3-27-11 Good News

Sister Angus shared that her son (4 years), Eli signed his first sentence this past week! He told his mom that he didn't want to take a shower, he wanted to take a bath! Very exciting news!

Sister Bishara shared that she is excited about moving to the new red brick building. (if you need directions to the new building, click here)

Sister Pickett shared about her family's new adventure they took yesterday by going to the color festival to celebrate Spring. (if you want to read about it, it the story and pictures are on her family blog)

If I have forgotten your good news or if you weren't able to share during RS, please leave a comment below and we can celebrate with you!

3-27-11 Lesson Summary: Two Lines of Communication

Teachings of Our Time

“Two Lines of Communication”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Sister Runnels

The Personal Line

In the personal line of communication we pray directly to our Heavenly Father and He answers through his Holy Spirit. The personal line is important in making personal decisions and to guide the family. Some seek to have their priesthood leaders make personal decisions for them, decisions they should make for themselves by inspiration through their personal line. Communication with our Heavenly Father is based on worthiness. When we renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament each Sabbath day we qualify for the promise that we may always have His Spirit to be with us, to guide us. 

The Priesthood Line

Unlike the personal line, in which our Heavenly Father communicates with us directly through the Holy Ghost, through the priesthood line God communicates through the scriptures and teachings and counsels of inspired leaders. This is the way we receive required ordinances and receive callings to serve in His Church. Like the personal line, the priesthood line cannot function fully and properly in our behalf unless we are worthy and obedient. The priesthood line does not supersede the need for the personal line and vise versa.

The Need for Both Lines

We cannot rely entirely on one line or the other. If we rely too heavily on the personal line, we may go our own way and not support the teachings of the prophets or leaders. If we rely only on a priesthood leader or teacher and not develop our own testimony through the personal line, we will be dependent on that mortal and their actions as a mediator between us and our Heavenly Father. We must use both the personal line and the priesthood line in proper balance to achieve the growth that is the purpose of mortal life and achieve eternal life. 

Special Announcement: Branch Meets in Different Building at New Time

As announced this past Sunday, our branch meetings will be moved to another building in the stake and will be held at a new time. We still are in the same stake and we still have the same branch name, but we will now meet in a different building at a new time.

Starting on April 10, 2011, 

we will be meeting at 9:00 AM at the building 

located at 1149 N 300 W

LEHI, UT 84043. 

On this map, point A is our current building and stake center. Point B is the red brick building we will now hold our meetings.

Click on map to get directions from your home to the new meeting location.

169th RS Birthday Dinner

We had such a great time at our RS birthday dinner this past Tuesday. Thanks goes to all those who helped make it possible. Sister Bishara out-did herself again with the beautiful decorations.
Sister Day from the church translation department was there to speak to us about how we should put our work shoes on and go to work for the Lord and serve others.
We took several pictures that night while we were there. They have been posted on the "picture" page for you to check out.
If there is anything you'd like to share about your experience that night, please share in the comments. What from Sister Day's talk touched you? Did you win one of the plants to take home - where did you put it in your home?

3-13-11 Good News

There wasn't any good news shared in Relief Society class today. But we are glad to welcome Sister Crowther to our teaching team. She is our new second Sunday teacher and she did a great job today!

If you have any good news you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it. Just leave a comment below and we can all celebrate together.

3-13-11 Lesson Summary: Fasting

Gospel Principles Manual

“Fasting”

Lesson 25 p. 145-148

Sister Crowther

How to Fast Properly

Since the time of Adam, God's people have fasted to help them draw near to Him and to worship Him. Jesus showed the importance of fasting by His own example. Through latter-day revelation we learn that the Lord still expects His people to fast and pray often.

Fasting means to go without food and drink. Occasional fasting is good for our bodies and helps our minds become more active.

The Savior taught us that purposeful fasting is more than just going without food and drink. We must also concentrate on spiritual matters.

We Should Pray When We Fast

Prayer is a necessary part of fasting. Throughout the scriptures, prayer and fasting are mentioned together.  Our fasting should be accompanied by sincere prayer, and we should begin and end our fasting with prayer.

We Should Fast with a Purpose

Fasting can have many purposes. We can overcome weaknesses or problems by fasting and praying.  Sometimes we may wish to fast and pray for help or guidance for others, such as a family member who is ill and needs a blessing.  Through fasting we can come to know the truth of things just as did the prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon. He said: "I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself.  And now I do know of myself that they are true, for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit."

Our Purpose in fasting should not be to impress others. 

We should be cheerful when we fast and not advertise our fasting to others.

The Fast Day

One Sunday each Month Latter-day Saints observe a fast day. On this day we neither eat nor drink for two consecutive meals.  If we were to eat our evening meal on Saturday, then we would not eat or drink until the evening meal on Sunday.

All members who are physically able should fast.  We should encourage our children to fast after they have been baptized, but we should never force them.

