Personal Progress - I stuck it out and did it.

With the upcoming 2020 changes to the programs and resources for girls, boys, young women and young men there is much that is unknown and anticipation for the potential for growth and good that will come from the new initiative for youth ages 8-18.  One of the unknowns is how or if the current Personal Progress program for Young Women will look or exist.  Our Stake Young Women President, Jennifer Ipsen, is encouraging young women and sisters who are currently engaged in the Personal Progress program to stay engaged and complete the requirements for earning the Young Womanhood Recognition before January 2020 arrives.

Sister Ipsen recently shared with me a note that one of our stake sisters, Debra Burt, shared about her experiences in completing her Personal Progress.  Sister Ipsen sent it to me with this preface:

Debra Burt recently sent me the following note about her journey to finish her Personal Progress.  As I read it, I thought it might be able to help inspire some of the sisters in our Stake to help their daughters finish Personal Progress before the changes occur.  I also think it’s a great lesson on setting a goal and striving to finish it no matter how long it takes.  Debbie is a great example to me and as a side note - her persistence and experience helped inspire me to recently finish Personal Progress for a second time too. She would check in with me every once in a while to report her progress and so I thought to myself, I want to finish mine too! And I did!

With Sister Burt's permission, I am sharing her experience here:

It took me six years to complete my Personal Progress a second time around.  It feels good to say that I've completed it.  A lot of good things have come into my life because of pursuing this goal.  One of my best experiences was reading and studying PREACH MY GOSPEL while Claralyn and Ben were serving their missions. It really connected me to their mission experiences. The hardest goal to accomplish was memorizing the sacrament prayers. I really found it a challenge to do in my busy life as a teacher.  But I figured out a mental game to help me get it down perfectly.  Don't ask me now, though, to say them again perfectly without giving me time to practice!  

Because of taking so long to complete the value experiences and projects, I felt like a failure, like a person who can never complete anything I start.  It just hung over my head saying "You can't finish!"  I fought that feeling by continuing to work at it in concentrated chunks.  Even though there would be months of nothing done, I would pick it up and work on my goals some more. Once, I lost my Personal Progress book for three months and thought I would have to give up, it being my only record.  Then I found it in the church lost and found and started again. This time I used the online app as well as a written record.  I'd think I'd finish each summer when I wasn't teaching. I wouldn't finish, but then I would be back at it the following summer. Though it took awhile, I feel so much better about myself to know that I stuck it out and did it.  

Last, the value of pursuing this goal was making a record of many spiritual experiences over the years it took to complete.  I am grateful to have that, as my journal writing was practically non-existent.  Lots happened over the six years including the death of my mother, the two children serving missions, different callings and family history work I was able to do besides some career experiences.  So many good reasons for me to have done this.

I asked Sister Ipsen if she had any specifics regarding Personal Progress and the new initiative and what she considered the best resource for young women and sisters completing their Personal Progress.  Here is her response:

The best reference for resources is online Personal Progress. You can keep your own journal and no one can see if but you. It links you to all the scriptures mentioned and helps keep track of completed experiences and projects. It’s a great resource!  Here’s the link: https://www.lds.org/young-women/personal-progress?lang=eng  There is a deadline for when “changes” will take place in the Personal Progress program. It is Jan 1, 2020. They haven’t announced what the changes will be yet. So we are encouraging all our young women to stay actively engaged in Personal Progress in the meantime.

Thank you to both these sisters for sharing their experiences with us.  Progress is progress regardless how slowly we are moving.  I am reminded of a talk by Elder Larry R. Lawrence "What Lack I Yet?" from October 2015 General Conference.  He said, "To Him our direction is more important than our speed."  What a very hopeful thought!

For more information on the upcoming changes and the new initiative for youth you can follow these links:
https://www.lds.org/youth/childrenandyouth?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-announces-plan-for-worldwide-initiative-for-children-and-youth?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2018/06/initiative-will-bless-children-youth?lang=eng
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/new-program-children-youth
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/faith-christ-strengthened-new-children-youth-outdoor-activities

-Lorie Pierce

New and More New

It seems like every week we hear of something new in the Church - program changes, revised materials, updated resources. We have many opportunities to learn, to grow, to become better at how we serve in our homes, our Church assignments, our communities.  I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes I find it hard to keep up with all the announcements and find that I sometimes miss things that are interesting or useful.

