Our New Stake Relief Society Presidency

Camille Lund - Debbie Wood - Mendy Hunter (Dec 2018)

Debbie Wood, President
I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon.  I was the 5th of 8 children born to wonderful, loving parents who lived the gospel by example and teaching.  My family’s home was filled with all the fun and activity of a large family and with music.  Our family loved to sing together and all the children were encouraged to learn to play musical instruments.  I was drawn to the piano and violin and studied both from elementary through high school as well as the organ in my later high school years.  I also loved to sing in choirs.  Music has always been an important part of my life and a great source of joy for me. 

I attended college at BYU, studying elementary education.  I met my husband in an unusual way through my sister, who was my husband’s MTC teacher.  It all began with a plate of homemade cookies to cheer a poor missionary in my sister’s district who wasn’t getting any letters, as his parents were traveling back across the country.  Elder Wood was very surprised to receive the cookies and wrote a thank you letter back.  We started a friendly correspondence by letters which lasted the full two years of his mission in Canada.  We were able to meet in person at BYU after his mission.  All worked out (by heavenly plan I believe) and we were engaged and then married in the Portland Temple in May 1990.  My husband and I both graduated from BYU a year and half later.  I received my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Music.  Five months later, our first daughter, Nicole was born.   We lived two more years at BYU while my husband finished his Master’s Degree.  A month after graduation, our second child, Joey was born.  And then our adventures around the country began.

We moved first to Georgia (near my husband’s family,) then to Rochester, New York when my husband was accepted into a graduate program at the University of Rochester.  Our 3rd child, Jesse was born while we lived in Rochester.  A few years later, we moved across the country with our three little ones to Palo Alto, California where my husband attended Stanford University.

The next twenty years were filled with many life experiences -- many joyful ones as well as some very spiritually growing ones and many opportunities to serve.  As we raised our family, we were led by Heavenly Father to accept further schooling and job opportunities for my husband and to live in new locations around the country.  We have special places in our heart for each of them --  upstate New York, California, Georgia, Utah, Kansas, and Maryland.  Our youngest daughter, Emily was born during our 8 years in Utah. I also taught piano in my home for ten years.  We have lived here in Maryland, now for 6 years.  Each place has been unique and wonderful and made even sweeter by new friends.  The later years have also brought exciting changes for our family, including Spanish-speaking missions for our two sons (in Arizona and Chile), the marriages of our three oldest children and the birth of four grandchildren.  Our married children and their families live in Utah, Idaho and Missouri.  Our youngest daughter, Emily (17), is still at home.  She is finishing her Senior year of high school.

My current interests and hobbies include: family history research, gardening, reading, history, anything to do with homemaking, emergency preparedness, gentle yoga, and cooking for special dietary needs.

I have a great love for Relief Society and am excited to serve in my new calling and get to know the sisters in the Stake!


Camille Lund, 1st Counselor
I was born and raised in Provo, Utah, the third of eight children.  I attended Brigham Young University majoring in Elementary Education.  Lorin and I met while attending BYU, though not at BYU (we both lived at home and were in the same stake).  We married in December of 1984 and graduated together the following August.  I taught school for two years while Lorin earned a Master’s Degree and then we moved to Maryland where Lorin took a job with the Department of Defense.  We have lived in Maryland ever since, raising our family and supporting each other in our callings.  We have five children ranging in age from 33 to 15.  Three of our children are married, one is in her first year of college at BYU-Hawaii, and the youngest is at home, a sophomore in high school.  We have six grandchildren.  I like to crochet, garden, cook, teach piano lessons, read, and do family history work.  Most recently I have been serving as the Relief Society President in the Columbia 2nd ward.

For me Relief Society is a place of faith, love, and service.  Sisters from many backgrounds work together to learn, grow, and help others experience more of the Savior’s love.  I feel happy and blessed to be part of this great work.


Mendy Hunter, 2nd counselor
I was born in raised in York County, PA, the 4th of 8 children.  I grew up in Shrewsbury--the same town my dad's family has lived in since the 1730s! After graduating from high school, I attended BYU where I majored in English. Before graduating from college, I served a mission in Romania where I fell in love with the warm people and the breathtakingly beautiful Transylvania. After my mission, I graduated from the Y, backpacked through Europe with a friend, and then married Michael Hunter. While Michael finished his schooling, I worked in the staffing industry until our first baby, Maia (20), was born. When Maia was only 3 months old, Mike and I decided to move from Utah back to the east coast, where most members of our families lived. With Mike's family in Virgina and my in Pennsylvania, Mike suggested we move to the middle: Laurel, MD--and that's where we've been for the past 19 years! Here, we have added a son, Mason (18), and two more daughters, Marlee (15) and Mackenna (12), to our family. I have remained a full-time homemaker and enjoy volunteering at our kids' schools, reading, doing crafts, and learning new DIY skills. I love Relief Society and I am especially excited to get to know more of the sisters in the stake through this calling.

