3/4 RS Lesson: "Strengthening Families through Temporal Self-Reliance" - June 2011 Visiting Teaching Message

Here are the highlights from the RS lesson on March 4, 2012, taught by Sister Allen, RS President Riverside Ward.  The full article can be found at lds.org through the following link:  "Strengthening Families through Temporal Self-Reliance."  Through the link, you can read it, listen to it, print it, and share it through social media sources.

From the June 2011 Visiting teaching message: “Developing self-reliance – the ability to care for ourselves and our families – is the responsibility

of every sister. When we are self-reliant, we use our blessing, and resources to prepare for and avoid problems. Self- reliance is enhanced as
we pray for the courage to meet with faith the challenges that will surely come. Self- reliance also enables us to keep our covenant to care for
others.” ( see Mosiah 18:8-10)

Our ward RS goal for the year says that we have decided to expand on the Stake Goal of “Come unto Christ” by focusing on helping our sisters
become more self-reliant, which includes accepting personal responsibility for spiritual strength, for health, education, employment, families,
finances, food and other life sustaining necessities. We acknowledge that each circumstance is different, and in some areas and times of our
lives we do need to rely on others, but with prayer and the guidance by the Spirit we can do more to increase our faith and with it, the courage
to meet life’s challenges and serve and strengthen those around us.

The Church Handbook of instructions says: The Savior has commanded the Church and its members to be self-reliance and independent…. To
become self reliant, a person must work. (James 2:18-20) It is a basic source of happiness, self-worth and prosperity. President Marion G.
Romney taught: “Without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there? Food for
the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse. Support and understanding cannot
come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned. And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come
from the spiritually weak.” (D & C 58:26-28)

He further stated that “Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is
the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.” (Mosiah 2:17) The very nature of Relief Society speaks of service. Our
Father in Heaven has said that we are to have Joy in this life, and the greatest Joys are to be found in service to other. May we each resolve
to seek the Spirit through prayer to know how best we can prepare ourselves to become more self-reliant that we may be able to reach out to
others and experience the Joy of service. ( 2 Nephi 2:25, Matthew 25:21)

Thank you Sister Allen for a terrific lesson!

2/5 RS Lesson: "Why We Are Organized into Quorums and Relief Societies" - Julie B. Beck

The lesson for this Sunday was presented by Sister Jentzsch and the topic of her lesson was taken from a BYU devotional talk given by general RS president Julie B. Beck.  The complete talk can be accessed online through the byu.edu link: "Why We Are Organized into Quorums and Relief Societies," where you can read, print out, share, and listen to Sister Beck's message.


Sister Jentzsch began her discussion with an emphasis on the fact that the Relief Society is organized under the pattern of the Priesthood.  (The word society holds a similar meaning to the word quorum.)  Sister Beck observed that some people have mistakenly believed that Relief Society is just another class that meets during the third hour of church, but the truth is that the RS is a holy and choice grouping of women.  President Joseph F. Smith taught that Relief Society has its own unique identity and that it was "divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God to minister for the salvation of the souls of women and men."  


Sister Beck lists the main purposes of RS as a bridge to, "increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and provide relief for those who are in need."  From this Sister Jentzsch reminded us that being a member of the Relief Society is a lifetime membership.  


In her talk, Sister Beck outlines five specific purposes for being organized into Relief Societies (and quorums):

1. To organize us under the priesthood and after the pattern of the priesthood.
2. To focus Heavenly Father's sons and daughters on the work of salvation and to engage them in it.
3. To help bishops wisely manage the Lord's storehouse.
4. To provide a defense and refuge for Heavenly Father's children and their families in the latter days.
5. To strengthen and support us in our family roles and responsibilities as sons and daughters of God.

By understanding the purpose of Relief Society, we can work together and support each other to accomplish the goals of this organization.  Relief Society is not only a support group for sisters in need, but it is also an educational tool for sisters to learn how to fulfill our responsibilities as children of God.

Thank you to Sister Jentzsch for presenting this discussion.  There is so much to learn from RS President Julie B. Beck's message!

1/1 RS Lesson: Goals

Last Sunday, Sister Davis presented this month's Riverside RS presidency lesson on goals and resolutions.  She opened the lesson by reading a light-hearted Ensign article written by an LDS mother, entitled "The New Me Has Been Cancelled."  This story was all about setting goals for yourself that are realistic and achievable.  And about appreciating what you are able to accomplish, instead of getting down on yourself for what you haven't finished.


Sister Davis then referenced a talk by President Ezra Taft Benson entitled "Do Not Despair."  In this article, President Benson says the 12th way we can lift our spirits is through setting short- and long- term goals.  He reminds us to set goals in four specific areas of our lives: Spiritual, Social, Mental, and Physical.  A ward sister mentioned that through doing this we can evaluate ourselves and discover what we can change and how best to go about making that change. 


The last article Sister Davis read was from a talk entitled "Do Things That Make a Difference" by Elder M. Russell Ballard.  Four important points that Sister Davis shared with us were:

1. Master the Skill of Setting Worthy Goals - It makes a difference when mastering goal setting, which allows you to move forward and keep trying to reach your goals without being weighed down by guilt.
2. Develop Self-Discipline - Remaining focused on the goals with the proper attitude.
3. Make Goals Happen - Matthew 5:48.  Reaching goals is a process, not an event.  Eliminate the bad habits and replace with ones geared toward the eternal good.
4. Build a Good Self-Image - Remembering that you are a child of God and worthy of blessings in life.

At the end of the lesson, some of the ward sisters shared their wonderful thoughts on goals and resolutions:

• Be proactive instead of reactive.
• Take time to evaluate your goals at the beginning of each day and discern what you are able (and not able) to accomplish during that day.
• We all go through seasons of life.  We must set realistic goals in whatever season of life you are living in.   
• Time goes by very quick; enjoy the moment!
• Be flexible and open to new goals that may be derived from goals you're already working towards.
• Set smart, specific, and measurable goals.
• Allow for time phase adjustments based on changes in life and your circumstances.
• Feel and listen to the spirit!!

We appreciate insight many ward sisters shared with us and also the time that Sister Davis put forth in preparing this lesson.  The spirit was definitely felt throughout her message!