Did You Know? Ward & Branch Conferences

Last Sunday, we began the "season" of ward & branch conferences in our stake.  As I attended the meetings at the Clarksville Building, I was struck by some things and felt I should share those thoughts with our sisters.

- I wondered about the reason we hold ward conferences.

I turned to the instructions in Handbook 2: Administering the Church.  Under the heading "Ward Conference" it reads:

The purposes of ward conference are to strengthen faith and testimony, provide gospel instruction, conduct business, and evaluate activity.

I also found this in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism:

Latter-day Saints are counseled, as were the New Testament saints, to "meet together oft." Conferences are among the most frequent types of meeting. Because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is administered by a constantly changing core of lay leaders, teachers, and officers, there is perpetual need for instruction, inspiration, and renewal. The scriptures state: "And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given" (D&C 43:8). The word "edify" means to enlighten, lift, or elevate spiritually. By "union of feeling," the Prophet Joseph Smith taught the sisters of the Relief Society, "we obtain power with the heavens." Conferences contribute to building that union.  (Author: William Rolfe Kerr)

I really like what Brother Kerr said.  I think we sometimes get complacent or just into a routine of Sunday meetings.  Having conferences breaks the routine and helps us receive further instruction and inspiration.

- I appreciated the opportunity to hear Bishops speak to their ward members.

If we think about how many times our Bishops or Branch Presidents actually address the general membership of their ward/branch - it isn't very often.  We hear them conduct meetings, but unlike other churches, our "ministers" do not stand each week and give sermons.  We instruct one another and all are edified.  But on the occasions that we are able to hear our Bishops and Branch Presidents give a talk, we are then able glimpse a bit more of the stewardship they bear.  I appreciated hearing and feeling the genuine love and concern those men have for the members of their wards.  It is clear, they are striving to serve the Lord with all their hearts and to watch over the "flock" assigned to their care.

- I appreciated the opportunity to listen as President Mitchell taught.

We have recently been reminded in our Stake Conference by Elder Titera that "when one who holds the keys speaks we would do well to listen.  President Mitchell hold the keys."  We have limited opportunities to be directly taught by our Stake President.  Our ward/branch conferences are one such opportunity.  I believe we should heed Elder Titera's counsel.  Just as it was clear those bishops truly cared about their ward members - it was also clear that President Mitchell and his counselors, Presidents Towne and Peterson, sincerely are interested in the spiritual and temporal welfare of the members of our stake.

- I appreciated seeing the Stake Relief Society, Young Women & Primary Presidencies concern and love for those they have a stewardship for.

Stake Auxiliary callings are very different from ward/branch callings.  Those stake leaders are there to provide training and support to the ward/branch leaders.  They don't have the same sphere of responsibility as on a ward level.  Having served in both ward and stake leadership callings, I can see the benefit of having those stake level auxiliary leaders.  Because they are not "in the trenches" in the same way as the ward/branch leaders, they are sometimes able to assist ward/branch leaders with a needed perspective.  They are entitled to receive inspiration on how to assist and sustain the ward/branch leaders.  They are entitled to receive inspiration about the needs of the sisters/young women/children of the stake.  I know the sisters who serve in these callings within our stake do so because they love the Lord and desire to serve Him and His children.  I am grateful for the example they set.

- I appreciated the chance to mingle with sisters of our stake.

As I accompanied our Stake Relief Society Presidency on their visit of the two ward Relief Societies last Sunday, I felt the goodness of the sisters.  Each Relief Society in our stake is different, but each has in common their love of our Savior and His Gospel, their desire to build their faith, their desire to strengthen their families and one another, their desire to reach out to those in need.  I was particularly touched by one sister's quiet concern for the feelings and struggles of another member of her Relief Society.  Charity Never Faileth was evident in the light that I saw in the sisters of those wards and not just those in the Relief Society room, but those who were teaching the children and those who were embracing and shoring up the young women.  It was a blessing to witness the goodness that exists in our Relief Societies and I can't help but wish each of us could have that chance to look from the outside in and see that goodness in action.

I was tired after a long day of Church meetings, but grateful for the experience and looking forward to repeating it 6 more times in the coming weeks.