I thought today I would share three announcements that were posted recently.

Latter-day Saint Hymnbook and Children’s Songbook to Be Revised
"Two books of sacred music published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are about to undergo significant changes. - The new music collections will be created over the next several years to unify members and reflect the needs of members around the world. Selections will include core hymns and songs that teach the doctrines of the gospel. - The new music will be compiled into one hymnbook and one children’s songbook, offering the same hymns and songs in all languages. In addition to the printed books, new audio of the hymns and songs will be recorded. The music will be available online once the new books are available. National anthems will not be included in the printed hymnbooks. - Original hymns, children’s songs, song texts without music or music without text can be submitted for consideration at newmusic.lds.org. Up to five hymns and five children’s songs may be submitted by an individual for consideration. Feedback can also be provided about the current music through an online survey. New submissions must be received by July 1, 2019."

Create Powerful, Visual Presentations with the Church’s Updated Media Library App
"The LDS Media Library app—the mobile app version of the LDS Media Library on LDS.org—has released a software update that makes it even easier for members to teach the gospel at church, at home, and on the go using Church media. - With the LDS Media Library app, you can search the largest selection of Church media, trim video and music, organize clips in a presentation, and present offline—all on a user-friendly interface. - Whether you’re in charge of a Sunday School lesson, a family home evening, or a missionary discussion, you now have the most comprehensive database of Church media at your fingertips. - Because presentations play offline, you won’t have to worry about buffering videos. Download your media at home, and you’ll be ready to go by the time you get to church. Your video will play without interruption, regardless of the Church building’s Wi-Fi connection, or a lack thereof."

Museum of the American Revolution to Open Interactive Exhibit
"A new exhibit for families opens to the public at the Museum of the American Revolution in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, June 9, 2018. Creative teams from the museum and FamilySearch, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have been working for more than four years to develop the new family-friendly discovery center called Revolution Place. - 'This space is an interactive space where children can connect to the stories of the Revolution at a personal level, not the broader macro history,' said Diane Loosle, senior vice president at FamilySearch, the largest genealogy organization in the world.' - 'But a lot of people, when they hear ‘family’ they think just kids,' explained Mark Turdo, the museum’s curator. 'We intentionally meant families. So there are things here for both kids and adults.' - The museum, located just a few minutes away from the Church’s temple in downtown Philadelphia and famed Independence Hall, focuses on the American revolutionary era that dates from 1760 to 1783, when the 13 American colonies broke away from the British Empire and formed the United States of America."

Below is information that may help you find ways to follow the news and announcements from the Church.

If you are on social media, you can follow Mormon Newsroom to stay apprised of announcements:

https://www.facebook.com/MormonNewsroom
https://twitter.com/mormonnewsroom
https://plus.google.com/101264060152105540821
https://www.youtube.com/user/LDSPublicAffairs
https://www.instagram.com/mormonnewsroom/

Or you can go to https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/ - scroll to the bottom of the homepage and subscribe by email to receive announcements.

You can also find announcements about news and events on the News page on lds.org and follow the Church on social media for uplifting messages and informational posts.  For more information on how the Church uses social media you can view the Social Media Index Page on lds.org.  But here are some of the main ones that you can follow the Church on:

https://www.facebook.com/LDS
https://twitter.com/ldschurch
https://www.instagram.com/ldschurch/
https://www.pinterest.com/ldschurch/

- Lorie Pierce

Hill Cumorah Pageant

Did you know there is a theatrical production held yearly at the Hill Cumorah in Palmyra, New York?  It is known as the Hill Cumorah Pageant.  I haven't been to see it for many, many, many years.  The last time I was chaperoning a Youth Conference trip in the 1990's.  It was quite an amazing production.  Recently, I saw a blurb about it as I was searching online for something else.  It got me thinking about some of the opportunities that are nearby and yet we often seem to miss and I decided to share a bit about the Hill Cumorah Pagent and other Church History sites in that area.  Maybe you and your family or friends will want to make plans to visit there in July for the pageant.

The following is from the Hill Cumorah Pageant page on lds.org and gives a brief idea of what the pageant is about:  Experience the excitement, drama, and pageantry of America's largest and most spectacular outdoor theatrical event, which focuses on the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Witness the trials of Lehi’s family and his descendants, the climactic visit of Jesus Christ to the Americas, and Joseph Smith receiving the plates.

