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."
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!) ANDLaundry 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.
In preparation to listen to Conference this weekend, I've spent the past several weeks listening the talks from the April 2018 General Conference again. As I've pondered over the past six months of my life and how the inspiration I received during that last Conference has help guide me these past months, I have felt an anticipation for hearing the messages of this weekend's Conference. One of the messages that sunk deep into my heart was President Nelson's talk Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives. This sentence from that talk grabbed my attention - as I'm sure it did for many others - "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."
I am grateful to know how to recognize the influence of and impressions from the Holy Ghost in my life. But how did I come to this point and how would I help others who aren't sure if they know how to recognize that influence? That is harder for me to answer because it is such a personal feeling - a feeling that is difficult to describe and a feeling that I know is not exactly replicated between people. We each have the ability to recognize when we are feeling the Holy Ghost speak to our minds and our hearts, but because we are each unique that experience will be similar but not exactly the same for each individual.
I also loved the talk by President Eyring His Spirit to Be with You from the April 2018 Conference. He helps us see the pattern to follow that will allow us to receive the Holy Ghost and recognize that influence in our lives. "More precious than a memory of events is the memory of the Holy Ghost touching our hearts and His continuing affirmation of truth. More precious than seeing with our eyes or remembering words spoken and read is recalling the feelings that accompanied the quiet voice of the Spirit. Rarely I have felt it exactly as the travelers on the road to Emmaus did—as a soft but unmistakable burning in the heart. More often it is a feeling of light and quiet assurance. We have the priceless promise of the Holy Ghost as a companion, and we also have true directions on how to claim that gift. These words are said by the Lord’s authorized servant with his hands on our head: “Receive the Holy Ghost.” At that moment you and I have the assurance He will be sent. But our obligation is to choose to open our hearts to receive the ministration of the Spirit over a lifetime." He continues on from there to lay out the pattern for us to follow.
I actually wasn't planning to publish a post this weekend, but a feeling today of needing to share - an impression of what to share - kept approaching my mind and so I began to write. There in itself is an example of the influence of the Spirit. I could have dismissed the thought, but over my years in trying to invite the Holy Ghost to be my companion, I have found that when I simply follow the impressions - impressions that maybe I don't understand the why of, but that the motivation is good and is accompanied by the gentle persistence of a sometimes urgent but often just insistent feeling - then the action is always accompanied by a feeling of approval. It's Difficult to put into words. I have tried to take as a guide the verses in Moroni 7:13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. 24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; And I always recall the words of Sister Camilla E. Kimball “Never suppress a generous thought.” (as quoted by Sister Julie B. Beck, "Relief Society: A Sacred Work" Oct 2009 General Conference)
The two experiences that I felt impressed to share are these:
As I have pondered about Ministering and looked for ways to develop my personal ministry as a disciple of Christ, I have noticed something. I do get impressions regarding those that I have a specific assignment for, but often I have impressions for others within my sphere of influence. I have a young friend who has moved away from the area, but with whom I have kept in touch through messaging apps and social media. On occasion these past few months, I have come across uplifting messages, quotes etc. and have felt a very direct impression to share these with my young friend and I have done so. I don't know much about this friend's day to day life - what struggles they may be having, but I know the Lord does. I will likely never know why I have felt it important to send these messages along, but I trust the Lord to know and I trust that as I continue to follow this pattern that this friend will be blessed. I believe that this trust is at the core of Ministering. We ask the Lord to help us know what He needs us to do and He provides us direction through feelings and thoughts that we receive regarding His children.
I love family history and temple work! I have felt that my involvement in this work is truly part of my personal ministry. I have recently been correcting the way I have attached sources from my research on a Scottish website to FamilySearch. In that process, I have been reviewing families that I worked on a few years ago. Last week as I worked, a Hint for my 1st Cousin 3x Removed, Mary Ross, came up. I opened that Hint and dismissed it rather quickly. But within minutes the insistent thought came to my mind "look at that again". I did and again my response was "there's just not enough here to make the connection.", so I moved on. Again within minutes that insistent thought "look at that again" came back. This time I said "okay if this is her - how would I prove it?" As I began the process of deductive reasoning and mapping things out, I began to find the records that helped me prove she wasn't the mother listed on the record -- BUT -- she was the grandmother! I had no information on her daughter who was listed in the record - didn't even know she existed. In the end of the research process, I had found 6 cousins - NONE of which have had temple ordinances completed for them. I went to bed that night with gratitude in my heart for the insistence of the Spirit, for my own willingness to pay attention and with a definite sense of relief and gratitude from those 6 cousins beyond the veil. They knew I had found them and they know I will see their ordinances are completed.
