New Self-Reliance Initiative

Most of you have probably been hearing announcements for the upcoming Self-Reliance Devotional.  This post will hopefully answer some basic questions about that event and about the Church's new Self-Reliance Initiative.

First the Devotional --
Sunday Jan 29, 2017, 7pm at the Columbia Stake Center.  It will run about 90 minutes in length.  Sunday dress is not required.  Non-LDS Church members are welcome to participate.

It is not a general 'come learn about self-reliance' event.  It has a specific purpose to organize attendees into groups/classes.

The following description is taken from FAQs for the Self-Reliance Initiative: Members.  If you still have questions, after using the link to read the FAQs page, please contact your Relief Society president or Bishop/Branch President.

"The devotional will be a meeting in which all individuals who have been identified by their ward councils, or individuals who wish to self-select into the initiative, will come together and learn about the church’s new Self-Reliance Initiative. Each participant will come ready to be assigned to one of four groups that will be learning over a 12-week period principles, skills, and habits in regard to Finding Better Work, Education for Better Work, Starting or Growing a Business, or Managing Finances (participants may choose a group before they arrive, decide during the devotional during an assessment exercise, or a bishop could assign a particular group based on a situation).  All participants will divide into these four groups, then each group will get together and decide where, when, and what time they will meet each week.  Each participant will be committing to a 2 hour meeting each week, for 12 weeks, and to complete 3-6 hours of assignments between each class."

Second the New Self-Reliance Initiative --
“Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family” (Handbook 2: Administering the Church[2010], 6.1.1).

The new initiative is all about learning and doing.  It is targeted to people's needs - areas they need to/want to improve their self-reliance in.  The program helps to connect people together in a facilitator - learner/doer context and allows us to truly make use of the storehouse of resources that exist within our members knowledge, skills, and willingness to serve one another.

The new initiative will be used by ward/branch leaders to help specific individuals they have reached out to, but members are encouraged to evaluate themselves and participate in the formal classes as they feel a need.

There are many resources available online specifically for this Initiative and for general self-reliance information.  If you have the Gospel Library app on your device - simply click on the Self-Reliance tab.  Using lds.org you would follow the links through Families and Individuals.  Or you can use these links:

https://www.lds.org/topics/pef-self-reliance/principles?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/topics/pef-self-reliance/manuals-and-videos?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/topics/pef-self-reliance/live?lang=eng

My husband and I are working though the booklet My Foundation together.  While we may not choose to participate in any of the 12 week classes, we are finding that reviewing these basic principles together is helpful.  The thing about self-reliance that my parents taught my is this - the more self-reliant I am the better able I am to serve and lift others, whether it be temporally or spiritually....and as I strive to center my self-reliance on my faith in Jesus Christ, I am blessed to be able to do what needs to be done.

-Lorie Pierce

Stake Conference Snip-Its

Sisters what a wonderful Stake Conference we had last weekend.  We were blessed to be taught by Elder Sinclair and our Stake Presidency, as well as the other speakers.  The music was uplifting and I am grateful for everyone's efforts on behalf of the Conference.  Here are some brief notes I made during the Sunday session - perhaps they will help you recall things you heard and impressions you had.

-Lorie Pierce

President Steve Towne - President James Mitchell - Elder Paul Sinclair - President Steve Peterson

President Peterson

Spoke on the Gift of the Holy Ghost - Set aside distractions and open our hearts & minds that the Holy Ghost may bear witness to our hearts.

Sister Kuhn

Spoke on Family History and Temple Work - quoted Elder Quentin L. Cook: "The Lord in initial revelatory instructions referred to “baptism for your dead.” Our doctrinal obligation is to our own ancestors. This is because the celestial organization of heaven is based on families.....We need to be connected to both our roots and branches."

Brother Dean

Spoke on Sharing the Gospel - faith needs to replace fear; use technology; live your religion

Sister Colton

Spoke on the Importance of Temples - We build temples because resurrection is real and life is eternal.  In the temple we are reminded of life's journey and life's purpose and it's connection to eternity.  As we put away the busyness of life in favor of peaceful meditation in the temple, we find a richer and more meaningful connection to Jesus Christ.

