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

A Testimony of The Book of Mormon

 I am currently reading the Book of Mormon in three different places.  I am reading the assigned chapters to correspond with teaching my primary class.  We are reading the Book of Mormon for our family scripture study, and I am currently reading it for my personal scripture study.

I don't know how many times I have read the Book of Mormon.  If I had to hazard a guess, I don't think it would be far off to assume I have read it for each year of life I have lived on the earth.  As a result of reading it so often, I am very familiar with it's stories, chronological events, and doctrines.  I also admit how disappointed I am we do not cover every chapter of the Book of Mormon in primary.  We are suppose to miss so much good stuff like Alma Chapter 5 -  “Have your received His image in your countenance” or Alma Chapters 40-42 where the entire plan of salvation is laid out so clearly by Alma to his wayward son Corianton.  I will also freely admit taking liberties teaching my class and opting to cover things not covered in the manual.  How can I resist teaching “Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness.  Behold...wickedness never was happiness.”  Alma 41:10

The most interesting understandings have been coming to me this year as I read and ponder the Book of Mormon in three different places at the same time.  Like you, I know a number of people who have struggled with their testimony of the church over early church history, children of same-gender parents, and ordain women.  I have watched some I don't know well leave the church and some I love and cherish leave, too.  As I have gone over the workings of Satan embodied by Korihor in Alma 30 three different times this year, I have recognized Satan's patterns and activity in those who are struggling so hard to understand our church and it's practices and doctrines.  It has given me peace to see these patterns and prepare myself and my children to withstand Satan's wiles.  I have mourned over many I have witness leave, but as I contemplate Alma's words to Corianton, I see God's justice and mercy at work, and I feel the quiet prompting of the Lord witnessing peace to me.  This time instead of feeling deep sadness, the war chapters in Alma are giving me understanding and incite into preparing myself, my children, and my primary children to build battle armor and places of resort to face down Satan who cannot stand against the Lord and His might.  As you can see, Alma is very fresh in my mind right now.

I testify the Book of Mormon is true.  I know Joseph Smith was directed and empowered by the Lord to bring it forth.  I know it contains a foreshadowing of our day as we prepare to meet the the Lord Jesus Christ at His second coming.  I know as I read and contemplate the words contained in the Book of Mormon on a daily basis, I can more readily feel the Lord's love for me and receive revelation for even the most mundane of things on my to-do list.  The Book of Mormon allows God's light to infuse my soul.

I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Jae O. Haroldsen

Indexing is Family History Too!

This morning in my inbox I had an email from FamilySearch inviting me to participate in Indexing.

If you can read this:

Then you are needed!

What is Indexing?  It is simply viewing digitized documents on your personal computer and typing what you see.  The information provided by Indexers becomes part of a searchable database for people seeking information on their ancestors.  Indexing is one of the reasons that family history research has become so doable.  It is a ways and means that the work is hastening.

I love doing family history research and projects.  But there was a time not too many years back, that I didn't feel I could devote the resources I needed to my own family research.  Instead I Indexed.  I spent many, many hours while recovering from surgery with my laptop.  It was a great experience.  It was exciting, sometimes tedious, sometimes frustrating, but always rewarding.  I truly felt that my time spent Indexing was well spent.

After I was able to return to my own family research, I began to really understand the value of those Indexed records.  My father had "done" our family's four generations back in the 1980's.  But I felt impressed to go back and review each of those families.  His heritage is in Scotland.  The records he had access to in the 1980's consisted of the "Selected Scottish Birth Records".  It was a microfilmed database that had been extracted.  That means the Church had been given permission to photograph those records and make them available on rolls of film for researchers to view.  Dad did a great deal of work and to the quick glance, one would assume those families were complete.

However, I now have available to me through Indexed records: Scottish Birth, Marriage & Death records dating back into the 1700's and census records dating into the 1800's.  As I have compared those families to the new records accessible to me, I have found missing children, missing grandchildren, and missing spouses.  I am truly grateful for the efforts of the Indexing volunteers that make my research and discoveries possible.

