Being the Hands of our Savior

I love General Conference! I remember as a child that conference weekends were never my favorite time of year - mainly because I would miss Primary or Young Women. But now I crave for Conference weekends where my spirit can be filled and I can listen to the words of our prophet and other leaders.

Six months ago our prophet introduced a new way of ministering to one another and I’ve spent the last six months attempting to figure out how best to minister to the sisters I’ve been assigned and even ones that I don’t have an assignment for but that the Lord wants me to help watch over.

There were two talks that specifically spoke to my questions. The first was given by Joy D. Jones and was titled, “For Him” and was given in the general women’s session of Conference. The other one was given by Bonnie H. Cordon and was called “Becoming a Shepherd” and was given in the Sunday morning session.

Sister Jones shared her experience of being rejected by a less active family in her ward when taking over a plate of cookies. She spoke of how she and her husband lacked the spiritual vision and questioned: “Why are we doing this? What is our purpose?” How often I have asked that question myself and wondered if what I was doing really mattered. It does!

Doctrine and Covenants 59:5 says, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength, and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.” Are we serving our sisters out of love for the Lord? As our spiritual vision of ministering changes and we learn to love and minister as our Savior would, then we will no longer question why we are doing it or what our purpose is and we will truly capture the vision the Lord wants us to have.

Sister Cordon shared in her talk the importance of developing a shepherd’s heart and understanding the needs of the Lord’s sheep. She said it is important that we “make certain each person feels the love of the Savior through someone who serves for Him.” Also, as we “pray, we will feel the love of Jesus Christ for those to whom we minister. Share that love with them. What better way is there to feed His sheep than to help them feel His love - through you?”

President Nelson said in the general women’s session of Conference, “When you are truly ministering, you follow your feelings to help someone else experience more of the Savior’s love.”

Ministering truly is a matter of each one of us being the hands of our Savior and sharing His love for our fellow sisters here on earth. It truly is a holy calling and one that I hope to improve in as I try to help those around me in their journey back to Heavenly Father. I know I have a purpose and why I am doing it - because I love the Lord and want to share His love to them.

-Lisa Larson
(First Counselor, Stake Relief Society Presidency)

Let The Holy Spirit Guide

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

Ministering - Simple Acts of Service

As much as I would love to have one really beautiful, life-changing experience to share about ministering, what keeps coming to mind are the dozens of quiet acts of kindness that I see all the time…usually done without an assignment, just loving responses of those who observed a need.  As Jean Bingham observed, “Sometimes we think we have to do something grand and heroic to ‘count’ as serving our neighbors. Yet simple acts of service can have profound effects on others—as well as on ourselves.”

As a new Relief Society President, I often feel overwhelmed by the burden of attempting to keep track of all the needs of the sisters in the ward.  I am constantly making phone calls and visits, trying to meet with the sisters and better understand their struggles. I should know better by now than to feel like I am alone in these efforts; I have lost track of the number of times when I have reached out to a sister because I was concerned about her, and the response is, “Oh! Sister So-and-so was just here!” or “Sister So-and-so just called me!”  This touches me every time.  This is real ministering: going about behind the scenes, watching out for each other.

This recent chain of events is very typical of the type of ministering I see all the time in our ward:

About a month ago, Sister Rita had hip surgery.  I was not able to visit her in the hospital; however, Sister Della took it upon herself to make sure her friend was not alone in this ordeal.  Della accompanied Rita to the hospital, stayed long enough to make sure she was okay, visited her frequently throughout the following days, and accompanied her home.  And, without being asked to, Della called me every day to tell me how Rita was doing.

Meanwhile, Sister Della was preparing to move to a new apartment.  About a week before her move, Sister Jonica texted me to ask if anyone was taking food to Della to help her out with the transition while her kitchen belongings were in boxes. I confess that the thought never even occurred to me!  Jonica (who is herself unable to eat solid foods because of her own recent surgery) fixed up 4 meals and took them over to Della.

