Sunday Report

Dear Sisters,

This will be the second week of the new year and things should be settling into a routine.  Now is the time to be sure that you put aside some time to study the new Relief Society manual.  No matter where you are serving, you are an important part of the Cedar River Relief Society and we want to be sure that you are benefiting from the special lessons that we will be getting this year.  Teachings of the Presidents of the Church  George Albert Smith contains the thoughts and teachings of an inspirational prophet that most of us know little about.  Take the time to read the introduction and the Life and Ministry of George Albert Smith where you will meet a humble man of God who lived a life of inspiring service and self dedication to the cause of Heavenly Father's Plan. 

Also remember to look in the back of your manual for the lesson schedule for the year.  You will be able to follow the lessons being taught and benefit from them even if you are not in RS that week.  Thanks to sisters Bohlin and Hutchison for putting that together.

Today our newest teacher, Julee Schneider, started off our year of studying the teachings of George Albert Smith.  With this first lesson we are already learning what an extraordinary man of God President George Albert Smith was.  In the Chapter entitled Living What We Believe, we see that he was truly a dedicated servant of the Lord who framed for himself a personal creed early in his service as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In this creed we can see his compassion for his fellow sons and daughters of God,  his gentle desire to ease the burdens of any he might meet, and to overcome any negative tendencies in his own character, reveal an unfailing follower of the Lord.  "Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter, I feel it not only a duty but also a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth."  This reflects perfectly the way he lived his life.

Obedience, the first law of heaven, is the thing that will qualify us as Saints.  We must be worthy to qualify for the title of Latter-day Saint, which demands more than our name on the records of the Church.  We must not only learn the will of the Father, but we must do it also, day by day building the foundation that can help us become like our Savior.  We have been given much knowledge and wisdom as members of the Lord's true church,  we have knowledge of the pre -mortal existence, and that we are here because we have been successful in being obedient in keeping our first estate, and  we have been given the opportunity and the tools to keep our second estate and thereby gain eternal life.  Because of these advantages,we will not be judged as will our brothers and sisters here in mortality, but will be held to a higher standard, for we have received the words of the Lord which can lead us back to the Father.  Should we fail to live those words, they will condemn us.

We are expected to prepare for and live worthy  of the blessings that He has promised.  We must store our minds with the truth and disseminate that truth to His children.  President Smith warns that we cannot live like the world and expect to obtain our rightful place in the Kingdom of God.  There is only one way to gain the blessings of eternal life, and that is through obedience to the commandments.

As we live to be worthy, serving with all our hearts, and being ever obedient, we will be blessed people.  Through the Spirit we can serve faithfully, and the desire to do good will help us overcome any temptations placed in our way. We will be examples  of good to those that observe us and our Heavenly Father will be glorified by our works. If we do as much as we can, in our callings and in our service to others, to reflect the will of the Father and the Son, we will be blessed and so will all those we touch.  If we are not yet at that level of dedication we have the opportunity and the obligation to step up our commitment.  If we are humble and prayerful, living the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if we show our faith in God, and live a correct and consistent life, we will be bearing  the strongest testimony of the truth of this work.

Next week we will be hearing Chapter 2 “Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself” given by Traci Cline.

Have a good week and think about formulating a creed to live by using President Smith's creed as an inspiration.

The Relief Society Presidency