You Are Making Progress - Keep Going!

"Jesus said, 'I am the light [that] shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.' That means no matter how hard it tries, the darkness cannot put out that light. Ever. You can trust that His light will be there for you......The Lord knows how hard you are trying. You are making progress. Keep going. He sees all your hidden sacrifices and counts them to your good and the good of those you love. Your work is not in vain. You are not alone. His very name, Emmanuel, means 'God with us.' He is surely with you." (Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness, Sharon Eubank, General Conference April 2019)

As I listened to General Conference a few weeks ago, this talk by Sister Eubank spoke to me personally and in regards to my family & friends. I spend a great deal of my time in conversations with family & friends who struggle with anxiety, are overwhelmed by the busyness of life, are lonely, are fighting battles others don't see - people who simply need someone to listen and understand.

Some of you may have noticed that our blog posts have shifted from weekly to monthly (with occasionally some in between). Life shifts and we have to move with it. Over the past year, I have been learning to deal with a shift in my own life that involves health issues I've not dealt with before. I've had to learn how to do less and yet still do. Those who know me well, know that I've not ever been one to do less (unless it was to sit down and read a good book). But the Lord knows our journey and He knows what we need to experience in order to become who He understands we can be. Reducing the frequency of the blog posts was just a small decision to lessen my own load - allowing time and energy to be focused on other needful things.

As I talk with family, friends and sisters throughout our Stake, I am often struck by how much they are doing and yet they feel they are not doing enough OR they are completely exhausted and feel they can't go another step. They often don't recognize the progress they are making and the good they are accomplishing. They see their exhaustion as failure. The Lord doesn't ask us to run faster than we have strength. What He asks is that we come to Him with a willing heart and He will help us accomplish what is needed.  His plan is always better than what we can come up with on our own.

I love the message of this sentence: "He sees all your hidden sacrifices and counts them to your good and the good of those you love." What a hopeful thought! When you are discouraged that your ministering efforts are not making any difference - reflect on that sentence! When you are wiping noses, changing diapers and the dishes never seem to get done - reflect on that sentence! When you get up early every morning to go to a job that you don't necessarily even like, but you are working to support yourself and your family - reflect on that sentence! When you fall asleep reading the scriptures, because you are just so tired, but you're reading anyway - reflect on that sentence! When your family's attempts with the Come Follow Me program fall flat, but you move forward anyway - reflect on that sentence! When you are afraid to try, but you try anyway - reflect on that sentence! Every day we get up and move forward and that is progress, that is success.

But I think the most important message is: "His very name, Emmanuel, means 'God with us.' He is surely with you." We never need to feel alone. Our Savior is always ready to encourage us, to lift us, to guide us, to strengthen us. Because of His atonement, He is the one who will always truly understand our pain, our sorrow, our grief, our exhaustion. "Jesus said, 'I am the light [that] shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.' That means no matter how hard it tries, the darkness cannot put out that light. Ever. You can trust that His light will be there for you."

As simple as that seems, I have had dear ones ask me, "But how? How do I access the power of His atonement to help me feel less alone?" My answer is always the same. I tell them to turn their thoughts to the times when they have felt peace, when they have felt calm, when they have felt the quiet assurances that He lives. I encourage them to quiet their stress by turning their hearts and minds to Him through prayer, through reading the scriptures, through time in the temple, through focusing on the promise of the sacramental prayers "that they may always have his Spirit to be with them", and especially through reflecting and acknowledging the blessings they receive. I also encourage them to nourish both their spirits and their bodies. We need to acknowledge that life is hard, but hard doesn't equal bad. The Lord has taught us, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

How grateful I am for my testimony of our Savior! I know He does love us and I know that He desires to help us as we journey through this life. I know that as we place our trust in Him, we can find joy in our journey regardless of the difficulties we face. I am also grateful for the examples of faith, perseverance, love and service we have among the sisters of this Stake.  Thank you sisters for simply being who are are and sharing your light day to day.

-Lorie Pierce (Stake RS Secretary)

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

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

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

All Are Alike Unto God

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cindy also shared these photos of the news clippings:





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

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

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

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

-Lorie Pierce

Now she truly is my sister!

For years I have been on the fringes of Family History.  I'm a dabbler.  I take a class or hear an inspiring talk and get excited now and then, but I've never felt that drive that some people feel.  You know 

​"​

those people

​"​

...the ones who have spent hours, days

​, months and years digging through files, scouring old records, recording histories and traveling to check out cemeteries in far off locations. 

Sure, I faithfully go to the Temple and act as proxy for people who's existence has been discovered and ordinances readied by "those people".  I serve each week as an ordinance worker, and help countless people receive the saving ordinances of the Gospel and I must admit, I've envied the looks of joy and satisfaction on the faces of others as they've done the work for their very own ancestors.

