This Sunday was Fast Sunday.
Many beautiful testimonies were shared during sacrament meeting.
Announcements:
We received a new Relief Society Presidency!
Sister Amanda Carroll as Relief Society President, Sister
Jennifer Porter as 1st Councilor, Sister Lori Fairbanks as 2nd
Councilor and Sister Alisha Bell as Secretary.
Birthdays!!
Camisha Hodge & Patricia Rozier's B-day on the 16th.
Diane Ayer's B-day on the 17th.
Pat Maurer's B-day on the 18th.
We hope you ladies have a wonderful day of your birth!!
Birthdays!! Camisha Hodge & Patricia Rozier's B-day on the 16th.
Diane Ayer's B-day on the 17th.
Pat Maurer's B-day on the 18th.
We hope you ladies have a wonderful day of your birth!!
Hats: If you are
still making hats, you are welcome to continue.
They are not due until Girls Camp.
When you are ready to turn your hats in, you would turn them in to
Sister Reynolds.
Service: Sister Pitts is in need of some assistance. She just needs a ride to the grocery store. She says she is very flexible with schedules. (850) 508-1419
Service: Sister Pitts is in need of some assistance. She just needs a ride to the grocery store. She says she is very flexible with schedules. (850) 508-1419
Temple: This
weekend is the Relief Society Temple Trip.
Drivers and cars are needed. We
will be meeting on Friday at the Wal-Mart on I-10 and North Monroe at 6:15am. Please
bring breakfast and snacks for yourself for the way down.
Lesson: We began
Relief Society with the Hymn 227 “There is Sunshine in My Soul Today”
Sister Liz Roberts gave our lesson in Relief Society. Her lesson was from chapter 7: Faithfulness
in times of trial: “From the shadows into the glorious sunshine Teachings of
the Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow”.
Sister Roberts began her lesson with a story from President Snow’s
life.
“Several months after arriving in Mount Pisgah, Lorenzo was called to preside over the settlement. “By this time,” he later recorded, “the Saints in Pisgah were in a very destitute condition, not only for food and clothing, but also for teams and wagons to proceed on their journey. Several families were entirely out of provision, and dependent on the charity of their neighbors, who, in most cases, were illy prepared to exercise that virtue. But, above all this, a sweeping sickness had visited the settlement, when there were not sufficient well ones to nurse the sick; and death followed in the wake, and fathers, mothers, children, brothers, sisters and dearest friends fell victims to the destroyer, and were buried with little ceremony, and some destitute of proper burial clothes. Thus were sorrow and mourning added to destitution.”
“Several months after arriving in Mount Pisgah, Lorenzo was called to preside over the settlement. “By this time,” he later recorded, “the Saints in Pisgah were in a very destitute condition, not only for food and clothing, but also for teams and wagons to proceed on their journey. Several families were entirely out of provision, and dependent on the charity of their neighbors, who, in most cases, were illy prepared to exercise that virtue. But, above all this, a sweeping sickness had visited the settlement, when there were not sufficient well ones to nurse the sick; and death followed in the wake, and fathers, mothers, children, brothers, sisters and dearest friends fell victims to the destroyer, and were buried with little ceremony, and some destitute of proper burial clothes. Thus were sorrow and mourning added to destitution.”
Lorenzo knew these trials firsthand. He and his family experienced
sickness, disappointments, and heartache, including the death of his
newborn daughter Leonora. He wrote, “Little Leonora was taken sick and
died, and with deep sorrow we bore her remains to their silent resting
place, to be left alone, far from her father and the mother who gave her
birth.”
She went on to tell about how President Snow helped the
saints.
“During the long winter months,” he said, “I sought to
keep up the spirits and courage of the Saints in Pisgah, not only by
inaugurating meetings for religious worship and exercises, in different
parts of the settlement, but also by making provisions for, and
encouraging proper amusements of various kinds. …”
Sister Roberts described the party that President Snow had
to uplift the saints.
“As a sample, I will attempt a description of one, which I improvised for
the entertainment of as many as I could reasonably crowd together in my
humble family mansion, which was a one-story edifice, about fifteen by
thirty [about four and one-half meters by nine meters], constructed of
logs, with a dirt roof and ground floor, displaying at one end a chimney of
modest height, made of turf cut from the bosom of Mother Earth.
Expressly for the occasion we carpeted the floor with a thin coating of
clean straw, and draped the walls with white sheets drawn from our
featherless beds.
“How to light our hall suitably for the coming event was a consideration
of no small moment, and one which levied a generous contribution on
our ingenuity. But we succeeded. From the pit where they were buried,
we selected the largest and fairest turnips—scooped out the interior, andfixed short candles in them, placing them at intervals around the walls,
suspending others to the ceiling above, which was formed of earth and
cane. Those lights imparted a very peaceable, quiet … influence, and the
light reflected through those turnip rinds imparted a very picturesque
appearance.
“During the evening exercises, several of my friends, in the warmest
expressions possible, complimented me and my family for the peculiar
taste and ingenuity displayed in those unique and inexpensive
arrangements.”
Lorenzo recalled that “the hours were enlivened, and happily passed.” He
and his guests entertained one another with speeches, songs, and
recitations. He said, “At the close, all seemed perfectly satisfied, and
withdrew, feeling as happy as though they were not homeless.”
She shared the scripture Mosiah 23: 21-22
21. Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he
trieth their patience and their faith.
22. Nevertheless whosoever putteth his trust in him the sameshall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with
this people.
We can be lifted by those around us.
Trials and tribulations help us improve spiritually and prepare for
celestial glory. It is impossible for us to work out our salvation and accomplish the
purposes of God without trials or without sacrifices.2 Trials and tribulations have been the experience of the Latterday Saints.God so designed that it should beI daresay that in the [premortal] spiritworld, when it was proposed to us to come into this probation, and pass
through the experience that we are now receiving, it was not altogether
pleasant and agreeable; the prospects were not so delightful in all
respects as might have been desired. Yet there is no doubt that we saw
and understood clearly there that, in order to accomplish our exaltation
and glory, this was a necessary experience; and however disagreeable it
might have appeared to us, we were willing to conform to the will of
God, and consequently we are here.3 The Lord has determined in His heart that He will try us until He knows
what He can do with us.
Sister Roberts shared the difficulties she faced when she
learned that her 1st child was breech and what she learned from her
trials. She asked us to write down what
we have learned from a trial and what the spirit taught us. Sister Roberts shared D&C 58:2, 3
2 For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth mycommandments, whether in life or in death;
and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in thekingdom of heaven.
3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time,
the design of your God concerning those things which shall come
hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much
tribulation.
Sister Roberts shared that she really enjoys the last part
of verse 3 where it states “and the glory which shall follow after much
tribulation” She said once that trial does pass you really do feel taller.
I am unaware of what the remainder of her wonderful
lesson entails due to a fussy baby, but I would encourage you to read over the
chapter for yourself so that you may know ways to strengthen your faith in
times of trial. https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-lorenzo-snow/chapter-7-faithfulness-in-times-of-trial-from-the-shadows-into-the-glorious-sunshine?lang=engNext weeks lesson is Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow Chapter 8: "Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart"
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