179th Annual General Conference

Our prophets have spoken.  It is now time for us to ponder and heed their counsel.  Depending on your internet access, try clicking on the image on the right hand column to watch the entire sessions of the conference.

I for one, can't wait!  How about you?

New Apostle - Neil L Andersen

Elder Neil Linden Andersen, 57, was named the newest apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today during the morning session of the Church’s 179^th Annual General Conference. The announcement was made by Church President Thomas S. Monson to 21,000 people seated in the Conference Center and to hundreds of thousands more watching the broadcast throughout the world. Elder Andersen will fill the vacancy left in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, who passed away in December of 2008.

Living Singly

What a marvelous lesson we had today about how to lead a full and happy life despite being single.  I found the points discussed suited also those of us who are not single.  I hope we can remember these things, that we may not deprive ourselves of the joy our Father in Heaven wishes for us to enjoy.

1. Stay close to Heavenly Father
2. Stay involved in ward (or branch) activities
3. Maintain a close relationship with immediate and extended families
4. Develop a circle of friends
5. If you are harboring feelings of anger or bitterness toward a former spouse (or anyone else), start today to eliminate those feelings
6. Decorate for the holidays
7. Don't dwell on disappointments and hurts
8. Don't sit around waiting for someone to fill your time

Quote - Conversion

"Those who have felt the touch of the Master's hand somehow cannot explain the change which comes into their lives. There is a desire to live better, to serve faithfully, to walk humbly, and to be more like the Savior."

--Thomas S Monson, "Anxiously Engaged", Ensign, November 2004, 58

Gullible Gulls

I clipped the following article from the Reader’s Digest some time ago. It reads:

“In our friendly neighbor city of St. Augustine great flocks of sea gulls are starving amid plenty. Fishing is still good, but the gulls don’t know how to fish. For generations they have depended on the shrimp fleet to toss them scraps from the nets. Now the fleet has moved. …

“The shrimpers had created a Welfare State for the … sea gulls. The big birds never bothered to learn how to fish for themselves and they never taught their children to fish. Instead they led their little ones to the shrimp nets.

“Now the sea gulls, the fine free birds that almost symbolize liberty itself, are starving to death because they gave in to the ‘something for nothing’ lure! They sacrificed their independence for a handout.

“Let’s not be gullible gulls. We … must preserve our talents of self-sufficiency, our genius for creating things for ourselves, our sense of thrift and our true love of independence.”

--Marion G Romney, "The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance", Ensign, March 2009, 61-65

(For the full article, click on the title)

What a marvelous analogy! I hope we can all learn not to be gullible gulls but cultivate our creative talents like the counsel above, which also brings to mind the counsel by President Uchtdorf, which is beautifully captured in the video below. It's one of my personal favorites.

Proverbs 31

I was reminded of this scripture when I was reading the Ensign. What a beautiful way to describe the worth of a woman. I hope we can all read the verses slowly and ponder each one prayerfully, that the Spirit may teach us its true meaning and how we may liken it to ourselves, that we may go on to be the kind of women our Father has empowered us to be.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Unity

President Renner read us a quote today and directed us to liken it to our branch. How appropriate it is that we adhere to this counsel, that our members may be united in love and purpose.

“We would wish the Saints to understand that, when they come here, they must not expect perfection, or that all will be harmony, peace, and love; if they indulge these ideas, they will undoubtedly be deceived, for here there are persons, not only from different states, but from different nations, who, although they feel a great attachment to the cause of truth, have their prejudices of education, and, consequently, it requires some time before these things can be overcome. Again, there are many that creep in unawares, and endeavor to sow discord, strife, and animosity in our midst, and by so doing, bring evil upon the Saints. … Therefore, let those who come up to this place be determined to keep the commandments of God, and not be discouraged by those things we have enumerated, and then they will be prospered—the intelligence of heaven will be communicated to them, and they will, eventually, see eye to eye, and rejoice in the full fruition of that glory which is reserved for the righteous.

--Joseph Smith Jr, "How Good and How Pleasant It Is ... To Dwell Together in Unity", Teachings of Presidents of The Church: Joseph Smith, 278

(For the full article, click on the title)

Message from Sister Cathy

I came across this article in Meridian Magazine. I found the suggestions useful for our missionary work.

How You Can Fire Up Your Friends To Hear The Gospel

Birthdays

Birthdays of our beloved sisters have now been posted on the right column.  This will be a new monthly feature so that we could remember to wish them, express our love for them as well as to say a special prayer for them.

Sisters, we sure are glad you were born!  How else could we get to know you, learn from you and love you?