-Lorie Pierce

Highlights from Stake Conference

We were greatly taught last weekend at our Stake Conference.  We were privileged to have Elder William Titera of the Quorum of the Seventy there with us.  I hope each of our sisters felt the Spirit in those meetings touching their hearts and minds.  I wrote as fast as I could and yet I know that my notes will not really do justice to the remarks and instructions given.  I'm sure if we each compared our notes and recollections, we would find a lot of variation.  Hopefully the glimpses I share will bring to mind things that each of us heard and help us in our application of the impressions we may have had.    -Lorie Pierce

Saturday Evening Session - 9 June 2016

Bishop Steven Johnson - Columbia 2nd Ward
He talked about the people of Ammon in the Book of Mormon and their great example of true conversion.  They demonstrated Belief, Conversion and Steadfastness.  We have need for the same conversion.

He talked about taking the young men in his ward camping and how some of them had difficulty getting a fire going and keeping it going.  He compared their experiences to our experiences with becoming truly converted.  He spoke of the sparks of our testimony in feeling the Spirit and gaining knowledge and asked us to consider what we have done with those sparks.  Without feeding and tending to a fire, it will go out.  Only true conversion will last.  He mentioned cold nights exposed to the elements while camping when the young men were unsuccessful in building lasting fires.  He asked another question - have our hearts turned cold by exposure to the world?  He encouraged us to strive to seek the warmth and light of true conversion.  He suggested we take time to evaluate our efforts to be truly converted and ended with "may we each seek to fan the flames of our conversion."

Sister Nikki Jones - Columbia 2nd Ward
She spoke on the topic - "how observing the Sabbath Day strengthens our home and family".  She said that the goal is to elevate Sabbath Day worship and that is done on a personal level and cultivated in our homes.  She encouraged us to have family councils to discuss how to elevate our observance of the Sabbath Day.  And she encouraged us to take changes little steps by little steps.  She said their family has begun to look at their choices on how they use their Sabbath Day time in light of good, better and best choices.

She bore testimony that as their family has tried to elevate their Sabbath Day observance their relationships have been strengthened.  She quoted 2 Nephi 25:26 and said that as they strive to keep the Sabbath Day holy their lives are becoming more Christ centered.  She encouraged us to pray for personal guidance and to counsel together about the things we can do.

President Steven Peterson - Counselor in Stake Presidency
He spoke of the need for spiritual protection for our children and our families.  He taught that the key to protecting our children is teaching and modeling the Gospel in our homes.  He talked about the blessings that come as we do the basics - Family Home Evening, family prayer, family scripture study, etc.

He encouraged wives and husbands to work together to strengthen their marriages.  He referred to Sister Elaine Dalton's conference talk entitled, "Love Her Mother" in which she taughter that the most important thing a father can do for his children is to show them he loves their mother.  He also mentioned a quote from Elder Hale - "none of us marry perfection; we marry potential".  He then encouraged us to be willing to be humble and ask for forgiveness.

Finally he reiterated our need to build a strengthening barrier by modeling the Gospel in our homes through keeping our covenants, keeping the Sabbath Day holy, holding family home evening, family prayer, family scriptures and by following the prophet.

President James Mitchell - Stake President
He began by telling us that Elder Titera had asked him to speak to us about "what keeps him awake at night".  He then talked about Alma 30 and the story of Korihor.  He identified these things that Korihor taught to draw the people away from the truth:
- Falsehood of there is no God - there is no Christ
- There is no sin - therefore there is no need for an Atonement
- Leaders were misleading the people and glutting themselves on the labors of the people
- Leaders were teaching foolish traditions.  Korihor said the people were losing their freedom by following those traditions.
Korihor was successful and had the people doubting their spiritual witnesses

President Mitchell noted that we are confronted with these same teachings today.  He commented that the people who followed Korihor seemed to take pride in their wickedness.  But the Anti-Nephi-Lehis were wise and didn't listen to Korihor and in fact sent him out of their land.

He then talked about those things that keep him awake:

1.  The things of this world - the false things of this world are getting in the way of our spiritual progress.

He spoke of Alma's discourse on experimenting on the word.  He reminded us that a testimony is not measurable by the world, but is real in the lives of the those who have experienced it.

2.  The importance of sustaining our leaders.

He taught us that to sustain our leaders is to act on their counsel.  He said we sustain our leaders with our hearts and our actions.  And reminded us about the current counsel regarding our Sabbath Day observance.