Going back to President Nelson's statement: "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." We live at an amazing time and yet a time when fear, anxiety, doubt and confusion can sweep us along in a fast and unfriendly flood. I think about my children, my grandchildren, all my family and friends and you my sisters in the Stake and I want for them, for you to know that: I know that what President Nelson says is true. I know because in my own hardest days, it has been and always will be the tether to the Holy Ghost that brings me peace, calms my fears, guides me to answers and gives me hope. I offer my testimony that as we seek to do those things which invite the Holy Ghost to be our companion, we will gain confidence in recognizing His influence, in following the impressions we receive and we will be able to understand for ourselves how He speaks to us individually. I chose the picture for this post because it reminds me in a personal way that when we stop to look, we can see the tender mercies of the Lord in the details of our lives and it is through the Holy Ghost that we recognize the Lord's tender mercies and His love.
- Lorie Pierce (Stake RS Secretary)
Written Friday, 5 October 2018 - Published Sunday, 7 October 2018
The Washington DC temple closing is rapidly approaching. I thought it might be useful to provide a few links and details about the Philadelphia Temple - which will be our nearest temple during the closure. Some important things to know: - You need to schedule appointments to participate in the sessions (including baptism, initiatory, endowment and sealings). - There is a very limited number of endowment sessions available daily/weekly. - There is clothing rental available, but may be limited. A good starting resource for details on using the Philadelphia temple is the lds website page for temples. Here is the link for the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple: https://www.lds.org/temples/details/philadelphia-pennsylvania-temple This next link provides a nice history of the temple with interesting facts - such as it being the 152nd operating temple: https://ldschurchtemples.org/philadelphia/ This link provides help for travel to and parking at the Philadelphia Temple: http://www.mormontemples.org/eng/articles/travelers-guide-to-the-philadelphia-pennsylvania-temple
Stake Temple Trips to Philadelphia Temple
The Stake has organized two Philadelphia Temple bus trips, with a cost of $15 per seat: Saturday, March 17th, and Saturday, April 21st. Contact Sister Knudson for more info, and to reserve your spot: columbiastaketempletrips@gmail.com or 443-574-5257.
We would also encourage sisters to use the Stake Relief Society Facebook page and your ward/branch Facebook and Google groups, etc. to organize smaller trips and carpools.
Attending the temple will be more of a time commitment during this closure, but it is still a doable thing. We can and should go as often as our circumstances allow. That will look different for each of us, but the Lord will see our effort and bless that effort and through those efforts we will see blessings come into our lives, our families, our homes.
For years I have been on the fringes of Family History. I'm a dabbler. I take a class or hear an inspiring talk and get excited now and then, but I've never felt that drive that some people feel. You know
"
those people
"
...the ones who have spent hours, days
, months and years digging through files, scouring old records, recording histories and traveling to check out cemeteries in far off locations.
Sure, I faithfully go to the Temple and act as proxy for people who's existence has been discovered and ordinances readied by "those people". I serve each week as an ordinance worker, and help countless people receive the saving ordinances of the Gospel and I must admit, I've envied the looks of joy and satisfaction on the faces of others as they've done the work for their very own ancestors.
Well, recently I have been doing the work for some of my ancestors. Cousins 6 times removed, wives of 8th granduncles, etc. I don't know these people. They are not even in my direct line, but they are family none the less, and some share family names of my direct line.
A few months ago I started using an app called Take A Name. This app quickly searches through thousands of records in Family Search, identifies people you are related to and shows you what ordinances need to be done. It also shows sources so you can verify if enough information is available to correctly identify this person and link them to others. The first time I clicked on, I found 24 ancestors with 56 ordinances ready to be done. The next time I found another 25. It's easy to reserve names that you'd like to work on, so that when next you go to Family Search, the names are there and ready to be printed.
