Stake Relief Society Presidency Message

Dear Sisters,

     Each year at Christmastime our minds go to a pilgrimage back to the little town of Bethlehem, which has nestled among the Judean hills for so many centuries. It is wondefully rich in its long and interesting history. It is here that Jacob buried his wife Rachel. Bethlehem is where Ruth gleaned in the wheat fields of Boaz. It was also here that Ruth's great grandson David was born and where he tended the sheep of his father, Jesse. It was here that he was annointed by Samuel to be the king of Israel. This little town finally called itself by the name of its most famous son and was thereafter known as the City of David.
     The Old Testament prophet Micah had foretold that one greater than David should also be born in Bethlehem and that the most important event in the history of the world should here take place to distinguish little Bethlehem above all of the great cities of the world. Since the meridian of time, Bethlehem has been remembered primarily as the birthplace of the Savior of all mankind.
     For that first Christmas, Mary and Joseph had come some 65 miles from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea in response to the decree of Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed, each in his own city. They arrived in Bethlehem at about the time that Jesus was to be born. And Luke says of Mary, "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)
     As we think back to the birth of Jesus, we feel a certain sense of shame and regret that there was no room in the inn for the Savior of the world to be born. It is also a very interesting thought  that the King of kings and Lord of lords should be born in a stable. With his Heavenly Father, he had created the earth in the first place, and yet there was no room in it for him to be born. But this fact is something more than an isolated event of interesting significance; it indicates what almost amounts to a theme song for his life. "No room" was one of the chief characteristics of his entire mortal existence. He himself summed up his experiences by saying, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20)
     The birth and death of Jesus are now both ancient history. The great Roman Empire has long since become more than a memory. The problems of the religious leaders who brought about his death have long been buried. But Jesus did not give his life for his contemporaries alone; his mission applied with equal significance to us. It was our sins as well as theirs that made him volunteer his own death. What is our attitude about his life?
     Many of the doors with which Jesus was familar had the latch only on the inside and could not be opened from without. The door to the heart is still opened from within. The invitation for Jesus to enter our lives must still come from the inside. The door to the heart is not easily broken down by anyone beating upon it from without; the release must be operated from within.
     At Christmas time we sing the most beautiful songs and even though he stands at the door of our lives and knocks, not many doors are being opened. Too frequently we merely send back the ancient reply, "No room, no room."
     As the spirit of Christmas fills our lives and as we are haunted by the embarrassment of centuries past, we should consider the advisability of making room for him in our own present. If we are too busy to serve God, we are much too busy. If our lives are so filled as to crowd him out, then we should empty our lives and relieve the congestion that threatens to overtake us.
     Dear sisters, my Christmas wish is that we may change that ancient Christmas pageant of Bethlehem so that we may really hear the angels' song and make room for the Redeemer of the world in our personal lives. We will be blessed and our families will be blessed beyond measure if we do this. May you be blessed in all of your efforts to serve Him, our Lord and Master, our Savior, the Son of God.
Love,
Sister Sallye Johnston
Stake Relief Society President
    

November Message

November is here! Time to Celebrate! I love this month. First, we commemorate Armistice day and our Veterans, then we celebrate again on Thanksgiving Day.

Personally my body is grateful that it only has to undergo "Thanksgiving Day" once a year. My spirit and soul on the other hand rejoices and thrives when I recognize and give thanks many times every day of the year.

Recently I saw a video called Clicking Can Change Your Life" by Hilary Weeks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9PHrtc2EA8&feature=related

I love this video!!! It is soooo true. We could also give it the title "Gratitude can Change Your Life." A short synopsis of the video is that Sis Weeks decided that she could get rid of her negative thoughts and negativity in her life when she realized what they were. So she bought a mechanical counter clicker. She clicked many times a day. One day she had already clicked 8 times while driving the kids to school. She clicked while out on date night as she remembered and recited to her husband the problems that she had been dealing with throughout the week. After a week of this she realized that she was feeling depressed and down.

This was the opposite of what she had planned. By giving attention to the negative, she realized that she had not got rid of it, instead she had given power to it.

So she switched and gave power to positive thoughts. It was so much more fun to chase away or block negative thoughts by filling her mind with positive. One day she looked at her counter and saw 1,262 clicks. She wondered if a family member had been playing with it, but no-one had. Her outlook and spirit changed. She felt like she could accomplish ANYTHING. She set goals that she would never have thought of setting. That week while on the treadmill she ran further and longer than she had in 20 years by filling her mind, spirit and soul with everything that was positive.