3.  The proper use of our time.

He said that we have a limited amount of time in life and that there are better things that can be done with it.  He expressed concerned for those who may have time to see a movie, but not to attend the temple.  Or families who have time to watch TV, but not for reading scriptures together.  He cited other examples and then encouraged us to choose wisely how we spend our time and teach our children to do the same.

4.  The need to protect our children.

He said our youth are encumbered by evil things, such as pornography.  He told us as parents to be wise in helping them to learn how to deal with the evils they face.  He also mentioned the Church's newest video designed to teach younger children about pornography and encouraged parents to view it.

President Mitchell ended his remarks by focusing on a talk given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland at a CES training in which he encouraged those teachers to "be not afraid, only believe".
Quoting Elder Holland,  “We know for certain that if or when everything else in the latter days is down or dying: if governments, economies, industries, and institutions crumble; if societies and cultures become a quagmire of chaos and insecurity, nevertheless through it all the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that bears that gospel to the world will stand triumphant, and we will stand undefiled in God’s hand until the very Son of God Himself comes to rule and reign as Lord of lords and King of kings,” he said. “Nothing is more certain in this world. Nothing is more sure. Nothing could be more of an antidote to anxiety.”

President Mitchell reminded us that the Lord is anxious to help us and concluded by sharing his testimony.

Elder William Titera - Quorum of the Seventy

One of the very first things Elder Titera said was "when one who hold the keys speaks - we would do well to listen.  President Mitchell holds the keys".  He encouraged us to pay attention to what President Mitchell says and told us that we had been well taught by our Stake President.

He continued by also encouraging us to pay attention to what the prophest and apostles say.  He reminded us that there is safety in following the prophets and related the tragic story of Haun's Mill, which could have been avoided had they heeded the counsel of the prophet.  He taught us that following the First Presidency is a vital doctrine.

Elder Titera then addressed the concerns expressed by President Mitchell.

He spoke of the fact that we have a great deal of time on our hands compared to generations who came before.  He asked these questions and made these points:
- what do we do with that time?
- are we becoming distracted?
- distractions can take over
- technology is great, but it should be a tool - our servant; not the the other way around
- are we enslaved by social media?

He told us that the only true filter for the evils that can come through the internet/devices is our internal filter.  He told us that we need to help our children set their internal filter when they are young.

He then led a discussion about the current focus on our Sabbath Day observance.  He taught that observing the Sabbath Day will lead to a full conversion.  And he said that so much depends on what we bring to Sacrament Meeting - that our preparation for that ordinance and meeting affect what we get out of it.  He encouraged us to allow time to prepare for Sacrament Meeting.

He then shared a number a clips from recent training videos regarding the Sabbath Day.  He noted that there is power in councils - that it invites revelation.  He taught that Family Home Evening provides a protection for us and our families.

He concluded by reminding us that there is a powerful, protective influence that comes in Sabbath Day observance and then bore his testimony.

Sunday Morning Session - 10 June 2016

President James Mitchell - Stake President

He focused his remarks on the Atonement as the focal point of the plan of salvation.

The Atonement:

- overcame the effect of the Fall of Adam & Eve

- overcame the effects of our own sins

- enables & empowers & strengthens

1.  overcame the effect of the Fall of Adam & Eve

Without Jesus Christ - Adam & Eve and all of us would have been lost.  "For as in Adam all die even so in Christ all are made alive"

2.  overcame the effects of our own sins

Man's nature became fallen - natural man

All of us fall short, but Jesus Christ paid the price so we can be forgiven.  This is the good news - the great news of the Gospel.  We can be cleansed.  The Lord's arms of mercy are extended to all.  We need to continually repent, weekly partake of the Sacrament and share the good news.

3.   enables & empowers & strengthens

Our Savior can provide us the strength we need.  Because he experienced it all He can succor us.  Through the Atonement we can receive an endowment of strength.  If we allow Him, God will change us to truly be born again.  Through the Atonement we are not just cleansed, but changed.

President Mitchell referred to President Uchtdorf's talk "The Gift of Grace" from April 2015 General Conference.

He said that many people in the church seem to fall into two categories.

- The first being those who fall short and so give up

He reminded us that it is the Savior's grace that allows and enables us to overcome sin.

