A Legacy of Faith and Service - Post Nine

L-R: Camille Lund - Debbie Wood - Mendy Hunter (Dec 2018)

Sister Debbie Wood was sustained as our Stake Relief Society president in December 2018.  At the time of her call, she knew that her family would be moving in just a few months out of state.  She explained the situation to our stake president, but he assured her that despite the timing the call was inspired.  Debbie immediately jumped both feet into her calling and has given her best regardless of the mountain of work at home to prepare for their move.

She and her counselors, Camille Lund and Mendy Hunter, have served thoughtfully and energetically these past few months.  We are sad to see the Wood family move, but are grateful for the example of faith and service Debbie has provided.

During the short term of their presidency they have planned and carried out an inspired and fabulous women's conference for the sisters in our stake, set ground work for relationships between our Stake Relief Society and local volunteer organizations, became involved with educating sisters about JustServe, have provided two stake conference meals, organized meals for missionaries both within our zone and at the temple visitor's center, provided training to multiple new ward presidencies as well as providing support to continuing presidencies and have been out visiting with the Relief Societies in our stake. They have prayed for our sisters and their families and have sincerely considered ways they could minister.

As I have sat in meetings with them, I have been blessed by their positive approach to challenges and their trust in the Lord to guide them. Their enthusiasm and humble gratitude for the opportunity to serve has been a light to me and I'm sure to any who have interacted with them.

We wish Debbie and her family all the best with their move and look forward to still seeing Camille and Mendy within our stake.

- Lorie Pierce (Stake RS Secretary)

You Are Making Progress - Keep Going!

"Jesus said, 'I am the light [that] shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.' That means no matter how hard it tries, the darkness cannot put out that light. Ever. You can trust that His light will be there for you......The Lord knows how hard you are trying. You are making progress. Keep going. He sees all your hidden sacrifices and counts them to your good and the good of those you love. Your work is not in vain. You are not alone. His very name, Emmanuel, means 'God with us.' He is surely with you." (Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness, Sharon Eubank, General Conference April 2019)

As I listened to General Conference a few weeks ago, this talk by Sister Eubank spoke to me personally and in regards to my family & friends. I spend a great deal of my time in conversations with family & friends who struggle with anxiety, are overwhelmed by the busyness of life, are lonely, are fighting battles others don't see - people who simply need someone to listen and understand.

Some of you may have noticed that our blog posts have shifted from weekly to monthly (with occasionally some in between). Life shifts and we have to move with it. Over the past year, I have been learning to deal with a shift in my own life that involves health issues I've not dealt with before. I've had to learn how to do less and yet still do. Those who know me well, know that I've not ever been one to do less (unless it was to sit down and read a good book). But the Lord knows our journey and He knows what we need to experience in order to become who He understands we can be. Reducing the frequency of the blog posts was just a small decision to lessen my own load - allowing time and energy to be focused on other needful things.

As I talk with family, friends and sisters throughout our Stake, I am often struck by how much they are doing and yet they feel they are not doing enough OR they are completely exhausted and feel they can't go another step. They often don't recognize the progress they are making and the good they are accomplishing. They see their exhaustion as failure. The Lord doesn't ask us to run faster than we have strength. What He asks is that we come to Him with a willing heart and He will help us accomplish what is needed.  His plan is always better than what we can come up with on our own.

I love the message of this sentence: "He sees all your hidden sacrifices and counts them to your good and the good of those you love." What a hopeful thought! When you are discouraged that your ministering efforts are not making any difference - reflect on that sentence! When you are wiping noses, changing diapers and the dishes never seem to get done - reflect on that sentence! When you get up early every morning to go to a job that you don't necessarily even like, but you are working to support yourself and your family - reflect on that sentence! When you fall asleep reading the scriptures, because you are just so tired, but you're reading anyway - reflect on that sentence! When your family's attempts with the Come Follow Me program fall flat, but you move forward anyway - reflect on that sentence! When you are afraid to try, but you try anyway - reflect on that sentence! Every day we get up and move forward and that is progress, that is success.

But I think the most important message is: "His very name, Emmanuel, means 'God with us.' He is surely with you." We never need to feel alone. Our Savior is always ready to encourage us, to lift us, to guide us, to strengthen us. Because of His atonement, He is the one who will always truly understand our pain, our sorrow, our grief, our exhaustion. "Jesus said, 'I am the light [that] shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.' That means no matter how hard it tries, the darkness cannot put out that light. Ever. You can trust that His light will be there for you."