The dates for the 2018 pageant are July 13-14, 17-21.  The pageant begins at 9:15 p.m. and runs for about 75 minutes.  Admission is free. No ticket is required, and no reservation is necessary.  It is held at the Hill Cumorah site grounds (603 State Route 2, Palmyra, New York).  Below are a couple links that can provide further details and contact information:

Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center

Hill Cumorah Pageant Website

While in the Palmyra area there are several more Church Historical sites worth seeing.  My favorite is the Sacred Grove.  I also love the Palmyra Temple and with the Washington DC Temple construction closure - if I'm in the Palmyra area I wouldn't miss the opportunity to attend the temple.  You can find more information about the Palmyra Temple schedule on their lds.org page.  It's a good idea to schedule with them if you want to do a session.  It is a small temple with limited hours and no clothing rental.

To find out more about the other Church History sites see the links below.  I did a previous post in 2015 about the Sacred Grove and the Palmyra area if you want to go back and read that.  Let It Change Your Life, 26 May 2015

The Sacred Grove

Smith Family Farm

Book of Mormon Publication Site

Peter Whitmer Log Home

Martin Harris Farm

While we don't have plans to attend the pageant this year, we love this area and the heritage that all of us as Church members can connect to there.  We will go back to Palmyra again and hope that many of you will find that opportunity as well.

-Lorie Pierce

All Are Alike Unto God

Over the past few weeks, we have heard announcements about the upcoming commemoration of the 1978 Revelation on the Priesthood.  My own mind has gone back to what I recall about that day.  I was 13 years old when the revelation was announced.  Our family was so excited when we heard the news broadcast.  This was crucial and something we had looked forward to as an event that needed to happened.  To us it was a "sign of the times" - a clear indication that we were growing closer to the Second Coming of Christ on the Earth.  I sat outside in our carport for awhile that afternoon and said my own prayer of gratitude.

I have asked a few family members and friends to share their recollections with us.

Shared by Ann Anderson: I remember being surprised.  Much of my youth had been spent on explaining why all worthy men couldn't have the priesthood.  This was an event that I didn't think would happen in my lifetime.  It was a great day for the whole Church.  President Kimball was the prophet of my youth.  We all loved him. I'm so glad that he was given this revelation.

Shared by Bonnie Peterson: I was so excited that everybody could have the Priesthood and go to the temple that I wrote about it in my journal.  To me that was an amazing moment and I absolutely felt the Spirit and also felt the love of Father for all of His children.

Shared by June Crue: We had a brother in our ward who was a faithful Latter-day Saint and when I heard the news, I and other members in my ward wept for joy.  And when we talked to him, his joy was so great that he couldn't even speak.  We all cried great tears of happiness and thanks to the Lord.  I am overcome right now thinking about it.

Shared by Susanne Rigby: I was only a kid, but remember thinking "It's about time!"

Shared by Cindy Erekson: How well I remember the Priesthood announcement! We lived in SLC at the time and sat glued to our TV set as this wonderful news was shared. I remember the thrill of excitement and the tears pouring down my face.  History was truly being made that day!

Cindy also shared these photos of the news clippings:





The Church is holding a unique celebration honoring the 40th anniversary of President Spencer W. Kimball's revelation on the Priesthood on June 1, 2018 at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. The event is sponsored by the First Presidency and will include a message from the First Presidency, stories of faith, and musical performances by Gladys Knight, Saints United Voices, Alex Boye, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and another special choir that was formed specifically for this event.

It will be live-streamed on June 1st at 9:30 PM EST.  (lds.org, mormon channel, Facebook and Instagram).  The Washington DC Temple Visitor Center will also show a recording on Saturday morning, June 2 at 11:00 AM EST.

From Mormon Newsroom article announcing the evening: While the June celebration will hail the history of black Mormon pioneers and reaffirm the reality that “all are alike unto God” in His global family, the event is intended to be much more than a celebration. It will also be a renewal of our collective commitment to pursue oneness in our relationships with each other and with heaven. 

Additionally, there is a new video called "Be One" that all are encouraged to watch.  Here is the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxS89yZtAmM

-Lorie Pierce

"It's a Miracle!"

