May Calendar

"The world's favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May." - Edwin Way Teale

Here is our calendar for May. Hope to see you often!!

Goodbye from Shirlee

Dear Sisters,
I will very much miss teaching in RS.  I was able to learn more about the gospel and experience your love and support. I started my calling in YW's on the 21st so please forgive my not-in-person good bye.
Love,
Shirlee Chaillet

The First Great Commandment

"Did you love me?" How will you answer that question when the Lord asks? Will you answer as Peter did, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee"? Or, will you understand the deeper meaning which the Lord intended? " If ye love me, keep my commandments." In Relief Society Sunday, we will explore our love for the Lord and what is expected of us if we truly love Him. In Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's conference talk, "The First Great Commandment" from October 2012, he profoundly describes exactly what the Lord intends for us to do to profess our love for Him. Please read and be prepared to discuss the Lord's life, ministry and teachings. The choices we make every day reflect the love we have for our Lord...or do they? When we profess our love for our Savior, when we publicly declare that we believe, when we choose to join the Church, we accept His commission to follow Him. As Elder Holland reminds us, "the crowning characteristic of love is loyalty."

Marcia Lindley

The Grand Destiny of the Faithful

This week in Relief Society, we will be discussing the wonderful "feel good" lesson #5 by Lorenzo Snow, "The Grand Destiny of the Faithful." It is amazing what the Lord has in store for his faithful sons and daughters. President Snow said, "I do not know how many of us have a knowledge of these things in our hearts. We do not all of us, fully comprehend, and we do not have before our view the things which await us in the eternal worlds, that are calculated to promote our peace and happiness and answer the desires of our hearts."

Let's discuss this Sunday the great blessings which the Lord has in store for his faithful Saints: reunions with those who have passed the veil, the nature of our magnificent resurrected bodies, parameters of the spirit world, and the opportunity to receive "all that the Father hath" with eventual godhood and eternal increase. "How can this mortal life defeat us," President Snow asks, "when we remain faithful and keep this great promise before us?"

Karen Bateman

The Hope of God's Light

I am sorrowfully aware of the numerous trials many of you Sisters are currently enduring. I am also certain there are still many more of you who bear your burdens in silence, which tells me many of your hearts are heavy. Yet, amidst your trials at this time, there is still a perfect brightness of hope extended to each of us from our loving Heavenly Father. It is by our demonstration of hope and faith that brings us out of the darkness and into the perfect light of Christ.

Many of us were deeply touched by the spiritual feast of General Conference. I was especially touched by the spiritual application for so many of us from President Uchtdorf's insights in "The Hope of God's Light."

He said:

"There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you, and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God's light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wounds. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn.

Nevertheless, spiritual light rarely comes to those who merely sit in the darkness waiting for someone to flip the switch. It takes an act of faith to open our eyes to the light of Christ.

So how do we open our eyes to the hope of God's light? First, start where you are. Second, turn your heart toward the Lord. Third, walk in the light by following the Savior."

This talk and many others fed my hungry soul to give me hope to continue on in the Light of Christ. Yes, sometimes the darkness seems to swallow us up to appear never ending, causing us the pain of loneliness, doubt, and fear. I join my testimony with those of many others who reminded us that we are not alone on this earthly journey. The Atonement dispels all darkness which then brings us into the brilliant light of the Savior Jesus Christ who has all power to save.

Debra Newcum
RS President

Richardson Stake Goals for 2013

President Ward has issued three challenges to our Stake this year. The 2013 goals for the Richardson Stake are:

1. Read the Book of Mormon
2. Research and prepare 12 family names to take to the temple
3. Engage in a missionary/rescue experience

To help us each remember these goals, you will notice we've added them to the right side of the blog, just under the monthly Visiting Teaching message. We hope each of you will spend time thinking about what you and your family can do to meet these goals, and if there is any way we can help you, please let us know!

The Grand Destiny of the Faithful

Dear Sisters,

This Sunday we are meeting as a combined Relief Society/Priesthood group in the Relief Society room for the third hour. There we will be instructed by Brother Thorsen regarding the program "Just Serve." Since we will not be having our usual discussion from the Lorenzo Snow manual, we strongly encourage you to study this lesson on your own, as the next discussion led by Sister Bateman will build on this lesson.

Lesson #5 is a glorious discourse about the blessings our Father in Heaven has in store for those who are obedient and remain faithful to their covenants. I felt that the brethren stressed obedience frequently in this past General Conference. That is because obedience is the key to receiving blessings and guidance from our Father as we travel through mortality. I can still remember the first time I heard Lorenzo Snow's inspired couplet, "As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be." It was like a light went on in my brain as I considered what that meant. What does it mean to you? How does it affect the choices you make every day?

Truly, to comprehend the truth contained therein is a transforming experience! I am so grateful for the truths contained in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn obedience. Please take time to read and study this lesson, as President Snow said, "What can we wish for more than is comprehended in our religion?"

Love you, and see you on Sunday,
Sister Stoddard

Come Listen to Living Prophets

Click HERE to watch conference online.

Conference Countdown

Click HERE to watch conference online.

Conference Countdown

Click HERE for the full text of Elder Holland's talk, "An Ensign to the Nations" from April 2011 General Conference.

Conference Countdown

Click HERE to read President Uchtdorf's three basic steps of preparation for conference.

Click HERE for resources to use in inviting others to watch conference.

Conference Countdown

Click HERE to review highlights from last conference.

Conference Countdown

Click HERE for tips on how to prepare your children for conference.

Click HERE for conference activities for children.

Conference Countdown - Blessings of Conference