Happy Mother's Day

Dear Sisters,

    The month of May is the month that has been designated to recognize and celebrate our mothers,and being a mother. I hope that it is more frequently than one month that we remember and honor our mothers and motherhood AND womanhood.  I am sure that we all think back frequently to our own mothers and the many things that we  were taught and learned from our individual mothers.
     Mother's carry with them a multitude of memory snapshots collected at milestones in the life of her child; first smile, first steps, first words that inevitably lead to first day of school, first date, and the most blessed of mothers, first grandchild.
     Being a mother means you don't just bear one job description but a fleet of them. Motherhood has no finite job description. It's a little of every job. A mother is the facilitator and provider for your home and its environment. She is the family shopper, taxi driver,family referee, first-line health provider, educator, and disciplinarian. All this mothers do without receiving a paycheck. But we do it all quite willingly because we are an important element in the development of a child. I think Heavenly Father gives mothers a special something that includes a large dose of patience, determination, unrelenting love, and the ability to guide the children with whom we have been entrusted to raise.
     You measure your success not just by what you do for your children, but rather by what you teach them to do for themselves. And you try when possible to keep them from learning their lessons in the school of hard knocks.
     Ultimately, mothers- like love, family, and home are treasures to hold in your heart forever. May each of you find joy in being blessed to be a daughter of heavenly parents and to be upon this earth at this time as we help prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior , Jesus Christ.
     HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of you sisters in the Centralia Stake!

Love,
Sallye Johnston
Centralia Stake Relief Society President

Presidency Message

Dear Sisters,

We hope that you each took advantage of the wonderful opportunity to hear the messages presented by our General Authorities at General Conference. What a blessing to be taught at the feet of a living prophet and those who serve with him.  Their  testimonies of the mission of  Jesus Christ, and other messages, were born with boldness, clearness and love with the intent of reminding  us that God does live and that He loves us and wants to bless us; and does bless us in immeasurable ways.

As sisters in Zion, it is our blessed duty  to defend home and family and to raise up righteous children unto the Lord; whether they  be our own or others over which we have stewardship.  Prior to the General Women's Broadcast on March 28th, the Relief Societies from each ward in the Centralia Stake provided a display of ways to economically do just that through "Self-Reliance and Provident Living" with topics ranging from inexpensive gifts, to continuing education, to ham radio operators and many others in between.   Many, many thanks to each of the wards for sharing your fabulous ideas.  And, the yummy home made bread, honey and honey butter!!  If you need additional handouts or information, please contact the respective Relief Society President.

Saving Money (Centralia)

Provident living gift ideas (Rochester)

Education/Literary (Chehalis)

Health (Toledo)

FHE/Spiritual (Tenino)

Communication (Adna)

Employment (Morton)

Recreation (Mt. Vista)

Bread-baking (Winlock)

We pray for each of you dear sisters as you endeavor faithfully to strengthen your homes and families that you will make use of the many resources available to you through the church. Please take time to visit providentliving.org or lds.org. It will be well worth your time.

We love you. Thank you for being you!!

Cathy Bentley

2nd Counselor

My Sisters' Hands: Relief Society Presidency Message

Dear Sisters,

What a wonderful blessing it is to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in these latter days and to be blessed to be a Daughter of God! He loves us so much and cherishes who we are and knows of our everyday needs. As we celebrate the organization of "The Relief Society" this month of March may we reflect on the blessings that have come to each of us through belonging to the Relief Society. The video "My Sisters' Hands" reminds us of the sisterhood that we share. As we work and serve together we are strengthened in the purposes of the Relief Society to:
* Increase faith and personal righteousness
* Strengthen families and homes
* Seek out and help those in need

Each of these purposes have an impact on each of us as we learn and grow and strengthen one another.At the organization of the Relief Society Joseph Smith admonished the sisters to "live up to their privilege."with this encouragement as sisters we have been taught to live up to our divine potential by fulfilling our Heavenly Father's purposes for us. As we come to understand who (whose) we really are, God's daughters, with innate capacities to love, nurture and serve we reach our potential as holy women. The Relief Society was established as an integral part of the Restoration, the Relief Society helps us as Latter-day Saint women to live up to our privilege. I so appreciate each and everyone of you sisters and the gifts and talents that you share within the Centralia Stake.

Throughout this year may we focus on each of the purposes of the Relief Society as we strengthen ourselves and one another through our service to one another. We are living at a time in our day where  the  family is under attack and as sisters in the Relief Society we need to especially focus on strengthening families and homes.The families that we need to strengthen not only include our own, but those of our sisters we are asked to serve  through the watch care of Visiting Teaching.