Prophetic Invitations

When President Nelson spoke during the general women's broadcast of general conference, he issued four invitations to help us, the women of the Church, answer his "prophetic plea . . . to shape the future by helping to gather scattered Israel."

President Nelson's first invitation asks us to prayerfully consider our use of media and then "to participate in a 10-day fast from social media and from any other media that bring negative or impure thoughts" to our minds. Immediately, I (and I'm sure many of you) started to assess the books I was reading, television shows I was watching, and movies I had on my watchlist. Could any of these be considered a negative influence? I think of this initial assessment as the first phase of this invitation. The second phase is the actual fast. In my experience, the first day felt as long as the subsequent nine! The more time spent away from Instagram, the easier it was not to click on that icon. The third and final phase of this first invitation from our prophet is to self-reflect. He suggests answering the following questions: "What do you notice after taking a break from perspectives of the world that have been wounding your spirit? Is there a change in where you now want to spend your time and energy? Have any of your priorities shifted--even just a little? I urge you to record and follow through with each impression." 

The second invitation President Nelson extended was to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, marking each verse that refers to the Savior, then, talking about Him with our friends and family. Wowzers! The Book of Mormon is long. 530 pages! He asked us to read it in under 3 months. During the holiday season? I don't know about you, but my mind was reeling a bit when I heard this. But listening to all of President Nelson's message, which sprinkled prophetic promises between his calls to action, and I knew I wanted to participate. "You and [your families and friends] will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen." I want those blessing for my family and friends! So, my daughters who are still at home, my husband and I are blazing through the Book of Mormon faster than we ever have. I even found that marking all the references to Christ made reading the Isaiah passages in 2 Nephi more enjoyable!

When I heard President Nelson issue his third invitation to "establish a pattern of regular temple attendance," the first thought I had was I HAD a habit of regularly going to the temple twice a month--and then it closed! Initial pouting aside, I appreciate that President Nelson didn't qualify our attendance with anything more than the word "regular." Individually, we can decide what "regular" temple attendance looks like to each of us. Driving 2 hours each way and paying $24 in tolls has certainly impacted my temple attendance, but I can still attend regularly. I also appreciate that President Nelson invited those who don't live near a temple "to study prayerfully about temples in the scriptures and in the words of the living prophets." Adding that to my personal study can be part of my new regular temple routine. In his opening remarks in general conference, President Nelson mentioned the strength of the adversary, noting that we need counter-strategies to combat Satan's. Then, in his closing address, the prophet said that our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I know I feel that on a personal level. When life's circumstances look bleak or tragedies happen to those I love, I can always count on having a peaceful heart when I am within the walls of the House of the Lord.

President Nelson's fourth and final formal invitation is  "to participate fully in Relief Society." He expanded on this by urging us to study the current Relief Society purpose statement and to study the Relief Society declaration. Did you know or remember that the Relief Society purpose statement had been revised in 2017? I didn't! Here it is: “Relief Society helps prepare women for the blessings of eternal life as they increase faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement; strengthen individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants; and work in unity to help those in need.” As part of my study of the new purpose statement, I read the announcement on the change, found here: https://www.lds.org/church/news/sister-burton-announces-updates-to-lds-relief-society-purpose-statement?lang=eng.  The Relief Society declaration can be found here: https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/31114/31113_000_005_01-declaration.pdf?lang=eng. Before accepting President Nelson's fourth invitation, it had been an embarrassingly long time since I'd read the declaration. I feel like it is a beautiful mission statement for women who understand their divine relationship with deity.

Sisters, we are lucky to have full lives with calendars full of good ways to spend our time. But, I hope that of all the invitations and evites we receive, we jump at the chance to accept these four invitations from our living prophet. I know that as we follow our prophet, the Lord's blessings will pour down on us. I'm counting on it!