Well, recently I have been doing the work for some of my ancestors.  Cousins 6 times removed, wives of 8th granduncles, etc.  I don't know these people.  They are not even in my direct line, but they are family none the less, and some share family names of my direct line. 

A few months ago I started using an app called Take A Name.  This app quickly searches through thousands of records in Family Search, identifies people you are related to and shows you what ordinances need to be done.  It also shows sources so you can verify if enough information is available to correctly identify this person and link them to others.  The first time I clicked on, I found 24 ancestors with 56 ordinances ready to be done.  The next time I found another 25.  It's easy to reserve names that you'd like to work on, so that when next you go to Family Search, the names are there and ready to be printed.

Is this a lazy way to do genealogy? Some would say yes.  Others might realize how wonderfully easy modern technology has made this, and would gratefully thank all "those people" who have researched, indexed and paved the way for this great work.

So, now that I'm doing the work for my own family, do I ALWAYS have a spiritual experience and the confirmation that my work has been accepted? No...not always...but let me just share one sweet experience that happened in Initiatory.  I brought 5 names with me.  5 ancestors of my own.  The very first one was my Grandmother's cousin.  As I said her name, tears began to pour down my face.  I honestly don't think they were my tears.  I was acting in her behalf, and I truly feel that her tears were streaming down my face.  The ordinance worker began to weep, and by the time we'd made it through, all 3 workers were crying.  Even the initiatory director walked down and checked on us saying she could feel the Spirit so strongly that she knew something wonderful was happening.  I will forever be grateful for this experience.  I don't expect it every time, and maybe it'll never happen quite like that again...but I do know that I look forward to meeting this sister someday.  Now she truly is my sister! 

- Cindy Erekson

I Can Better Know Who I Am

Being a teenage convert to the church Family History was a completely foreign concept to me. I had never thought about family members that I had never met, much less about those hundreds of years before my time. Unfortunately, it wasn't until I had kids of my own that I actually started thinking about these family members. But once I did, I couldn't stop thinking about them. I knew nothing about any of my ancestors. How was I supposed to know who I was if I didn't know who they were? And being the only member of the church in my family I was feeling the pressure to get the temple work done for my ancestors. However, I was completely overwhelmed and at a loss as to where to start. Fortunately, Heavenly Father knew that I would need help once I got started on this project and blessed me with a wonderful sister in our local family history center and a family history class provided by our ward.

Family history wasn't always easy and though there were times of frustration I kept trying. A couple of years later through FamilySearch and Ancestry, I was able to find a distant cousin of my mother's who, though not a member of the church, had been doing family history for my mother's family. This was an amazing blessing to me since at that point I had been having no luck finding any of this information. Then just recently I found out that my great grandma, who also wasn't a member of the church, had been doing family history for her side of the family for years. After she passed away my uncles decided that since I was doing family history now they would pass on all of her things to me. Within these things were some old Family Ledgers. For the last 3 days, pretty much straight from 7am to midnight, I have been sorting through these precious treasures unable to put them down! I have been putting all the names into digital family group sheets. 82 group sheets and 142 family names later I finally got it all done! The entries ranged from the oldest one, who born in 1782, all the way down to my father.

When I look at all these family names I now feel that I know these individuals even though I have never met them. I feel a deep love for them and look forward to taking their names to the temple so that we can all be sealed into our family chain throughout the eternities. Through the years I have come to love family history and the sense of connection and love it gives me. I'm so thankful for those who have preceded me who have worked so hard on our family history and the blessing that I have to carry on where they left off. Family history has helped me discover who my ancestors are so I can better know who I am.

-Jessi Eberle
Ellicott City Ward

The Tortoise NOT the Hare

I recently felt impressed to ask Sister Debra Burt to share her thoughts on family history work with us.  I love what she shared!

"I feel like the tortoise and definitely NOT like the hare in doing family history.  The slow work, bit by bit, is how I've been able to participate in family history.  I was feeling worried recently that I really haven't done anything of significance in the years I've been plodding along.  Then, I rooted through my research book and pulled together all the temple ordinance cards that I've been able to complete.  My cards actually made a small pile.  It made me smile to think I had played a role in bringing ordinances to all those family members.  It gave me a boost to keep plugging along.  I think eventually I will be able to pick up my pace and do more.  It's a joyful work."   - Debra Burt

We do sometimes wonder if we are making any progress as we wind our way through our family tree.  Research can be tedious and take time. Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees.  We keep seeing branches and roots and leaves - all the bits and pieces.  But when we step back and look from a high perspective, we can see the whole landscape.  We can see the individuals and families that our work has brought the blessings of the Gospel and saving ordinances to.  We can see our family woven together and extending in all directions as a forest covering the landscape of our lives.  So while you may feel your work is moving slowly - remember that the speed is not what matters.  Just as with the tortoise - keep trying, keep moving and you will find your progress bears fruit.

