May 2018 Kanesville Stake Relief Society Message

May 2018

Dear Sisters,

What do you think about all the changes that have come our way lately?  I have to say I’ve had a little grin on my face and a warm feeling in my heart since we witnessed first hand new revelation announced over the pulpit at General Conference, we truly are seeing a “hastening of the work.”  And we get to be a part of it!

As exciting as it all is, change is never easy and will take time before we can fully see the blessings in store for us.  But our Heavenly Father believes we can do it and that we are ready for these new challenges.  He has given us the Gift of the Holy Ghost to answer our questions, to give us inspiration for those we have stewardship over, and to help us personalize our “programs” to meet the needs of our ward members, our families, and us individually.

I would like to address some of the changes and things we individually can do to gain the blessings intended through these changes:

1st Sunday Council Meeting – We have been taught that “counseling (together) invites revelation, increases unity, and brings power” . . . as we “collectively seek the Lord’s will.”  What can you do to help make our council meetings a success?
1-    Remember that “each council member (you) has a vital role.”  Be prepared to participate and share your thoughts.
2-    Remember that “council members (you) should seek to add light.”  It is so important that we be open minded to all comments and never critical of others.  Joseph Smith taught that “before (we) make an objection . . ., (we) should be sure that (we) can throw light upon the subject rather than spread darkness, and that (our) objection can be founded in righteousness.”
3-    Remember that “council members (you) seek to be unified.”  We are all different and have different perspectives but when come together and are unified we are more able to receive revelation and have much more power.
4-    2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sunday “facilitated spiritual discussions” – We have been taught that we are no longer having lessons but “having opportunities to learn from each other as we discuss” current conference talks and a specific topic from the 1st Presidency.  What can you do to help our Sunday discussions be a learning experience?
1-    Remember that our teacher is there to provide a focus but is not the focal point.  Each member can be prepared to join in the discussion by reading the conference talk ahead of time and making notes of thoughts to bring up during the discussion.
2-    Remember to be a good listener.  When we are truly listening, we are more engaged and also more open to inspiration.
3-    Remember to speak up when a prompting comes to your mind.  Heavenly Father works through us to get His work accomplished.

We are told that “with this new curriculum comes an era of new commitment. . . This step forward in our Sunday meetings isn’t about just having a lesson about the work; rather we ‘sit in council’ to promote righteous action . . . A council is incomplete without plans to act on revelation received.  (We) should be invited to make specific commitments that (we) will act upon. . . and report back on. . .”  Sister Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, says, “The most important work happens between meetings.”

Following this counsel is how we will grow individually, in our families, and in our wards.  We are told, “It is our responsibility and privilege to seek for His guidance and do His work. This step forward in our Sunday meetings . . . will ‘push many people to Zion with songs of everlasting joy . . .”

I am excited to join with you all, my sisters, and grow together!

love,
Sis Dana Call
Stake RS Sec

January 2018 Kanesville Stake Relief Society Message

Dear Sisters,

         I am excited about the new changes that will start next Sunday in our Relief Society meetings.  I can see great opportunity for growth with the new pattern we will be following.

         In the article of the Ensign that presents this new curriculum it says, "In these latter days, God has restored the priesthood and organized priesthood quorums and the Relief Society to help accomplish His work (see Moses 1:39). So each Sunday when we gather in Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society meetings, we gather to discuss and plan how we will accomplish His work. That is why these meetings need to be more than classes. They are also opportunities to counsel about the work of salvation, learn together from the teachings of Church leaders about that work, and organize to accomplish it. These changes to our Sunday meetings will help us fulfill these purposes."

         My favorite part is "each Sunday when we gather . . ., we gather to discuss and plan how we will accomplish His work."  Heavenly has a great work for us to be apart of.  I know if we prepare and invite the spirit as we gather and discuss together we will know what we can do to be apart of His work.

         Our leaders have outlined a pattern for our meetings:

         1- Share experiences - By doing this we will become more united in our efforts.  We will better know how to support one another.  We will be following "the Savior's Way" in caring for one another.

         2- Counsel together (1st Sunday) - To be prepared for our Sunday meetings we need to seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost and be prepared to share thoughts and experiences.  It will be a time to counsel together about our responsibilities, opportunities, and challenges as we do His work.

         and Learn together (second, third, and fourth Sundays) - Sister Bingham, General RS Pres, tells us:  "The point I’d like to make is that they are not lessons anymore. They are facilitated spiritual discussions. Again, when we teach in the Savior’s way, we are much more engaged, much more able to learn, because our mind and our heart are invested. . . We come prepared to share, having already read the conference talk."

         3- Plan to act - This is where we need to ask ourselves, "What can we actually do after leaving this meeting as a result of our discussion?" and then follow through with the plan.

         When we were baptized we were given the "Gift of the Holy Ghost" as a constant companion.  I think this new pattern for our meetings will help us learn how to better use this "Gift."  The many changes that have happened in the church in the last few years - many, many more temples; age of missionaries lowered increasing our missionary numbers; "Teaching in the Saviour's Way" methods of learning; younger age for temple officiating, etc. - show us that the "work is hastening."  Heavenly Father needs us to know how to better use this "Gift" He has given us to do His work.

         I am grateful that Heavenly Father feels we are up to this task and ready to be stretched in this manner.  I look forward to being apart of awesome things that can be accomplished by following this pattern together.

love,

Sister Dana Call

Stake RS Secretary