don’t know that I have much to add that will seem useful to many of you who are obviously far more qualified than I am to hold such a position. Please bear with me as I try to discern what Heavenly Father expects and requires of me in this position. Also, please don’t be afraid to approach me if you have ideas or suggestions.

Not long after I was set apart I attended a Women’s Conference at another stake where we had the opportunity to hear from Sister Burton, the current Relief Society General President. As she spoke to us she challenged us that when we left the conference -- rather than feeling overwhelmed by all we have “yet to do” -- to go home and pick one thing on which we would concentrate our efforts. I had already been reading a book by Wendy Ulrich that also discussed goal setting. Both of these sisters mentioned specific parts of S.M.A.R.T goal setting. The SMART system involves establishing specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-targeted goals. When I left the conference I decided to come home and reevaluate some of the goals I have been “working on” (you may be wondering what this has to do with provident living and I promise I’ll “get there”).

In all honesty, at the beginning of this year I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions, at least not any new ones. Instead, I decided just to reuse a previous year’s list. Not because I had failed miserably but because they still applied and I have yet to “conquer” or “finish” them. I decided that I would rework my list to make my goals SMART-er and hopefully therefore also more attainable. I decided that 3 of my goals fall into the “Provident Living” category and I will share those with you in their original context and in their original order…

1) Expand food storage (Minimum 1 trip a month to Cannery)
2) Expand Emergency Preparedness knowledge, skills, and items
3) Find/Make more time for daily personal prayer and scripture study

You will notice that with the exception of the first which includes one “measurable” aspect that these are fairly vague/generalized goals without any real way to determine if I have “succeeded” which is why I could just pick up where I left off last year. You may also be wondering how I decided that the third goal applies to Provident Living. In a talk given by President Henry B. Eyring, he said, “But there is another even more important preparation we must make for tests that are certain to come to each of us. That preparation must be started far in advance because it
takes time. What we will need then can’t be bought. It can’t be borrowed. It doesn’t store well. And it has to be have been used regularly and recently… What we will need in our day of testing is a spiritual preparation.” With that and my desire to set SMART-er goals in mind I decided to start small as Sister Burton suggested. I determined that the very first thing I must do in order to even set the goals is to take inventory of what I/we already have so that I can more accurately determine what I/we need. Although this applies to each goal individually once again, I will start small. This month I will focus on taking an accurate/honest inventory of where I’m at (spiritually and in regards to my family’s food storage and emergency preparedness) which in turn will help me determine where I need to go and how I plan to get there. This will enable me to set more specific, measurable goals. I encourage each of you to consider your own individual or family’s needs in regard to provident living and then take inventory. These are some of the questions I have begun compiling as I prepare to conduct my personal inventory. Consider these and feel free to add others as you feel they are appropriate…

Basic Spiritual Provident Living Inventory Questions:
Am I saying my individual prayers (at minimum both morning and night)?
Am I reading from the scriptures daily?
Am I fulfilling my responsibilities at home?
Am I following the Word of Wisdom?
Am I obeying the commandments?
Am I attending my church meetings?
Am I fulfilling my callings to the best of my ability?
Am I paying a full-tithe and generous offerings?
Am I living my life in such a way that the Holy Ghost is my constant companion?
Am I attending the temple regularly? If not, do I have a current temple recommend? If not, what must I do to obtain/renew one?

Basic Food Storage Inventory Questions:
Do I have food storage? If so, what do I have (consider how you will inventory, ie. # of cans, weight of food stored, # of servings)? How long is its shelf life?
Do I know if my family will eat it?
Do I have a way to prepare the food I’ve stored in the event of an emergency?
Do I have water?

Basic Emergency Preparedness Questions:
Do I have a 72 hr kit? If so, when was it last updated?
Do I have a first aid kit? If so, when was it last updated? Do I know how to use the items it contains?
Do I have a “plan?” If so, when was it last updated?

As we each inventory our preparedness we will be able to more efficiently move to the next logical step in our attempts to become more provident and prepared which is to set SMART goals. Every individual/family will not have identical goals. What may be possible or necessary for some will not be for others but as long as we are trying to live more providently we will have more opportunities to feel the peace and calm that come with being “prepared.”

It is my hope that we can all live more providently and I hope you will choose to join me in my efforts to do so.

With Love,


Renee Kocherhans

February Stake Relief Society Newsletter

As I have been reflecting on our play, “The Eternal Legacy of Relief Society,” my thoughts have continued to be filled with deep gratitude for everyone in our stake who helped or supported us in this endeavor. We all felt so blessed and filled with the Spirit throughout that night, and we also felt that this was what our Heavenly Father wanted to have happen. 