On fast Sunday, members of the Church meet together and partake of the sacrament.  They strengthen themselves and one another by bearing testimony in fast and testimony meeting.

Fast Offerings

When we fast each month, the Lord asks us to help those in need.  One way we do this is by giving through the proper priesthood authority the money we would have spent on food for the two meals.  We should give as generously as we are able. Through our fast offerings we become partners with the Lord in administering to the needs of our less-fortunate brothers and sisters.

We Are Blessed When We Fast

Fasting improves our lives and gives us added strength.  It helps us live other principles of the gospel because it draws us nearer to the Lord.

Fasting Teaches Self-Control

Fasting helps us gain strength of character.  When we fast properly, we will learn to control our appetites and passions. We are a little stronger by having proved to ourselves that we have self-control.  If we teach our children to fast, they will develop the spiritual strength to overcome greater temptations later in their lives.

Fasting Gives Us Spiritual Power

When we fast wisely and prayerfully, we develop our faith. With that faith we will have greater spiritual power.

3-6-11 Lesson Handout

During part of her lesson, Sister Holland shared a cute analogy she found with us. We women have beauty bags in which we can find many different things. Those items can also be reminders for us about things we should remember as we strive to become like our Savior.

Beauty Bag

Never forget there is "divinity in your very makeup"

Bandaid:  Cover and heal the hurts of life with forgiveness

Cotton Ball:   Show others gentleness and compassion

Comb:   Comb out the snarls of criticism

Rubberband:   Be flexible and understanding, turning to the scriptures for guidance.

Q-Tip:   The tip of your beauty is Charity

Soap:   Through the atonement, our sins can be washed away if we repent. Staying clean before the Lord is a wonderful feeling

Emery Board:   Although life may seem rough at times, our trials will shape our lives

Wet Wipes:   Wipe off any bad habits

"You are creatures of divinity; you are daughters of the Almighty. Limitless in your potential. Magnificent is your future.... Never forget that you came to earth as a child of the divine Father, with something of divinity in your very makeup."

-- President Gorden B. Hinckley

3-6-11 Good News

Sister Crowther was happy to share that her husband was coming home after a week of being away for basketball tournaments.

Sister Gillespie shared that her granddaughter was baptized this passed Saturday.

Sister Pickett shared that her husbands latest film project called "Viral Signs" is doing really well on DeafTV.com - a fun success in their family.

If you have any good news you'd like to share with us, please leave a comment below and tell us about it! We'd love to celebrate with you!

3-6-11 Lesson Summary: History of Relief Society

Leadership Instruction
History of Relief Society
Sister Holland

The Mormons were building a beautiful city in Nauvoo, and while most had what they needed, there were hundreds of people moving into Nauvoo each day from various countries who had joined the Church, and many of these families had spent all they had to get to Nauvoo. Most of the Saints gave freely of their substance to help those in need, but there was no organization, and sometimes the needs of others were not known. Some of the women began thinking about different ways to help, and they counseled with one another, and formed groups to complete charitable projects. One of the first groups organized to make shirts for the men working on the Nauvoo temple. More and more women got involved. One of them, Sarah M. Kimball, said that they, “decided to…form a ladies society” to help the poor. On March 4, 1842, “the neighboring sisters met in my parlor and organized.” At the time, the state required that benevolent societies have a constitution, bylaws and elected officers. Eliza R. Snow, who later became a President of the Relief Society, was asked to write both the constitution and bylaws. When she finished, she showed them to Joseph Smith the Prophet. When he saw them, he said they were, “the best he had ever seen,” but that he also wanted to “provide something better for [the women of Nauvoo] than a written constitution. I will organize the women under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood.” The Relief Society was organized on March 17, 1842. Twenty women were in attendance.  Emma Smith, Joseph’s wife, was elected as the first President. Joseph Smith the Prophet was touched at the women’s great desire to come to the aid of those in need. He stood up and said, “All I shall have to give to the poor, I will give to the society” and he donated a five dollar coin. Others followed his example and donated money to the Relief Society to aid the poor. The purpose of the organization was the relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow and the orphan, and for the exercise of all benevolent purposes. The women worked tirelessly to find and help those in need. Widows and orphans were brought into others’ homes, and time, and service were given to many. As the Prophet watched the Relief Society work, he was again touched and stated, “it is natural for females to have feelings of charity. You are now placed in a situation where you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms. If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.” With the promise of blessings for working to help the poor, the Relief Society pushed forward. It was suggested that each woman donate one cent per week to the Society to help buy glass and nails for the building of the Nauvoo Temple. Through this program a thousand dollars was raised for the temple. The Relief Society grew quickly, and by 1844, there were more than 1,300 women in the society. After the death of Joseph Smith, with the hardships of preparing to move west, the society diminished, but was revived in 1867 and has been a part of the Mormon Church ever since.