She ends with Philippians 4:8 where Paul tells us "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I understand Paul's message better and I am so glad Sis Weeks shared this story. I know some people who are giving their family members clickers for Christmas.

I often think about Joseph B. Wirthlin's final talk in conference "Come What May and Love it." What a wonderful man and what a wonderful message to leave us with. Even the title alone has great counsel. I will end with a quote from his talk

"How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can’t—at least not in the moment. I don’t think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don’t think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life.
If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness."
I am so grateful for all you sisters who love and uplift one another, and for the veterans who have rescued and preserved freedoms world wide and wish you all a very wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving Day.
Love,
Sister Best - 2nd Counselor in Centralia Stake RS

Relief Society Presidency Message October

It is hard to get through a day without being bombarded with hearing or seeing politcal ads, discussion and opinions. You may be looking forward to November for it to be "all over", but let me suggest that we should be looking forward to November because we have the right and privilege to cast our vote in the staet and federal elections. I make that distinction for a reason I will discuss later in this post.

Elder L. Tom Perry in 1998 stated, "The 11th and 12th Articles profess our belief in religious liberty, tolerance, and agency. Agency is one of the great gits of God to His children. It allows all men and women the right to choose for themselves and to earn their own individual salvation. Also declared is our belief in secular governments and "in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law" of the land (A of F 1:12)."

Those Articles of Faith read as follows:
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12 .We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

"Voting in government elections and performing other civic duties when we have the opportunity is a sacred responsibility, a God-given blessing, and a duty to be carried out with honor and trust."
Michael A. Neider, October 2012 Ensign.

We need to take seriously the sacred responsibility we have as we vote in the upcoming election. We need to look past the persuasive rhetoric and outright, inflammatory bashing of candidates by one another and focus on the issues, solutions and values put forth by candidates. As dramatic and important as the presidential or federal election is, we should realize that local candidates and state representation is a more effective part of our voting. This grass roots level is where we can have the dictates of our own conscience expressed most influentialy.

Another thing to keep in mind is tolerance. Just as we allow all men the same privilege of worshipping according to their own conscience, we acknowledge their right to vote according to their conscience. By showing one another mutual respect and listening without bias, we can at least understand better opposing points of view and look for common ground rather than judging and getting into heated debate. The more effectively we listen and respect, the more likely we will be listened to and our opinions respected.

The Church does not "endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates, or plateforms." But it does address, in a non partisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church."*

Sisters, let us be well-informed as we carry out with tolerance, honor and trust, our sacred responsibility.

Sister Chris Jackson
First Counselor Centralia Stake Relief Society Presidency

* [See also Answering questions on Political Neutrality of the Church, October Ensign p.41]

Presidency Message August 2012

In THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, one of the greatest blessings that we may enjoy is the opportunity to attend the temple. Currently, there are 137 temples in operation around the world, with several dozen more announced or under construction. With the number ever increasing, the geographical distance between our homes and the temples is growing closer, and we have little-or no-excuse to avoid attendance.

When we began our life on earth, a veil was placed before us, that dimmed the memory of who we are and what we learned before we came here. We must always remember that we are Daughters of a King, who loves us and wants us to reach our divine potential and fulfill all that we came to earth to do.
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp tells us, "The temple is the bridge between mortality and immortality. It is the place where we receive comfort, peace, vision, hope, and promise. In the temple we are reminded of our identity — who we are and who we are to become — and we prepare to fulfill our foreordained mission." (The Temple: Our Home Away from Home by Ardeth G. Kapp) Ezra Taft Benson has told us -"Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. The answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways."
I echo his remarks. I love the temple. It is my refuge. It is where I find peace, solace and answers.
I love the sacred ordinances performed in Heavenly Father's house. How beautiful are these words by our Prophet Thomas S. Monson, "As a result of the sacred ordinances performed in the holy house of God, no light need be permanently extinguished, no voice permanently stilled, no place in our heart permanently left vacant." How comforting are his words when a loved one passes on beyond the veil.
I personally testify of the joyful feeling when seeking and finding information that enables my ancestors to have these saving ordinances completed. Their spirit reach out and touch mine. I attend the temple so much more often, and the veil is thinner, when I have cards with my family names on them. I love coming home and turning on the computer and putting their completed temple information in the database. Families are Forever. I encourage you to contact you family history consultant or go to the family history center to learn and discover how to do this marvelous work.
It is my prayer that when we feel "homesick" that we can find a way to our Heavenly Father's house to soothe, renew and fortify our aching spirits .
Let us continue onward and upward my kindred sisters
Love,
Sister Best

"Having the Vision to Do"

I’ve borrowed this thought from LDS Family Gems. I guess I related to it and hope that you do too.

