Does It Uplift?

Years ago as a young mother, I attended a family reunion.  My Uncle Jim, as the family patriarch, gathered us all together and took the opportunity to provide some counsel to us.  He spoke of the things we allow to influence our lives, the things we allow to enter our homes, the things we allow to demand our time & attention.  Then he gave us a benchmark question.  "Does it uplift?"  He told us that if we would measure those influences and our decisions regarding our lives, our homes, our time against that question we would find ourselves with more peace in our lives and more confident of our path back to our Father in Heaven.  We came home from that reunion and promptly put a sign above our TV that read "Does it Uplift?".  It was a simple reminder, but yet a powerful motivator to us and our children.

I was thinking about that sign the other day.  Years of moving and changing TV equipment - the sign was long ago lost - but the message stayed with us.  The more we seek to invite the Spirit into our lives, the stronger our filters of the junk in the world becomes.

Last week the sister missionaries came for dinner and afterward showed us a Mormon Messages video.  As I watched that video, I was again reminded of how precious our time is - of how many good choices there are - of all the relationships we can strengthen.  We are truly blessed with good, better and best options.  The Church is doing wonderful things in offering us those options.  If you aren't familiar with Mormon Channel, it is a great place to find uplifting media.

Here is one of my favorite Mormon Messages videos.  If you can't view it on your device - the direct link is below the embedded video frame.

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/moments-that-matter-most-2

-Lorie Pierce

Discover and Deepen our Understanding

Dear Sisters,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sister Jill Goodrich

Save The Date! General Women's Session

This event is for all sisters, young women and Primary girls ages 8+.  It will be a great opportunity to gather and mingle as friends across the stake.  We hope to see many of you there.  Visiting teachers - if you visit a less-active sister, please take one of the postcards to invite her to attend.

Did You Know? "Come Follow Me" Curriculum Supplement Videos

For our teachers of youth the phrase "Come Follow Me" has added meaning.  It is the title for the curriculum they use in teaching Sunday School and YW/YM classes.  When the curriculum was first introduced a few years ago there were a series of videos associated with the monthly themes.  These were available online and eventually some were made available on DVD and provided through the Media Centers in our church buildings.

Today on lds.org something caught my eye and I discovered another source of curriculum videos for the "Come Follow Me" monthly topics.  The topic for August is "Marriage and Family" and this link will take you to a set of videos in the Media Library online that exist for your use.  And since the youth themselves are to be involved in the teaching of these topics - perhaps the teachers, mothers, friends who read this post can share this resource with them too.

Come Follow Me Curriculum Video Supplements

We truly are not alone in this Gospel and in the effort to strengthen one another.  How blessed we are that the Lord has provided technology where by we can develop and share useful and uplifting resources. Resources that can help us build our testimonies, faith and knowledge as well as our family's and those we have stewardship for in the Church.

-Lorie Pierce

Gathering as Sisters - EC

Our "Gathering As Sisters" post series is designed to help us as sisters within our wards/branches see that we are part of a whole - that across the stake there are other groups of sisters gathering together in activities and service to support & teach one another and develop friendships as they fulfill the purposes of the Relief Society in building faith, strengthening families and providing relief.  Each month through the end of this year, we will share one or two highlights from activities within our Relief Societies.

We have truly been blessed with our current Handbook of Instruction that allows each ward/branch to counsel together and then plan with inspiration according to their specific needs. We hope that by sharing some of the wonderful things happening within our wards/branches, we can understand better the individual yet similar needs we share as sisters in the Columbia Maryland Stake.

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Our Ellicott City Ward Sisters:

In July, the Ellicott City sisters got together to celebrate our pioneer heritage, learn new things and have a little fun.  They shared family history stories and pulled taffy.  Sisters were able to learn how to make simple wooden shelves and work on a family history decorative fan chart.  The friendship and sisterhood between these woman was clear as they chatted and laughed together.  How truly wonderful the sisters of the Columbia Stake are!

One Heart and One Mind - A Stake in Zion

Dear Sisters,

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

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

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

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

With much love,

Cindy Erekson

Stake Relief Society President

           

Become A Family Historian!

Today is Pioneer Day.  A day that for many of us brings back memories of the stories told us about our heritage.  Perhaps a good day for us to record those stories - it's a good day to start.  We don't have to come from "Mormon Pioneer Stock" to recognize the sacrifices of those early Saints and also recognize the benefit that has come from their stories of faith, courage, charity, joys and sorrows.

This week, I read an article published in the Dessert News and written by Keith A. Erekson, Church History Library Director (and coincidentally Cindy Erekson's son).  The article is entitled Honor the pioneers by telling better stories.

As I read this article, I thought of the family history stories my grand-mother, mother and then I collected and compiled.  While I did my best to document these family histories, I'm sure there are errors in them.  I have shared them on Family Tree with the intent that others can benefit from what I had in piles & boxes for many years and that perhaps they would be inspired to share what they have stored in boxes too.  I appreciated the professional instruction from Brother Erekson in this article and know that as I go forward in my own family history research, I will employ his suggestions to help me be a better family historian.

We each have family histories that can be collected, recorded and shared.  That process is part of the injunction to seek out our ancestors.  We seek them to be able to perform sacred temple ordinances for them, but also to remember them, honor them, learn from them - to know them.  As we seek to find and preserve the histories of our families, we are blessed.  I know they are aware of our seeking for them and their gratitude will bless our efforts and our lives in ways we may not expect.  I have seen how preserving and sharing the stories of my ancestors has drawn my children closer to the Lord and opened doors of communication within our family.

Pictures are a great place to start.  Gather what you have - Document who and when - and then Share those photos with your family.  Family Tree is a great way to make those photos available to extended family - cousins you might not even know about.  And did you know that our Columbia Maryland Family History Center has an amazing photo scanner that you can use?  

I'm going to celebrate Pioneer Day today by spending some time being a family historian....and then maybe eat some sourdough biscuits like my pioneer ancestors would have made.

-Lorie Pierce

Anna Margaretha Buchi  "Margaret"
A Pioneer from Switzerland