Presidency Message: February

A Love Note

Just wanted to remind you of the love note that President Uchtdorf delivered to you back in September 2014.

Always remember that YOU ARE LOVED

“My dear sisters in the gospel, whether you are 8 or 108, there is one thing that I hope you truly understand and know:

You are loved.

You are dear to your heavenly parents.

The infinite and eternal Creator of light and life knows you! He is mindful of you.

Yes, God loves you this very day and always.

He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to Him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer. He knows of the times you have held onto the fading light and believed—even in the midst of growing darkness. He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you have fallen short or failed. And still He loves you.

And God knows of your successes; though they may seem small to you, He acknowledges and cherishes each one of them. He loves you for extending yourself to others. He loves you for reaching out and helping others bear their heavy burdens—even when you are struggling with your own.

He knows everything about you. He sees you clearly—He knows you as you really are. And He loves you—today and always!

Do you suppose it matters to our Heavenly Father whether your makeup, clothes, hair, and nails are perfect? Do you think your value to Him changes based on how many followers you have on Instagram or Pinterest? Do you think He wants you to worry or get depressed if some un-friend or un-follow you on Facebook or Twitter? Do you think outward attractiveness, your dress size, or popularity make the slightest difference in your worth to the One who created the universe?

He loves you not only for who you are this very day but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential and the desire to become.

More than you could ever imagine, He wants you to achieve your destiny—to return to your heavenly home in honor.”

Let’s always remember and always help one another achieve our destiny.

With Love,

Sister Chris Jackson

PRESIDENCY MESSAGE

PRESIDENCY MESSAGE

CENTRALIA STAKE RELIEF SOCIETY BLOG

January, 2015

It is a time for remembering; a time for re-evaluation; a time for recalling accomplishments (and failures); a time for renewal.  The moment we close one year, we open another.  Newness:  new day, new year, new plans, new goals, new attitude.  No matter how good (or bad) last year was, there is this newness to consider.  Each new day is a fresh start, a clean slate, a new chance to change, improve, or try again.

Within our scriptures, there are a multitude of references using to words “new”, “newness”, “new covenant”, “new commandment”, etc.  Here are a few for you to review and to ponder:

“…Behold, I make all things new. …”  (Revelations 21:5)

“…walk in newness…” (Romans 6:4)

“...new and everlasting covenant…” (D&C 131:2)

“old things are done away, and all things have become new.”  (3 Nephi 12:47)

“…newness of spirit and not in the oldest…” (Romans 7:6)

“…a new heart…new spirit”  (Ezekiel 36:26)

“…a new name written…the new name is the key word.” (D&C 130:11)

IDEA:  Make a Family Home Evening project with family members searching for other scriptures which refer to “new” or “newness”.  Maybe choose one to become your personal or family motto for the year.  This is also an opportunity to teach your children to use the Topical Guide to find these. 

I wish you a happy, successful, and healthy new year with a close relationship to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sister Val Walsh

Secretary, Centralia Stake Relief Society


Welcome to 2015! 
Our course of study for the year will be from "Teachings Of Presidents Of The Church: Ezra Taft Benson." Take the time to read the introduction of him and his wife Flora in the January Ensign “Flora and I: Equal Partners in the Work of the Lord”.
You can access this article  from the Ensign online as well as the manual for the year. Enjoy learning from this great prophet-leader!
If you have not received a copy of the lesson schedule for the year please check with your ward Relief Society Presidency as they were sent to them in November 2014.

Love,
Sister Chris Jackson

Presidency Message

Thank you Morton Ward Relief Society for posting this message. http://youtu.be/cOX5z5QJ_dY
I watched it and absolutely love it and want to share it for our December Stake Relief Society blog.

    I love tying it together with our December Visiting Teaching message which is "The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Prince of Peace." “The Savior is the source of true peace,” said Elder Quentin L. Cook . “Even with the trials of life, because of the Savior’s Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace.” Understanding that Jesus Christ  is the Prince of Peace can help us find inner peace and increase our faith in Him.

    When we truly have Christ (The Prince of Peace) in our hearts, we truly have Peace in our Hearts.
    It is my prayer that we all have a joyous CHRISTmas season by making sure we have room for "The Prince of Peace" in our Hearts.

Wishing you all a blessed peaceful Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous 2015.
Love,
Sister Susan Best - Second Counselor Centralia Stake Relief Society

Presidency Message : I want each of you to know of the love we as a stake RS presidency have for each and everyone of you sisters. Each of you sisters are important and your individual life has a strong influence for good as you strengthen and provide for so many. Your hands are His hands ! Love, Sister Sallye Johnston, Centralia Stake Relief Society President