He quoted 2 Nephi 25:23, "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."  He taught us that "all we can do" is believe in Christ, repent and exercise faith.

- The second being those who feel they are good enough

He reminded us that salvation is not bought through obedience, but through the grace of God.  We obey the commandments out of love for Him.  That obedience refines and prepares us to return to His presence.  We live the Gospel more fully to become like Him.  As we do, our spirits become more attuned to spiritual things.

President Mitchell bore testimony of the love our Savior has for each of us and that whatever our trials may be He will strengthen us.

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There were two youth speakers.  I apologize that I didn't get their names and wards written down quickly enough.

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Cindy - Youth Speaker

She spoke on having faith in Jesus Christ.  She said that when we have faith in Jesus Christ, we trust Him.  She also said that as we obey God, He helps us face our challenges.

Sylvan - Youth Speaker

He spoke of how he had desired to receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon and that he had realized that the Lord had been telling him it was true every time he had been reading it.  He bore testimony of Joseph Smith and of Jesus Christ.  He said that building his testimony from the Book of Mormon was his preparation to serve a mission.

Sister Odhalea Robinson - Ellicott City Ward

She is a convert of 9 years.  She said that the Gospel has given her more direction and purpose.  She bore testimony of the principles of the Gospel and that the only lasting way to peace is by making the Savior the center of our lives.  She said that "the more I obey, the more options open up to me."

Sister Christiansen - Baltimore Maryland Mission

She spoke of superpowers and said that our great Super Power is the power found in the word of God.  She referenced the account from 4 Nephi of  "the disciples of Jesus who did tarry with them, and they did cast them into prison; but by the power of the word of God, which was in them, the prisons were rent in twain, and they went forth doing mighty miracles among them".  

President Christiansen - Baltimore Maryland Mission

He told us that the things President Mitchell had taught us would help us become better disciples of Christ.  He said that the hastening of the work is a reality; that Jesus Christ is preparing the world for His second coming; that we are part of something greater than us.  He said that truly we are seeing miracles daily.  He reminded us that we do succeed when we invite because it invites the Spirit and it is the Spirit that converts.

Sister Swift - Washington DC Temple

She reminded us that God sees us as we are - that she said this is the greatest message of the Temple - that we are His children and He loves us.  She told us that every obedient, righteous individual is entitled to personal revelation.  She said that as we face challenges, we need to be exact in our obedience as we keep our covenants - then God will reveal Himself to us.

President Swift - Washington DC Temple

He told us, "We need you in the Temple".  He said that as we bring our holiness to the Temple, we add to the holiness there.  He quoted President Monson, "Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings."  He encouraged us to read Sister Neill Marriott's talk "Sharing Your Light" in which she says, "I believe that wherever a temple is built on the earth, it pushes back the darkness."

Elder William Titera - Quorum of the Seventy

Elder Titera did an interesting thing - he went through the remarks of each of the previous speakers and added his own insights to what they had taught.  I apologize that my notes are a bit disorganized, but hopefully they will spark a remembrance.

"When we live in a such a way that the considerations of Eternity press upon us we will make better decisions." - Spencer W. Kimball

Will we get distracted or stay focused on the path?

True conversion starts with a testimony - with knowing - and goes on to doing.

Becoming - "be ye therefore perfect" - happens through the Atonement of Christ.  Become what He would have us become.

In times when there have not been temple on the earth, the Lord has called his prophets up to a mountain to speak with them.  Why a mountain?  We sometimes need to make changes to our lives like climbing a spiritual mountain to enable us to be worthy of the temple blessings.  The perspective from a mountain is different.  We see things we couldn't before.  Nephi did go "oft" to the mountain.  This should be a pattern for our lives.

Spiritual gifts are spiritual powers.  Given for the benefit of man.  He encouraged us to ponder the gifts of the Spirit we have.

Sometimes we forget why we're here....to be proven.  When we forget we easily lose focus.

Elder Titera then used the analogy of running a marathon and the term used on the race results of "D.N.F." which stands for "did not finish".  He talked about reasons runners (or we) do not finish.

- A race takes a lot of effort.  If we are not careful we run out of energy.  Part of our challenge is we run out of steam.  

- We need to pace ourselves so we are not overwhelmed by life's challenges.