Since that evening, I have thought about all of the things I am thankful for that Relief Society teaches me…such as: We ARE beloved daughters of our Heavenly Father and He DOES love us and watch over us. He has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost, scriptures, prophets, temples, the ability to communicate to Him through prayer, opportunities to serve and to learn and grow. He has given us this incredible organization of Relief Society and opportunities to grow in our sisterhood if we so choose. He has given us the blessings of the priesthood, and family, friends and neighbors to watch over and care for…
What it all comes down to is this: 

What will I do in my life to show my love and gratitude to 

Heavenly Father for everything He has given me? 

When Elder Jeffery R. Holland spoke in General Conference, he reminded us about how the Savior asked Peter several times, “Do you love me?” Peter answered on the third time, “Lord…thou knowest that I love thee.” Elder Holland in his own words describes what he felt the Savior was trying to say when he said, “Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore by these same nets, having this same conversation?

Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? 

What I need, Peter, are disciples – and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do….Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach, labor and serve…loyally.” 

In my mind, I can hear the Savior speaking to each of us Relief Society sisters…

’what I need is for each of you to feed my sheep and to save lambs… to teach,
labor and to serve… loyally through this great organization of Relief Society.’ 

And so, what I have learned from Relief Society, and will continue to learn is just what Sister Nicki Hunter’s message was in our play…it really is all about Love! It is all about that first and great commandment, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.”
And then to remember that if we love Him we will keep His commandments…
if we love Him, we will love and serve one another.

As a stake Relief Society, we want you to know of our love for you and how blessed we have felt to have this opportunity to serve you and to serve with you in this great organization of Relief Society!  May our Heavenly Father bless each of you in your lives.

With much love, 

Lisa, Barbara, Jocelyn, Kay

RELIEF SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2013

  It is hard to believe that we are starting another year!  We hope that each of you had a wonderful Christmas Season with your families and we wish you the best in this New Year.  Your service and efforts don’t go unnoticed and we appreciate all that you do.

This month, in January we will be visiting the 2^nd  ward for their ward conference, as we will with all of you through the year.  When your conference is scheduled you won’t have to worry about a lesson, our Stake Presidency will teach on those Sundays.  We always enjoy hearing from them and we look forward to having them in our meetings.  How grateful we are for their Priesthood and leadership.

We hope that each ward is striving to use the manual, Daughters In My Kingdom, in your teaching opportunities.  You can just quote or read a little from it in your lessons, it seems like no matter what your subject is, you can find an experience or a teaching on the subject you prepare.

We as a stake will be coming to each of your Relief Societies this month to tell your sisters about our play to celebrate the 170 years of Relief Society.  We will also be bringing you invitations to give to the sisters.  We will be coming to your wards on the 13^th and will only take a few moments of your class time.  A lot of hard work and inspiration has been put in this production by many people and we hope that you will stress the importance of attending to those in your ward.  We feel that your time will be well spent for coming.

   

   

CALENDAR:

    Jan. 20^th        2^nd Ward Conference

   

Jan. 26^th       “THE ETERNAL LEGACY OF RELIEF  SOCIETY” 

                                  A Play Celebrating 170 years of Relief  Society.

                                    

“We are ordinary women accomplishing extraordinary things

through faith in Jesus Christ. This is our Eternal Legacy”  

We feel that each of you are ordinary sisters accomplishing extraordinary things through the small and special things you do in your wards.

We Love You All,

             Lisa, Barbara, Jocelyn, Kay

Stake Women’s Conference

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Curtain time - 6:00 pm

“The Eternal Legacy of Relief Society”

We are excited to extend to each sister within our stake, a personal invitation to join with us as we celebrate on stage…

The Eternal Legacy of Relief Society!

The time is  “quickly at hand,” only seven weeks until our production will be presented on stage at the Lehi Stake Center.

The last few months have found many women spending countless hours memorizing lines, practicing instruments, rehearsing songs, researching the lives of the women they will be portraying, attending rehearsals, preparing props, working on sound and lighting, etc. etc. etc  

We are hoping that everyone will use this play as a missionary tool and as a great learning experience about Relief Society and the great roll that we as women play in our Father in Heavens Kingdom. 

Please invite your neighbors, friends, and everyone you know that would benefit from learning more about God’s plan for His daughters in Relief Society, to join with you this coming January.