"How do we, amidst the challenges of our lives, gain the vision necessary to do those things that will bring us closer to the Savior? Speaking of vision, the book of Proverbs teaches this truth: 'Where there is no vision, the people perish' (Proverbs 29:18). If we are to prosper rather than perish, we must gain a vision of ourselves as the Savior sees us."

—Elder O. Vincent Haleck, "Having the Vision to Do", 2012

As I’ve read Daughters of My Kingdom and listened to Sister Beck the past few months, I’ve marveled at the amazing vision sisters of the early church maintained even with confronted with constant adversity and trials. Growing wheat and silk and funding women to go to medical school…that just astounds me. We do good works like making quilts and hygiene kits but really, medical school and silk worms?!

It’s often hard to see ourselves as the Lord does, when bombarded with negative images and role models around us in the world, but I think we can do it, don’t you? I love our Relief Society statement as it starts, “We are BELOVED spirit daughters of God and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction….”

WE can start in our homes and families, striving to make our homes heavenly and patterned after the temple. Making the temple our goal and working to get every family member to the temple is a vision that will bring us closer to the Savior.

Let us never fail, or perish but capture the vision the Savior has of us and carry on!

Love,

Chris Jackson

Dear Sisters,
     What a blessing it is to be a Daughter of God ! The blessings that come into our lives as a daughter of royalty are many. One of the blessings that come to us in this life is that one day of  becoming a wife and then at the appointed time a mother. What a wonderful opportunity to learn through the experience of motherhood and fatherhood. I would like to share a personal experience with each of you. Growing up in a family of five children I watched my mother and did the things that she did. My sister and I would play house, pretend to be married and be mothers. When I grew up I wanted to be a wife and a mother. I assumed that would happen. I met a wonderful man and we were married in the Salt Lake Temple and life was wonderful. I assumed the next thing would be that we would have a family and I would be a mother. There were other couples that married about the same time as my husband and I  and they were having babies. Well that didn't happen for  my husband and I as soon as we thought it should. I became concerned and worried about it and wondered why we weren't being blessed in our home with a child. Each Mother's Day when mothers were presented the plant  at church in honor of being a mother I  wanted to have one in the worst way.
     After being married for a couple years I reread my patriarchical blessing and my blessing indicated that I would be a mother in Zion. Upon reading that I received comfort to know that at sometime and in some way I would be a mother. The next Mother's Day came and the young deacons were directed to pass out the plants to the mothers in the ward. On this day I was presented a red geranium plant and I reached out to receive it from the young deacon. I put my hands around the plant and started to draw it to me and I met resistance from the young deacon as he pulled the plant back towards him, and I more forcefully pulled the plant toward me. It became a wrestling match between that young deacon and myself and I am sure entertainment for those sitting around me.  He said to me, " Oh, you're not a mother." as he tugged to get possession of the plant. I continued to pull the plant toward me and through all of this exchange the poor plant was shaken loose from the dirt and there was dirt on my lap and on the floor as my response to him was, " But I am going to be a mother someday." Well, I won out and had in my possession this red shaken geranium with most of the dirt on the floor in the chapel, which I picked up and packed around the plant once again. I am sure it was a sight to behold. I am sure every Mother's Day that this young man who has since grown up remembers that young sister "a mother to be" with a chuckle.
      Eventually my husband I did become parents of three wonderful children that came to bless our lives. They each came at their appointed time with three years in between our two sons and six years after our second son our daughter was sent to us. During those years of not knowing if I would ever be a mother, I taught Junior Sunday School, the four and five year olds. I was blessed to teach someone elses children and I loved it. We all can be an influence on helping children learn and in so doing can receive blessings, even if we are not blessed in this life to be mothers. We can help mother nieces and nephews and others. Our children are grown and gone from home and have children of their own and we are grandparents. Mothering continues on as does parenting. What a wonderful plan to be in families.
     As we think of the month of May as a time we honor mothers, we can all reflect on the influence that our own mothers have had on us. When I think of my own mother I remember that she always had complete faith in me. She had a strong testimony, great faith, and was always active in Church organizations. She was always kind, gentle, thoughtful, understanding, one to whom I could always turn, and one whom I could always trust, willing to sacrifice for her children. She has set for me the perfect example of clean living. She taught me a love, appreciation,, and understanding the Gospel while very young. She always gave me encouragement, inspiration, and a desire to live life in its fullness through love and service to others. May each of us during this month reflect on the blessings that we enjoy because of mothers, from Mother Eve through all generations of time to our own mothers. May we also remember of our royalty in being daughters of a kind and loving Heavenly Father and Mother. May we live our lives in a manner to bring honor to them  as we recognize that Motherhood is an Eternal Partnership with God is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ , Amen.
Love,
Sister Sallye Johnston
Stake Relief Society President