If you're looking for a good Sabbath activity - a good way to participate in family history - a good way to help hasten the work of salvation - Consider becoming an Indexer.

Go to familysearch.org and click on Volunteer to learn more!

-Lorie Pierce

Our New Stake Relief Society Presidency

Columbia Stake Relief Society Presidency - June 2016
L-R: Lisa Larson, Cindy Erekson, Jill Goodrich

Cindy Erekson – Stake Relief Society President

I was born and raised in New England. I met my husband, Russ, at BYU.  We’ve been married 41 years this summer. We have 7 kids and 9 1/2 grandkids.  Our family has moved around a lot, mostly up and down the East coast.  We have lived in Sykesville for 11 years.
I have taught seminary for 9 years, the past 2 years as the Stake On Line teacher.  I also am a substitute teacher in the Carroll County schools.
I love traveling, and especially being at the ocean! I enjoy handwork: knitting, crocheting, embroidering, sewing.  And most foods taste better with chocolate!

For the first 7 years of our marriage, my husband was in school.  Money was tight to nonexistent, but I was blessed with the Relief Society program. Homemaking meetings taught me to cook, can, refinish furniture, and make crafts.  I learned budgeting, exercise, health, nutrition, first aid, and parenting skills.  Most of our Christmas presents during those years were from things I learned to make in Relief Society.  I've enjoyed the sisterhood of Relief Society, - and living so far from my own family, I like knowing that there are sisters I can turn to in time of need.  My life has been blessed by experiences shared and testimonies born, during lessons taught by wonderful sisters. What a truly inspired program this is!

Lisa Larson – Stake Relief Society 1^st Counselor

I was born and raised here in Maryland. I served a mission to Paraguay. Upon my return, I met my future husband, Louie, in my home ward and then proceeded to wait 2 years for him to return from his mission. We moved to Columbia 2nd ward in 1999 and have been there since. We have three children that I have been homeschooling for 5 years. I love to read, cross-stitch and work on my family history. I also love to travel, with a cruise being my favorite way to vacation. 

Relief Society has blessed my life in so many ways. My most treasured friendships have been made because of Relief Society. My family has been blessed in many ways by the little acts of service provided by the Relief Society sisters. And the spiritual uplift that I get each Sunday from the lessons helps me get through each week.

Jill Goodrich – Stake Relief Society 2^nd Counselor

Hi sisters! I'm Jill Goodrich.  I'd like to include in this introduction some of the tougher of life's trials I've experienced: losing a parent while young, going through a divorce, being a single parent, dating "again" but this time with two small children, remarrying and starting a new family over, having two grown children who are not active in the church, moving 3 times in five years (we've lived in San Diego, Hawaii, and Jacksonville, Florida), always living far from other family members, enduring serious health issues of my own and my children,  and the continual struggle to 'endure to the end' in these latter days.  Whew! I mention these because I know that you all have experienced many of these same trials as Heavenly Father prepares us for our Celestial Glory.  I look forward to getting to know you all better and to sharing not only your burdens, but also your joys. One of my favorite quotes about the importance of the Relief Society takes us back to its beginnings.  Upon hearing that her son, the prophet Joseph Smith, had organized the Relief Society, Lucy Mack Smith stated, “We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction that we may all sit down in heaven together.” I am so grateful to be a member of this powerful and inspired Relief Society organization.  Sisters, I cherish each one of you. It is my sincere desire to watch over and comfort you. I pray that we all might qualify ourselves to gain instruction and edification from our Father in Heaven, through the Holy Ghost,  as we strive to emulate our Savior and elder brother, Jesus Christ, so that we may one day all sit down in heaven together.

Highlights of Stake Conference

Last week we were uplifted and taught by all the speakers and music at both the Adult Session and the General Session of Stake Conference, as well as the special temple meeting on Friday night.  I apologize that I am not sharing my notes from all the talks.  I felt impressed to focus this post on the instruction and testimony given by our Stake Presidency.  I hope it will be a helpful reminder to us of what we heard and felt in those meetings.  I know my family and I were grateful for their words and especially for their testimonies and for all those who participated in the Conference meetings.