Is this a lazy way to do genealogy? Some would say yes. Others might realize how wonderfully easy modern technology has made this, and would gratefully thank all "those people" who have researched, indexed and paved the way for this great work.
So, now that I'm doing the work for my own family, do I ALWAYS have a spiritual experience and the confirmation that my work has been accepted? No...not always...but let me just share one sweet experience that happened in Initiatory. I brought 5 names with me. 5 ancestors of my own. The very first one was my Grandmother's cousin. As I said her name, tears began to pour down my face. I honestly don't think they were my tears. I was acting in her behalf, and I truly feel that her tears were streaming down my face. The ordinance worker began to weep, and by the time we'd made it through, all 3 workers were crying. Even the initiatory director walked down and checked on us saying she could feel the Spirit so strongly that she knew something wonderful was happening. I will forever be grateful for this experience. I don't expect it every time, and maybe it'll never happen quite like that again...but I do know that I look forward to meeting this sister someday. Now she truly is my sister!
It's a busy time of year and there are lots of things going on within our Stake. I thought a quick post with a few reminders would be a good idea this week. * Christmas Wishes to our Missionaries 2017 * I published a blog post a few weeks ago inviting our sisters and their families to send Christmas cards to the missionaries serving from our Stake. If you missed that here is the link to the blog post and a direct link to the address Google Doc. We do have one missionary who just recently left - Elder Campora - and I will be adding his address as soon as I can confirm it. Christmas Wishes to our Missionaries blog post Missionary Addresses Google Doc * Church History Fireside - “Church History, Doubt, and Discipleship” * Sunday, November 19 @ 7:00 pm at the Stake Center
Brief Description
In the 21st century, it is easy to find sources that portray the Church’s history as secret, strange, or controversial. At the same time, the Church is publishing more historical sources and statements than ever before. Church History Library Director Keith Erekson will discuss skills and attributes than can help you make sense of Church history for yourself and be prepared to help others.
About the Speaker
Keith A. Erekson serves as the director of the Church History Library, the home of the Church’s most sacred historical treasures. He is an award-winning author and teacher as well as a popular speaker at BYU Education Week, youth conferences, and other LDS events. He grew up near Baltimore, Maryland, served a mission in Brazil, earned degrees in history and business, and worked in auto manufacturing, publishing, and higher education. He lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife and four daughters and currently serves as his ward’s young men’s president.
* Interfaith Thanksgiving Service *
Sister Cindy Erekson, our Stake RS President, will be one of the presenters at this event.
* Stake RS Christmas Cookie Recipe Swap *
We will be publishing a Stake RS blog post on Dec 10 with Christmas cookie recipes from our sisters around the Stake. Please send your favorite Christmas cookie recipe (and a picture if you can) to me at loriepierce.rs@gmail.com by Dec 6 to ensure it is included. Thanks!
* December Semi Impromptu Stake RS Temple Trip *
I will be going to the Temple on Wednesday, Dec 6 - 10am session. If you would like to carpool with me, please meet me at the Stake Center at 8:45am. We will depart at 8:50am. Others who want to meet up with us at the Temple - wonderful!
* The Messiah Sing *
* Stake RS Web Indexing Group *
We have created a Web Indexing Group for our Stake Relief Society to join together to collectively contribute to this effort. To join this group you need to: Login to familysearch.org
Click on Indexing
Click on Web Indexing
Scroll down that page until you see Groups
Click on the Find Groups link and then click Find Groups again in that drop down menu
In the Search box on the left of the Find Groups page type in Columbia Maryland Stake Relief Society and then click Search
You should then see the group listed on the right of the screen with a Request to Join button
(Our group picture is the same one of the Washington DC Temple used in the blog)
I will be monitoring those requests and get everyone in ASAP.
If you are new to Web Indexing - it is recommended that you take the Guided Tour found on the Indexing Overview page. You can also find many helpful articles by clicking on Help Resources on the Indexing page. Simply type Web Indexing into the Search bar and you can scroll through the articles. If you have questions, feel free to ask me at loriepierce.rs@gmail.com.