- We need regular nourishment: daily prayer, daily scripture study, FHE, association with the Saints at Church, weekly Sacrament, regular temple attendance, feastng on the words of Christ.

- Not totally prepared or taking short cuts.  The preparation we give the younger generation is important - again FHE, prayer, scriptures, Sabbath Day observance.

- Injuries - sometimes we break a commandment and we need spiritual medics (Bishops, Stake President) to help in our healing and getting back on course

- We get lost or get distracted.  We forget the considerations of eternity.  We need to return to the basics: prayer, scriptures, the daily and weekly things.  We need to watch for the sign posts - following the prophets.

He closed with reminding us that this is the Lord's work.  "I will show unto the world I can do my work".  We need to have the power that comes through doing His work.

Invitation Accepted!

Back in September President Mitchell gave an invitation to the members of our Stake:

Invite - by the end of the year - at least one non-member to a place where he/she could meet the missionaries and then follow through with that introduction.  This could be in our homes, at Church on Sunday, at a service activity, or at another Church event.

Here are some of the experiences sisters from around the Stake had in accepting that invitation.

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Lorna Browne - Ellicott City Ward

A few days before a previously scheduled dinner appointment with the Elders, I discovered that my husband was not going to be home for the dinner due to another assignment. My first thought was to cancel the appointment. However, I had the impression that I should invite our neighbors to join our family for dinner instead.  I had only had a few conversations with them previously about anything remotely related to religion, so, I will admit, I was concerned about how things would go. They are from India and the only religion they have practiced is Hinduism, although they have told me that they don't attend any kind of worship services here.

The dinner went well and the missionaries focused their message on prayer. I learned, quite to my surprise, that the father of this family was a big advocate of prayer.  Since that time, we have had a few more conversations about topics related to religion and our neighbors have greeted the missionaries when they have seen them at our house. I wish I could say that this family is taking the discussions and is headed toward baptism at this point, but I cannot. What I can say is that the dinner was a very good experience, one that I hope will lead to other opportunities for our neighbors to learn about the gospel.

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Jessica Pierce - YSA Branch

I actually didn’t realize that I had met this goal until I looked back and thought about it.  A couple months ago, I was thinking about a friend of mine in the branch who is a recent convert, and how I can help her strengthen her testimony, and the idea came into my mind to bring her to the Temple! So I talked to the sister missionaries about it and we were able to coordinate a way to take her to the Visitor’s Center. When she came, her college roommate, who isn’t a member, had come along with her as well! A couple of the sister missionaries there took us on a tour of the visitor’s center and we ended by watching the Restoration video. Then we went for a walk around the Temple and talked about the importance of going to the Temple and doing Temple work! All of us could feel the Spirit strongly, and we all greatly enjoyed our visit to the Temple. The thing is, I didn’t even think of this as having done missionary work until my mom pointed it out to me. This experience has helped me to realize that missionary work will come naturally to us as we strive to help those around us and follow The Savior’s example.

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Gisela Pinargote - Columbia 3rd Branch

God really listens to our prayers.  I was praying for an opportunity to share the gospel, almost all my friends are members of the church and finding someone to share the gospel with in my own language Spanish is a challenge.

One day I went to pick up my son at school for a Drs app when I saw another mom picking up her daughter too, when I got to the Drs office she was there too and we started a conversation. I was inspired to ask her if she would like to join me to my Zumba class and she said yes,  we had fun at the gym.

Later on I invited her to come to our branch Christmas party on Dec. 18th and she gladly accepted. She was amazed by the sweet greetings, performance and Latino food and music. Then I invited her and the sister missionaries to go with me to Festival of Lights at the Washington DC temple, on Dec. 29th, Lilia Altemburger accepted to listen to the sister missionaries at her house on January 6th. She said she has being praying for to find the true church even though she knows is going to be a challenge because her husband is not a believer, please help us pray for her family, I will keep you posted.

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As I reached out to sisters to share their experiences, a recurring answer was that those they invited did not accept the invitation - so the sisters felt that they had not succeeded.  

