When I was first called to be the Stake Relief Society President, I wanted to meet with each Relief Society Presidency in the 11 wards in the stake and get to know them on a personal basis. I had 3 different luncheons in November 2009 at my home. This is the message I gave to each presidency.
30Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have acharity, which bcharity is clove. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.
At the April 2009 General Conference Bishop Edgley gave a talk entitled, “This is your Phone Call.” He tells the following story:
In October 1856, during a general conference, President Young learned that two handcart companies, the Martin company and the Willie company, were traveling late in the season and would face harsh winter weather on the plains of the western United States. He stood at the pulpit as a prophet of God and declared:
“Many of our brethren and sisters are on the plains with hand-carts, … and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them. … This community is to send for them and bring them in. …
“That is my religion; that is the dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess, it is to save the people. …
“I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the celestial kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains.”
We must do all that we can to build the kingdom of God. We have to help all those around us that need help. We cannot simply take care of ourselves.
That is why we have been called to these positions. We need to help the sisters of this stake to build testimonies and to prepare them for what lies ahead for them. Some may need spiritual help, some may need emotional help, and some may need physical help.
Just as Pres. Brigham Young admonished the people to save those who were stranded on the plains, I believe that we can read our scriptures and pray all day long but if we don’t do anything to help those who have struggles, then we will not be saved in the kingdom of God.
“Faith without works is dead” Our faith is no good without getting out and helping others!
My personal goals for this calling is to strengthen the faith of the sisters in this stake and to teach them to serve others.
Pres Monson: Oct. 2009 General Conference:
“The Savior taught His disciples, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”5
I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives.
My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.
You may lament: I can barely make it through each day, doing all that I need to do. How can I provide service for others? What can I possibly do?
Matthew 25:34-40
“Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
“Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Our Stake President is concerned about those in the stake who are struggling—who may be “less engaged” but still come to church. He is also concerned about those who are not in church. What can we do as relief society sisters to help these sisters that are feeling alone or lost or not important?????
Pray every morning—what can I do to help someone today? OR Help me find the one that needs my help today? It may simply be a smile that you give. You may hold the door open for someone, or pick up a pencil that someone dropped. It doesn’t always have to be big or dramatic. Let’s look and see who we can help in our ward. Let’s see who we can help in our classes or in our jobs. I challenge you to reach out in love and kindness with charity! HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES US ALL!!
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