Of course, our wonderful brethren moved Sister Della into her new apartment—also a typical (and often thankless) example of selfless ministering.  Twenty sets of strong and willing hands made light work of Della’s household full of possessions!

When the brethren were finishing up, I received a phone call from our Elder’s Quorum President expressing concern that Della was not feeling well and had a mountain of stuff to deal with in her new apartment, and perhaps the sisters could step in and give her a hand? At the time, I was out running errands and taking care of my own business, so I put in a quick phone call to Della’s ministering sister to see if she could at least call around to find someone to help. Sister Charlotte, in her typical way, answered, “Oh, yes, I was already planning on going over after her stuff was moved, I was just waiting to hear that they were done!”  I also learned that dear Charlotte had spent most of the previous day helping Della prepare for the move, clean the old apartment, and take care of last-minute red tape.

If you asked any one of these sisters or brothers about their selfless acts of service, they would reply, “Oh, it’s not a big deal! I just wanted to help out.”  To me, that is ministering in its purest, simplest, and most beautiful form.

- Helen Stanger, Eldersburg Ward

That He May Know How to Succor His People

Recently I read an article that I felt impressed to share it with my Stake sisters.  It is in the March 2017 Ensign, entitled "Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders".  We live in an increasingly stressful world and as sisters we feel the impact of that stress in many ways.  Anxiety and depression are magnified by the stresses of life and by the social media culture.  I'm pretty sure that all of us have seen the affects of anxiety and/or depression, whether in our own lives or in the lives of family members and/or friends.  It doesn't need to be clinical - even periodic or episodic issues with anxiety and/or depression are difficult trials to deal with.

I liked this article because it was straightforward and helpful to both those who might be experiencing these things and to those who are watching from the side.  It can be hard for those in the middle and those on the outside to understand and know where to seek help or how to help.

Several years ago, I served as a ward Relief Society president.  Many of my sisters were struggling with anxiety and/or depression on varying levels.  The bishop and I counseled together often to know how to support these sisters and their families as they worked through the issues and situations.  I realized during that time a gratitude for my own personal experiences with depression and anxiety, because those experiences gave me empathy and understanding for my sisters that I would not have otherwise had.  Decades before I was ever called as Relief Society president my personal challenges and the challenges of close family members taught me the value of seeking help and the need for taking ownership of our challenges.  During that time as Relief Society president I came across a small, simple book that I felt provided hope and help.  I gave away many, many copies of that little book over those five years.  I don't know if it's still in print, but it was from a series of books written by Randy L. Bott (a BYU Professor).  The series was called "Comfort My Soul in Christ" and the book I gave so many copies away of was titled, "Depression: Finding His Light Amid the Storm".  Someone I gave a copy to all those years ago, commented to me just a few days ago that they had been re-reading it and found it once again helpful and hopeful.

A few years back, our younger son returned home early from his mission.  He was broken by overwhelming anxiety.  It shocked my husband and I to the core.  We knew that anxiety had been a problem for him in middle school and we had found help for him.  High school and first year of college hadn't caused any alarms.  It never occurred to us that it would become a problem on his mission.  As he came home and we slowly walked through the process of finding him help, I was again grateful for my previous experiences with anxiety and depression because it gave me a greater ability to cope with the difficult situation.  It was emotionally hard for him, for his younger sister still at home and for us as parents.  My oldest son texted me the day his brother came home.  All it said was Romans 8:28 "all things work together for good to them that love God".  That has become a favorite scripture.  I have come to see the hand of the Lord in my life during the good and the difficult times.  My younger son has come to see that although it was an awful time for him, he can (and has) let the Lord turn it for good in his own life and in the lives of others.