-Lorie Pierce


President Mitchell

In the Saturday evening session, President Mitchell referenced a General Conference talk given by Elder Carlos E. Asay in 1981.  You can read that talk here:  Opposition to the Work of God

On Sunday morning, President Mitchell bore testimony of Jesus as the Christ and our Redeemer.  He taught us that the Lord's atonement provides us grace to grow into the exalted beings our Father in Heaven desires us to become and to draw nearer to our Savior in life's experiences.

He encouraged all of us ages 12 and older to be worthy of and hold a temple recommend - to take part in this work by attending the temple and seeking out our ancestors.

He spoke of Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life, which represents Jesus Christ and the fruit, His atonement.  He taught us that we must personally partake of the fruit - or the atonement - that we can't eat for someone else.  He talked of the iron rod - that it represents the word of God and leads us to Christ.  In the darkness and distractions of life, the only way to make it safely is to hold onto the iron rod.

He said that there are 3 ways to hold onto the iron rod:

1. Read and study the scriptures
Never before in the history of the world have we had such access to the scriptures.  We can individually study and learn.  The world has never before needed such access to the word of God.  We can use our smart phones for a smart reason - Gospel Library app.  The scriptures lead us to Christ.  Nephi promises, "whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction." (1 Nephi 15:24)

2. Follow the living prophet and apostles
We have access to a living prophet and twelve apostles.  They receive the word of God and make it known to us.  We should seek out their teachings and be quick to obey.  We need to live by every word which proceeded forth from their teachings.  We have General Conference, the Engisn magazine, the lds mobile apps and lds.org to help us know what they are saying to us.

3.  Seek for and listen to the Holy Ghost.
The Gift of the Holy Ghost entitles us to His constant companionship as we live worthy.  By studying the words of God and seeking the Spirit - you will receive guidance.

He concluded with his testimony of Christ and exhorted us to study the Book of Mormon and promised that as we continue to study it, we will feel the Spirit and power that is there.  He reminded us that our safety in these last days comes from following the prophets.

President Towne

In the Saturday evening session, President Towne referenced the newly compiled version of the First Vision.  He commented that we are fortunate to have records that afford us the opportunity to see Joseph Smith's perspective as he related his experience to various people.  These various records have been compiled into a joint document that we can read via lds.org.  https://history.lds.org/article/joseph-smiths-accounts-of-the-first-vision?lang=eng

On Sunday morning, President Towne spoke directly to the Primary children.  His message to them was about the Savior - His sacrifice and resurrection.  He explained that we can remember our Savior by making the Sabbath Day a special day.  He told them of a new Primary song called "His Day" and encouraged them to go to our Stake Public Affairs Facebook page to hear that song.

He also told the children that the scriptures testify of Christ.  He told the story of Thomas from the New Testament, who wouldn't believe the Lord had been resurrected until he saw for himself.  He encouraged us to read the scriptures and pray to know that those witnesses of the Savior are true.

He said that the knowledge of Christ is so important - we need to share it with other people.  God is our Father and that means that everyone we meet is our brother or our sister.

He concluded with his testimony of the Savior and encouraged us to share our testimonies of the Savior with others.

President Peterson

In the Saturday evening session, President Peterson introduced "Teaching in the Savior's Way" which is designed to help all of us as teachers or future teachers learn from the Lord's pattern and from one another through Teacher Council Meetings.  The new booklet "Teaching in the Savior's Way" is available online and printed copies will be coming to ward/branches soon.  He also bore testimony of the importance of discussing the Gospel and the Scriptures through Sunday School and encouraged us all to make attending our Sunday School classes a priority where callings in Primary don't conflict.