-Mendy Hunter
(Second Counselor, Stake Relief Society)

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)

A Home Centered Church

It’s been a week since we experienced another wonderful General Conference, and I think I’m still floating on a “conference high”! I feel so energized! The Church is moving forward at an ever increasing pace, hastening the work, and preparing us for the coming of the Lord.
What a blessing to have a living Prophet, who has reminded us that the church of Christ must bear his name. We belong to His church, and it’s important that the world know where to find Him and His true gospel.

Does a Home Centered Church seem new to you? It shouldn’t. We all came from our Heavenly home where we were taught by our Heavenly Parents. We were placed on this earth in families and taught to honor our parents. We’ve been instructed over the years to raise our children up unto the Lord, to teach them right from wrong in our homes, and to counteract the things of the world. We’ve been invited to set aside one night each week for Family Home Evening, and to sit together as families in Sacrament Meeting. We have ALWAYS been a family centered Church, and the wonderful new ‘Come Follow Me’ materials and the extra time on Sunday will help us better fulfill this responsibility.

President Eyring spoke of the woman’s role in nurturing her family and administering to others in need: “As daughters of God, you have an innate and great capacity to sense the needs of others and to love. That, in turn, makes you more susceptible to the whisperings of the Spirit. The Spirit can then guide what you think, what you say, and what you do to nurture people so the Lord may pour knowledge, truth, and courage upon them.”

He went on to say: “ whatever your personal circumstance, you are part--a key part--of the family of God and of your own family, whether in the future, in this world, or in the spirit world. Your trust from God is to nurture as many of His and your family members as you can with your love and your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

And then: “You will each find ways to contribute to the outpouring of truth upon your families in the Lord’s restored Church. Each of you will pray, study, and ponder to know what your unique contribution will be. But this I know: each of you, equally yoked with sons of God, will be a major part of a miracle of gospel learning and living that will hasten the gathering of Israel and will prepare God’s family for the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

What a blessing! I hope you are feeling as excited as I am! There have been lots of changes over the past year; new policies, new curriculums, new changes in responsibilities. But with each new change I have had the confirmation that we are moving in the direction that the Lord wants for his church and his people. It all makes sense!

And now, we have this amazing blessing of technology that allows us to have almost immediately, in text, what we heard from the mouths of the Prophets. We don’t have to wait a month for printed copy to arrive in a magazine. My hope is that you are already reading this new scripture and feasting upon the words of modern revelation. Apply it to your family. Mark up your Book of Mormon. Remind your friends that you are a member of Christ’s Church during these Latter days.

As always, I send you my love and prayers,
Cindy Erekson

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

Light - An Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Celebration

On November 21st, I was invited to participate at an Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Celebration. There were ministers from about a dozen denominations on the program, lots of beautiful music, candles and fellowship. The theme was Light. I was asked to read from the Book of Mormon, and share a few thoughts on this topic. Here is the message I shared with them:

LIGHT

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

 Moroni chapter 7, verses 16-19:

16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.

19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.

The Light of Christ has been described as the divine energy, power, or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things. The Light of Christ influences people for good and prepares them to receive the Holy Ghost.  (LDS.org)

Jesus Christ said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8)

The Light of Christ "proceeds forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space." It is "the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed." This power is an influence for good in the lives of all people.  In the scriptures, the Light of Christ is sometimes called the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, or the Light of Life.  (D&C 88:6-13, John 1:9, D&C 93:2)  

The Light of Christ inspires poets, writers, artists, and musicians.  It motivates people to study, seek and experiment, ultimately leading to advances in science, medicine and technology that bless our lives. 

Top of Form The Light of Christ is often referred to as our conscience. It is the influence of God that inspires us to be good and to do good things. It guides people to be kind to one another, to share of their means, to care for the sick and needy. The more we yield to that influence to do good, the more that light increases within us.  When we ignore those promptings and turn from the light, those promptings dim and may ultimately decrease.

When our minds are darkened, it becomes difficult to think and to see things clearly. We may struggle with decisions and lose sight of what we once knew and felt. We begin to make mistakes and poor choices. We may lose our way and find ourselves without hope.