We usually only see a portion of the people around us - the part they let us see.  We quite often have no idea what personal difficulties they may be struggling with.  But no one goes through life without pain, without suffering, without struggles.  We can't take away the pain of others and we can't (and shouldn't try) to solve their problems.  But we can offer support, compassion, understanding and guidance. We can minister to them in genuine ways.  We can reflect the love of their Savior for them and in doing that we truly offer hope.  I chose the picture for this post from my collection of skyscapes.  It is a sunrise photo taken one morning after driving the Seminary kids to school.  I love to see the sun rising to bring light to the day - to dispel the dark hours of the night.  It is a hopeful moment of the day.  We all need to feel that kind of hope in our lives.

We are never alone - even when we feel loneliness and isolation.  We are never without help and support - even when we feel helpless and lost.  We are all daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves us and we all have access to Him through prayer.  We are all offered peace through the Atonement of our Savior.  "...and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:12)  I know from my own struggles that peace and comfort can be found through the succor of Christ our Savior. To any of my sisters who may be struggling, I would say: Reach out to your family, your Ministering Sisters, your Relief Society presidency, your Bishop - get the help you may need.

With love,
Lorie Pierce

Willing to Try and Willing to Listen

Recently I had conversations with each of my daughters about Ministering.  (And before you say "oh no not Ministering again!", I would ask, just read on maybe something I share will be said in a way that you or someone you know can relate to.)  So yes... Ministering...

The first conversation I had was with my older daughter who is married with young children and serving in her Relief Society presidency.  As she spoke I heard concern, frustration and anxiety.  Concern for her stewardship as a counselor in that presidency and how would she manage all the interviews.  Frustration because she has already taught three training lessons and sisters still don't seem to understand what is expected and what this change in focus means - they still want to know 'what counts'.  Anxiety over how she can help smooth out this transition.  She commented that with each fourth Sunday lesson focusing on Ministering that they are just repeating things over and over, but still not going anywhere.

Because I'm practicing being a sounding board for my children instead of a problem solver (not an easy transition for me), I tried to listen to her and mirror back what she was expressing.  She needed to know that she was heard.  I tried to minister to her.  Isn't that what most of us really need when we talk with others?  We need to know that we've been heard.  We don't need others to solve our problems, but we surely can use the knowledge that we are supported as we work through our problems and find solutions.  I reminded her that we each learn differently.  We can each hear the exact same words, but our individual experiences and point of reference mean that what we really hear - the message that really sinks in could be entirely different than the person sitting right next to us.  To truly change something that has become ingrained as a habit - a tradition - will require time, patience and consistency.  We as a group of Saints will need to repeatedly hear Ministering from all angles in order to move the entire group forward.  Teaching is not ever a once and done task.  We are always learning and our understanding changes as our experiences shift.  For myself I am trying to be humble and each time I hear a topic (like Ministering) taught again and again, I'm trying to hear what the Lord would have me learn this time.

The second conversation was with my youngest daughter, a returned missionary now at school in a young single adult ward.  It began with "I'm not a good ministering sister" and her expressing that this new way is more complicated.  Apparently the girls in her ward thought that if they told the sisters they were assigned to that they were their Ministering Sisters it would make it feel like an assignment, so they were trying to just become friends with them instead.  My response..."umm well it is an assignment."  Bottom line was that she had tried to meet the girls she was assigned to and wasn't having much success.  But then she told me about a couple new girls in her ward and what she had done to help them feel welcome.  My response..."And what do you call that...Ministering!"  I reminded her that trying counts and encouraged her to start by praying for the sisters she is assigned.  But I also encouraged her to keep looking for those all around her that need a friend.  That's what is really at the core of this shift to Ministering.  It's about allowing ourselves to truly follow the Savior in how we watch over, care for, lift up all those within our sphere of influence...not just those who we are assigned.  We do have a stewardship for those we are assigned, but the shift from the letter of the law - the monthly reporting our visits - is a shift that turns us to the Lord for direction on how to minister to them as individuals in an ongoing way that builds relationships of trust and sisterhood.  It doesn't need to be complicated and it doesn't need us to beat ourselves up for what we perceive as failures.  It needs us being willing to try and willing to listen to our sisters and to the Spirit.