As simple as that seems, I have had dear ones ask me, "But how? How do I access the power of His atonement to help me feel less alone?" My answer is always the same. I tell them to turn their thoughts to the times when they have felt peace, when they have felt calm, when they have felt the quiet assurances that He lives. I encourage them to quiet their stress by turning their hearts and minds to Him through prayer, through reading the scriptures, through time in the temple, through focusing on the promise of the sacramental prayers "that they may always have his Spirit to be with them", and especially through reflecting and acknowledging the blessings they receive. I also encourage them to nourish both their spirits and their bodies. We need to acknowledge that life is hard, but hard doesn't equal bad. The Lord has taught us, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

How grateful I am for my testimony of our Savior! I know He does love us and I know that He desires to help us as we journey through this life. I know that as we place our trust in Him, we can find joy in our journey regardless of the difficulties we face. I am also grateful for the examples of faith, perseverance, love and service we have among the sisters of this Stake.  Thank you sisters for simply being who are are and sharing your light day to day.

-Lorie Pierce (Stake RS Secretary)

Follow the Covenant Path - Our Women's Conference in Review

What a wonderful Women's Conference we had last Saturday!  We are so grateful for all those who contributed in any way to help us have such an uplifting event.  There were many hours spent in preparation in addition to the time given on the actual day.  We truly have amazing sisters and brothers in our Stake - so willing to give of their time, talents and energy.




Our conference theme was "Follow the Covenant Path" with our classes chosen to support the 2019 North America Northeast Area plan (NANE) for stakes of the Church locally.  Sisters were able to choose from classes in the following theme rotations: Deepen Conversion to Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ & Restored Gospel, Gather Scattered Israel on Both Sides of the Veil - Missionary Work, Gather Scattered Israel on Both Sides of the Veil - Temple & Family History Work, Strengthen the Conversion of Children and Youth.  Our teachers were thoughtful in their preparations and we were all blessed by their efforts.






Sisters also had the opportunity to participate in two service projects - Sassy Caps and Sassy Seatbelts.  Sassy Caps are a soft & fun SASSY hat designed to donate to people undergoing chemotherapy.  Our sisters worked their hats using hand held knitting looms.
Sassy Seatbelts is a simple sewing project. When people receive ongoing chemo, they often have a port-a-cath surgically implanted, just under the skin in the chest that can be irritated by wearing your seatbelt in the car.  That’s where these little pillows come in handy.  They attach to the seatbelt with velcro & relieve the pressure on the port.  The two projects we chose have a direct and personal connection to the Columbia Maryland Stake Relief Society - specifically to Hampstead Ward.  Kristen and Jamie, the sisters who founded Sassy Caps, grew up in the Hampstead Ward.  These sisters began Sassy Caps in honor of their mother Sheila Braniff who was a long-time member of the Hampstead Ward Relief Society.  On the homepage of the Sassy Caps site they shared this about their mom and why they started Sassy Caps:

"Sheila was a gifted teacher and a loving mother who could laugh at herself and see the best in others. We started this project to honor her and all of the people who went out of their way to show her that they loved her when she was sick - those who wrote cards, or brought meals, or made her laugh that wonderful laugh. Mom's favorite hymn says, "Because I have been given much, I too must give." We have such gratitude for the blessing and guiding influence she has been in our lives. We were truly "given much" in the mother department, and started Sassy Caps to follow her example of giving."

We estimated there were about 30 Sassy Caps in progress during the conference.  We also completed 82 Sassy Seatbelts with an additional 18 completed after the conference, for a total of 100 donated to a local cancer center.








Our lunch was delicious with a chipotle bar and cheesecake for dessert.  The luncheon committee worked many hours to create such a wonderful meal for us to share together.  At the beginning of our luncheon, Debbie Wood (Columbia Maryland Stake Relief Society President) presented our donations of diapers and laundry detergent to the representatives of FIRN, a local non-profit organization which helps immigrants and their families. The donation table was overflowing.  How grateful we are for the generosity of our sisters!