Ensign Magazine

The Ensign Magazine will also be a regular feature on the right column, especially for those of us who don't subscribe to it.  Just click on the cover picture and it'll take you to the content page where you will be able to read any article by clicking on the title.

Reading the Ensign has helped me to: 

1. be uplifted
2. learn something new
3. feel the Spirit
   
4. be drawn nearer to God
5. find answers to my concerns

So, happy reading!

Message from Sister Claire

As all of us can see the Enrichment announcement for April, kindly pass along this message to all sisters you meet, active or less active. We need to get a commitment from them so that we can plan for the car pool. ^__^

Please spread the word from now until then, so that nobody is caught by surprise. Everyone can plan ahead instead.

See you there, sisters! 

Quote - Ordinary Members

". . . The great work of moving the gospel forward has in the past, does now, and will in the future depend upon ordinary members."

--Boyd K Packer, "The Least of These," Ensign, November 2004, 87

Lift Where You Stand

As I read this talk by President Dieter F Uchtdorf, I was very touched by the story he related and decided that it would be an inspiring and uplifting read for all of us. What a great example of valor and dedicated service for us to emulate.

The Example of John Rowe Moyle

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of John Rowe Moyle. John was a convert to the Church who left his home in England and traveled to the Salt Lake Valley as part of a handcart company. He built a home for his family in a small town a valley away from Salt Lake City. John was an accomplished stonecutter and, because of this skill, was asked to work on the Salt Lake Temple.

Every Monday John left home at two o’clock in the morning and walked six hours in order to be at his post on time. On Friday he would leave his work at five o’clock in the evening and walk almost until midnight before arriving home. He did this year after year.

One day, while he was doing his chores at home, a cow kicked him in the leg, causing a compound fracture. With limited medical resources, the only option was to amputate the broken leg. So John’s family and friends strapped him onto a door and, with a bucksaw, cut off his leg a few inches from the knee.

In spite of the crude surgery, the leg started to heal. Once John could sit up in bed, he began carving a wooden leg with an ingenious joint that served as an ankle to an artificial foot. Walking on this device was extremely painful, but John did not give up, building up his endurance until he could make the 22-mile (35-km) journey to the Salt Lake Temple each week, where he continued his work.

His hands carved the words “Holiness to the Lord” that stand today as a golden marker to all who visit the Salt Lake Temple.

John did not do this for the praise of man. Neither did he shirk his duty, even though he had every reason to do so. He knew what the Lord expected him to do.

Years later, John’s grandson Henry D. Moyle was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and, eventually, served in the First Presidency of the Church. President Moyle’s service in these callings was honorable, but his grandfather John’s service, though somewhat less public, is just as pleasing to the Lord. John’s character, his legacy of sacrifice, serves as a banner of faithfulness and an ensign of duty to his family and to the Church. John Rowe Moyle understood the meaning of “lift where you stand.”

--Dieter F Uchtdorf, "Lift Where You Stand", Ensign, November 2009

(For the full talk, click on the title)

Miracles - Our Hands Are His Hands

Remember when President Renner spoke to us last Sunday about miracles and after that I shared with you about miracles that happened when I was preparing the Relief Society Birthday celebration? I experienced another one today.

Remember also that I highlighted a few articles from the Ensign and Liahona that I felt were really important to us? I've posted the Ensign magazine on the right so that you can click on it and read them.

Anyway, one of the articles I mentioned was Focussing on the Lord's Work of Salvation by Julie B Beck, our current General Relief Society President. One of the things she mentioned was: "Visiting teachers minister in behalf of the Savior. Our hands are His hands, our love is His love, and our service is His service."

Now, how did that happen? How was it that our chosen theme was also HANDS? Sisters, I believe that was a miracle. The Lord truly was mindful of us and wanted us to know and understand this concept.

There's another article that echoes the one above entitled: on faith: Relief Society united worldwide in faith and service to others.

The two Enrichment Meetings we had (The Visiting Teaching Workshop and The Relief Society Birthday) truly are tied together and you'll be able to see the connection by reading these articles. Just click on the titles.

Valiant in the Cause of Christ

I love the lesson we had last Sunday.  We learnt the meaning of being valiant.  The dictionary meaning is possessing or showing courage or determination.  Do we have what it takes?  Here's the checklist:

1. cheerfully do all we can, even during times of trouble.
2. love the cause of Christ and strive to develop Christlike qualities.
3. strive to improve ourselves while in this life.
4. endure faithfully to the end.

I know we can do it.  Let us strive each day to be valiant in the cause of Christ and help one another as sisters to achieve the same.