A few weeks back, I saw a Facebook post from a friend in another state about how her participation in the Church's Self-Reliance Initiative had truly blessed her life.  I asked her if I could share her post with my sisters here in the Columbia Maryland Stake.  She agreed.  As I read her comment, it occurred to me that within our stake many sisters have been participating with the classes and focus groups offered through this initiative.  I would love to share experiences from those of you who have or who are participating.  Your experiences may be just what one of your sisters needs to encourage her to make a change, improve her skills, set a new goal, etc.  Please if you are willing to share - email me at loriepierce.rs@gmail.com.

Original Facebook post from my friend - Inger Orr:

"OK, I think YNAB is gonna save our lives....we actually spoke, with hope, about house projects that have been neglected for many, many years. We are seeing how quickly we should be able to get our debts paid off, then save for these projects. As we head toward our goals, we can actually start planning and pricing, then saving towards fixing up the house! It's a miracle! There are no words....I should say that this is thanks to the self-reliance program we are attending at church. The program has four areas of focus and we're attending the financial self-reliance section, which prompted me to look for a budgeting app, which led me to YNAB (thank you, again, Ken!)."

I also found this while searching the Church website for applicable info:

Adriana González



“When I asked about the bright blue table in the middle of Adriana’s kitchen, I learned that there was a time she had no table at all. Struggling to make ends meet, she took one of the Church’s self-reliance courses and decided that she could bake and sell bread—if only she had a table. She prayed for help and built a table from scrap wood.”
—Cody Bell, photographer

For more photos and story about Adriana, go to lds.org/go/21721.
Back to Portraits of Faith

Here are links to some good articles:

Let Us Be Self-Reliant and Independent
Self-Reliance Participants' Quotes From Around the World
Catching the Vision of Self-Reliance

For more information on the Self-Reliance Initiative you can contact our Stake Self-Reliance Specialist - Susie Rosenquist at ColumbiaMDStake.SRS@gmail.com.

You can also access the materials using the Gospel Library app under Self-Reliance or visit srs.lds.org.

-Lorie Pierce

FamilySearch Help Center

Did you know that when you call FamilySearch Support, the missionary who answers your call has a database they search to find a consistent answer to your question.  But what is more important to know is that you can also search this database of answers.  It is located in the Help Center on familysearch.org.  It's an amazing resource for solving all kinds of issues and answering all kinds of questions related to using FamilySearch, doing your family history and temple work, getting research assistance, helping others, etc. 

Log into FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org) using your LDS account username and password. It is a good idea to login before using the Help Center to ensure that all features are available to you.

On any page in the website in the upper right corner of the screen you will see the Help link.  Click on it and a drop down menu will appear.

You can click on any of these items to learn what is available, but for this post I am focusing on the Help Center itself.





When you click on Help Center you will see a page like this one.

























Simply type your question or topic into the search box and click Search.  Or you can click on one of the topics listed and then type the query into the search box on that page.  Either way will get you to what you want to know.  The first part of your Search Results will be any Help Center articles that can provide answers and useful information.
























You can learn more about the Help feature with this Help Center article:
https://www.familysearch.org/ask/salesforce/viewArticle?urlname=Using-the-Help-Center-in-FamilySearch-and-Family-Tree-1381815109006&lang=en

There are so many things available on FamilySearch.  Learning to use this tool can improve your family history work experience.

- Lorie Pierce

Did You Know? Mormon Channel

I opened Mormon Channel up on my computer yesterday to watch some of Roots Tech live.  It had been a long time since I had visited that site.  I was really impressed with the content available - such a range of topics.  If you are looking for a place to find uplifting and helpful content, then maybe you should give mormonchannel.org a look!  They have radio, podcasts, videos, kids features, and more.

You can follow Mormon Channel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and Google+ to see a Daily Quote - an uplifting bit of inspiration from Church leaders, scriptures, etc.  You can also install the Mormon Channel app on your mobile device to have access away from your computer.  You can use the app on your device in your car or while you're walking, etc. to listen to their radio stations (music & programs) or chose from hundreds of podcasts.