On Sunday morning, President Peterson bore a tender testimony of the Savior.  He testified that the Savior will come again and that is our Faith.  He told us that is was faith that brought us to Conference to have the opportunity to associate as Saints and to hear testimony and be taught.

He spoke of the power of testimony - to be able to say "I know".  He talked about how we reach that point through a process of coming to believe and coming to feel as we learn of and testify of Christ.  He reminded us that as Alma taught using a seed to compare to faith and testimony - our testimony grows through our experiences and we receive knowledge.

He taught us that faith in Christ helps us understand that trials and challenges are opportunities to exercise faith, patience and understanding as we work through those trials and challenges.

He concluded with his testimony - with his "I Know" - of the Savior as our Redeemer.

A Legacy of Faith and Service - Post Seven

Sister Susan Reinsch and her counselors, Cheri Meiners and Marsha Searle, have been released as our Stake Relief Society Presidency.  They have served together since Fall 2012.  Susan's family is moving back to Nebraska as her husband retires.  They will be missed.

The role of a stake auxiliary presidency is to provide training and support to ward/branch leaders.  Susan and her counselors tried to fulfill this role as they visited throughout the stake.  They spent many hours counseling and training ward/branch presidencies.  Much of their efforts in their service as a Stake Relief Society presidency was unseen.  They tried to relieve the burdens on ward/branch leaders by putting themselves to work on assignments - such as zone conferences meals, stake conference meals, visitor's center meals, etc.

During the time they served, changes were made to the meetings associated with General Conference.  Previously held separately were a Young Womens General Meeting and Relief Society General Meeting.  The changes brought together all the women ages 8+ for a General Womens Meeting held each Spring and Fall prior to General Conference.  Susan and her counselors, working with the Stake Primary and Stake Young Womens presidencies, strived to create an atmosphere of welcome at a pre-broadcast social.  They wanted the sisters, young women and Primary girls to come together and feel that bond of sisterhood.  Their efforts bore fruits as we have seen a continued increase in attendance at the General Womens Meeting broadcast at our Stake Center.

Susan and her counselors continued planning Stake Relief Society Spring Activities.  Each year being a little different from the one before - a women's conference with workshops and service project; a day at the Temple Visitor's Center; a morning of humanitarian service projects.  They understood the busy lives of sisters around the stake and tried to plan activities that would be of value.

These sisters have set a quiet example through their love of the Gospel, their understanding and love of the scriptures, their love of the Lord and their love of their Relief Society sisters.  We are grateful for their willingness to serve and express our love to them.

-Lorie Pierce

Did You Know? Pathway Education Program

This past Sunday, our ward held a joint Priesthood and Relief Society meeting.  Brother and Sister Brown (Pathway Church Service Missionaries) came and gave a presentation on the Pathway program for LDS Church members.  I was very impressed with the opportunities afforded by the Church through this education program.  One thing that struck me as I listened to their presentation was a statement made that we ourselves might not be in need of this program, but that we might know someone who could be.  Below is just a bit of information about this education program.  Feel free to share it with someone you may think of.

-Lorie Pierce


Are you looking for a low-cost, flexible way to pursue a college degree online?

Pathway is a one-year (3 terms) Church program that helps people start or return to college.

Students complete coursework online, earning 15 BYU-Idaho credits toward a degree.  They also gather every Thursday evening at the Columbia MD Stake Center with other local Pathway students to participate in course-related discussions and activities.

Upon successful completion of the Pathway program (minimum 3.0 GPA in their online courses and obtaining an ecclesiastical endorsement), students can pursue a BYU-Idaho degree online.

Pathway tuition is currently $68/credit, and students who continue on to become BYU-Idaho online students will continue to pay the low Pathway tuition rate.

For more information or questions, please contact Elder & Sister Johnson, Pathway Church Service Missionaries, at 410.465.0430 or stevenjunkojohnson@hotmail.com.

Also, please see the attached Pathway handout or check out the website, pathway.lds.org.

If you are interested, you must apply no later than August 23rd and our Pathway site is known as the "Maryland Baltimore" location on the website.