As we look ahead to the lengthy closure of the Washington DC Temple, we need to be doing what we can to prepare for that interval of change. Recently, while dropping off family file names at the temple, I picked up the following letter from our temple president. I felt it was important to publish here, so that the information could be further distributed. If you click on either "document" it will open in a larger view for easier reading.
Being a teenage convert to the church Family History was a completely foreign concept to me. I had never thought about family members that I had never met, much less about those hundreds of years before my time. Unfortunately, it wasn't until I had kids of my own that I actually started thinking about these family members. But once I did, I couldn't stop thinking about them. I knew nothing about any of my ancestors. How was I supposed to know who I was if I didn't know who they were? And being the only member of the church in my family I was feeling the pressure to get the temple work done for my ancestors. However, I was completely overwhelmed and at a loss as to where to start. Fortunately, Heavenly Father knew that I would need help once I got started on this project and blessed me with a wonderful sister in our local family history center and a family history class provided by our ward. Family history wasn't always easy and though there were times of frustration I kept trying. A couple of years later through FamilySearch and Ancestry, I was able to find a distant cousin of my mother's who, though not a member of the church, had been doing family history for my mother's family. This was an amazing blessing to me since at that point I had been having no luck finding any of this information. Then just recently I found out that my great grandma, who also wasn't a member of the church, had been doing family history for her side of the family for years. After she passed away my uncles decided that since I was doing family history now they would pass on all of her things to me. Within these things were some old Family Ledgers. For the last 3 days, pretty much straight from 7am to midnight, I have been sorting through these precious treasures unable to put them down! I have been putting all the names into digital family group sheets. 82 group sheets and 142 family names later I finally got it all done! The entries ranged from the oldest one, who born in 1782, all the way down to my father. When I look at all these family names I now feel that I know these individuals even though I have never met them. I feel a deep love for them and look forward to taking their names to the temple so that we can all be sealed into our family chain throughout the eternities. Through the years I have come to love family history and the sense of connection and love it gives me. I'm so thankful for those who have preceded me who have worked so hard on our family history and the blessing that I have to carry on where they left off. Family history has helped me discover who my ancestors are so I can better know who I am. -Jessi Eberle Ellicott City Ward
The Washington DC Temple is closed now and will re-open on Tue, Oct 3 (The Philadelphia Temple will close 9/18 to 10/2). The DC Temple will be open just five more months before closing for multiple years in early March 2018.
Temple and family history work is an important responsibility of our dispensation. We have been encouraged by the Apostles to FIND names of ancestors, TAKE the names to the temple, and TEACH others to do the same. President Nelson has also asked members to make a sacrifice of time this year (2017) to work on family history work. With our temple closed this month, this is a perfect time to find an ancestor and print the card to take to the temple. If you have recently done this, please help teach someone else how to do it. You do not need to hold a temple recommend in order to participate in family history work.
Getting started in family history work can seem challenging, but there is help available. Please reach out to a ward/branch Temple and Family History consultants, visiting teachers, home teachers, or other members. We will also open the Family History Center on Sunday 9/17 and Sunday 9/24 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., so please stop by to get started.
I realize that everyone is very busy, but the Lord has blessed us with the Sabbath to do His work. In addition, we could use ward/branch temple nights, date nights, youth events, etc. to seek out our ancestors and prepare their names to take to the temple.
The Lord has prepared the way for this work. Included below are links to helpful resources to help learn the doctrine, get started, find ancestors in a full family tree, and teach others. May the Lord bless you as you seek your ancestors and provide ordinances for them. Your ancestors are waiting.
I recently felt impressed to ask Sister Debra Burt to share her thoughts on family history work with us. I love what she shared!