Below is one of the Ministering videos found on ministering.lds.org.  It is entitled Simple, Individualized and Led by the Spirit and that's what I love the most about this shift of focus.  The Lord knows and loves us as individuals....Ministering is all about just that!

(If the video won't play for you, please use the link to ministering.lds.org - you can find it easily there. It's only a couple minutes long and very worth hearing.)

In one training meeting I attended, President Mitchell commented that our generation - the ones part of this shift to Ministering - are laying the foundation for those who will follow.  There will be blessings that come to us, but it will be the generations who follow that will benefit the most from our efforts to teach and learn and implement.  We are truly part of a great moment in the history of the Church.  As I shared that idea with my oldest daughter, I think it helped her realize that the concern, frustration and anxiety were going to be momentary - that things would improve.  Our ward and branch Relief Society presidencies need our patience as they figure out how to move forward.  There is much required of them and many of them will no doubt be feeling a lot like my daughter felt.

My youngest daughter messaged just a day or two ago to tell me that she had met one of the girls she is assigned to at a 4th of July party and had a good conversation with her.  Sometimes we just need to give it time and keep looking for those opportunities and other times we need to act and make the opportunities happen.  As we invite the Spirit into our Ministering efforts, we will find the right way for us and for our sisters.

-Lorie Pierce

When We Are Prepared and Ready To Receive

I have been struggling to get over bronchitis the past couple weeks.  I was feeling better yesterday, but felt it was a wiser choice to continue resting rather than attend Stake Conference.  I did not attend the meetings yesterday.  This morning when I woke up I felt significantly better, but was still thinking it wiser to stay home.  However at 9am I was overwhelmed with a feeling of "go to Stake Conference!".  I quickly dressed and headed out the door.  As I sat and listened to the speakers this morning, I knew why the Lord wanted me there.  I received answers to private prayers through the messages shared.  How grateful I am for the preparation of the speakers.  How grateful I am that I didn't question the impression - that I didn't make my excuses and stay home to rest another day.  How grateful I am that I had been faithful this week in my personal reading of the Book of Mormon - even though I really just wanted to lie back down.  How grateful I am that I was indeed well enough to go and spiritually prepared enough to hear what I needed to hear.

For those of my sisters who for whatever reason were unable to be with us this morning at Stake Conference, here are some of the things that impressed my heart and mind.  It's obviously not a complete transcript...just the notes from my scribblings.  Hopefully I have the names of the youth speakers spelled correctly.

Kasey Baird - youth speaker from Columbia 1 Ward
The Savior is the perfect example of how to Minister.  She shared two simple ways for youth (and all of us) to follow Christ's example by ministering: 1.  Being a Friend  and 2. Attend mutual (our RS meetings) with a different mindset - Who Needs Me Today?  We can ask ourselves that question everyday.

Mason Hunter - youth speaker from Savage Mill Ward
Our heart should be in the right place - in the Savior's Way.  We need to choose to Minister for the right reasons.  Love should be our motivation.  Love should be our compass and Ministering our vessel.

Felicity Hancock - Savage Mill Ward
Everyone fights a hard battle.  She has seen direct blessings for their efforts to attend the Temple - peace in difficult times.  She quoted Elder Renlund's 2018 conference talk that spoke of blessings from temple and family history work.   "When ordinances are performed on behalf of the deceased, God’s children on earth are healed."  The best way to keep our youth on the Gospel path is to involve them in temple and family history work.  We matter to our Heavenly Father.  If you're seeking answers and peace - go to the temple.  It's easy for us to over complicate attending the temple, but what we really need is to realize that it is a possibility and work from there.

Sister Christiansen - Maryland Baltimore Mission
Knowing who we are and why we're here on this earth makes all the difference.  When we establish our vision through the Gospel lens, we can see things as they really are.  Faith must be active. Repentance daily. Continuous in keeping sacred covenants. Actively receiving the Holy Ghost.  Each of us much choose to act in faith, to remove distractions, to seek the Lord and to know for ourselves.