Here's just a sample of what I found yesterday:

Perspectives on the Prophet Joseph Smith (podcast series)
Music with a Message (podcast series)
Driven in Detroit: Bridges to Self-Reliance (video series)
Face To Face (video recordings of the events)
Children's Bible Videos
Easter Videos
Mormon Channel Studio (hymn arrangements and original music from LDS musicians)
Bullied - Let Us Be Kinds (Kids Video)
Laughter is the Best Medicine (Story Mic Podcast)
What Parents Need to Know About Their Kids and Social Media (video)
Teaching Kids How to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable (video)
My Experience With Divorce (video)
Living With An Eating Disorder (video)
Facing Postpartum Anxiety and OCD (video)
Returning Early from a Mission (video)
Family Conversations: Talking about Healthy Sexuality (video series)
I'm a Mormon (video series)
Mormon Messages for Youth (video series

As you can see there is a wide range of topics - and my list only shows a tiny bit of what is there!  Maybe today is a good day for you to take a look yourself!

-Lorie Pierce

Did You Know? Share your media talents...

While exploring lds.org today - looking for ideas for this blog post - I found a page I hadn't looked at before.  It is titled "Create and Share Your Media Talents" and you can find it quickly by going to create.lds.org.  Ever wonder where all those quote photos you see on Facebook from mormon.org and mormonchannel etc. come from?  It's all through the Create LDS Media department.

For those with experience/interest in media creation, photography and writing and acting/theatre you can find ways to create, contribute and serve.  There is even a list of LDS Church Photo Needs.

-Lorie Pierce

Premiere of "Lamb of God"

Sisters hopefully you have begun to see publicity for this production in your wards and branches.  If not, this post should be helpful.  I have take the information directly from publicity emails sent out through and to stake/ward leadership.  Should you have further questions, please use the contact information listed below.

Premiere of "Lamb of God" at the DC Temple Visitor's Center - March 24 & 25, 2018 - 4pm & 7pm

"Lamb of God" is a sacred musical retelling of the final days of the life of Jesus Christ, His Atonement and Resurrection. Composed by Rob Gardner, it features Choir, Orchestra & Soloists - including Sandra Turley and Norris Chappell, Jr. Performances are free, but tickets must be Reserved!

More information & ticket link: www.facebook.com/LambofGodDC or Visitor's Center 301-587-0144

The "Lamb of God" is production is new to most members.  You can listen to a short piece from "Lamb of God" on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNXJqNHUGjQ.

The work was written with language from the New Testament and composed in an oratorio/classical concert style.  The doctrines contained within are those common to all Christian denominations, and as such, this is a wonderful event to invite Christian's of different denominations as well as friends of other faiths.  This is NOT the same production of "Savior of the World" that has been presented at the Visitor's Center the last few Easters.

Many Christians are hungry to remember what Easter is truly about - the hope of Christ’s life, His death and His resurrection. This is the perfect opportunity to invite our interfaith friends to come and participate with us.

Questions? Contact Sandra Turley - sandradturley@gmail.com

Official Publicity Poster

Philadelphia Temple Details

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 17^th, and Saturday, April 21^st.  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.

2018 Relief Society Curriculum

I’m excited that beginning in January, Relief Society and Priesthood Sunday meetings will follow a new curriculum.

This new curriculum will invite more discussion from each sister.  I am looking forward to being spiritually fed and learning more.

“Sundays in Relief Society are no longer just the responsibility of the leaders,” said Brooke Jensen, a counselor in a Relief Society presidency. “Each member takes an active role.”

Sunday meetings will follow this schedule (I’ve included links with more explanation):

First Sunday - Counsel together about local responsibilities, opportunities, and challenges and make plans to act.

Second and Third Sundays - Study recent general conference messages chosen by presidency or group leaders or, on occasion, by the bishop or stake president.

Fourth Sunday - Discuss a special topic chosen by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Fifth Sunday - Address a topic chosen by the bishopric.

The November Ensign has the full explanation of the new curriculum.

I hope you are able to take some time to read about the new Sunday curriculum.  As sisters, I believe that when we come to Relief Society ready to contribute we will bless lives.  I am grateful for inspired leaders and for a prophet who loves us and knows our needs.

- Kim Olivier, Stake Relief Society 2nd Counselor

Change Reflects Ongoing Revelation

Recently, we have seen announcements of various changes to implementation of Church programs and meetings. The most recent changes announced involved visiting teaching, Priesthood & Relief Society curriculum, General Conference meeting schedules and missions/missionary work.

