Announcements - October 26, 2014

·         Remember to sign up to participate in the Sister to Sister program that provides the inspirational messages via e-mail.

·         Remember to invite a new sister to dinner this month.

·         Trunk or Treat, Tuesday, October 28 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chapel.  Pizza will be served for the children.  $5 suggested donation.

·         Thursday, October 30 at noon will be the ladies day group.  They will be meeting at Debi’s house to see her wonderful crafts.  Call Clo if you will be attending.

·         November 8 will be a ward service project in Martinez.  Five people will be needed to serve food.  Others are needed to cook chili.

·         Sunday, November 16 will be a Relief Society Linger Longer.  It will be right after Relief Society for the ladies only.  Sign-ups will be coming soon.

Lesson Summary - October 26, 2014

“Grateful in Any Circumstances”

By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

April, 2014 Conference, Sunday Morning Session

Lesson by Marsha

Marsha began her lesson by relaying that President Uchtdorf said in his talk, “Over the years, I have had the sacred opportunity to meet with many people whose sorrows seem to reach the very depths of their soul.”

Marsha told us about her friend who has had many sorrows.  This friend lost her youngest son in a hiking accident.  Recently, her daughter who has four children, has been diagnosed with ALS, her daughter-in-law has cancer, and her son is going through a divorce.  Marsha’s friend also suffers from extreme depression. 

Marsha asked the audience to consider Sariah, the mother of Nephi, and the sorrows that she had to endure.  Sariah had sons who were not righteous.  She worried when her sons had to return to Jerusalem to retrieve the plates.  There was internal family strife when Laman and Lemuel tied up Nephi and threatened to kill him.  Sariah and her family left their comfortable home, went into the wilderness and eventually sailed to a new land. 

In this life we all have sorrows. 

What Christ-like qualities do we gain from experiencing sorrow?

Compassion for others going through sorrows                 Patience                                              

“Why me? Is God’s opportunity”                                     Humility

Gratitude                                                                           Compassion

Feel the Holy Ghost (Comforter)                                     Feeling blessed 

Marsha demonstrated with a glass of water with lemon squeezed in it to represent sorrows and bitterness.  She then took another glass of water with lemon and added sugar to represent gratitude.

What happens when you are bitter from your sorrows?

“I’ve been good, Why is this happening?”                                  

Pile on past sorrows to make current sorrow even bigger

We think only about ourselves

Blame others

We can’t feel kindness or love for others

Grievance story which justifies why you feel bitter; you start thinking sorrow is good; you take comfort in the bitterness. It keeps you from changing.

Many researchers wanted to know what brings happiness.  From this massive study, the conclusion was that gratitude brings happiness.  This study just re-enforces what President Uchtdorf’s conference talk is about:  To be grateful in all your circumstances.

A noted physiologist said, “Having worked with people for so many years with the aim of building self-esteem, I have always been on the lookout for decisive moments is psychotherapy instances when a “click” seems to occur in the client and that is no one is coming to save me: no one is coming to make life better and solve my problems.  It is up to each one of us.  If I don’t do something, nothing is going to get better. . .”

How do we go from bitterness to gratitude?  How can we have the healthy healing of gratitude?

Look at our fears.  “What am I really afraid of?”

“Why is this happening to me?”  What am I supposed to learn from this?

“I can’t keep being like this.”

What is your goal?  Is it your goal to be happy? We can only control ourselves.

Marsha’s friend who has had so much happen recently, looked so peaceful and happy recently so Marsha mentioned to her that she looked beautiful. Her friend said that she had to start thinking about others.  She said she had to get meaning in her life.

 Marsha showed a picture of a yoke.  She said the Savior carries the yoke.  The Savior is with us every step of the way.  He is there for us.  Marsha’s friend knows that the Savior is “yoking” with her. 

Marsha closed by quoting President Uchtdorf:  “The Lord has given us His promise that those “who (receive) all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto (them), even an hundred fold, yea, more.”

 

 

 

 

 

                             

 

Announcements - October 19, 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

• Remember to sign up for the Sister to Sister program that provides the inspirational messages via e-mail. What a nice way to start the day!
   
