June 2017
Dear Sisters,
As I was putting away my Mother’s Day card from my oldest son I read again what it said, “Our Family Tree may look different, but it’s the most loving and accepting place I know I’m proud of our family. I’m proud to call you mom. My family does look a little different, we are a blended family and my grandchildren are part of a blended family. This card reminded me of what Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, wrote about in her message: "Woman Are the Glue." She says, “When I was first called to serve in Relief Society, I was surprised at how many woman sat down and told me: “I’m not a ‘Relief Society’ type. I’m not like everyone else. I’m not politically conservative, or I don’t stay home. I’m not put together. My kids are in trouble. I’m twice divorced. I have sins I can’t put to rest. I have doctrinal issues. Relief Society increases my anxiety.” I realized after a lot of this that none of us fit in.
Relief Society is exactly the place for all of us who don’t fit in. It is organized under priesthood keys for women to have a place to grow, progress, build their faith, talk about the reality of family life, and mourn with each other for all the stupid, crazy things that happen to us when we are mortals. Relief Society has a work to do on the earth. The Lord has a stewardship for His daughters in the work of salvation, and only we can do it.
Sister Addie Fuhriman, who was on the Relief Society general board, said: “The Lord saw our similarities as well as our differences, and he valued both. And from that wisdom, he provided Relief Society where gospel principles that can touch the heart and life of each woman-you, me, young, old, married, single...could be taught.” Sister Eubank continues, “Can we open up the circle of our sisterhood to many more kinds of backgrounds and see those backgrounds as valuable instead of as handicaps? If you do this, you become a woman with sticky hands. It’s as if you put glue on your hand and it’ll dry clear. But it sticks. And when you reach out with those sticky hands, you’ll hold fast to the people you care about. You’ll bring them in. You are a good Samaritan. You are a seeker of black sheep. You bond with people and won’t let go. You become an example to others of the tolerance and good will that glues the world together when woman try."
Sisters, if you feel like you don’t fit in or feel different from everyone else, celebrate those differences. That’s what makes you who you are. You are the glue. We all have so much to learn from one another. I hope you truly know how wonderful you are and that we all belong here in Relief Society hand in hand as sisters.
Love,
Sister Patty Mark
2nd Counselor
Dear Sisters,
As I was putting away my Mother’s Day card from my oldest son I read again what it said, “Our Family Tree may look different, but it’s the most loving and accepting place I know I’m proud of our family. I’m proud to call you mom. My family does look a little different, we are a blended family and my grandchildren are part of a blended family. This card reminded me of what Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, wrote about in her message: "Woman Are the Glue." She says, “When I was first called to serve in Relief Society, I was surprised at how many woman sat down and told me: “I’m not a ‘Relief Society’ type. I’m not like everyone else. I’m not politically conservative, or I don’t stay home. I’m not put together. My kids are in trouble. I’m twice divorced. I have sins I can’t put to rest. I have doctrinal issues. Relief Society increases my anxiety.” I realized after a lot of this that none of us fit in.
Relief Society is exactly the place for all of us who don’t fit in. It is organized under priesthood keys for women to have a place to grow, progress, build their faith, talk about the reality of family life, and mourn with each other for all the stupid, crazy things that happen to us when we are mortals. Relief Society has a work to do on the earth. The Lord has a stewardship for His daughters in the work of salvation, and only we can do it.
Sister Addie Fuhriman, who was on the Relief Society general board, said: “The Lord saw our similarities as well as our differences, and he valued both. And from that wisdom, he provided Relief Society where gospel principles that can touch the heart and life of each woman-you, me, young, old, married, single...could be taught.” Sister Eubank continues, “Can we open up the circle of our sisterhood to many more kinds of backgrounds and see those backgrounds as valuable instead of as handicaps? If you do this, you become a woman with sticky hands. It’s as if you put glue on your hand and it’ll dry clear. But it sticks. And when you reach out with those sticky hands, you’ll hold fast to the people you care about. You’ll bring them in. You are a good Samaritan. You are a seeker of black sheep. You bond with people and won’t let go. You become an example to others of the tolerance and good will that glues the world together when woman try."
Sisters, if you feel like you don’t fit in or feel different from everyone else, celebrate those differences. That’s what makes you who you are. You are the glue. We all have so much to learn from one another. I hope you truly know how wonderful you are and that we all belong here in Relief Society hand in hand as sisters.
Love,
Sister Patty Mark
2nd Counselor