"I feel like the tortoise and definitely NOT like the hare in doing family history. The slow work, bit by bit, is how I've been able to participate in family history. I was feeling worried recently that I really haven't done anything of significance in the years I've been plodding along. Then, I rooted through my research book and pulled together all the temple ordinance cards that I've been able to complete. My cards actually made a small pile. It made me smile to think I had played a role in bringing ordinances to all those family members. It gave me a boost to keep plugging along. I think eventually I will be able to pick up my pace and do more. It's a joyful work." - Debra Burt We do sometimes wonder if we are making any progress as we wind our way through our family tree. Research can be tedious and take time. Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees. We keep seeing branches and roots and leaves - all the bits and pieces. But when we step back and look from a high perspective, we can see the whole landscape. We can see the individuals and families that our work has brought the blessings of the Gospel and saving ordinances to. We can see our family woven together and extending in all directions as a forest covering the landscape of our lives. So while you may feel your work is moving slowly - remember that the speed is not what matters. Just as with the tortoise - keep trying, keep moving and you will find your progress bears fruit.
Have you received an email from FamilySearch letting you know you have ancestors who have temple work ready to be done? Or have you discovered one of the several family history apps that help you locate ancestors who's temple work needs to be done?
FamilySearch and the other websites and apps are wonderful tools that facilitate our efforts to take our ancestors names to the temple for ordinance work. However, with each email, alert, notification, etc there is a caution that needs to be noted. These are possibilities. We still have a responsibility to verify the information provided to ensure that our ancestors are accurately listed and linked and their ordinances are done correctly. Often people are very excited with these notifications only to find that there are duplicates of their ancestors in FamilyTree and once merged the temple ordinance work is found to already be complete.
Part of our responsibility to to clean up these records - to find those duplicates - to correct the information associated with them. Part of our responsibility is to preserve the records associated with these ancestors - their stories, their photos and their documentation as found through verifying hints and other information on FamilySearch and other research sites. We are not processing numbers through a system - we are linking our families together through data, through memories and recorded experiences and ultimately through ordinances. This process of verification, research and preservation helps us come to know them - it helps to bind them in our hearts as well as through the ordinances.
“Jesus Christ gave His life as a vicarious atonement. He resolved the ultimate question raised by Job. He overcame death for all mankind, which we could not do for ourselves. We can, however, perform vicarious ordinances and truly become saviors on Mount Zion for our own families in order that we, with them, might be exalted as well as saved.”—Elder Quentin L. Cook, “Roots and Branches.”
Should we be disappointed when a notification or hint doesn't result in a name to take to the temple? NO - we should be grateful for the opportunity to come to know that person AND we should recognize where that hint might lead us to. My family line was said to be "all done". But I have found that the sometimes tedious efforts of verification has yielded more fruit than I imagined possible. I have found missing ancestors - ancestors that have been waiting patiently for one of their family to take the time to look. What a joy it is to walk into the temple with those cards in hand and know that the time spent in the looking was time well spent - knowing that those cards with names printed on them represent real people - real people that are my family.
Don't get discouraged in this work. If you need help to get started or to figure an new way through in finding your ancestors, your family that may be missing - reach out to your ward/branch Temple and Family History Consultants. If you don't know who that is - ask your Relief Society leadership. I encourage you to Start - just Start!
I have not only a great love for temple and family history work, but a testimony of it as well. I have felt the promises of Elijah at work in my life and seen it in the lives of my children. I have seen the promises of Elder Bednar regarding our youth's participation in the work fulfilled in the experiences of my daughter, Jessica. I have seen my husband, who never had any interest in the tedium of family history research, allow the Spirit to work in his heart and he has grabbed hold of this work and found his own way to success and satisfaction. Why does it all matter? Because families can be eternal through the sealing power of the Priesthood ordinances - the ordinances need to be performed - every member of the family needs to have the opportunity for those ordinances. Because there is power and peace that comes into our lives as we engage ourselves and our families in the work of salvation.
Turn Our Hearts Series - a Guest Post from Lisa Larson
I LOVE family history! For me, it’s as addicting as chocolate – but with fewer calories and more eternal blessings!
I think my great interest in family history began when I visited my grandmother about 16 years ago and she brought out this huge box of old pictures and began sharing stories about the people in those pictures. Then she shared a family Bible and there were names and dates in there that went back for more than 200 years. Those pictures and those names were part of who I am! They were real people with real stories and I wanted to find out everything I could about them. It’s been a great adventure with many amazing stories along the way. My grandmother passed away not too long after that visit and how I wish I could share all that I have learned with her and ask her more questions. I wish I had taken more opportunities to ask questions from her and from others who have since left this earth.