This was actually my same experience.  I did invite a friend to the Messiah Sing and she did not accept.  But I could tell she was sincere in her gratitude that I had thought of her.  I didn't feel my acceptance of President Mitchell's invitation was a failure because my invitation was declined.  Rather I found that because I was paying more attention to possibilities, the Spirit was able to enlighten my mind more fully about other opportunities - opportunities to serve less actives, opportunities to reach out to elderly neighbors, opportunities to take the time to listen to friends in need.  While on the surface none of those opportunities directly accomplished the missionary invitation, I have felt the influence of the Spirit in a sweet way these past months that I have appreciated.  I am grateful that President Mitchell felt inspired to issue the invitation and I'm grateful for the blessing my accepting brought to my own life.

-Lorie Pierce

Our Year in Review

At the end of each year, the auxiliary and quorum secretaries of the wards, branches and the stake are asked to submit a history of their organization.  These histories are compiled and submitted to Salt Lake for archiving.  I enjoyed the opportunity to review and reflect on all that has been done within our stake this past year.  I thought our sisters might like to see what I submitted.

I know that each ward and branch in this stake has amazing Relief Societies with faithful sisters serving in many ways.  I am grateful for the chance I've had this year to witness so much goodness.

-Lorie Pierce

Stake Relief Society Secretary

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Columbia Maryland Stake Relief Society – 2015 History

President – Susan Reinsch

1^st Counselor – Cheri Meiners

2^nd Counselor – Marsha Searle

Secretary – Traci Spires (released in March when she moved to South Africa)

                    Lorie Pierce (called in March)

(L-R: Cheri Meiners, Susan Reinsch, Marsha Searle – taken Fall 2015)

The year began with Stake Conference and Ward/Branch Conferences.  The presidency enjoyed visiting each unit and having the opportunity to teach in their Relief Societies during the conferences.

In March, the Stake Relief Society, Primary and Young Women presidencies came together to organize a pre-broadcast social for the General Womens Meeting held on March 28, 2015.  The sisters, young women and Primary girls ages 8+ were invited to gather together at the Stake Center for light refreshments prior to viewing the broadcast.  We had about 200 come for the social and then a few more arrived for the broadcast, bringing our total attendance to 224.  It was a wonderful opportunity to see the sisters of all ages mingling together.

Photos taken at the Social prior to the March 28, 2015 General Womens Meeting

We held our annual Stake Relief Society Activity on April 25, 2015.  The theme was “Come to the Temple”.  We met at the Washington DC Temple Visitor’s Center.  The sisters were able to listen to the current temple president and matron (President & Sister Colton) as well as the recently released temple president and matron (Brother & Sister Swinton).  Sister Deborah Hirschi of the Savage Mill ward also spoke to the sisters about the history and symbolism of the temple.  We participated in writing letters to missionaries and family search indexing.  We concluded our activity with boxed lunches.   It was a busy Saturday morning for many, especially as there was a last minute Regional Training meeting held that same morning for all auxiliary presidencies.  But we had a nice group of 73 sisters who were able to join us.

Columbia Stake Relief Society – “Come to the Temple” – April 25, 2015

In June, the Stake Relief Society presidency was asked to provide a meal to the brethren attending the Stake Priesthood Meeting as part of Stake Conference.  We served about 75 brethren.

From March through October, 6 of the 8 unit Relief Society presidencies were released.  The Stake Relief Society Presidency & Secretary were kept busy with visits and training of the newly called presidencies.  It is always a pleasure to see the willingness of the sisters to serve within their wards/branches.  It is always nice to be able to visit their meetings and feel of their love for the Gospel.

In September, we again worked with the Stake Primary and Young Women presidencies to organize a social prior to the General Womens Meeting.  It was decided to serve a light meal in the form of a taco salad bar.  The response from the sisters and their daughters was great.  We had about 215 come for the meal and then a few more arrived for the broadcast, bringing the attendance total to 225.  We greatly appreciated the Priesthood support organized through the High Council.

Panorama of light meal held prior to the September 2015 General Womens Meeting

In November, the Stake Relief Society Presidency met with all the ward/branch presidencies & secretaries to provide training.  The theme of the meeting was from D&C 88:119, “Organize yourselves….Prepare Every Needful Thing”.  The topics of welfare, visiting teaching, gospel teaching and the purposes of Relief Society were covered.

To end the year, our Stake Relief Society was assigned to provide 6 light meals to the missionaries serving at the Washington DC Temple Visitor’s Center during the month of December for the “Festival of Lights”.  We divided our assignment up between the presidency and several wards.