As part of our luncheon, we had an instructional presentation from Mendy Hunter (Columbia Maryland Stake Relief Society Counselor) on how to use the JustServe website and app.  “JustServe.org is a website where the volunteer needs of organizations may be posted and volunteers may search for places to serve in the community, providing opportunities to help those in need and enhance the quality of life in the community.”  Visit justserve.org or download the JustServe mobile app to register and find opportunities in your area.

We also had the opportunity to hear from representatives of three local organizations - The Salvation Army, Neighbor Ride, The Therapeutic Recreational Riding Center - who use volunteers and are part of the JustServe community.

We were blessed to hear a musical number "May I Serve thee" sung by Nique Link, Trina Murphy, Kristy Nunley and accompanied by Rachel Davis.  Our concluding speaker at the luncheon was President Lorin Lund (Columbia Maryland Stake President).  His remarks were a wonderful conclusion to a conference that lifted our hearts and minds to a higher place.




-Lorie Pierce (Stake Relief Society Secretary)

Photos courtesy of Richard Brown, Lorie Pierce and Debbie Wood.

Thank you to these sisters & brethren for all their efforts:
Teachers: Steve Towne, Deandra Christiansen, Margaret Wright, Emily Robertson, Omaira Long, Cari Larkins, Lorraine Layton, Diana Gardner, Kaitlyn Dixon, Elizabeth Van Patten, Cheri Meiners, Ashley Halsey
Service Project Leaders/Assistants: Colleen Mitchell, Kaylene Stephens, Shelia Martinsen/Mickey Sheppard, Helen, Nadie, Bina Stanger, Della Jackson with Jen Taylor providing accent flowers
Luncheon Co-Leaders/Helpers: Suzanne Rigby & Janice Maughan/Kelly & Kelsey Smith, Mary Halsey, Stephanie Iroanya, Jessica Morgan, Michael Pierce, Elder Brigham Haroldsen
Decorations: Marissa Fenton, with help from Brittany Dolney and Ashley Alley
Technical Support: Ron Hutchinson
Photographer: Rich Brown
Musical Number: Nique Link, Kristy Nunley, Trina Murphy, Rachel Davis
Pianist: Anne Chilson, Chorister: Paulette Gaul
And a heartfelt thank you to the brethren from Hampstead Ward for their assistance in set up and clean up of this event.

Follow the Covenant Path - Stake Relief Society Women's Conference 2019

We are excited to announce this year's Stake Relief Society activity will be a women's conference.  There will be classes to choose from, service opportunities to participate in, an opportunity to hear about local organizations we can become involved with in our communities and a luncheon to mingle and enjoy each other's company.

Our theme is Follow the Covenant Path and the classes will provide us with insights, learning experiences and uplifting messages designed to help us participate in and support our North America Northeast Area Vision.  That vision statement is: "As beloved children of God, we will follow the covenant path by receiving ordinances and keeping covenants that lead to eternal life, and invite family, friends and neighbors to do the same."

You can find out more about the CLASSES being offered here:
https://columbiastakers.blogspot.com/p/follow-covenant-path.html

You can find out about the SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES available here:
https://columbiastakers.blogspot.com/p/service-projects.html

There is also a DONATION OPPORTUNITY:
We will be collecting Diapers (all sizes but especially sizes 4 and up are needed - even opened packages are great!) AND Laundry Detergent at this Stake Relief Society activity to benefit FIRN, a local non-profit organization which helps immigrants and their families.  Please consider donating these needed supplies.  Thanks for your help!

Please be aware that No Child Care will be available at this event.  We suggest that if the need exists, you seek out young women or young men in your ward/branch or reach out through your Ministering brethren & sisters for possible options.

We hope that many of our sisters across the Stake will be able to join us for this event.  It promises to be an uplifting and inspiring day together.

If you have any questions, please let us know at columbiastake.rs@gmail.com.

Start or Start Again & Move Forward

Last Sunday, I was visiting a ward in our stake.  It was their ward conference and President Lund spoke during Sacrament meeting.  Something he said really struck me as important.  He was speaking about Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families.  He was encouraging the members to participate, to use the curriculum to bless their lives.  But what really struck me was when he acknowledged that we will all have times when it is hard for us, when we don't quite get it done, when we miss a week or two or more.  His counsel was to just start again where ever the current weeks reading is.  He said that the effort to do it, the pattern of doing it, is what will matter most.  I've thought about that this past week.  How many of us start something that we know is a good thing and then life overwhelms us and we aren't able to stay as involved, as on top of, as engaged as we planned.  We then get discouraged and frustrated and perhaps abandon the effort completely feeling we will never catch up.  His counsel was encouraging - just start where we are and keep moving forward and when we fall behind - start again and move forward.  There will be blessings that come from simply doing our best to participate.