  Remember to invite a new sister to dinner before the end of the year.
   
  A make-up day is scheduled tomorrow from 9:15 to noon for those who need to finish their craft projects from Craft Night. Please e-mail Anne A. so the correct supplies will be there for you.
   
  There will be a Trunk or Treat event on Tuesday night the 28th so if you would like to decorate your car please come to the parking lot for some fun.
   
  At noon on Thursday, October 30th there will be the Ladies Day Group meeting at Debi Meyer’s home to see her wonderful crafts. Bring a few dollars for a sandwich lunch.
  
  
Sign ups are on-line and passed around for missionary dinners.


Remember to do your visiting teaching. It is the true ministry of the Savior. It is the "net" that keeps us together and makes good things happen. Include your sisters in your prayers each day.

Special Announcement:

YW Service Project

 

Making baby blankets for the NICU at

St. Luke’s Childrens Hospital

 

YW are collecting fabric and money donations each Sunday until November 9th.

 

Cotton flannel - soft & stretchy (approximately 24x28 inches - any pattern)

 Fabric scraps for heart cutouts

 

Money donations ($6 will buy enough fabric for 3 blankets)

Questions? Email Courtney N.

 

Lesson Summary - October 19, 2014

“Prayer - a Commandment and a Blessing”

Joseph Fielding Smith

Lesson 22

By Chris C .

 

Chris started her lesson by recounting an incident when a painter had come to her home to do some remodeling. On that day, her daughter, Alexandra, who was a very young baby, had become sick and was rather suddenly admitted to the hospital. The painter wanted to discuss colors and Chris asked if they could do that on another day since she was of course, focused on Alexandra’s needs. The painter (not a member of our church) readily agreed and asked if he could pray for Alex. He immediately dropped to his knees and said a most fervent and heartfelt prayer for Alex and her family. Even now, 15 years later, Chris marvels with gratitude at his confidence, boldness and faith, his caring and sincerity.  

 

Pres. Smith teaches us, “Few things in life are as important as communing with Deity in prayer.”  

 

Why do we have to pray?  Some answers included:

It helps us to align our will with His.

He is our Father and wants to hear from us as similarly we want to hear from our children.

Prayer is how we invite Heavenly Father into our lives.

 

We are not asked to pray because God wants us to worship Him. Prayer is for us.

 

“No man can retain the spirit of the Lord unless he prays. No man can have the spirit of the Holy Ghost unless in his heart is found the spirit of prayer.” JFS

 

Chris recounts: A colleague at my work desperately wanted to understand what was going on with several key projects and clients. She struggled to get herself “in the flow” so that information would flow to her seamlessly. She tried to schedule update meetings to extract information but no one was all that excited to attend. It struck me that the problem was that her meeting was one directional - her asking and asking for information. To be productive, her meetings needed to be bi-directional. The same is true with prayer...it only works if both are participating and listening. God will always listen.   We need to be the ones who come......we need to bring something to the conversation other than wants and requests...

 

Let us quickly review the key parts of a prayer. What do we bring to a prayer? Are we like my colleague just asking and asking? Have we figured out how to get into the flow?   Why are we taught to express gratitude?

 

One sister quoted Elder Scott, “Tell Him everything that concerns you. He is interested in the most important as well as the most mundane facets of your life. Share with Him your full range of experiences.” We can talk to Him and share everything with Him.

 

“One of the chief purposes of our mortal probation is to see if we can learn with the spirit of prayer always in our hearts so that when the Lord chooses to speak, we shall hear His voice in our souls.” JFS

 

Regarding answers to prayers - how are they received?

 

One sister share that if she fasts, prays intently and then goes to the temple, an answer will come to her there.

 

“Heavenly Father will give us gentle promptings that require us to think, exercise faith, work and at times struggle, then act. It is a step-by-step process that enables us to discern inspired answers. Seldom will you receive a complete response all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity.”         -Elder Scott

 

Elder Scott also noted that if we do not seem to receive an answer, it may be an evidence of His trust in us. Trust that we will make the wise choice.   The answer comes as a feeling of conviction.