Stake Relief Society Presidency Message for April

   If you have been inside any store or watched television in the past six weeks, you are well aware that Easter is being celebrated this month. Since Valentine's ended in February, the merchandisers have touted woven baskets, artificial grass, chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, jelly beans, the proverbial Easter bonnet, and many other items they believe denotes Easter. The financial experts allege that the Easter season is a multi-million dollar merchandising event.
   Easter is equivalent to Springtime being official, new life, Church services, family dinners, even colored eggs and childhood fun. BUT, in the words of President David O. McKay: " It is a sacred day, a day of divine worship". It is a time when we commemorate the most important event ever to have occurred in human history.
   Historians agree that the greatest events are those that effect the largest number of people for the longest periods. By this standard, no event could be more important to individuals or nations than the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
   The fall of Adam brought two kinds of death into the world: spiritual death and physical death. Spiritual death is separation from God. Physical death is separation of the body and spirit. Redemption from death-that is, resurrection-is, therefore, crucial to our future happiness.
   Since Adam-and all those born after him-would now be subject to death and could not raise body from grave, there had to be "...an infinite and eternal sacrifice" (see Alma 34:10). Jesus came to Earth and voluntarily gave His life to atone for the fall of Adam. He was qualified to be the Savior because He is the only person who will ever live on the earth without sin; thus, a worthy sacrifice to pay for the sins of others.

Stake Relief Society Presidency Message for March

 

Olde Irish Saying
"Ní neart go le chéile."- Unity is strength.

When the Prophet Joseph Smith organized the first Relief Society on 17th March 1842, 18 women were present. Three were teenagers. Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the Prophet, later gave profound instructions for Relief Society sisters of any age when she admonished them to "cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together" (minutes of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, 24 Mar. 1842).
As Centralia Stake Relief Society sisters, we have an opportunity each month to strengthen and unite one another. Never underestimate how much your visit can affect someone each month. Especially never forget how much joy it brings to our Heavenly Father as he sees us "having [our] hearts knit together in unity and in love" (Mosiah 18:21).

"I'm just a visiting teacher,"
I said to my friend today.
And my Father in Heaven heard me,
And I seemed to hear him say:
"Not just a visiting teacher,
A disciple with work to do,
And wherever you carry my message
My spirit goes with you."

"Some daughters of mine with burdens
Some seem to have lost the way
Go take them my love and my gospel
To strengthen them day by day."
"Never say you're just a visiting teacher,
Have faith and you'll understand
When you enter a home with love and prayer

~I take you by the hand."

Author Unknown

It is my prayer that we be the best Visiting Teachers we can be. Don't forget...... 
"Ní neart go le chéile."
I am excited that we are celebrating 170 years of Relief Society in March. I look forward to attending as many Ward Celebrations as I can.
Love, Sister Best

Love, Love, Love....

We loved getting together with many of our sisters for our January 28th Stake Relief Society Women's Conference! We are thankful for our presenters as well as attendees. We are blessed to have a Stake Presidency who supports our efforts and plans for the sisters of our stake ! They show love to us in many ways.
The Greeks had three words for love. Eros is the form of love most of us think of during February... it encompasses everything from "twitterpaited" as Thumper calls it in the Disney movie Bambi, to butterfly stomachs and warm fuzzy feelings to fickle flirtations or deep passion. Philia is the form that describes "brotherly love". This is the love of friendship and fellowship.
The third form is AGAPE. This is the type of love that Christ taught and exemplified. It transcends environment or someone's perception. It involves proactively seeking the well-being of another person. It doesn't have to be prompted by warm fuzzy feelings from another and can even be felt toward one's enemy.

Stake Women's Conference January 28, 2012 10:00 am -3:30pm