7-8:30 p.m. in the
multi-purpose room
Come and share in some
fun games, food, prizes, and activities centered on sharing family
histories. Young Women are invited to
attend. As possible, bring a simple
snack to share.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Relief Society Presidency Message ~ April 2013
Dear Sisters,
I was recently reading in The
Book of Mormon in Alma
chapter 60. I really enjoy reading this part of The Book of Mormon
because the Nephites were so busy trying to defend all of the things that were
important to them: their families, their religion, their homes and their way of
life. In this section of Alma,
Captain Moroni had been away at war for a long period of time. He wrote a
second epistle to the chief judge and governor of the land, who was Pahoran.
Pahoran had had to flee the city of Zarahemla
because his life was threatened by the king-men, those men who were of high
birth that wanted to run the Nephite territories. Moroni
did not understand why he did not hear from Pahoran after he had written the
first epistle, and sent him a letter of condemnation (Alma 60:2). In verse 7, Moroni boldly said, “Can you think to sit
upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are
spreading the work of death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands
of your brethren?”
In verse 18, Moroni said to Pahoran, “We know not but what
ye yourselves are seeking for authority. We know not but what ye are also
traitors to your country.” These comments are strong and direct, and had to have
caused sorrow for Pahoran. He could have done any number of things to Moroni for his
insinuations and accusations but instead, he responded with forgiveness and
kindly set the record straight. I marvel that he, who was in a position of
authority, could overlook unfair judgments. It reinforced to me that we may
never know why people do or don’t do the things that we think they should be
doing a certain way. Sometimes we feel others’ judgments, which can bring us
down and may cause us to question righteous motives or innocent oversights. We,
like Pahoran, can make a choice about how we react.
A very wise Bishop gave some wise
counsel to a brother in the ward, who was really struggling with his testimony
and his associations with other members. The brother had been very harsh and
outspoken about different ward members about the things that either they had
said or had not done. I told the Bishop that I was concerned for the man and
his family and I did not know how to help him. The Bishop talked with him and this
member opened up to him and told him all of his grievances. The Bishop said,
“Brother, don’t you realize all of these things are taken care of through the
Atonement of Jesus Christ? You have faith in that Atonement, don’t you?” Those
questions seemed to take away the man’s pain. I was struck with how our Savior
paid the ultimate price for us and how much love He has for all of us. I am
sure that He would tell us individually that the Atonement and His suffering
were worth it, that we were and are worth it.
Ward Temple Trip May 4, 2013
*check temple recommend(s) and schedule
any necessary appointments
*arrange for lodging, transportation,
and child-care
*schedule temple sessions
*plan to volunteer for child-care,
family activities, food service, and clean-up
*invite others including those you visit
teach
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