President Colton

Spoke on the Importance of Temples - We need to recognize the powerful connection between our families here and our families deceased.  When we participate in temple ordinances we are endowed with power from on high.  We need to help our families see themselves in the temple.

President Towne

Spoke directly to the Primary children - Life is not about getting more or getting ahead.  The object of life is to follow Jesus Christ and return to live with our Father in Heaven. None of life's problems will stop us from obtaining God's blessings - peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.

President Mitchell

Spoke on the Importance of reading the Book of Mormon - quoted:

“Those who read the Book of Mormon will be blessed with an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a greater resolve to obey His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.” (First Presidency letter, July 25, 2005)  To increase our delight in reading - call upon God for help, earnestly praying, turn away from things of the world, start & be consistent, set a pattern.  Are we truly grateful for what we have in the Book of Mormon? Do we value it for it's real worth?  He echoed Elder Stevenson's invitation: "Will you replace some of that daily screen time—particularly that devoted to social media, the internet, gaming, or television—with reading the Book of Mormon?" He ended with his testimony and Omni 1:26 "And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

Elder Sinclair

Invited us to consider what the Lord has inspired us in this Conference to do differently.  Shared Alma 5 which discusses a "mighty change of heart" and said that faith is evidenced by our changes in how we think and what we do.  Shared from D&C 107:22 "upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church" and invited us to sustain our local leaders through our personal righteousness.  The purpose of praying is not just in what we ask for but in the receiving - invited us to listen when we pray.  In order to do the things the Lord has inspired us - we need to repent and change.  Repentance is not a bad thing - helps us recognize areas for growth - we all have to change who we are to become who the Lord needs us to be.  Reminded us to seek after joy in our lives.  We can get so engrossed in the growth that we forget to have joy.  2 Nephi 2:25 "might have joy" - might implies a choice.  Smile as you go through the process of changing who you are.

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

As we start this new year of Relief Society lessons with an emphasis on the Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, my thoughts have turned to my own moments over the years as I heard him teach and how those times affected my life.  I'm sure that many of us have those moments.  I'm hoping that sisters will be willing to share some of those moments with us throughout this year via this blog.  If you have an experience that comes to mind - please email me at loriepierce.rs@gmail.com.

The moment for me that came immediately to mind was from the General Relief Society Meeting in 1995 at which President Hinckley read for the first time "The Family: A Proclamation to the World".  I had three young children at the time - the youngest was just 1 year old - our youngest daughter not even on the horizon yet.  I was sitting in the Columbia Stake Center with many of my sisters from across the Stake.  The feeling in that room as we listened to our prophet read those words was amazing.  I just knew that what I was connected in that moment to something very important - to something historical.  The Spirit bore witness to me that this proclamation would be a blessing to myself and my family.  I recall going home and attempting to convey to my husband what had occurred and not really being able to put it into words for him.

The other President Hinckley moment that has truly stayed with me was from the General Conference immediately following 9-11.  His words were prophetic and reassuring.  I remember a feeling of hope & peace and a desire to move forward in faith without fear.

How grateful I am for the prophets and apostles.  How grateful I am that their words are recorded for us to study & remember and to look back upon & then move forward from.

-Lorie Pierce

2016 In Review

We have reached another end and another beginning.  As we reflect back over 2016 as a Stake Relief Society, there is much to be grateful for.  We have wonderful sisters in our Stake that serve with faith and dedication in their homes, in their wards/branches and in their communities.  We are grateful for the love and example our sisters share with us and all those around them.  We look forward to many wonderful things this coming year as we mingle, learn from and serve together.  I hope you enjoy this brief review of this year gone by.

-Lorie Pierce

General Womens Meeting held March 26, 2016
We gathered as sisters for a light meal prior to viewing the broadcast from Salt Lake.  We had about 190 sisters, young women and Primary girls attend.



Spring Stake Relief Society Activity held on April 23, 2016
"We are the Lord's Hands" was our theme as we gathered to participate in a humanitarian project for Haitian orphans.  About 90 sisters gathered with us.  We made 200 drawstring bags and 75 hacky sacks for the orphans.  We also had a collection area for toiletry and school supplies that were donated locally to help refugees in the Baltimore area.