Walking in the light of Christ, we are able to see clearly and discern between right and wrong. We recognize truth when we hear it and it becomes easier to make righteous choices. We feel hope in our hearts as we view our lives from an eternal perspective. Then, as we open our hearts to receive the Light of Christ, that light continues to grow and illuminate our minds.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has said: “ Every time you turn your hearts to God in humble prayer, you experience His light. Every time you seek His word and will in the scriptures, the light grows in brightness. Every time you notice someone in need and sacrifice your own comfort to reach out in love, the light expands and swells. Every time you reject temptation and choose purity, every time you seek or extend forgiveness, every time you courageously testify of truth, the light chases away darkness and attracts others who are also seeking light and truth.”  Bearers of Heavenly Light Oct 2017

We all have this light within us, no matter who we are, no matter our race, gender, or culture.  It existed in us before we were born, and will be with us throughout our lives.  And…it will not perish when our time on this Earth is through.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

- Cindy Erekson, Stake Relief Society President

The Heart of Relief Society

Dear Sisters,

“And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18). 

This scripture was used as the opening statement for September's visiting teaching message. I think it embodies what Relief Society is all about. One heart, one mind, living righteously and taking care of each other's needs, -whether they be physical, emotional or spiritual.

It has been said that Visiting Teaching is the heart of Relief Society, and I believe that's true.  And I'm not just talking about the "monthly visit" that we dutifully do.  It's the caring for one another, the genuine interest in each other's lives, and the time and effort spent in service that draws us close as sisters and allows us to grow spiritually in ways we cannot do on our own.

I follow the quarterly reports of our stake, and have been concerned as I've watched the numbers fall.  Too many sisters are not getting visited or contacted.  Do these sisters feel welcome in our wards? Do they have friends among us? Do they feel they have someone to turn to when they have a need? I fear that many opportunities are being missed to reactivate, motivate and serve.  I worry that some sisters are feeling isolated and alone.

I know that I personally feel better when I have visited or contacted the sisters for whom I have stewardship.  Our busy lives can make this difficult, and I never like to impose on their time, (a fear you might share also) but over the years I have learned from and been spiritually fed by wonderful sisters who were "assigned" to my care.  I have walked away feeling like I was the one who benefited most from our visits.

Yes, Visiting Teaching is the heart of Relief Society.  But...we need to get Visiting Teaching into our hearts. Then we can truly be a Zion people.

Sending much love as you go forth and visit the wonderful sisters of the Columbia Stake,

Cindy Erekson

Stake Relief Society President

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!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all our sisters a Very Merry Christmas! 

Columbia Maryland Stake Relief Society Presidency
Lisa Larson - Cindy Erekson - Jill Goodrich

"Rise Up in Strength, Sisters in Zion"

Rise Up in Strength, Sisters in Zion

In her General Women's Session address, Young Women General President, Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson stated: Sisters, we live in “perilous times.” The conditions of our day should not be a surprise to us. They have been foretold for millennia as a warning and admonition so that we can be prepared...” Joseph Smith—Matthew indicates that in the last days even the “very elect … according to the covenant” will be deceived.

She quotes President Russell M. Nelson when a year ago he told the women: “Attacks against the Church, its doctrine, and our way of life are going to increase. Because of this, we need women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ and who will use that understanding to teach and help raise a sin-resistant generation. We need women who can detect deception in all of its forms. We need women who know how to access the power that God makes available to covenant keepers and who express their beliefs with confidence and charity. We need women who have the courage and vision of our Mother Eve.”

Sister Oscarson continues that “It will take concerted effort to be converted and to keep our covenants. To do so, we need to be girls and women who study the essential doctrines of the gospel and have an unshakable testimony of their truthfulness. There are three areas I believe are foundational to strong testimonies and that I consider to be essential to our understanding.

First, we need to acknowledge the centrality of God our Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, to our faith and salvation. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.

Second, we need to understand the need for the restoration of the doctrine, organization, and keys of authority in these latter days.

And third, we need to study and understand temple ordinances and covenants. The temple holds a place at the very center of our most sacred beliefs, and the Lord asks that we attend, ponder, study, and find personal meaning and application individually.”

Sister Oscarson closes by stating that: “I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I am eternally grateful for the direction, power, and daily help I receive as a covenant daughter of God. I testify that the Lord has blessed us, as women who live in these perilous times, with all of the power, gifts, and strength that are needed in order to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that we may all see our true potential and rise up to become the women of faith and courage our Father in Heaven needs us to be.'

I echo her sentiments. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that we, as daughters of God, have all the strength we need to overcome these perilous times. All we need to do is to tap into that strength through study and faith. By doing so, we can unlock the powers of Heaven.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

- Jill Goodrich, Stake Relief Society 2nd Counselor

Joy & Spiritual Survival and Am I Good Enough?

