The Relief Society

I was sad to see Sis Beck released.  For me, she was a spiritual giant I looked up to.  Do you remember her talk "Mothers Who Know?"  I keep that in my purse and read it often.  This talk, her last as RS General President, was a nice tribute to the Relief Society.

"Just as the Lord’s prophets have continually taught elders and high priests their purposes and duties, they have shared their vision for the sisters of the Relief Society. From their counsel, it is clear that the purposes of Relief Society are to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need. Faith, family,and relief—these three simple words have come to express the vision of prophets for sisters in the Church."

 

The Race of Life

Pres Monson always has something happy to share with the members.  With everything around us becoming more negative and frustrating- with politics, financial situations, and social ills- we can find happiness in knowing who we are, where we came from, and where we are going.

He shared a poem by William Wordsworth-

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:

The soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,

Hath had elsewhere its setting,

And cometh from afar:

Not in entire forgetfulness,

And not in utter nakedness,

But trailing clouds of glory do we come

From God, who is our home:

Heaven lies about us in our infancy! 

Thanks Be to God

This was a good talk.  It's always a great reminder to give thanks to Heavenly Father for all that we have all the time- our physical gifts, spiritual gifts, and gospel gifts.

"How much better it would be if all could be more aware of God’s providence and love and express that gratitude to Him... Our degree of gratitude is a measure of our love for Him." 

 

Why of Priesthood Service & Willing and Worthy to Serve

These were great talks about Priesthood service.
The first by Pres Uchtdorf. He explains the power of Why and that it's the why that needs to come first and foremost before we can truly magnify the What in our calls to serve.

"We need to be constantly reminded of the eternal reasons behind the things we are commanded to do. The basic gospel principles need to be part of our life’s fabric, even if it means learning them over and over again. That doesn’t mean that this process should be rote or boring. Rather, when we teach the foundational principles in our homes or in church, let the flame of enthusiasm for the gospel and the fire of testimony bring light, warmth, and joy to the hearts of those we teach."

The second talk was given by Pres Monson.

"In one capacity or another, in one setting or another, I have been attending priesthood meetings for the past 72 years—since I was ordained a deacon at the age of 12. Time certainly marches on. Duty keeps cadence with that march. Duty does not dim nor diminish. Catastrophic conflicts come and go, but the war waged for the souls of men continues without abatement. Like a clarion call comes the word of the Lord to you, to me, and to priesthood holders everywhere: “Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.”...

"When that same call comes to you and to me, what will be our response? Will we murmur, as did Laman and Lemuel, and say, “This is a hard thing required of us”?⁷ Or will we, with Nephi, individually declare, “I will go. I will do”? Will we be willing to serve and to obey?"