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