In 1996, President Hinckley said, “...in all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” That quickly became my life’s mantra. That was 20 years ago - before a mortgage and kids and before life got too serious! It was so much easier to have fun and to laugh and to enjoy life. But as the years have progressed, my fun level and laughter have definitely decreased.

I like to listen to general conference talks with the intent of finding ways to help me get back to enjoying my life and not just enduring it. I find that I’m barely able to keep my head above the water and I know there’s more to this life than laundry and grocery shopping and teaching my children (I’m a homeschool mom so I do this last one a lot!). There were two conference talks that really stood out to me from October’s general conference. The first one was “Joy and Spiritual Survival” by President Russell M. Nelson and the other was “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It” by Elder J. Devn Cornish.

President Nelson talks of Lehi and his circumstances. Lehi was persecuted for preaching of Christ, commanded to leave his possessions and travel in the wilderness not knowing where they were going and then watched two of his sons rebel and attack their brothers. And then Lehi tells us, “Men are, that they might have joy (2 Nephi 2:25).” In order to spiritually survive these last days, we need to have joy. According to Lehi, we were created to have joy.

So, how do I go about doing that? I’ve learned over the years that the times I truly feel joy are when I’m doing those simple things that the Savior has asked me to do - read my scriptures, pray, attend the temple, etc. Sometimes when I’m struggling the most, it’s usually because I’ve stopped doing these simple things. But one idea that I hadn’t really thought of that President Nelson suggested was to pray for joy. If I was created to have joy, then who better to ask for help finding joy then the Creator Himself.  

Another thing that hinders my enjoying life are my feelings of doubt. This is why Elder Cornish’s talk stood out to me. I question whether I am good enough and often feel discouraged as I go through my mental list of what I should be doing and realizing that I’m not doing as much as I think I should. Elder Cornish reminds me that,  Yes! I am good enough! He reminds us that the Lord is not a “heartless referee looking for any excuse to throw us out of the game” but is “our perfectly loving Father, who yearns more than anything else to have all his children come back home and live with him”. And that’s what I yearn for too, to someday go back home.

Elder Hinckley said in the October 1989 conference, “Please don’t nag yourself with thoughts of failure. Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know, and the Lord will accept of your effort.”

I am good enough - we all are! And the Lord will accept our efforts. I know that as I come to stop comparing myself with those around me and stop beating myself up for not doing everything on my list and really focus on my Savior and walking with Him on this journey of life, I will be able to do more than just endure this life but learn to actually enjoy it too!

- Lisa Larson
Stake Relief Society 1st Counselor

No Greater Joy Than To Know That They Know

Dear Sisters,

Wasn’t General Conference wonderful!   Unfortunately,  I got to see very little of this conference ‘live’, so instead of waiting for my Ensign to arrive, I have spent the past few weeks watching the sessions I missed and reading the talks on-line. What a blessing it is to have ready access to the words of our beloved leaders! I truly felt their love and the love of our Savior wash over me as I listened to their words.

            Since I have been asked to share my thoughts on one of the talks that especially touched me, I would like to remind us of the words of Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Seventy, in his talk entitled No Greater JoyThan to Know That They Know. This talk refers to our own children, but I also feel it refers to all those whom we have stewardship over and those we teach or visit teach.

First, our children:  Elder Nattress begins by asking “if all that your children knew of the gospel came from you – as their only source – how much would they know?” … “Is there any greater gift that we can impart to our children than a memory burned deep into their hearts that we know that our Redeemer lives? Do they know that we know? And more important, have they come to know for themselves that He lives?” 

I am sure the story of his mother reading the Book of Mormon to him each day, though he insisted he wasn’t listening, struck a chord with most of you as it did me.  How many days did we rush through scripture reading just to ‘get it done’? How many times did my kids curl up in a blanket on the floor during Family Home Evening, sleeping while they ‘pretended’ to be listening? How many times have I wondered if anything was getting in at all! Her response to him was priceless and brought tears to my eyes. “I will not lose you!”

He goes on to say: “Her words pierced my heart. Notwithstanding my imperfections, I was worth saving! She taught me the eternal truth that I am a son of a loving Heavenly Father. I learned that no matter what the circumstance, I was worth it. This was a perfect moment for an imperfect little boy.”