 

Chris concluded her lesson with a quote from Elder Scott and one from President David O. McKay:

 

“A key to improved prayer is to learn to ask the right questions. Consider changing from asking for the things you want to honestly seeking what He wants for you. Then as you learn His will, pray that you will be led to have the strength to fulfill it.”      -Elder Scott

 

“It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication. Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase. There is a relationship between those two; the greater your faith, the stronger your character; and increased character enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith.”

                                                                                    -Pres. David O. McKay

Announcements - October 12, 2014

Remember to sign up to participate in the Sister to Sister program that provides the inspirational messages via e-mail.

 

Remember to invite a new sister to dinner this month.

 

Thursday, October 30 will be the ladies day group. They will be meeting at Debi Meyer’s house to see her wonderful crafts.

 

Sign ups are on-line and passed around for missionary dinners.

 

Remember to do your visiting teaching. It is the true ministry of the Savior. It is the “net” that keeps us together and makes good things happen. Include your sisters in your prayers each day.

Lesson Summary - October 12, 2014

Teachings of the Presidents of the Church - Joseph Fielding Smith

Lesson 21 - “Proclaiming the Gospel to the World”

Lesson by Michelle

Michelle began her lesson with a quote from Joseph Fielding Smith:

“We have tasted the fruits of the gospel and know they are good, and we desire that all men shall receive the same blessings and the same spirit that have been poured out so abundantly upon us.”

Michelle asked, “What are some of the things that we have been told we should do as member missionaries?” Some responses were:

Open your mouth                                                              Invite friends

Being a true, good friend                                                  Using social media

Be a good neighbor                                                           Be an example

“Set a date” program                                                        Pray for missionary opportunities

Compile a list for missionaries to visit                              Do something

We all know the things that we should be doing daily to be member missionaries.

One area that the Church is focusing on now is social media and how to leverage that powerful tool to spread the teaching of the Church to more people.

Elder Bednar spoke at BYU Education week regarding social media. He said, “I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth-messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy-and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood.”

 

Often people are wary of messages from organizations but are more willing to hear messages from individuals, friends, etc.

 

As long as we control social media and social media doesn’t control us, then we have the power.

 

Michelle asked how we have used social media to do missionary work, or promote the Church. Some responses were:

 

The Church has several websites such as lds.org, Mormon channel, mormon.org, that can be shared via facebook, twitter, pinterest, etc.

 

Elder Bednar told the audience at Education week about #sharegoodness. Michelle demonstrated various examples of uplifting social media postings.

Lds.org has posed updates to Church handbooks regarding using social media. It said, “Members are encouraged to use the Internet to flood the earth with testimonies of the Savior and His restored gospel. They should view blogs, social networks, and other Internet technologies as tools that allow them to amplify their voice in promoting the messages of peace, hope, and joy that accompany faith in Christ.

“Members are encouraged to share messages from official Church websites and social accounts as well as their own words, images, and media. As members express their own thoughts and feelings, they should not give the impression that they represent or are sponsored by the Church.

“As members use the Internet to hasten the work of the Lord, they should exemplify civility and focus on sharing praiseworthy messages that strengthen those with whom they come in contact.”

It also quotes Elder Bednar’s Education Week talk: “...what has been accomplished thus far in this dispensation communicating gospel messages through social media channels is a good beginning-but only a small trickle. I now extend to you the invitation to help transform the trickle into a flood...”

Michelle asked us to consider about one “seed”, one part of our testimony of the Gospel, that we can share with someone quickly. An example would be our “sister to sister” e-mails that we receive everyday. Those would be easy to share with others, either in person, in print, or by social media. This is an easy way to share to gospel, to be a missionary.

Michelle mentioned the bible videos that the Church puts out. She showed a video called the “Civility Experiment” as an example of something could be shared with anyone.

Michelle closed her lesson with her testimony and encouraged us to share one seed of our testimonies with others this week.