I have truly felt over the years a turning of my heart towards my fathers. Even as I sit here and should be writing this article for the blog, I opened up my Family Tree on FamilySearch and started looking around at my ancestors to decide what story I might share. I stumbled upon a great-great-great-great-great grandfather and thought I’d look at the record hints that were listed. I was led to Find A Grave and there was a picture of him on it! And it’s a picture I have never seen. He was born in 1794 and just looking at his picture makes me want to learn as much as I can about him. Two and a half hours later and I’m back to writing this post again. See - addicting!!!
I don’t have any amazing stories to share. But I have had some cool experiences and have learned much about how to do the research. Earlier this month I even discovered a missing child. My grandmother’s family is from Canada and I was able to find birth records on FamilySearch. I could have stopped by just seeing that there were records and attaching them to the individuals in my tree, but I chose to look closer at each record. I noticed at the top of the record that it was listed which number child it was for my great-great grandmother. The last child was listed as child #12. I looked at my tree - I only had 11 children. There’s a missing child. I tried to find the child in the birth records, but had no luck. I went to Find a Grave and found the cemetery where some of the family was buried and discovered a child buried there with the right last name. I was able to take his name and I did eventually discover his birth record and his death record with the names of my great great grandparents listed as his parents. Here was my missing child. He died when he was only 1 year old. My heart broke for his mother. To lose a child so young must have been difficult. But he is no longer missing from my family tree and my husband and I will go to the temple and have him sealed to his family soon.
I am a true Maryland native. I was born and raised here – but so were so many of my ancestors. I find ancestors that date back to the 1700s here in Maryland – and some were right here in Howard County. Sometimes I wonder why the Lord has kept me here – but maybe it’s because I have work still to do right here for my family. And I feel so blessed to be able to walk around the places that they once lived and to be able to show my children so that their hearts can also turn to their fathers. As I have searched for my ancestors I have learned about their lives, who they were, where they lived, what they did for a living, and even what they looked like. As I have learned about them, they have become real people to me and I have grown to love them and appreciate them. President Monson has said, “We discover something about ourselves when we learn about our ancestors.”
Technology has advanced so much and the records provided from the Indexing program have really helped to move the work of family history along. My grandfather (my dad’s dad) was born in Italy in 1909 and then came to the US with his parents when he was a year old. He passed away 25 years ago and I never really had a chance to get to know him. My father’s mother passed away when my dad was only 2 years old, so I also never knew her. And my father passed away 20 years ago, so he is no longer available here to help answer my questions. I feel such a desire to learn as much as I can about my grandparents. With the release of so many records to FamilySearch, I have been able to piece together so much about their lives and the lives of their families. For so many years we were at a brick wall on the Italian line, but just in the last few years, my brother and I were able to find all kinds of records from Italy and have now been able to take my father’s line back to Italy to the 1700s.
Last fall, we took a trip to Connecticut for the Hartford Temple open house. My dad’s side of the family is from that area, so we were able to visit several cemeteries around the area, the Catholic church where many weddings and funerals took place, and we ended our adventure with a trip to Ellis Island, where my grandfather and his parents arrived over 100 years ago. It was a great experience for my kids and for me.
I know that as we turn our hearts toward our fathers, the Lord will bless us in our efforts to seek and find and discover our ancestors and their stories and that we will be able to keep our promises to them and provide them with the saving ordinances they have been waiting to receive.
This is a picture from my trip to Connecticut and Massachusetts last fall.
Sisters we enjoyed a wonderful Stake Conference this past weekend. Here are my notes from the Sunday session. I hope they will be helpful to you in recalling the things you heard and the impressions you had.
Brother Ramirez
He spoke of the blessings we receive from the temple. Specifically he talked about his personal blessings from participating as a youth in baptisms for the dead. He bore a strong and firm testimony of the power that comes from standing in holy places and the courage to stand up for what is right.