New Stake Relief Society Presidency called in June 2016
President - Cindy Erekson
1st Counselor - Lisa Larson
2nd Counselor - Jill Goodrich
(Secretary still serving - Lorie Pierce)



General Womens Meeting held on September 24, 2016
We gathered as sisters, young women and Primary girls to "Celebrate the Joys of Womanhood" with a large variety of tasty finger snacks.  It was an evening of mingling with friends old and new for the 193 who joined us.



Other noteworthy things from 2016 include our visits to Sunday Relief Society meetings and activities throughout the Stake.  It has been such a pleasure to visit the various units in our stake - to get to know our sisters better and to feel the love they have for the Gospel and for the work of Relief Society.

2016 ended with our annual assignment to provide food for the missionaries serving at the Washington DC Temple Visitor's Center during the Festival of Lights.  We were assigned 6 days this year and are very grateful to the women who generously filled that assignment at such a busy time of the year.  We so appreciate the willingness of our sisters to step up and serve.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all our sisters a Very Merry Christmas! 

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

2017 Relief Society Curriculum

The Relief Society lessons for the 2nd and 3rd Sunday's each month will be from the newly published Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley.  You can download the manual to your mobile device via the Gospel Library app, you can access it on lds.org and most wards will still probably order a few hard copies (or you can purchase your own hard copy at store.lds.org).

The 1st Sunday of the month is taught by a presidency member on topics that they have felt inspired to share. The 4th Sunday of the month is a lesson taught based on a General Conference talk (determined by the Bishop or Branch President).

Having served in callings over the years that gave me chances to teach these various lessons - I know the value of the sisters coming prepared to learn and participate.  A large part of that preparation comes through reading the lesson in advance and doing our part to invite the Spirit into our Relief Society meetings.

I am looking forward to this year and studying the words of President Hinckley. With the exception of more recent converts, most of us will have a personal connection to him and his teachings. What a blessing it will be to recall those times we heard him speak and felt the Spirit bear witness of his words.

-Lorie Pierce

Our Missionaries - Not Forgotten

In early November, I left for Oregon and the birth of my 2nd grand-daughter.  Before I departed, I bought cards and stamps to be able to send Christmas wishes to all our missionaries serving from the Columbia Maryland Stake.  A couple days before leaving, I thought "I should do these cards before I go" BUT I immediately answered myself "I will be home right after Thanksgiving - there will be plenty of time".  Well, plans changed and I'm still in Oregon and the cards are sitting in Maryland waiting my return in a few more days.  I feel bad because I know that now many of the missionaries will not receive our card until after Christmas.

This morning I was talking with a missionary mom friend and she mentioned that her missionary had only received one card this season.  He was feeling a bit forgotten.  How very sad!  I've had two sons serve missions and have a daughter out now.  I recognize how much hearing from people back home makes a difference to these young men and women.

I know that many sisters and their families have sent and will still send Christmas wishes out to our missionaries and I along with the other missionary moms are grateful!  I also understand that some might feel awkward sending to a missionary they don't know. But I assure you that they will welcome every card.  Last year, we signed our missionary cards, "The Pierce Family of Eldersburg Ward/Columbia Stake", so they knew we were from the stake.  

Below is the link to my November blogpost with all their pictures....so fun to look at!  There is a link to the address list in that original blogpost.

http://columbiastakers.blogspot.com/2016/11/sending-christmas-wishes-to-our.html

My 3 year old grand-daughter loves to look at pictures on my iPad.  She loves it when I bring up that November blogpost.  She thinks Elder Mitchell washing his clothes in a bucket is "funny" and Elder Lindsey with the stop sign is too.  She loves to see the ones with children and in front of temples and Elder Peterson standing by the statue of Jesus.  She says "who's that?" to each and every picture.  She calls them all "Jessica's friends" - except the McGinns she says they are "Grandma's friends". Of course she gets very excited when she sees her Aunt Jessica's picture with all those other missionaries.

I know many of our sisters are participating in the Light the World campaign.  Today's theme is "Jesus Ministered To The Children...."  These missionaries are children away from their families at a time of year when most gather together as families. Let's put our arms around them with our Christmas wishes as hugs from home.

-Lorie Pierce