Since my post a few weeks ago about the Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families, I have had sisters both within our stake and from some who have since moved away, share their experiences.  With their permission, I am sharing them with all of you - in hopes that it will encourage each of us to keep trying.

"I have struggled with an 8 year old trying to keep her away from the snow for the better part of the morning!  (It was a Sunday and she was trying to help her daughter keep the Sabbath Day holy.)  I had to think of something quick!  So once I told her Church was cancelled I said ‘they’ sent us a lesson to do at home.  So I started with a children’s bible video (from the Gospel App), we talked about the Angel Gabriel, Mary & Elisabeth.  And watched 2 more of the videos in the Bible series.  We also read a bit of the children’s version of the New Testament.  I tell you....reading the children’s version is so helpful in my journey as well!" 

-Star Miller

"Someone got her first set of scriptures…so everything needs to be underlined.  Someone else is taking this home study by storm and taking copious notes every lesson.  Going strong on week three (had to document while we were still on top of our game)."

-Darice Auston


"I just have to share how much we have loved the "Come Follow Me' program in our home. I will admit, I worried that I would have to do a lot of nagging to get our whole family together on a daily basis, but instead, it has been the most beautiful bonding experience. I don't think we have ever had the opportunity to share so much about what truly matters in life with each other. No one complains, everyone participates, everyone takes turn leading the discussion. In just a month, it has blessed us so profoundly. I know this program was inspired by a Heavenly Father who loves us, has faith in us and knows how much we need each other every day. I am so grateful for President Nelson and this powerful program. I never dreamed with our uber busy lives that we would be able to squeeze in another thing, but the time is always there! Sometimes, it doesn't happens until 10 PM, but it almost always happens and that is a true miracle. We have missed a few days and that's ok. We don't beat ourselves up, because we truly miss having missed our time as a family. In fact, our boys will actually remind us--knock me over with a feather!"

-Alex Franco

I recently read again two of the General Conference talks about the Sunday meeting adjustments and the Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families.  I felt the Spirit whisper clearly to my soul the truth in these inspired changes and focus.  I felt a desire to claim fully the promised blessings.

"The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining."  (Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson, October 2018)

"We are confident that members will be blessed in extraordinary ways. -- The announcements made today will result in profound blessings for those who enthusiastically embrace the adjustments and seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost."  (Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Elder Quentin L. Cook, October 2018)

My own family experiences were admittedly awkward at the start, but are becoming more genuinely enjoyable.  It has provided an opportunity for conversations that are helping us share and articulate our thoughts, our understandings, our beliefs in a way that we have rarely done.  I am grateful for this inspired opportunity.  And I'm grateful to know that there is no perfect, one right way to do this.  The only "right way" is to try.  Consistently trying is what will bring us the blessings.

-Lorie Pierce

A Home Centered Learning Experience

We are preparing to start week three with the new Come Follow Me for Individuals & Families Curriculum.  I very  much appreciated the remarks made in Stake Conference last weekend by James Mitchell, our recently released Stake President.  He shared that his family's experience that first week was a work in progress and not perfect.  That made me feel so much better about our own rather tenuous first week's attempt.  I don't know how it's been going for anyone else, but I thought perhaps sharing our family's experiences and thoughts might be helpful to others.

Our family at home consists of just me, my husband and our 24 year old son, but for the first few days we also had our 21 year old daughter home participating.  I'll be honest it was rough starting.  That first week's material was hard to feel we were getting any real scripture reading or discussion going.  Our family has always been consistent in daily scripture reading together - granted not much discussion - but always reading together.  So that first week was VERY different from our norm.  We all agreed that we would stick with it and find our new norm.  This second week has been better.  As we read Matthew 1 and Luke 1 along with the supporting materials included in the outline, we found we were having better and less forced discussions - more sharing of ideas and insights.  I can see how this pattern will serve to strengthen our relationships.  Communicating on a deeper level is always good.