 Isn’t that why we do what we do? Isn’t that why we drag our kids off to church each week and struggle with them all through Sacrament meeting? Isn’t that why we strive to follow the counsel of our leaders, even when it is difficult? Isn’t that why we don’t give up when they start to stray? We DO NOT want to lose our children.  We want them with us through all eternity because we love them, and we know what joy that will bring to all of us.            

Let me now go back to his first question,-and I hope Elder Nattress won’t mind if I change the wording a little…”If all your Sisters knew of the gospel came from you – as their only source- how much would they know?  Is there any greater gift that we can impart to those whom we serve than a memory burned deep into their hearts that we know that our Redeemer lives? Do they know that we know? Can we help them come to know for themselves that He lives?”  Do our Sisters know that they are worth saving – no matter what their circumstances?

 Elder Nattress quoted President Packer: “Save for the exception of the very few who defect to perdition, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the atonement of Christ.”²

He then goes on to say: “I don’t know if anything in this world could bring more happiness and joy than to know that our children know the Savior, to know that they know “to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” That is why, as members of the Church, “we preach of Christ” and we testify of Christ”

 Preparing and teaching lessons, visiting teaching, and serving others in any capacity can be challenging, tiring and unrewarding, if we allow ourselves to forget that our service is helping to bring others to Christ. If we can take this one step further and let those whom we serve and teach know that we do this because of our love for our Savior, if we can testify truly of Him, then our efforts will not be in vain.  Our time will be well spent, and the Spirit of the Lord will shine through us as we preach and testify of Him.

Of this I testify in the name of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ.  

       

Cindy Erekson

Stake Relief Society President

Discover and Deepen our Understanding

Dear Sisters,

As we try to navigate through this earthly existence, we have so many obligations and are pulled in so many directions that sometimes we may wonder if all that we do really even matters.  It is, therefore, imperative that we stop and ponder on what is truly effective as we strive to save ourselves and our loved ones.  The following is an excerpt from a general conference address given by President Henry B. Eyring entitled, “The Power of Teaching Doctrine”:

“There has been a war between light and darkness, between good and evil, since before the world was created. The battle still rages, and the casualties seem to be increasing. All of us have family members we love who are being buffeted by the forces of the destroyer, who would make all God’s children miserable. For many of us, there have been sleepless nights. We have tried to add every force for good we can to the powers swirling around the people who are at risk. We have loved them. We have set the best example we could. We have pled in prayer for them. A wise prophet long ago gave us counsel about another force which we may at times underestimate and thus use too little.

Alma was the leader of a people faced with destruction by ferocious enemies. In the face of that danger, he could not do everything, so he had to choose. He could have built fortifications or created armaments or trained armies. But his only hope of victory was to get God’s help, and for that he knew the people must repent. And so he chose to try one thing first:

“And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had … more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God” (Alma 31:5)

The word of God is the doctrine taught by Jesus Christ and by His prophets. Alma knew that words of doctrine had great power. They can open the minds of people to see spiritual things not visible to the natural eye. And they can open the heart to feelings of the love of God and a love for truth.”  (emphasis added)

Our Savior knows that we are faced with much confusion which could lead us away from the safety of His fold.  He has not left us alone.  There is a current emphasis in the church to focus on teaching the saving doctrines of Christ.  Due to modern technology, never before have so many sources of misleading information been able to infiltrate our lives, BUT, with the help of modern technology, we can fortify ourselves and our family with pure doctrine so that we can withstand the intellectual storms of these latter days.  “Ongoing historical research, revisions of the Church’s curriculum, and the use of new technologies allowing a more systematic and thorough study of scriptures have all been pursued by the Church to that end.” (Intro to Gospel Essays: see below)

Here is just a few examples of resources the Church has to offer:

1.  Bible Videos-   What a great resource to share with our families and fellow Christian neighbors!   https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/?lang=eng

2.  Come Follow Me and Teaching in the Savior's Way-  Two recent programs to help us be more effective as we teach and learn.  https://www.lds.org/youth/learn?lang=eng

3.  Preach My Gospel-  The new'ish 'not-just-for-missionaries' guide for personal and family gospel study.  Great for Family Home Evening lessons. https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service?lang=eng

4.  Gospel Topics Essays-   (From the introduction...) “The Church places great emphasis on knowledge and on the importance of being well informed about Church history, doctrine, and practices. We (the church leaders) again encourage members to study the Gospel Topics essays cited in the links (below) as they “seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”https://www.lds.org/topics/essays?lang=eng

