A Legacy of Faith and Service - Post Five

Sister Ninon McGinn served as our Stake Relief Society President from 2006-2010.  Her presidency began their term with a dinner for the sisters prior to the General Relief Society Broadcast at the end of September 2006.  They used the theme "It'll be a Party Getting to Know You".  With this one activity they set the tone for the next several years of inviting the sisters throughout the stake to become acquainted with one another and to view ourselves as part of the whole.  Their efforts for this first event were well received.  The normal attendance for the pre-broadcast social had been averaging about 190 sisters.  That year, they had 235 sisters come!  Minus the struggle to seat and feed all the extra sisters - it was a welcome surprise.

During the years which Sister McGinn served, Relief Society itself underwent some "re-construction".  Under the direction of the General Relief Society Presidency, there were a series of changes to how the program was implemented within wards/branches.  Once such change was related to the names we gave our meetings and activities.  For decades they were known as Homemaking Meetings and then in the early 2000's were called "Home, Family and Personal Enrichment Meetings". The next step in those changes was to have "Enrichment Meetings" become the new title for all non-Sunday Relief Society meetings.  By 2010 with the publication of our current version of Handbook 2, the title was again changed.  This time to simply call everything Relief Society meetings - whether on a Sunday or weekday.  The scope and purpose remained ever the same to build personal testimony, strengthen home & family, and provide relief by serving others.

On a stake level, Sister McGinn and her presidency worked to offer meetings that would support the efforts of the wards/branches and provide the sisters throughout the stake a chance to associate, learn and serve together.  Themes for those meetings included:  "Be Ye Doers of the Word and Not Hearers Only", "Around the World in 80 Bites", "Spring into Service", "Learn, Do, Become", "Provident Living for Turbulent Times", "All is Safely Gathered In", "We'll All Work Together".

Humanitarian Aid became an ever increasing desire of the sisters within the stake and the Stake Relief Society Presidency was able to offer those opportunities on a scale which the wards/branches could not.  It was marvelous to enter the cultural hall at the Stake Center and see the room filled with sisters working together to bless the lives of people they would never meet.  Those activities gave us a sense of belonging to a truly remarkable organization - one with a global reach.

I had a unique opportunity to get to know Ninon during her time as president.  I served as a ward Relief Society president during her years as Stake Relief Society President.  I appreciated her wisdom and willingness to counsel with me about concerns I had.  She demonstrated in all that she did her love for the sisters in our Stake.  She was and still is a great example of discipleship.  She and her husband are currently in Peru, where he is presiding as mission president for the the Lima South Mission.

- Lorie Pierce

A Stake of Zion

Last Sunday, my ward Relief Society discussed the chapter in the Ezra Taft Benson manual entitled "Strengthen thy Stakes".  It struck me as really good timing to have that lesson within a few days of receiving an invitation from our Stake President to prepare for our upcoming Stake Conference.

I really appreciated the correlation our teacher drew.  As we discussed the chapter, she created two lists on the chalkboard - neither of which had a heading.  At the end of our lesson, she wrote "Give" and "Get" over the columns.  It was a great visual for us to see how we can help strengthen our stake and be blessed by being part of our stake.  One of the most important things I could see was that the greatest blessings to our families come through the Priesthood ordinances and that Priesthood authority is held in our Stake Presidency.

President Benson taught, "Each stake, presided over by three high priests, and supported by twelve men known as a high council, becomes a miniature church to the Saints in a specific geographic area. The purpose is to unify and perfect the members who live in those boundaries by extending to them the Church programs, ordinances, and gospel instruction."

Details on our upcoming Stake Conference were provided by President Mitchell in an email sent out last week.  In case you didn't receive it, I am including it here:

Dear Brother and Sisters,

The Columbia Stake Conference will be held January 8-10, 2016.  Elder William R. Titera of the Seventy will preside.  We invite endowed members to attend a special temple meeting on Friday, January 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the Priesthood room.  Adults are invited to the Saturday evening session on January 9th at 7:00pm in the Stake Center.  The Sunday general session will start at 10:00am and will be held at the Stake Center, with a live broadcast to the Clarksville and Hampstead meetinghouses. Please attend the location that is most convenient for you and your family.

It is wonderful to have a visiting authority coming to our stake conference, and we welcome the counsel Elder Titera will provide.  I know this is a busy time of year, so please mark your calendars and make conference attendance a priority.  I look forward to seeing you, and I pray we will all come prepared for a spiritual experience.

I hope you have a magnificent, Christ-centered Christmas season.  May the Lord bless you and yours.

James Mitchell
President Columbia Maryland Stake

Our family is looking forward to gathering in January with all of you - our Stake of Zion - to be instructed and uplifted.

-Lorie Pierce

How Has Relief Society Blessed Your Life?

Cynthia Knudson - Columbia 2nd Ward - Stake Primary President

I have been so blessed by being a member of the Relief Society!  It has always been a safe place for me.  I love how we learn something just because we are able to share freely with each other.  Questions and prayers are answered every week in Relief Society.  You can always find someone to help if you don't know how to do something.  I have learned to teach and to serve.  To love and be loved.  My dearest friends are there with me in the Relief Society learning, teaching, and serving with me.  I've enjoyed being a part of two different Relief Society Presidencies and the bonds formed with those sisters are unbreakable.  I have been stretched way beyond what I thought I could endure and have gained a greater capacity to love.  I'm so grateful for my loving Father in Heaven who knows me and what I need to grow and develop as a wife and mother and a woman in this day and age.  