Our daughter returned to college at the end of that first week and on that Sunday evening she and her roommates held their own "family" discussion using the Come Follow Me outline.  They invited other friends and ward members to join them.  She wasn't sure going in just how uncomfortable or forced that group discussion might be.  But she shared with me the following day this: "The apartment study was really good. Ended up being small which was nice and there was really good discussion."  She is hopeful that they will be able to build on that first success and as result find a greater portion of the Spirit in their apartment and in their relationships.  She is also committed to spending more personal study time in the scriptures - looking at both the Come Follow Me materials and continuing her personal reading of the Book of Mormon.  She has learned for herself the great blessings that come from daily time with the Book of Mormon.

Our oldest daughter is married with two young daughters (ages 5 and 2).  I asked her about their experiences so far.  Here is what she shared: "I really like using the Primary manual  (Come Follow Me For Primary) as a supplement because not all the family scripture study ideas are workable for young children.  Kate came home from her first day of class and asked me directly if I had a testimony and if I would share it with her.  She has never been that direct before and it was amazing!  I complimented her incredible teacher afterward."  Our daughter also commented: "Just establishing a habit of reading and discussing the scriptures with your young kids is more important than always covering the assigned materials.  Ask questions. What does that story mean to you? Be actively reading, not passively reading."

Our oldest son is married.  He and his wife started reading and discussing the Book of Mormon as they were dating, so time with the scriptures was foundational in their relationship.  I asked them how this new approach was working for them.  They responded with: "We're really enjoying it!  We also teach Primary so we like how the lessons align for every age group and we're able to talk with our Primary kids about the same things we've been studying together."

I think for everyone this will be a work in progress.  A year from now everything will feel and look differently.  It will be an ever changing - hopefully ever improving - experience. Our family has committed to sticking with it even when it might not always be great.  We know that there will be blessings that come, unexpected blessings, simply from engaging and following our prophet.

-Lorie Pierce

2018 A Year in Review

This has been a year of changes!  In June 2018, Kim Olivier was released as second counselor in the Stake Relief Society presidency.  She was replaced by Mendy Hunter of the Savage Mill Ward.  Then in December 2018, Cindy Erekson was released pending her move to Illinois and with her release, her counselors Lisa Larson and Mendy Hunter were also released.  Sister Debbie Wood was called as the new Stake Relief Society president with Camille Lund as First Counselor and Mendy Hunter as Second counselor.  They were sustained on 2 December 2018.  Lorie Pierce remained as Stake Relief Society Secretary.

Mendy Hunter (2nd Counselor), Cindy Erekson (Presdent), Lisa Larson (1st Counselor) - June 2018

Camille Lund (1st Counselor), Debbie Wood (President), Mendy Hunter (2nd Counselor) - December 2018

In addition to these changes, we have experienced the shift from twice yearly General Women’s Meetings becoming once yearly General Women’s Session of Conference, curriculum changes with the introduction of Council Sundays, the changes regarding Ministering replacing Visiting Teaching, and most recently the announcement of the 2 hour Sunday schedule with the introduction of Come Follow Me for home study.  It has been an exciting time to be part of the Church and part of the Relief Society.

Our Stake Relief Society held an activity in the Spring at which we served breakfast to 167 sisters and listened to an inspiring and uplifting message given by Sister Sandra Turley.  She helped us focus on Ministering in our lives personally and in our service to those around us.  We were richly blessed by the Spirit as Sister Turley shared the gift of her voice and her heart and her testimony of the Savior.

Lisa Larson, Sandra Turley & Daughters, Cindy Erekson, Kim Olivier - 28 April 2018

At our 2017 Stake Relief Society Women’s Conference, we began a quilt.  With the help of the Hampstead Ward Young Women, that quilt was completed and donated to a homeless shelter in April 2018.

The Stake Relief Society presidency held two leadership training meetings with the ward and branch Relief Society presidencies during 2018.  We discussed Ministering, Council Sundays and the 2 hour Sunday schedule change as well as local concerns.  Each meeting was held as a council meeting to practice and reinforce the principle of counseling together.

We again in December were assigned to provide meals to the missionaries serving at the Washington DC Temple Visitor’s Center during their Festival of Lights.  This year we were assigned 6 days and sisters from the following wards/branches fulfilled this assignment: Columbia 1st, Columbia 2nd, Clarksville, Ellicott City, Eldersburg, and Savage Mill.  Thank you to the sisters who helped us accomplish this task!

-Lorie Pierce

Stake RS Secretary