President Christiansen - Maryland Baltimore Mission
Our fellowship together is a great opportunity to lift one another.  Do we realize what we know and what we have?  Ministering should be a way of life - looking outward we can find opportunities all around us.  How will you bless?  Who will you bless?  Revelation assists us in knowing who and how to bless.  He also shared this thought from his counselor, President McConkie: Simplicity means focusing on that which is essential.  The ordinances of the Priesthood are essential for us to walk back into the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.  We are those the Lord is relying on to prepare the world for the coming of Jesus Christ.  There is an urgency in what we are doing.

President Peterson - Columbia Maryland Stake
In our families we first learn and practice worship of our Father in Heaven.  As we remember the blessings of God for our families we will be able to reverence and worship Him more.  We worship through prayer, through our Sabbath Day observance and through Temple attendance.  We need to set aside time to worship in the Temple.

President Towne - Columbia Maryland Stake
The most important things in life are not things.  Do we really understood how important the Gospel is?  The pearl of great price referred to by the Savior is the Restored Gospel.  He quoted President Nelson:  "What will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort."  The truth is what is important.  Knowing Christ is what is important.

President Mitchell - Columbia Maryland Stake
He began by sharing his testimony and told us - you can receive a witness for yourself.  Though the Spirit you can feel peace, assurance, calm, guidance and witness that this is His church and knowing that changes our perspective on life.  He also spoke on Ministering.  To be disciples of Christ we need to love one another.  How can we develop more Christlike love?  We need to be mindful of others needs.  Spiritual strengthening is as important as meeting physical needs.  He quoted President Nelson regarding the need for revelation in our lives: “Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly. -- I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation. -- Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.”  He reminded us that the Gathering of Israel is the most important thing going onto today - on both sides of the veil.  The Lord hasn't left us alone.  We should work together in love and unity.  We need to strengthen and help one another.

- Lorie Pierce

Ministering - A Demonstration of Discipleship, Gratitude and Love for God

Sister Jean B. Bingham, General Relief Society President, has said that “our service to others is a demonstration of discipleship and our gratitude and love for God and His Son, Jesus Christ”. I know we all want to be obedient to the commandments.  We all strive to “Love one another” and to “love our neighbor as ourselves”.  But sometimes it’s a little scary to put ourselves out there, to take that extra step and offer our services, to become friends with someone we don’t know and have little in common with.

But whatever our differences, our divine heritage unites us as sisters and daughters of God.  We are united in our love and devotion to God, and our desires to follow His prophet. It really is an exciting time to live, and as I contemplate all of the new information and guidance we have received during and since General Conference, I am awed and humbled by the need to take better care of and more interest in the sisters whom I serve.

We have literally been asked to strengthen one another in the Lord. To go above and beyond what we usually did in visiting the sisters we are assigned to visit, as well as others in our wards and communities.  I know many of you have already been doing this. You have always gone beyond the monthly required visit.  You have taken a personal interest in the sisters you visit and have become a part of their lives. They have moved beyond being an assignment on a piece of paper.

How do we do this now that a monthly in-home visit with a message is no longer required?  The best place I know of to start is with prayer. Pray for your sisters by name.  Pray that you will be open to promptings that will allow you to help them.  Our Father is mindful of all of us.  He knows our hearts, and He knows their needs.  Turn your heart to Him and let Him guide you.

Ask your sisters what works best for them.  A visit, phone call, text, walk in the park, play date with your kids, lunch together, a short conversation at church…all these and more can be part of your Ministering and care. Sister Aburto, General Relief Society 2nd counselor, has said: “It’s not so much what you do, but how you feel and how they feel.  Do whatever it takes so that person knows that you are a true friend and that you will come when they need your help.”

