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Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Return and Receive

"I testify there is no greater goal in mortality than to live eternally with our Heavenly Parents and our beloved Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is more than just our goal—it is also Their goal. They have a perfect love for us, more powerful than we can even begin to comprehend. They are totally, completely, eternally aligned with us. We are Their work. Our glory is Their glory. More than anything else, They want us to come home—to return and receive eternal happiness in Their presence."

Elder Ballard's "Return and Receive" talk from April 2017 General Conference is our topic this coming Sunday.

Please take time to study it - I know it'll help you get more inspiration at church!

-Sister Campbell

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Converted to His Gospel Through His Church

Sisters,

This week's lesson is on a General Conference talk from April 2012 by Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, titled, “Converted to His Gospel Through His Church.”

Elder Hallstrom said, “I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sometimes we use the terms gospel and Church interchangeably, but they are not the same. They are, however, exquisitely interconnected, and we need both.”

Please read the talk if you get a chance!

-Sister Russell

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

"Certain Women"

This week's lesson is on Sister Burton's last talk before she was released as the Relief Society General President, "Certain Women."

She describes herself as "painfully imperfect," which is something we can probably all relate to. Her talk is focused on how, despite our imperfections, we can be "certain women," who are "disciples centered in the Savior Jesus Christ and have hope through the promise of His atoning sacrifice."

"Sisters, when we have become distracted, doubtful, discouraged, sinful, sorrowful, or soul-stretched, may we accept the Lord’s invitation to drink of His living water, as did the certain woman at the well, inviting others to do the same as we bear our own certain witness: 'Is not this the Christ?'

When life seems unfair, as it must have seemed to Martha at the death of her brother—when we experience the heartaches of loneliness, infertility, loss of loved ones, missing opportunities for marriage and family, broken homes, debilitating depression, physical or mental illness, stifling stress, anxiety, addiction, financial hardship, or a plethora of other possibilities—may we remember Martha and declare our similar certain witness: 'But I know … [and] I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.'"

Hope you all get a chance to study it. Looking forward to hearing your insights!

-Sister Campbell

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Below is a highlight/summary of the lesson utilizing quotes from the conference talk.

Historically, fear has often been used as a means to get people to take action. Parents have used it with their children, employers with employees, and politicians with voters.

First, let us address the problem with fear. People who are fearful may say and do the right things, but they do not feel the right things. They often feel helpless and resentful, even angry. Over time these feelings lead to mistrust, defiance, even rebellion.

The Lord has said that “when we … exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, … the heavens withdraw themselves [and] the Spirit of the Lord is grieved.”

God motivates through persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned. God is on our side. He loves us, and when we stumble, He wants us to rise up, try again, and become stronger.

One of the ways Satan wants us to manipulate others is by dwelling upon and even exaggerating the evil in the world.

I don’t believe God wants His children to be fearful or dwell on the evils of the world. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

He has given us an abundance of reasons to rejoice. We just need to find and to recognize them.

Feel free to read the entire conference talk, so you can help add to our lesson and learn from President Uchtdorf. Thanks everyone!

Sister Buttars

Saturday, April 8, 2017

How Mighty a Thing Is Prayer

Gordon B. Hinckley testified that “prayer unlocks the powers of heaven in our behalf” and promised “Be prayerful and the God of heaven will smile upon you and bless you, and give happiness in your hearts and a sense of peace in your lives.”

Ponder the following questions:
   • How has prayer helped you grow closer to your Heavenly Father?
   • When has prayer helped you find wisdom beyond your own?
   • When has prayer brought you comfort and consolation?

I know that great blessings can and will pour down on each of us and our families and communities as we turn to our Heavenly Father and earnestly pray to him.

Our Father in Heaven will always hear and answer our prayers. Do we pause and ponder to listen for the answer? Or are we guilty of saying our prayers and then jumping up and going about our business without waiting to hear back from our Heavenly Father?

“Be prayerful, and you will know that God hears and answers. Not always as we might wish him to answer, but with the passing of the years, there will come a realization as certain as the sunrise that he heard and responded.”

Looking forward to studying this wonderful topic of prayer with each of you on Sunday!

~Sister Buttars

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Joy and Spiritual Survival - President Russell M Nelson

This is such a great talk! Who doesn’t want to find more happiness? We all do! This Sunday, we will come together and study to find just how we can do that!

As conflicts and corruption become “increasingly commonplace in these latter days, what can help us? What can help us with our personal struggles and with the rigorous challenge of living in these latter days?”

We learn from Lehi a principle revealed by the Lord, “Men are that they might have joy.”!

“Saints can be happy under every circumstance. We can feel joy even while having a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year!”

“The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.”

The Savior’s joy is constant, “assuring us that ‘our afflictions be but a small moment’ and be consecrated to our gain.”