I realize that not everyone is connected through the social media resources of the Church and may have not seen the recent posts published by the Church in conjunction with these announcements.  To help facilitate allowing our sisters to stay current, I am simply posting the links to these recent announcements.  We will undoubtedly receive further information and instruction through our local leaders regarding how these changes are to be implemented.

Priesthood & Relief Society Curriculum

Visiting Teaching

General Conference Sessions

Missions

It is important to remember that while procedures will change as circumstances require, the doctrine of Christ remains constant. Seeing these changes is a witness in itself to the reality of modern revelation.  I would encourage you to take the time to read about these changes, to see how they may directly affect you and your family and to see how you can prepare to allow these changes to bless your life.

- Lorie Pierce

Message from our Temple President

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.

-Lorie Pierce

Did You Know? Church Service Missions

About a year ago, I saw a "advertisement" on Facebook from the Church.  It was all about serving a Church Service Mission as a part-time missionary for FamilySearch.  I was immediately drawn to the idea.  I love family history and felt I could contribute in that way.  I followed the process of application and began my mission as a FamilySearch Support Missionary Oct 1.  The training process was time consuming and difficult at times.  I will fully admit that there were days when I thought, "This is NOT what I signed up for."  But when my training was complete and I began to actually help people, it felt good.  What do FamilySearch Support Missionaries do?  We answer the phone calls (chats or emails too) from people all around the world who contact FamilySearch through the website's help center.  I enjoy the interactions I have through those phone calls.  Each phone call is a chance to serve - a chance to leave the person on the other end of the line with a positive experience - it is a chance to strive to be like my Savior.

Through the months I have been serving, I have been given various responsibilities and assignments.  I have felt the Lord's hand in those assignments.  I have been stretched, pushed and tested.  I have learned a great deal about myself - my limitations and my strengths - and about working with others in a Christlike way.  Admittedly, there have been things I have not liked about serving this particular mission. But those things do not overshadow the feeling of gladness that I chose to serve.  I know that when my release arrives part of me will be relieved, because my assignment is time consuming and increasingly aggravating to my arthritis issues, but I also know that I will miss the people I serve with and the mental stimulation of my current assignment.  Would I be willing to serve another Church Service Mission? Yes.  I would be careful to know the expectations and ensure that I could meet those. But yes, I would be willing and would be grateful for the blessings that I know always accompany us as we serve.

I have had people ask me how I like my Church Service Mission and honestly depending on how bad my back was hurting at the time, my answer has varied.  But overall missionaries who serve Church Service Missions are happy.  There are so many, many opportunities to serve.  My FamilySearch Support mission is just one option.  Below is the link to the Church Service Missionaries page on lds.org.  If you have ever thought or wondered about serving a Church Service Mission this is the page to look at.  You can follow the links to see what kinds of opportunities exist and to learn about the application process.  There are also links to amazing and inspiring stories from others who have served as Church Service Missionaries all around the world.

https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary/church-service-missionary?lang=eng

-Lorie Pierce

Gospel Topics

This week I was thinking about a topic for this blog post and was led to something I didn't expect.  I thought I would write a post about "What is a testimony?"  But instead, as I typed in a search on lds.org for bearing testimony - I discovered something else.

I found a section on lds.org called Gospel Topics.  Here is what the introduction of that section says:

"Each Gospel Topic includes a brief overview sharing what Latter-day Saints believe about the topic, links to resources that will help you learn more about the topic, and ideas to help you teach it to others.  Learn more about the role of the Holy Ghost in your pursuit of truth and how to become a more self-reliant gospel learner."

I clicked on Testimony and came to an amazing page of basic information, links to related scriptures, talks, lessons, etc.  Curious - I decided to see what equivalent there might be in the Gospel Library app on my phone.  While the mobile app doesn't provide the same presentation of the information - my search for testimony within the app still produced a large list of potential resources for me to review.

Another very nice feature of lds.org is the Notes.  If you are signed into lds.org while reading and studying, you can make notes and create tags and links - your own personal annotation system.  These notes will sync between what you do on lds.org and the Gospel Library app on your mobile device.  That is very helpful!  It's like having a personal copy of all those scriptures, books, manuals etc. that you are able to highlight and annotate AND carry with you where ever you take your mobile device or can log into lds.org.  Truly we are blessed through this technology to have the words of the Lord and His prophets and apostles, the teachings of general Church leadership, the uplifting messages of the publications, etc. always within our reach.