- Lorie Pierce

Always Keep Pushing

“To you who think you are lost or without hope, or who think you have done too much that was too wrong for too long, to every one of you who worry that you are stranded somewhere on the wintry plains of life and have wrecked your handcart in the process, we call out Jehovah's unrelenting refrain, 'My hand is stretched out still'. His mercy endureth forever, and His hand is stretched out still. His is the pure love of Christ, the charity that never faileth, that compassion which endures even when all other strength disappears.”
by Jeffrey R. Holland

About two weeks ago the youth of the Columbia Maryland Stake embarked on a Pioneer Trek for 3 days and 2 nights, the amount of spiritual growth and power that this experience brought to our youth is overwhelming, I would like to share with you a bit about my experience.

My name is Jessica Haggerty, I am 17 and also one of the lucky few who had the opportunity to attend trek twice! Both experiences have proven to be hugely important to my spiritual growth and understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thursday morning (July 13th) we arrived to camp Liahona at 8am sharp to have our bags checked for anything we shouldn't have (like pillows or watches) and to get sorted into our families for the trek. I had an amazing family (go clouds!). Then we set off into the wilderness. The first day we did about 12 or 13 miles of hiking, pulling a cart about 10 times my weight. (Keep in mind that the weather was about 99 degrees).

Friday we hiked about 5 or 6 more miles, then spend the rest of our day playing pioneer games and square dancing (there is nothing a little dancing can't solve).

Then Saturday we had our group devotional, alone time, and testimony meeting.  Finally we walked the remaining 3 miles back to camp, packed up our families things, and went home.

There are a lot of things that I could tell you about the trek, a lot of things I could tell you about the people that were there and the things that we did, but I want to focus on the things I learned about myself and my Heavenly Father. I want to focus on the way that I felt, and the spirit that had touched me.

 I began this post with a quote about struggling to find strength when you feel too weak. Often times on trek, especially during the women's pull (a time when all of the young men go away so the young women have to pull the cart on their own), I felt like I was on the edge. I felt like I could only pull for a few more steps, I could only push for a few more minutes before I would give up and allow the weight of the cart to stop me from continuing on the path. But somehow, I kept moving, I kept pulling, I kept pushing. Even when my energy seemed long gone, somehow I found the power to keep going. In many ways I think this is similar to the atonement of Jesus Christ. Sometimes the weight of the world and the weight of sin seems like too much to handle. It seems as if at any moment my strength will run out and I will have no choice but to stop moving along the straight and narrow path. But when I turn to Christ, because of the strengthening and enabling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, I find the strength to keep going, to keep repenting, and to keep forsaking. He gives me the power to keep clinging to the iron rod. Christ's love and charity extend to all people, the strong and the weak, the tall and the small.

"Let us never forget the faith of our fathers and the selfless sacrifice of our mothers, those pioneering Saints who set such an inspiring example of obedience. Let us remember them as we strive to be valiant servants in our work to ‘invite all to come unto Christ’."
by Joseph B. Wirthlin

Ever since I had a testimony I've loved to share it. And for the past many years serving a mission has been set in my heart. Trek is an experience that helped me understand even further how much of a gift the gospel is in our lives, and gave me an overwhelming desire to sacrifice my time and energy for the gospel, as the pioneers did while crossing the plains.

The pioneer saints walked, were hungry, were thirsty, they gave up their homes, all of their belongings, their families, they even suffered death so that I can be where I am now, and so I can know about the gospel and so I can be happy. Sometimes it is so easy to forget about where we came from, but trek reminded me of the great sacrifices that my ancestors made.

Because of the pioneers, because of what they sacrificed and gave to their families and to their God, I've found a desire in my heart to serve they way they have served me. I've found a desire to do hard things, because I know that nothing is impossible when I'm on Christ's side. I’ve found a desire to give opportunity in the way that I have been given.

In conclusion, trek was an amazing experience. It was so much more than just a few kids hiking in the mountains of Pennsylvania. It was a spiritual journey that had a heavy impact in the hearts of all of our youth. It has taught me things that I will remember forever, as I do hard things in college, on my mission, and as I journey through the rest of my life. I will always remember the times when I felt as if I could no longer push, but because of Him, I always kept pushing.

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

Elizabeth Van Patten - Columbia 1st Ward

"Keep trying, be believing, don't get discouraged, things will work out."

When I was newly married, about 9 months, one of my visiting teachers gave me a beautiful print out of this quote by Gordon B. Hinckley. What she didn't know at the time, was that I had just found out I was pregnant with our first child.

What a shock that was to me. Even though I had just turned 22, I still felt like a teen mom. How were we going to provide for a tiny human when we were both still in school? Where would we put a baby in a one bedroom basement apartment? 

I looked at that quote often throughout my pregnancy and subsequent years. President Hinckley was an eternal optimist. His example helped me to rely on others for support in my time of need and most importantly, to rely on the Lord. I kept believing, remained courageous and things did work out.

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