How have you found joy during difficult times and trials in your life? Please ponder this and come with ideas to help others find joy during hard times.

 ~Sister Buttars

Monday, March 6, 2017

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Dear Sisters,

Please review the article titled "Rescuing the Lost" by Roy Bean from the January 2017 Ensign. The title explains the content of the article. I really appreciated studying the 15th chapter of Luke. In this one chapter, three well known parables are given to us. Each helps us better know how to reach out to those that are lost, inactive and struggling to live our gospel.

As our leaders have predicted many are lost from our fold, in this day and time. I speak for all of us when I say "We love them and want them back with us" Please say a prayer on Sunday that we may share with each other our thoughts and feelings about bringing our brothers and sisters back to our fold.

With love,
Shirlee Chaillet

Friday, February 24, 2017

Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus - Elder Quentin L. Cook

“We cannot afford to have our testimonies of the Father and Son become confused and complicated by stumbling blocks.”

“To stumble spiritually is to fall into sin or waywardness. A stumbling block can be anything that distracts us from achieving righteous goals.” What stumbling blocks do we have in our own lives and how can we get rid of them or overcome them?

Examples of stumbling block:

• Philosophies of men
o The adversary likes to lead people away by emphasizing the philosophies of men over the Savior’s teachings. 

• Refusing to see sin in its true light
o “Many people engage in sinful conduct but refuse to consider it sinful. They have no remorse or willingness to acknowledge their conduct as being morally wrong.” 
o “A merciful God had provided a space for repentance.” 

• Looking beyond the mark
o Gospel extremism – “When one elevates any gospel principle above other equally important principles and takes a position that is beyond or contrary to the teachings of Church leaders.” 
 o “When we elevate any principle in a way that lessens our commitment tooth or equally important principles or take a position contrary to or which exceeds teachings of Church leaders, we are looking beyond the mark.”


-Natalie Buttars

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Dear Sisters,

This Sunday we will be talking about “Getting the Living Water to the End of the Row” by President Monroe. I hope you saved his handout from Ward Conference because we will be using that as the platform for our discussion. Please read it again and be prepared to talk about the impact it might have had on your life and think about how the principles that were covered also apply to our Relief Society.

I look forward to this time and finding how you have worked this topic into your own life. I love the Gospel that brings us closer to the Savior in our daily lives and improves us in our thinking and in our doing.

Love to you,
Karen Armstrong

Saturday, January 21, 2017

"The Master Healer" - Carole M. Stephens

“We need women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ.”
           - Russell M. Nelson

How do we become women with a bedrock understanding? Ponder how you have done this in your own life or things we could all implement.

We all will go through difficult times in this life. Trials are difficult and we often look for them to be over as we are going through them. But, “we often find our faith deepened and our relationship with Heavenly Father and His Son refined in adversity.”

Think of a time you have gone through a trial. Did you come out the other end with a closer relationship to your Savior and your Heavenly Father? What did you do during your trial to grow closer to your Savior?

The Lord is always there to help us through any trial, to help us overcome sin, to comfort us in times of sorrow. His arm of mercy is always extended. 3 Nephi 13-14.

This talk is found on Pg. 9 of the Conference issue of the Ensign if you would like to read it before our lesson.

~ Sister Natalie Buttars

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Teaching The Gospel (Chapter 22)

"The purpose of teaching.....is that we might be an instrument in the hands of the Lord in changing the heart of an individual." Let us study together to be better teachers in our every day life.

 -Sister Dunn

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Elder Dallin H. Oaks. "Sharing the Restored Gospel"

Sharing the gospel is our lifelong Christian duty and privilege. We will discuss three things every member can do to share the gospel regardless our circumstances in which we live or work. Member participation in missionary work is vital to achieving both conversions and retention. Come and discuss how we can work with our missionaries to find those who will be receptive to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

-Sister Dunn

Friday, November 11, 2016

"Walking the Savior's Path of Charity"

Our lesson this Sunday will be lesson no. 20 from the Howard W. Hunter manual "Walking the Savior's Path of Charity." As I've pondered the messages of this lesson, I've really felt the power in the Relief Society theme Charity Never Faileth. "Hatred always fails and bitterness always destroys, but 'charity never faileth'" (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Charity Never Faileth," October 1981, emphasis added).

Our loving Heavenly Father, through his inspired prophets, asks and encourages us to "walk in the Savior's path of charity." Why? Why is developing our sense of charity essential to our eternal progression and survival in this ever changing world of confusion and chaos?

Sisters, I invite you to read the lesson and ponder the times you have felt the Savior's love in your life. I look forward to meeting with you this Sunday and discussing Charity, the pure love of Christ.

