General Relief Sociey Meeting - Sept. 24, 2011

The General Relief Society Meeting was just awesome. If you missed going, you can watch it on LDS.org. I did take notes, so I am including them in this post.

Sister Beck
What I hope my granddaughters will understand about Relief Society:
Faithful women contributed to the discipleship of the Church.
We are participating in the Lord's work of salvation.
Called of God by prophesy.
Talent, times and means to be given in the wisdom of order.
We are an essential part of preparing those for the Temple.
We are Choice, Virtuous and Holy.
Temple blessings are the grand prize and great goal.
Temple is armed with power.
Women are given the greater responsibility of helping those receive the ordinances and blessings of the Temple.
Patterns of discipleship were developed from early on.
Provide relief to what hinders the joy of womanhood.
Safety, refuge and protection,
Visiting Teaching is an expression of discipleship and honoring covenants. Watch Care!! Follow a higher pattern in caring for the Lord's children. Sincerely know your sisters. Strengthen faith, give service.
"My visiting teacher helps me to grow spiritually and cares of me and my family"
Doesn't need to be asked when something is needed.
*Be An Inspired Visiting Teacher*
Seek inspiration.
Set a pattern of Discipleship.

The new Relief Society - "Daughters in my Kingdom", purposes, patterns and principles of disciples. The first Presidency has asked that we study this book. It is for "you" to lead the world. You are the head, not the tail. Serve in Unity to fulfill it's divine purposes.

Sister Allred
Work on increasing Faith and strengthening the home.
Charity - don't be limited in your views of others
Charity is a state of being.
Have kind feelings and loving actions.
Charity is a Divine Gift that we must seek and pray for.
Reading the scriptures daily.
Minister to all those around you and give to those in need.
Have kindness, affection, compassion and concern. Be generous.
Having patience, resistance to becoming hurt easily or categorizing others and judging based on outward appearance.

Visiting Teaching: Love, minister and serve others Care, lift, comfort, encourage and teach the sisters you teach. Providing service helps us to overcome our own burdens. Your small acts of charity have a healing power for yourself and others. Pray for a desire to be filled with the love of Charity

Sister Thompson
Cleve unto your Covenants.
Keep your covenants and the joy and protection you will get from it.
Prepare his daughters for the greater blessings of the priesthood in the Temple.
Covenants sustain us in good and difficult times.
The Temple is the center and source of our covenants.
There is Joy through faithfulness in keeping your covenants.
Bear every trial.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Forget-me-not" flower - is the smaller, not so easily seen flower

Metaphor - Five petals to remember things

1. "Forget Not" to be Patient with yourself. The people you think are perfect are not. You and I aren't perfect. You and I aren't perfect. Don't compare yourself to others. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Stop punishing yourslef for not being perfect.
Be patient and compassionate with yourself.
Tiny to you and unnoticed by others - Doesn't go unnoticed by God.
FHE- should be enjoyable, spiritual and bring us closer together.
Journey towards perfection is long, but has many joys.

2. "Forget Not" Good Sacrifice & Foolish Sacrifice
Am I committing time and energy to the things that matter most?

3. "Forget Not" To be Happy Now.
In Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory people yearn to find the Golden Ticket and forget the simple joy of the candy bar. There is nothing wrong with righteous yearnings and desires.

Varooka failed to notice the blessings that she did have by only waiting for the Golden Ticket.
Never stop hoping or striving for your righteous desires.
Always seek the sweetness and the treasure of daily moments.

4. "Forget Not' the "Why" of the gospel. Don't focus on what and how of the gospel and remember why.
The gospel is not an obligation, it's a pathway. By focusing on the "Why" it ceases to become a burdenship. See the beauty, majesty and joy of the "Why"

5. "Forge Not" the Lord loves you. You are not forgotten!! Whatever your circumstances are, dark your days are or insignificant you seem. Your Heavenly Father loves you.
We are daughters of his kingdom.
Allow his divine love into your life.
You are closer to Heaven than you suppose.

Cherish the gift of activity and service.
Search out those that need yours and the Lords help.

Let the "Why" of the Gospel Inspire and Uplift you.

Never forget you're truly precious daughters in God's kingdom.