5.  New BYU/Institute Courses-  Did you know that there are ALL NEW religion courses that focus on doctrine, rather than individual books of scripture? Welcome the new “Cornerstone” courses. https://www.lds.org/topics/education/new-religion-classes?lang=eng

6.  Seminary Courses- Seminary also has a new doctrinal mastery component:     https://www.lds.org/si/seminary

In a quote from Elder M. Russell Ballard, we can sense the urgency for all of us to become students of doctrine. We must consider us all as the  students and teachers he mentions:

“Gone are the days when a student asked an honest question and a teacher responded, “Don’t worry about it!” Gone are the days when a student raised a sincere concern and a teacher bore his or her testimony as a response intended to avoid the issue. Gone are the days when students were protected from people who attacked the Church. Fortunately, the Lord provided this timely and timeless counsel to you teachers: “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/evening-with-a-general-authority/2016/02/the-opportunities-and-responsibilities-of-ces-teachers-in-the-21st-century?lang=eng

I pray that we all may be more diligent as we discover and deepen our understanding of the saving doctrines of the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Sister Jill Goodrich

One Heart and One Mind - A Stake in Zion

Dear Sisters,

            I am writing this morning in regards to the boundary changes that are about to take place in our Stake.  I know many of us are worried about the impact this might have on our families, our callings and our lives.  My hope and prayer is that my words will offend no one, and that you will know how much you have all been in my thoughts and prayers during the last few weeks.

            You might say that these changes won’t affect me or the ward where I reside, but these changes affect all of us, because we are all part of one big Stake Family.  We are sisters together in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, (“…for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galations 3:28) and I hope we’ll remember that Church programs and policies, stakes, wards and branches are all vehicles and tools to help us in our quest to return to our Father in Heaven.  Tough decisions have been made by our Stake Presidency, after much prayer and consideration, and we need to trust that they have been guided in these decisions–( knowing that some members might not like the changes in their lives,)- and be willing to sustain and support this action. 

There will be many adjustments: callings may change, leaders may be released, we may lose wonderful home and visiting teachers, and our youth may struggle with being separated from their friends.  I won’t pretend that this will be easy, but if we draw together as a stake family and strengthen one another, we will get through this and our stake will be stronger in the end.  It’s actually rather exciting to know that these changes are necessary due to the growth of the Columbia Stake! Let’s look for the positives, refrain from finding “flaws”, embrace our new wards, ward members, and leaders, and set the example for our children as we strive to accept and move forward. Let’s truly be a Zion people, “…having our hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another” (Mosiah 18: 21)  

I’ll continue to pray for all of you dear sisters of the Columbia Stake, and for the many new leaders who will have so much to do during these next few months as they staff and reorganize.  Let’s be patient and supportive.   Let’s use this time ourselves to grow in faith and testimony.

With much love,

Cindy Erekson

Stake Relief Society President

           

Watching Over His Children

Last Sunday the stake Relief Society presidency had the opportunity to visit the Spanish branch.  After the meetings ended we were able to spend a little time with their Relief Society presidency to get to know them better. I already knew the members of the presidency because they used to be part of the Columbia 2^nd ward many years ago before they became a branch. One member of the presidency reminded me that years ago our husbands were home teaching companions, at which point a light bulb went off in my head. Our husbands were assigned to visit Richard, a brother from Africa that had joined the church in our ward and they became his first home teachers. They were extremely involved in this brother's life as were both of our families. This was back in 2007 and my husband served as his home teacher until he was ordained a high priest last year. This wonderful brother was just diagnosed about 3 weeks ago with cancer that had spread throughout much of his body.

I immediately shared with this sister the information about Richard and suggested that her husband contact mine to arrange a time to visit him together. We both went home that afternoon and told our husbands and our husbands made plans to visit Richard on Monday afternoon because their family was leaving for Utah early Tuesday morning. And they did. They had a very nice visit with Richard. It was also Richard's last visit from church members as he passed away sometime overnight.

How fitting that his last visit was from his original home teachers who helped teach him so much of the gospel. And that wouldn't have happened had we not been there on Sunday visiting the Spanish branch. I know the Lord's hand was in all of this to make it happen. I'm grateful that our husbands had that opportunity to visit Richard one last time. We did not know that Richard was that close to passing. He had just moved to a hospice center that day from the hospital and we thought he had a little time left. I know the Lord is watching over each one of us and that He loves and cares for each of His children.

-Lisa Larson

Stake Relief Society 2nd Counselor