Dear Sisters,

This Sunday our discussion will be taken from the Worldwide Fireside on Parenting which took place in 1985.  In that fireside, Elder Dallin H. Oaks stated,

"We cannot overstate the importance of parenthood and the family.  The basis of the government of God is the eternal family.  Our theology begins with heavenly parers and our highest aspiration is to attain that status for ourselves.  We solemnly affirm that the fullness of eternal salvation is a family affair  We may truly say that the gospel plan originated in the council of an eternal family, it is implemented through our earthly families, and has its destiny in our eternal families."

I look forward to discussing the challenges and blessings of parenthood, and being able to share, as sisters, encouragement and insights to ell one another in the difficult and rewarding responsibility of parenting!

Love, Sister Stoddard

The Windows of Heaven

     We learned two lessons about the law of tithing last October when Elder David A. Bednar gave his talk, entitled "The Windows of Heaven" during General Conference. 

Lesson 1 - Significant But Subtle Blessings

     So often when we teach and testify about the law of tithing we emphasize the immediate, dramatic and recognizable temporal blessings that we might receive. For example - that unexpected check in the mail.  Yet some of those significant blessings we receive by being obedient to this commandment are subtle.  Often these are not discernible unless we are both spiritually attentive and observant.  In 1 Corinthians 2:14 it reads, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Lesson 2 - The Simplicity of the Lord's Way

     The basic financial program of the Church for income and disbursement is defined in Doctrine & Covenants 119 and 120.  In Section 119:4 it simply states that all members "...shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever... saith the Lord."
     In D&C 120 we find that these funds shall be disbursed by a council & who serves on that council.  These sacred funds are used to spiritual bless individuals and families by constructing and maintaining temples and houses of worship, supporting missionary work, translating and publishing scriptures, and accomplishing many other Church purposes as directed by the Lord through his ordained servants.
     The temporal affairs of the Lord's Church are kept within the bounds of these two revelations.  Two basic and fixed principles are observed. First, the Church lives within it's means. In other words, the church does not spend more than it receives. Second, a portion of the annual income is set aside as a reserve for contingencies and unexpected needs. These are the same principles the Church has taught it's members for years. 
     On Sunday we will spend more time discussing those significant but subtle blessings that we might receive if we are being obedient to the Lords law of tithing.

"...prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10

Marcia Lindley 

Never Suppress a Generous Thought

The Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep."

John 10:11

Our Savior, Jesus Christ

Please read Lesson 2 - Our Savior Jesus Christ.

Because of Ward Conference, this will be our first lesson from the Joseph Fielding Smith manual, since we are skipping lesson 1. We were asked to read the biographical information in the first part of the book (there's a link to it on the left side of the blog!), which should help us gain an understanding of this new prophet we will be studying.

Joseph Fielding Smith said:

Let it be uppermost in your minds, now and at all times, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God who came into the world to lay down his life that we might live. That is the truth, and is fundamental. Upon that our faith is built.

Please ponder the following questions as you read:

1. What is Jesus Christ's role in the Godhead?
2. How have you felt His love in your life?
3. What manner of men/women ought ye to be?
4. How can we become like Him?
5. Do we have to depend on those who have seen Christ to have a testimony of Him? Or How do we obtain a testimony?

See you Sunday! Please bring your manual (if you haven't misplaced it yet!).

Love,

Karen Bateman

Ye Have Done It Unto Me

Exercise Group - Thursday Night!

Sisters, we are starting an EXERCISE group! Our first class will be this Thursday evening, January 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the church building. Come dressed ready for a great work out and be sure to invite your friends/daughters because we are going to have some serious fun! Hope to see you there!

Good Things to Come

The Old Testament

Over the years, it has come to my attention that whenever I make a study of the Old Testament, great and amazing trials await me in the near future. The Lord has a way of preparing His people for and sustaining His people through times of great tribulation. How blessed I feel to know that God takes the time to drive us into the wilderness of introspection prior to dropping us into the conflict of battle. It is a time for us to get our heads straight. It is a time for spiritual contemplation and a rearrangement of priorities. Throughout the scriptures we see repeated examples of people being led and trained before their day of testing arrives. However, I cannot think of a better and more exaggerated example than that of being led through an actual wilderness for forty years before heading into battle for the promised land. My prayer for the church is that we use our time of spiritual preparation wisely.

Rachel Roark

Come Unto Christ

Ward Conference this Sunday

Just a reminder that this Sunday will be our Ward Conference. We are excited to hear from our Stake leaders and learn about the Richardson Stake theme for 2014. In Relief Society, we'll be privileged to have a lesson by our Stake Relief Society Presidency. See you on Sunday!

Here's My Heart

Things Will Work Out

January Announcements

Just a few reminders as we start 2014:

• Beginning this Sunday, Dallas 4th Ward now meets for Sacrament Meeting at 11:00 a.m., with Sunday School and Relief Society/Priesthood following.

• Dallas 4th Ward Conference will be on Sunday, January 12.

• Our ward has the responsibility of cleaning the building from January through April. We're kicking this off with a Ward Cleaning party at 9:00 a.m. this coming Saturday, January 4! Everyone is invited and encouraged to come meet us at the building to help out on Saturday morning. See you there! (A schedule of individual and family cleaning assignments will be forthcoming.)

Momentum

My college physics course was a horrible and anxiety ridden experience that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. However, as I was zipping over hills this week at breakneck speeds on my bike, the concept of momentum kept coming to the forefront of my mind. As I recall, momentum equals mass times velocity. Now, before your eyes glaze over and you slip into a physics induced coma, please take a minute to consider the spiritual implications of mass times velocity. If there are more of us out there in the world doing missionary work at a greater speed, it will hasten the work of salvation for God's children. Maybe physics is useful after all.

p=mv
momentum = mass X velocity

Rachel Roark

A New Beginning