Sister Bartles
She spoke of what she has done to increase her testimony of the Savior and His Gospel. She said that every time we talk to others about our beliefs and our values we are sharing testimony. We strengthen our testimony in sharing because the Spirit bears witness of the truth.
Sister Valentin
She spoke of ways she has built her faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ. She began by reminding us that faith is a principle of action and that developing faith in Jesus Christ requires practice and work. She then shared three ways that she has been able to build her faith in Jesus Christ.
1. By reading and studying the word of God in the scriptures - reading the teachings of the Savior and His promises to us. The scriptures teach truth and open the door to revelation.
2. Recognizing the importance of prophets - she read from 3 Nephi 5 about the changes the people experienced as they began to listen to the prophets and to remember the Lord. She quoted from President Thomas S. Monson's most recent General Conference talk in April 2017 on the importance of reading the Book of Mormon. She noted that his promise to us was specific: "I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives." 3. Patriarchal blessings provide personal instruction. She provided a personal witness and tender story of feeling the comfort and love from her Heavenly Father and her Savior, Jesus Christ as she read the words of her patriarchal blessing at a time of distress and need. Brother Johnson He began by sharing his personal witness that our stake president, President Mitchell, was called of God. (For those who may be new to the Columbia Stake - this witness was especially tender because Brother Johnson was our stake president for those many years prior to President Mitchell being called. How blessed we have been and continue to be through the humble service of these good men.) Brother Johnson currently serves as a sealer in the Washington DC Temple and he spoke to us about the sealing power. He made special note that the last two verses in the Old Testament (Malachi 4:5-6) are the only two verses of scripture repeated in each of the standard works of scriptures.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the
prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
And
he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
He pointed out that when Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and quoted
these verses, there was the additional phrase "if it were not so" in
verse 6. Brother Johnson bore witness that Elijah the prophet did come
and restore the sealing power which enables us to receive the sealing
ordinances that bind families together forever. He ended with his
witness, his instruction and his invitation - Elijah came and did his part, now
we must do out part. We must become sealed on both sides of the generations.
He encouraged us with urgency to have the temple ordinances part of our
life and the lives of our families.
Sister Folger
She began with the parable of the ten virgins and pointed out that in the Joseph Smith translation of Matthew 25 it reads, "Very I say unto you, ye know me not." rather than "I know you not."
She asked the question, "How do we come to know the Lord?" She answered with these points:
- treat others as He did
- spend time in His house (meaning temples)
- serve God's children by seeking our ancestors and doing temple ordinances for them
- thankfully keep our covenants
- listen to the witness of the Holy Ghost
She concluded with her testimony of the Savior and her witness that by receiving and honoring the ordinances of the temple, we come to know Him.
President Folger
He began by bearing testimony that our stake presidency has been called and is sustained and inspired by God. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to feel the Spirit in stake conference meetings.
He then focused his remarks on the Book of Mormon and the temple ordinances. He compared them both to giving a man a fish and teaching the man how to fish at the same time. The Book of Mormon "feeds us", but it also provides instruction which helps us learn to "feed" ourselves and others. He said that Moroni provided us the perfect formula to seek truth in all things.
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Mormon 10:4-5)
"My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
He then explained that the temple endowment is a special gift of blessings from the Lord (the fish) and that the endowment also teaches us how and empowers us to become like Jesus Christ (teaches us how to fish). He concluded with his testimony of the Savior.