-Sister Renzetti

Friday, November 4, 2016

General Women's Conference

Dear Sisters,

I was so impressed with The General Women's Conference in October 2016, I am really looking forward to hearing your responses about it.

"I Will Bring the Light of the Gospel into my Home" by Jean B. Bingham was fantastic! She talked about charity and how we could give it easily with our words. I made the very cross stitch picture she did, maybe I can find it.

Speaker #2 "The Master Healer" by Carole M. Stephens spoke about our knowledge of the doctrine of Christ. The more we learn the more we can love our Savior.

"Rise Up in Strength, Sisters in Zion" was given by a pro, Bonnie L. Oscarson. This was her fifth General Conference talk. She talked about Morman Chapter 8 which describes the times we now live in. We need to prepare our children for "The Second Coming".

The last speaker was President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. His talk is titled "Fourth Floor Last Door". Among other topics he tells the story about the love of his life, his wife.

Sisters please review these talks so we can share our stories, feelings and witnesses to the above speakers.

Love, Shirlee

Thursday, October 20, 2016

The Healing Ointment of Forgiveness - Elder Kevin R. Duncan

“Forgiveness is a glorious, healing principle. We do not need to be a victim twice. We can forgive.”

“We live in a fallen world where mistakes will be made. Therefore, each of us is going to fall victim to the misdeeds of others. But God has provided an escape for all who fall victim to the misdeeds of others.” ‘What possible escape could we find in this fallen world?’, you might ask. “He has taught us that we can forgive!!”

Think of a time someone offended or hurt you. How did holding on to those feelings of hurt and anger make you feel? “An unforgiving heart harbors so much needless pain.” Now think of how you felt when you forgave them. Did you feel as if a burden had been lifted? Are there any heavy loads you are currently carrying that could be lifted by forgiving another?

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin stated: “The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss…Every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.”

Come worship with us this Sunday and learn how we can become more like Him through having a forgiving heart.

~Sister Buttars

Thursday, September 22, 2016

"Family Councils" Elder M. Russell Ballard

“A family council, when conducted with love and with Christlike attributes, will counter the impact of modern technology that often distracts us from spending quality time with each other and also tends to bring evil right into our homes.”

There are at least four types of family counsels.

1. Full Family Council
     a. Includes all family members
2. Executive Family Council
     a. Includes only the parents
3. Limited Family Council
     a. Includes both parents and an individual child
4. One-on-one Family Council
     a. Includes one parent and one child

“Everyone can adapt a family council to take advantage of this divine pattern established by our loving Heavenly Father.”

“Combined with prayer, a family council will invite the presence of the Savior, as He promised: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

If any of you hold family councils in your own homes, we would love to hear your experiences and what benefits you have seen in your life and the lives of your family. From reading and studying this talk, I can see the benefits of implementing this in our lives.

~Sister Buttars

Friday, September 2, 2016

"Saving Your Life"

The lesson for Sunday is taken from a talk by D. Todd Christofferson titled “Saving Your Life”. This is a very profound talk with great insights to our daily living. Please take a moment to read it.

From the talk:
Jesus Christ speaking to Peter declared: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

We will be talking about the Lord’s seemingly paradoxical declaration that “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” It teaches a powerful, far-reaching doctrine that we need to understand and apply.

The greatest illustration of saving one’s life by losing it is this: “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” In giving His life, Christ not only saved His own—He saved the lives of all of us. He made it possible for us to exchange what would otherwise have been an ultimately futile mortal life for eternal life.

-Sister Armstrong

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Marriage – An Eternal Partnership

“In the temple, we receive the highest ordinance available to men and women, the sealing of husbands and wives together for eternity.”

 This chapter will take us through the various stages. Those who are not married, those deciding whom to marry, those who are married, and those who have experienced divorce.

 How can we have a successful marriage?

 “Marriage is a learned behavior. Our conscious effort, not instinct, determines the success.” “It is often said that being happily and successfully married is generally not so much a matter of marrying the right person as it is being the right person.” “Living the principles of the gospel makes a happy marriage…When two people can live the principles of the gospel, marriage can be sweet and it can be happy.”

 Ponder 1 Corinthians 13:4

 Ponder in your hearts how you have worked to make a successful marriage. If you are not married, ponder what you are doing to prepare yourself for marriage.

 I love being married and am excited about this topic. I look forward to discussing it with you all! 

~Sister Buttars

Friday, August 12, 2016

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

In this lesson, President Hunter wants to teach us to understand the significance of the sacrament and it's connection to the ancient celebration of the Passover and to review the Savior's introduction of this ordinance during a Passover meal with his disciples. Come join us for this discussion.

"As [Jesus] took the bread and broke it, and took the cup and blessed it, he was presenting himself as the Lamb of God who would provide spiritual nourishment and eternal salvation."

-Sister Dunn