Our stake boundaries are large and the sisters have little opportunity across ward/branch boundaries to associate.  We try to help our sisters connect with one another through a closed Facebook group – Columbia Stake Sisters.  We also have a blog designed to uplift and inform them.  (columbiastakers.blogspot.com)

The sisters of the Columbia Maryland Stake are great examples of faith & testimony, strengthening family, and giving service & relief to those in need.  We are grateful for the blessing of serving with them.

A Legacy of Faith and Service - Post Five

Sister Ninon McGinn served as our Stake Relief Society President from 2006-2010.  Her presidency began their term with a dinner for the sisters prior to the General Relief Society Broadcast at the end of September 2006.  They used the theme "It'll be a Party Getting to Know You".  With this one activity they set the tone for the next several years of inviting the sisters throughout the stake to become acquainted with one another and to view ourselves as part of the whole.  Their efforts for this first event were well received.  The normal attendance for the pre-broadcast social had been averaging about 190 sisters.  That year, they had 235 sisters come!  Minus the struggle to seat and feed all the extra sisters - it was a welcome surprise.

During the years which Sister McGinn served, Relief Society itself underwent some "re-construction".  Under the direction of the General Relief Society Presidency, there were a series of changes to how the program was implemented within wards/branches.  Once such change was related to the names we gave our meetings and activities.  For decades they were known as Homemaking Meetings and then in the early 2000's were called "Home, Family and Personal Enrichment Meetings". The next step in those changes was to have "Enrichment Meetings" become the new title for all non-Sunday Relief Society meetings.  By 2010 with the publication of our current version of Handbook 2, the title was again changed.  This time to simply call everything Relief Society meetings - whether on a Sunday or weekday.  The scope and purpose remained ever the same to build personal testimony, strengthen home & family, and provide relief by serving others.

On a stake level, Sister McGinn and her presidency worked to offer meetings that would support the efforts of the wards/branches and provide the sisters throughout the stake a chance to associate, learn and serve together.  Themes for those meetings included:  "Be Ye Doers of the Word and Not Hearers Only", "Around the World in 80 Bites", "Spring into Service", "Learn, Do, Become", "Provident Living for Turbulent Times", "All is Safely Gathered In", "We'll All Work Together".

Humanitarian Aid became an ever increasing desire of the sisters within the stake and the Stake Relief Society Presidency was able to offer those opportunities on a scale which the wards/branches could not.  It was marvelous to enter the cultural hall at the Stake Center and see the room filled with sisters working together to bless the lives of people they would never meet.  Those activities gave us a sense of belonging to a truly remarkable organization - one with a global reach.

I had a unique opportunity to get to know Ninon during her time as president.  I served as a ward Relief Society president during her years as Stake Relief Society President.  I appreciated her wisdom and willingness to counsel with me about concerns I had.  She demonstrated in all that she did her love for the sisters in our Stake.  She was and still is a great example of discipleship.  She and her husband are currently in Peru, where he is presiding as mission president for the the Lima South Mission.

- Lorie Pierce

A Stake of Zion

Last Sunday, my ward Relief Society discussed the chapter in the Ezra Taft Benson manual entitled "Strengthen thy Stakes".  It struck me as really good timing to have that lesson within a few days of receiving an invitation from our Stake President to prepare for our upcoming Stake Conference.

I really appreciated the correlation our teacher drew.  As we discussed the chapter, she created two lists on the chalkboard - neither of which had a heading.  At the end of our lesson, she wrote "Give" and "Get" over the columns.  It was a great visual for us to see how we can help strengthen our stake and be blessed by being part of our stake.  One of the most important things I could see was that the greatest blessings to our families come through the Priesthood ordinances and that Priesthood authority is held in our Stake Presidency.

President Benson taught, "Each stake, presided over by three high priests, and supported by twelve men known as a high council, becomes a miniature church to the Saints in a specific geographic area. The purpose is to unify and perfect the members who live in those boundaries by extending to them the Church programs, ordinances, and gospel instruction."

Details on our upcoming Stake Conference were provided by President Mitchell in an email sent out last week.  In case you didn't receive it, I am including it here:

Dear Brother and Sisters,

The Columbia Stake Conference will be held January 8-10, 2016.  Elder William R. Titera of the Seventy will preside.  We invite endowed members to attend a special temple meeting on Friday, January 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the Priesthood room.  Adults are invited to the Saturday evening session on January 9th at 7:00pm in the Stake Center.  The Sunday general session will start at 10:00am and will be held at the Stake Center, with a live broadcast to the Clarksville and Hampstead meetinghouses. Please attend the location that is most convenient for you and your family.