So maybe we need to ask ourselves - What am I are going to do that will be different than I’ve done before?  How can I show more care instead of less?  How will I be able to respond during my quarterly interview with my Relief Society leaders when they ask how my sisters are doing? Will I really know?

I think we’re going to find greater unity in our wards and branches as we implement this new program.  I think we’ll have more needs being met, and more of our less active sisters returning to activity.  I trust that we’ll grow closer as we counsel together and coordinate with our Priesthood brethren. Whole families will be blessed by our care and love.  Isn’t it marvelous to watch our Father’s plans for us unfold?

I’m so grateful for a living Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, and for his counsel to us to seek revelation. In his words: “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."  I pray that you will seek for and follow the guidance you need as you watch over your sisters with love.

- Cindy Erekson
Columbia Stake Relief Society President

A New, Holier Way

The Stake Relief Society presidency has been studying, pondering and discussing Ministering as they prepare to help ward and branch presidencies move forward with this new way.  As I have studied, pondered and discussed with them, I have felt the Spirit testify of this shift to Ministering and of the power it can and will have in the lives of each of us and the future generations.

Many of us, including myself, may have heard President Nelson announce the change in Conference and initially thought 'Oh good I can tell my home teachers they don't need to come.'  or we may have thought that less was being asked of us.  The reality is actually something different - something better that will bring us closer to Christ if we allow it.  President Nelson explained, "Sisters and brothers—old and young—will serve one another in a new, holier way." (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/04/let-us-all-press-on?lang=eng)  I like that phrase new, holier way, because it truly helps convey the intent behind these changes.  We are being given an opportunity to become more like our Savior in a way that hasn't been emphasized quite like this before now.  My husband recently spoke in our Sacrament Meeting and used the comparison of Home & Visiting Teaching being like the Law of Moses and Ministering being a Higher Law.  The Lord knows each of us and knows our capacities.  He knows that we are ready and prepared to accept this invitation to act.

"For many years, home teachers and visiting teachers have responded to assignments to visit the house of each member monthly, deliver a message, and help as needed. Countless hours of devoted and selfless service have been given in this great work.  Building on that devotion, Church leaders now ask members to increase their focus on Christlike caring for others, both spiritually and temporally. To emphasize that caring, the former programs of home teaching and visiting teaching are now a common effort referred to as 'ministering,' overseen by the elders quorum and Relief Society presidencies under the direction of the bishop."  (https://www.lds.org/mycalling/ministering-faq?lang=eng)

For some of us, Ministering won't actually feel very different from their visiting teaching experiences.  There are many who have already been serving as visiting teachers in the true spirit of ministering to one another.  Today being Mother's Day, it seems only fitting I acknowledge the sweet influence my own mother's example of true ministering had on me.  She truly loved the sisters she was assigned to visit teach and was always watchful for ways she could help them bear their burdens.  She mourned with them and rejoiced with them.  She prayed and fasted for them. She invited them into our home and into her life. She shared her love of the Lord and His Gospel with them.  Her service was never a checklist and her sisters never felt they were an obligation.  She cared so deeply for them, that when she was dying of cancer one of her final requests of me was that I go personally to visit each of them to let them know she had passed and to express her love for them.  What a powerful experience those visits were for me.

As I have viewed the videos available at minisering.lds.org one in particular caught my attention.  It is titled "An Invitation to Act".  At the beginning of it Elder Ballard issues an invitation.  He says, "I invite you to study 3rd Nephi by identifying every reference to the word minister in any of its forms and every reference to the phrase one by one.  Once you have thoroughly identified these words and phrases, please consider what The Book of Mormon teaches about ministering.  I also invite you to seek the Lord's help to understand how ministering applies.  All leaders and members of the Church need to be careful not to just minister to those names on a list but to minister to all of Heavenly Father's children. My brothers and sisters I testify that this is the work of the Lord. May He bless you to implement with power the counsel from the First Presidency."  Sisters, I am accepting his invitation this week as part of my daily study from The Book of Mormon.  I know that this simple thing will increase my understanding and help me invite the Spirit to guide my ministering efforts.  Will you join me?