If I had written a blog post about "What is a testimony?" or "What does bearing testimony mean?" - I had at my fingertips a multitude of useful and relevant resources to guide me.  My post would have included these paragraphs from the Gospel Topics page for Testimony:

"A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves His children; that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior's true Church on the earth; and that the Church is led by a living prophet today. With this foundation, a testimony grows to include all principles of the gospel.

Testimony grows gradually through experiences. No one receives a complete testimony all at once. It grows as individuals show willingness to serve in the Church and to study, pray, and learn. It increases as individuals obey God’s commandments. Testimony grows as it is shared.

Part of a testimony’s development comes when it is shared. In the Church testimony is shared often in fast and testimony meetings, in Church classes, and in conversations with family members and friends."

Today is Fast Sunday and with it we have the opportunity to bear our testimonies in our Sacrament Meetings.  Let me end this post with mine.

We have a Father in Heaven who knows us individually and loves us.  He knew that as we came into this life, we would make mistakes, we would fall short, we would sin.  Because of His great love for us, He provided a plan of salvation.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that it is through Him, the Father's plan of salvation is made possible.  I know that as I daily strive to keep the commandments, to live the Gospel, to repent and apply the healing power of Christ's atonement - that I am blessed.  How grateful I am to know that my prayers are heard by a loving Father in Heaven, who along with my Savior is waiting to help me succeed and return to live with them again.  I bear witness of their love and of the peace that comes through following the principles of the Gospel.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

-Lorie Pierce

Web Based Indexing - A Great Way To Serve

Indexing has been around for years and years.  When I was a child it was called the Extraction Program.  Indexing is the means whereby historical records are made available - through searchable indexes - for people to use in their family history research.  Technology has made family history research remarkably accessible, because the historical records can be digitized and indexed for searching and viewing online.  I can look at records for my Scottish ancestors without leaving my home - not that I wouldn't love to travel to Scotland and look for the records there!

As technology developed, the Church created a computerized Indexing program that we downloaded to our personal computers.  Now with the amazing resources of web based applications and the also amazing resource of the FamilySearch website, the Church has introduced the latest improvement to the indexing efforts.  It is called Web Indexing.  No longer do we need to download a program to our computers.  We simply login to FamilySearch and click on the Indexing tab.

The Web Indexing program enables users to pick up where they left off from any device that will log them into FamilySearch - provided it has at least a 7 inch screen and obviously they need to have an internet connection.  The application is easy to use and has great features to make the indexing process faster as well as more accessible.

You can try a Guided Tour of the Web Indexing program by logging into FamilySearch - then click on Indexing and then Overview.  About halfway down the Overview page is a link to the Guided Tour.

Indexing is a great way to provide service to both the living and the dead.  It is also a great way to give back - to show gratitude for the records that we have available which enable us to search out our ancestors and offer them the blessings of the temple ordinances.

-Lorie Pierce

Did You Know? FHC Language Nights

Did you know that our Columbia Maryland Family History Center (located at our Stake Center) offers language specific services?

Our members and friends, who's native language is not English, can receive help doing their family history. This is a wonderful resource. Below is the information on what languages they can assist with, when and how to contact them.

Family History Special Language nights 7-9pm:

1st Tuesday: Korean

2nd Tuesday night: Chinese

1st Friday night: Spanish

We now also have a Spanish speaking specialist at the Family History Center on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 9am to 2pm.

If these times do not work for you, please call Diana Gardner at 410-461-5596.

The family history consultants who are fluent in the various languages are willing to help at other times, by appointment.

Access to the Columbia Maryland Family History Center is through a lower level outside door.  There is parking available in the lower lot, which will put you closest to the entrance.  Look for the Family History Center sign at the corner of the sidewalk.

New Stake Relief Society Counselor

For those who are not aware, this past Sunday Sister Jill Goodrich was released from the Stake Relief Society Presidency.  It was a blessing to serve with Jill and she will be greatly missed. We wish her well in her new calling, and know that those whom she serves will benefit from her care and love.

We also wish to welcome Sister Kim Olivier as the new 2nd counselor.  We are excited to work with her and know that she will be an asset to the Relief Society program.  Below is a brief bio from Sister Olivier to help us get to know her better.

