Recently, Sister Beck spoke to a group of Relief Society sisters and Priesthood leaders in Idaho. She suggested that as members of Relief Society we are called to minister in the Savior's name. Sister Beck said, “Our work is to help each other get to eternal life with our Heavenly Father and have the blessings that He promised us if we were faithful,...We are part of the Lord’s work of salvation.”
What does it mean to minister? The Church Handbook says,"The purpose of ministering is to help others become true followers of Jesus Christ. Ministering to others includes:
◼ Remembering their names and becoming acquainted with them (see Moroni 6:4).
◼ Loving them without judging them (see John 13:34–35).
◼ Watching over them and strengthening their faith “one by one,” as the Savior did (3 Nephi 11:15; 17:21).
◼ Establishing sincere friendship with them and visiting them in their homes and elsewhere (see D&C 20:47)."
(http://lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/leadership-in-the-church-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng#3.2)
We minister as we help fulfill the purposes of Relief Society. What are the purposes of Relief Society? Sister Julie B. Beck said, “Our purposes are . . . to increase faith and personal righteousness, to strengthen families and homes, and . . . to seek out and help those in need.”
Sister Beck also said that we are all in need of something often on a daily basis. Every day we come into contact with people that may be in need of something. She suggests, “don’t ever assume that the person you’re talking to doesn’t need something also.”
In order to minister for the Lord, We must prepare not only through prayer, scripture study, and fasting, but also through the development of our talents. The Lord will use our talents to help touch the lives of others and build up his kingdom.
We must also seek the guidance of the spirit as we minister. Sister Beck taught, "Meeting another’s needs, whether temporal or spiritual, requires spiritual preparation." Without the guidance of the Holy Ghost, “we don’t have the help of our Heavenly Father in doing His work.”
She also taught that “if visiting teachers or home teachers are preparing with the Spirit when they go into that home, they will know some things to look for, or they will be aware by the Spirit of whether they might need to take care of something.”
Finally, Sister Beck states, “This is a sacred opportunity. We can invent all the issues we want to not do the Lord’s work. But if we choose to come into this great society, this wonderful sisterhood that is here to provide relief, then we become part of the Lord’s work.”
It is my hope and prayer that each of us knows how important we are in doing the Lord's work here on the earth. Through proper preparation and receiving guidance through the Holy Ghost, we help to fulfill the purpose of Relief Society and minister in the Lord's name.
With Love,
Cameron
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Birthday Celebration & Service Project Pictures
Thank you to all of the Relief Society sisters and Young Women who attended!
We now have over 50 toys to donate to the Church for humanitarian use.
A special thanks to Lindsay for taking pictures, Linda for cutting the toys, Christine for baking the treats, and Jill for helping coordinate our project.
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