President Peterson He shared the story of the Martin and Willie handcart pioneers and their testimony that through their extreme circumstances and sacrifices, they became acquainted with the Lord. He reminded us that sacrifice has always been part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sacrifice is different individually and generationally. For our generation the real sacrifice is of time - time serving to build Zion and time for the salvation of the living and the dead. He mentioned several things that as we involve ourselves in doing them we sanctify ourselves and others. Home and visiting Teaching, sharing the Gospel, serving in our communities, temple and family history work, Sabbath Day observance, scripture study and prayer. He share the following quote from Sister Carol F. McConkie's talk at the recent General Women Session of General Conference in March 2017: "Most often it is the sacrifices we make to keep our covenants that sanctify us and make us holy." He concluded with his testimony of our Savior as the perfect example of sacrifice. President Towne
He addressed his remarks to the Primary children. He shared a story from his childhood of having the opportunity on a hot day in Arizona to stand outside the temple and shake the hand of the prophet. He said, "It is always great to be at the temple." He told the children that they are not too young to go to the temple. They won't be able to go inside until they are 12 years old, but he told them they can feel peace even from outside. He told them, "Every time I can go to the temple I feel good inside." He encouraged the children in ways that they can participate in temple and family history work: - help your parents know you'll be okay with a babysitter so they can go to the temple - help your parents prepare names for the temple - learn to index - you can maybe read the names better than the old eyes of your parents - you can have your own FamilySearch account when you are 8 years old He said there were 265 days before the closing of the Washington DC Temple (counting from 11 June 2017). He explained that it will be closed for a long time as needed work is done, but that when it reopens there will be events that they as children can be involved with. He encouraged the children to be ready to invite their friends to the temple open house in 2020. He told the children, "There are so many good things about the temple, but the most important thing is that it is the house of the Lord." He bore testimony of the sealing ordinance and encouraged the children to help the Savior in the work of salvation by sharing the gospel with their friends and by helping with temple and family history work. President Mitchell He began by expressing gratitude to the parents for bringing their children to stake conference - for providing that pattern of faith. He also expressed gratitude to the Lord for the many blessings of the Gospel. He reminded the youth of his invitation to read a chapter from the Book of Mormon each day this summer. He encouraged us all to read and study the Book of Mormon daily and he quoted from President Thomas S. Monson's most recent Conference talk in April 2017: "I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives." He told us that temple work - the building of and the work performed inside - is the work of our generation. We need to find our ancestors and take their names to the temple. Our salvation is dependent on theirs. He quoted from President Russell M. Nelson:“I invite you to prayerfully consider what kind of sacrifice—and preferably a sacrifice of time—you can make to do more family history and temple work this year." He encouraged us to do so while the Washington DC temple is still open. He shared from Doctrine and Covenants 98:16 "seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children" and encouraged us to seek diligently for our ancestors. He also shared from Doctrine and Covenants 127, "And again, verily thus saith the Lord: Let the work of my temple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts. And if they persecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men that were before you. For all this there is a reward in heaven." He said he felt this counsel and promise applied to us as well. He then shifted focus and spoke about justice and mercy as principles in the plan of salvation. Adam and Eve received commandments - chose to partake of the fruit and then faced consequences for their choice. There are two types of death - physical (a separation of body and spirit) and spiritual (a separation from God). The probationary time of this life is all part of the plan of happiness. The consequences of Adam and Eve's choice (known as the Fall) were perfectly just. The atonement overcame the consequences of the Fall and provides mercy. The atonement provides the way for all of us to return to our Father in Heaven - whether we can stay there is the question. He shared a story told by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in General Conference April 2015 about two brothers climbing without any safety precautions.
President Mitchell continued - We make foolish decisions. We will always fall short. We should strive to make good choices. If we break just one commandment, we suffer consequences, but all it not lost because we have a Savior! Let us always look to Him. The joy of mercy is that it overcomes justice. The choice is ours to accept the atonement - to believe in Him. He spoke about what unconditional love truly is and shared this from Elder D. Todd Christofferson's General Conference October 2016 talk: "There are many ways to describe and speak of divine love. One of the terms we hear often today is that God’s love is 'unconditional.' While in one sense that is true, the descriptor unconditional appears nowhere in scripture. Rather, His love is described in scripture as 'great and wonderful love,' 'perfect love,' 'redeeming love,' and 'everlasting love.' These are better terms because the word unconditional can convey mistaken impressions about divine love, such as, God tolerates and excuses anything we do because His love is unconditional, or God makes no demands upon us because His love is unconditional, or all are saved in the heavenly kingdom of God because His love is unconditional. God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever, but what it means for each of us depends on how we respond to His love." He testified that Jesus Christ is our Savior - that He is mighty to save - not because of our own goodness but because of His greatness. We must utilize the atonement in our lives! This is the good news of the Gospel - that Jesus Christ has suffered for and redeemed us.