Stake Relief Society Presidency - March 2017
Lisa Larson - Cindy Erekson - Kim Olivier

Kim Olivier - Stake Relief Society Counselor

I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and lived in Spain, Utah, Iowa, Iran, and Texas before moving back to Maryland during high school.  I was raised in the church by my parents, who are both converts.  I am very grateful for the missionaries who taught them the gospel.  The gospel has blessed my life in so many ways and I cannot imagine life without it.

I met my husband, Mike, at BYU, got married and then graduated with a degree in Family Science.  We’ve been married for 23 years this summer.  We have 5 children (3 boys and 2 girls) that range in age from 20 down to 4 years old.  Our oldest is currently serving his mission in Brazil.  Our family has lived in Utah, Illinois, Arizona, and moved to Maryland in 2009.  I love to read (mostly nonfiction), run, do crafty things, and spend time with my family. 

Relief Society has given me the opportunity to find friends that are kind, generous, fun, loving, loyal, and faithful. These friends have brought great happiness and support to my life.  It’s very nice to know that during times of need I will always have someone who can help.  I’ve also been blessed to learn numerous skills and feel the Spirit during many Relief Society lessons. I am so grateful to be a member of this program!

Did You Know? Family History Discovery Center

Many of you may have seen the publicity about the opening of a Family History Discovery Center in Salt Lake. But you likely aren't aware that our own Columbia Family History Center has recently opened a Family History Discovery Center too. A few weeks ago, my husband and I were able to go and have our own family history experience there. I was also fortunate enough to go again to take pictures and observe as another family came for their personalized visit. What a fun experience it was both times!



We began with having our picture taken in front of a green screen. Those pictures were then turned into fun pictures of us “visiting” the lands of our ancestors. It was a fun souvenir of our visit to the Center.





The Gardners had lots of great tech tools both for our devices and for our computers. Even though I've been doing family history for many years – there were still applications they introduced us to that I hadn't ever tried before.

We created a photo family tree with their wall mural. Glad to say we were successful in putting all our people where they belonged in the roots and branches.

We talked with the Gardners about our family stories and traditions and especially about how family history can be part of our daily lives, our daily conversations – it's not all about research and paper work.

We don't have children at home anymore, but the Family History Discovery Center experience is designed for all ages and family shapes. They have games and activities for young and older children. The teens and adults are able to focus on using the technology to not only research, but to collect and preserve memories, stories, photos, etc.



The Family History Discovery Center is open by appointment only – as the Gardners create a personalized experience for each group that comes and need time to prepare for your visit. To schedule your visit give Sister Gardner a call at 410-461-5596 or send her an email at ddgardfam@gmail.com.

-Lorie Pierce

Teaching in the Savior's Way Series

Many of you will already be aware and involved with this new approach to improving teaching and supporting teachers.  I have felt it would be a good idea though, to have some posts focused on this subject.  This first one is simply an introduction to the new Teaching in the Savior's Way curriculum and program.  I hope it will be helpful to any that haven't yet heard about it or who maybe have heard, but aren't really sure how it might help or impact them.

The introduction page to the Teaching in the Savior's Way manual says this:

The goal of every gospel teacher—every parent, every formally called teacher, every home teacher and visiting teacher, and every follower of Christ—is to teach the pure doctrine of the gospel, by the Spirit, in order to help God’s children build their faith in the Savior and become more like Him.

The manual is designed to help us as teachers, leaders and parents improve our ability to teach in the Savior's way.  It helps to refocus our methods in ways that will more fully invite the Spirit and foster gospel learning.  Personal and group study of the manual are intended implementations of the curriculum.

Those serving in callings as teachers are now participating in monthly Teacher Council Meetings.  The purpose of these meetings is to allow teachers to "council together about principles of Christlike teaching".  This unique council environment is designed to allow the teachers to learn from one another as they share ideas, concerns, experiences and as they use the principles found in the Teaching in the Savior's Way manual to find better ideas, solutions and invite the Spirit into their class experiences.

While many of us do not currently have teaching assignments, we all have opportunities to teach.  We can all benefit from reviewing these resources.  I hope that in our future posts, as we cover more specifically these Christlike principles of teaching, that we will all find ways to improve our own teaching moments.

-Lorie Pierce