P.S.  Whenever I have free time I can always find something to do in my closet full of unfinished crafts!  (I was usually too busy talking)

Jeri Tidwell - Savage Mill Ward - Stake Primary 1st Counselor

One of my most favorite stories is the time we had just moved to Columbia from Oregon. I was 30 weeks pregnant when we moved. One night I was doing the dishes in our new condo. I was crying as I loaded the dishwasher because I didn't know what I would do with my 2 year old son when I went into labor. I wanted my husband to be able to be with me.  As soon as these thoughts went through my head, my phone rang. It was Trisha Holgato and she happily told me that she was my new visiting teacher. We chatted for a moment, and set up an appointment. Then she said, "Can I take your little boy for you when you go to the hospital?" What a direct answer to my prayer. I was so thankful. 

The day came, and we agreed that she would meet us at the hospital and she would pick up my son. I was so worried he would be upset, and not want to go with her. He saw Trisha walk in the room, and he grabbed his bag and started to leave. He looked back at her from the doorway and said, "Are you coming?" We all laughed. 

I know that Heavenly Father knows us personally. I know he cares about the smallest details in our lives. I know we can pray to him for any need, whether it be silly or serious. I know that the Relief Society is an inspired program and that we are all blessed to be apart of it.

Beverly Gams - Eldersburg Ward - Stake Primary 2nd Counselor

Relief Society has blessed my life in purposeful ways.  All of which have come through acts of service given & received.  As I have fulfilled callings in Relief Society I have gained a great love & appreciation for those I work with & serve.   However,  I feel the most influence & special caring moments have happened through the visiting teaching program.  Visiting teaching has been an opportunity to develop & nourish meaningful friendships with amazing, talented ladies who are good examples to me.  My companions have always been such faithful sisters that I have enjoyed working with & who have blessed me in the various stages of motherhood & wifehood.  I am very grateful for the visiting teaching program.  Relief Society blesses me because it helps me be more Christlike & to understand His merciful atonement which enables me to forgive and be forgiven.  This fills me with immense joy. What a blessing!

Robin Mikolyski - Columbia 2nd Ward - Stake Primary Secretary

Relief Society has blessed my life in so many ways. First of all, whether I changed wards within a town, or moved across the country, I was able to make friends quickly through Relief Society. Second, I've appreciated the chances I've had to hold callings in Relief Society, getting to know the sisters through teaching and service. I love how much I can "forget myself and go to work" (referencing President Hinckley). I am not able to attend Relief Society Sunday meetings very often right now because I have a one-year-old who is too loud and restless to join me, and I really miss the Spirit I feel as we learn Gospel truths together. It is truly an inspired program that I am grateful for! 

Did You Know? - Columbia Maryland Family History Center

Family History research and projects are some of my favorite things to do.  There are many resources available to help people of all interest levels and experience.  Locally, we have a great resource available to us at the Columbia Maryland Family History Center.  It is located in the lower level of the Stake Center.  The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. They should be assist you with most family history situations.

Directors: Wanda & Britt Franklin
Assistant Directors: Mary Finnigan and Samantha Boden

Center Hours can be found on their website at:  https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Columbia_Maryland_Family_History_Center

Appointments can be arranged and are especially useful if you would like help with a specialized topic. Request an appointment by sending an email to MD_Columbia@ldsmail.net. Specify if you would like to come during a weekday, evening, or Saturday.

Choose any family history topic and at least one of the Center staff members may be able to help you. Some options are:

1.       Getting started with family history

2.       Online resources such as FamilySearch and Ancestry.com

3.       Creating a family tree at FamilySearch Family Tree

4.       Putting photographs on FamilySearch Family Tree

5.       Copying photographs or slides onto a flash drive

6.       Genealogy software such as Ancestral Quest, Family Tree Maker, and Legacy

7.       Adoption research--finding information about birth relatives

8.      DNA testing

9.       Records at the Library of Congress, Maryland Archives, and National Archives

10.   Countries such as Canada (including French Canadian, Ontario, and Saskatchewan), China (including Chinese character records for Japan), England, Germany (including old German script), Ireland, Italy, Korea, Poland, Romania, Russian language, Scotland, Swiss-Italian (Latin), Switzerland, Ukraine, etc.

11.    Most U.S. states, including specialties such as California Gold Rush, Mennonite, early New England, Pennsylvania Dutch (German Baptist Brethren), Quaker, etc.

If you are on Facebook - check out their new page - Columbia Maryland Family History Center.  Like & Share the page and they would love you to post your family history successes there to help encourage others.

In addition to the regular Center hours, the Center Staff is committed to offering classes and workshops throughout the year to help us increase our understanding, experience and abilities as we involve ourselves in the great work of family history.  These opportunities are publicized through the ward/branch announcements & bulletins and on the Center Facebook page.

Someone recently asked me, "Why is doing family history work so important?"  I explained to her that the answer lies in understanding the Priesthood ordinances and the covenants we make in the Temple.  We have a knowledge that life doesn't end when we die - that families can be families for eternity - that our time on this earth has a purpose.  As I talked to her of the power of the sealing ordinance and of the promise brought by Elijah, the Spirit bore witness to her of the need for her to take her parents and grandparents names to the temple - to offer to them the same opportunity she had to accept the ordinance of baptism and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Our ancestors are waiting and hoping that our hearts will turn to them.  Let's not disappointment them.

-Lorie Pierce