It is wonderful to have a visiting authority coming to our stake conference, and we welcome the counsel Elder Titera will provide.  I know this is a busy time of year, so please mark your calendars and make conference attendance a priority.  I look forward to seeing you, and I pray we will all come prepared for a spiritual experience.

I hope you have a magnificent, Christ-centered Christmas season.  May the Lord bless you and yours.

James Mitchell
President Columbia Maryland Stake

Our family is looking forward to gathering in January with all of you - our Stake of Zion - to be instructed and uplifted.

-Lorie Pierce

How Has Relief Society Blessed Your Life?

Cynthia Knudson - Columbia 2nd Ward - Stake Primary President

I have been so blessed by being a member of the Relief Society!  It has always been a safe place for me.  I love how we learn something just because we are able to share freely with each other.  Questions and prayers are answered every week in Relief Society.  You can always find someone to help if you don't know how to do something.  I have learned to teach and to serve.  To love and be loved.  My dearest friends are there with me in the Relief Society learning, teaching, and serving with me.  I've enjoyed being a part of two different Relief Society Presidencies and the bonds formed with those sisters are unbreakable.  I have been stretched way beyond what I thought I could endure and have gained a greater capacity to love.  I'm so grateful for my loving Father in Heaven who knows me and what I need to grow and develop as a wife and mother and a woman in this day and age.  

P.S.  Whenever I have free time I can always find something to do in my closet full of unfinished crafts!  (I was usually too busy talking)

Jeri Tidwell - Savage Mill Ward - Stake Primary 1st Counselor

One of my most favorite stories is the time we had just moved to Columbia from Oregon. I was 30 weeks pregnant when we moved. One night I was doing the dishes in our new condo. I was crying as I loaded the dishwasher because I didn't know what I would do with my 2 year old son when I went into labor. I wanted my husband to be able to be with me.  As soon as these thoughts went through my head, my phone rang. It was Trisha Holgato and she happily told me that she was my new visiting teacher. We chatted for a moment, and set up an appointment. Then she said, "Can I take your little boy for you when you go to the hospital?" What a direct answer to my prayer. I was so thankful. 

The day came, and we agreed that she would meet us at the hospital and she would pick up my son. I was so worried he would be upset, and not want to go with her. He saw Trisha walk in the room, and he grabbed his bag and started to leave. He looked back at her from the doorway and said, "Are you coming?" We all laughed. 

I know that Heavenly Father knows us personally. I know he cares about the smallest details in our lives. I know we can pray to him for any need, whether it be silly or serious. I know that the Relief Society is an inspired program and that we are all blessed to be apart of it.

Beverly Gams - Eldersburg Ward - Stake Primary 2nd Counselor

Relief Society has blessed my life in purposeful ways.  All of which have come through acts of service given & received.  As I have fulfilled callings in Relief Society I have gained a great love & appreciation for those I work with & serve.   However,  I feel the most influence & special caring moments have happened through the visiting teaching program.  Visiting teaching has been an opportunity to develop & nourish meaningful friendships with amazing, talented ladies who are good examples to me.  My companions have always been such faithful sisters that I have enjoyed working with & who have blessed me in the various stages of motherhood & wifehood.  I am very grateful for the visiting teaching program.  Relief Society blesses me because it helps me be more Christlike & to understand His merciful atonement which enables me to forgive and be forgiven.  This fills me with immense joy. What a blessing!

Robin Mikolyski - Columbia 2nd Ward - Stake Primary Secretary

Relief Society has blessed my life in so many ways. First of all, whether I changed wards within a town, or moved across the country, I was able to make friends quickly through Relief Society. Second, I've appreciated the chances I've had to hold callings in Relief Society, getting to know the sisters through teaching and service. I love how much I can "forget myself and go to work" (referencing President Hinckley). I am not able to attend Relief Society Sunday meetings very often right now because I have a one-year-old who is too loud and restless to join me, and I really miss the Spirit I feel as we learn Gospel truths together. It is truly an inspired program that I am grateful for!