Many of you may still have questions about implementation and how to move forward.  But just as there are questions, there are many materials being published online to help leaders and each of us understand our new roles and responsibilities and how to effect the changes that may be needed to move this work forward.  One page that contains helpful explanations is the Frequently Asked Questions.  If you've wondered about any of these things listed below, you can go to that page and read to gain understanding for yourself.

I would love to hear from our sisters as they begin to experience Ministering.  If you are willing to share your experiences with the sisters of our Stake, please email me at loriepierce.rs@gmail.com, so I can include them in future blog posts.  We love you sisters and look forward to our continued associations and service together as sisters of the Columbia Maryland Stake.

- Lorie Pierce

Ministering Replaces Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching - Frequently Asked Questions

Given A Voice

Sisters we were richly blessed yesterday morning by the Spirit as Sister Turley shared the gift of her voice and her heart and her testimony of the Savior.  I can't do justice to what she shared with us.  I know that each of us who were there were touched personally through her words and her songs (and the sweet voices of her daughters).

Our theme for this year has been Turn on Your Light.  Sister Turley wove that theme into a beautiful tapestry this morning.  She was inspired to focus us on how sharing our light through ministering will uplift and bless us.  As she concluded her remarks, she said that we each have been given a voice to sing with - to minister to ourselves as we draw close to our Savior, to our families as we love and serve, to our communities as we reach out to one another.  She encouraged us to find our voice and share it.

We want to express our gratitude to the sisters who planned and prepared our breakfast yesterday morning.  Our committee was Kelly Smith, Tammy Rosson, Connie Knight and Shalie Beck, but we know that they were supported in their efforts by dozens of our sisters around the Stake.  We are truly grateful for how willing the sisters of the Columbia Stake are to step in and serve.

Thank you also to Tami Koncurat and Carol Williams who generously loaned us their lanterns.

A special thanks to the sisters who provided sign language translation for our hearing impaired sisters.

We also want to acknowledge and express our gratitude for the support of our Priesthood brethren.  Without their help in set up and clean up and all sorts of technical issues, these events would be much more burdensome.

As I watched the pre-event preparations - the during event service - the after event assistance, I know I was seeing the Light of our Stake Relief Society and Priesthood brethren in action.  The willingness and genuine caring demonstrated touched my heart.

-Lorie Pierce

Hastening and Strengthening the Work of the Lord

What an amazing time to be involved with the work of Relief Society!  In the past several months, we have seen several changes that directly impact us as sisters and how we approach and participate in Relief Society.  The new curriculum, including the opportunity for council Sundays, and now the announcement of Ministering to replace Visiting Teaching, both place more responsibility for how the work of the Lord moves forward on us as individuals, rather than so much on the shoulders of the leaders.

It will take time for each ward/branch to adjust for the assignment changes that may occur with Ministering.  We know that each ward/branch Relief Society presidency will be working as quickly as possible to understand the changes, coordinate with the new Elder's Quorum presidents and with the Bishops and then have the needed conversations with assigned sisters.  Please be patient with them as they do their best to implement these changes.

If you visit the Church website, you can find resources to help you understand how the shift in focus to Ministering will help you better fulfill your stewardship.  I have tried to gather useful links here to help us in our study and preparation to participate better in this work.

As we move ahead and gain experience, I think it will be helpful to share our experiences with one another.  If you are willing to share your new Ministering experiences with your sisters of the Stake, please email me at loriepierce.rs@gmail.com, so I can include them in future blog posts.

- Lorie Pierce

Ministering to Replace Home and Visiting Teaching

Be With and Strengthen Them by Elder Jeffery R. Holland

Ministering as the Savior Does by Sister Jean B. Bingham

Ministering - First Presidency Letter

Ministering with Strengthened Melchizedek Priesthood Quorums and Relief Societies

Relief Society Homepage