Sunday Report

Sunday's lesson was the presidency message based on the conference talk given last April by Sister Julie B Beck, General President of the RS entitled "And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit." This is an an excellent talk for all of us and well worth a rereading. She starts out by emphasizing her great testimony of the value of each of the daughters of God, despite the challenges they face in this mortal experience. So much depends on them and there is as great need for the skills and abilities and gifts that they possess. To prepare them for their great responsibilities, to help them find answers to their questions and concerns, and to enable them to stand strong and immovable against incredible opposition and difficulty He has provided the gift of personal revelation. With this priceless gift we can set our priorities correctly and be confident in our course in life. "The ability to qualify for, receive aned act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life." Strong but amazingly accurate statement. To qualify we must have the desire, demonstrate worthiness through obedience and be constantly repenting when we need to, remembering our baptismal covenants which promise us that we can always have the Lord's Spirit to be with us. and that of course is the source if all personal revelation. Three powerful scripture passages that confirm this promise and its power are D&C 20:77, 2Nephi 32:2,3&5, and D&C 11:12-14. Revelation is a constantly renewable source of strength which allows us to receive the Lord's help whenever it is needed. God has given us another source of help in these latter days. Relief Society can help to lift the sisters up and out of a troubled world and into a way of living which will prepare us for eternal life. With the mission of increasing faith and personal righteousness, strengthening homes and families, and seeking out and aiding those in need, Relief Society gives structure to the responsibilities that daughters of God are given. It is a sacred trust and a guiding light and most important of all a system of Watchcare that teaches and assists women in being strong and immovable. We can assist each other in doing good, refining ourselves for the blessings of eternity. Most important we can watch over one another and support and comfort one another as we all at one time or another will need. The structure set in place to make sure that Watchcare is functioning is Visiting Teaching which makes it by far the most vital and valuable arm of the Relief Society. We must be willing to accept the responsibilities of this most important calling, by the Spirit make them a real priority in our lives and embrace the sisters under our personal Watchcare, really getting to know them through consistent visits in their homes, prayers offered in their behalf on a regular basis and allowing ourselves to truly come to love them as sisters, which is a natural outgrowth of serving them in this way. Next to our families, this is our most sacred and important trust and we need to to better at making it a reality. The lives of our sisters will be blessed, but so will our lives as we listen to the Spirit and act on the promptings for those whom we are blessed to have stewardship over. Let us all renew our commitment to serving one another through Watchcare and friendship and love, that we all might sit down in heaven together, as Sister Lucy Mack Smith once said.

Next Week: Sister Pringle will teach Chapter 15, The Lord's Covenant People

Have a great week.

The Relief Society Presidency