Compassion

Dear Sisters,

Tomorrow's lesson in Relief Society will be based in part on a 2010 General Conference talk by Barbara Thompson titled, "And of Some Have Compassion, Making a Difference." I'd like to focus on the subject of compassion.

• Do you have a story of how the compassion of others has made a difference in your life?

• Do you have a story about how serving with compassion has blessed your life?

Come, share your life experiences with us and let us all be the better for it!

Love,

Mary Reid

Joseph & Hyrum Smith, Witnesses of the Book of Mormon

This week we have the blessing of discussing the Book of Mormon, and the Witnesses to this marvelous document.  We will also discuss the importance of Witnesses in Heavenly Father's plan to restore Christ's original Church to the earth, and the role the Book of Mormon played in the restoration.

Things to ponder in anticipation of Sunday's Lesson:

•  Do you have a personal testimony of the Book of Mormon?
• Are you reading and discussing in your family?
• What insights have you gained from reading the Book of Mormon, that has helped you live the Gospel?
• How have you helped your children love and gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon.
• Who was the Book of Mormon written for?
• What are your favorite stories and who are your heroes in the Book of Mormon?

President Joseph Fielding Smith said "no member of this Church can stand approved in the presence of God, who has not seriously and carefully read the Book of Mormon."

See you Sunday Sisters and bring your Book of Mormon.

Love, Karen Bateman

Priorities - Ain't Nothing Better

While reflecting in the silence of the temple I couldn't help but overhear an older gentleman with a walker remark that he did three endowments last Thursday. 

The younger man sitting next to him said with a look of surprise, "Three endowments?" 

In a very matter-of-fact tone, the older gentleman replied, "Ain't got nothing better to do." The whole room erupted in quiet giggles. 

My day had been consumed by calling clients for work, mowing the lawn, teaching some homeschool, and getting at least one load of laundry done. My initial reaction to the older gentleman's statement was to pass judgment that he was probably widowed, retired, and had little temporal responsibility in this stage of life. 

Further thought about the matter helped me realize that he was probably just like me in some ways. He probably sacrificed other other activities in order to serve in the temple that day. The older gentleman may have had a myriad of other things to do, but none of them were actually better, or more important, than being in the temple.  I realized that whatever gets made a priority, gets done. 

Let's put our family history work and temple work higher on the priority list this week. 

After all, you ain't got nothin' better to do.

 - Rachel Roark

Happy Mother's Day!

I would add that those who teach & influence our children help build the nation as well.

Happy Mother's Day!

May/June Service Project

For the month of May & through June 15th we're asking you to donate sunscreen for children with cancer so they can enjoy a special summer camp, Camp I-Hope, with their siblings.  They will enjoy swimming, wall climbing, singing, dancing, playing games, & a carnival - and they go through LOTS of sunscreen!  Your donation will protect them from the sun's rays while they get on with the important business of living & adapting to their illness.  SPF 30 or higher please.  Spray-on sunscreen is preferred.  We will collect your donations in Relief Society, or you can hand them off to any member of the RS Presidency.  Thank you so much!

Joseph Fielding Smith, Chapter 8

"The Lord [has] restored the gospel and organized again his Church upon the earth. The reason for such organization and restoration is the fact that for centuries the world had been in spiritual darkness, without the authority, and without the understanding; they knew not how to worship the living God.

"The everlasting covenant had been broken; the correct understanding of gospel principles had disappeared through apostasy; the right to officiate in the ordinances of the gospel had ceased among men. It became necessary that all this might be restored, and that faith might increase among the people through an opening of the heavens and a restoration of the gospel.

"We announce that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth, the only place where men may come to learn the true doctrines of salvation and find the authority of the holy priesthood."

Sisters, what a marvelous time to be on the earth. We have the Restoration in our hands and get to take part in our Heavenly Father's hands to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. What blessings are ours. I look forward to sharing these truths with you.

Love, 

Karen Armstrong