Women's Conference Recap

We had a wonderful Relief Society Women's Conference together on Saturday, April 29.  We had about 130 sisters join us for a morning of classes followed by a luncheon.

We are grateful to all who worked to make our conference possible.  A big thank you to the teachers and sisters with displays for their preparations and time on our behalf.

A special thank you to our Luncheon Committee for their time and work to feed all of us!

Janet Yarn, Alice O’Neal, Danelle DeGraw, Kelly Tate, Katie Hamilton, Krystel Padilla and to Gabriela Russin & Felicita Sanchez for the homemade salsa.

We also want our Priesthood brethren to know how much we appreciate their support with the set up & clean up and facilitating in so many ways.

For those who attended Beverly Christensen's class "Not Your Mother's Food Storage" - here is a link to a file with the handouts:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B5j9ty_dBIVOeFdjN2ttWVJhZnM?usp=sharing

Thank you sisters for coming out and participating!  We love to mingle with you!!

- Columbia Stake Relief Society Presidency & Secretary
Cindy Erekson, Lisa Larson, Kim Olivier, Lorie Pierce

Women's Conference Q & A

RISE UP !

Our Stake Relief Society Women's Conference is fast approaching and we are looking forward to seeing many of our sisters there.  There have been a few questions over the past couple weeks - this post will hopefully answer ones you may have had.

Date: Saturday, April 29
Time:  9:30am-1:30pm     Lunch will be served at 12:30pm.
Place:  Columbia Stake Center, 4100 St Johns Lane, Ellicott City

Sunday Dress is not necessary.  We will not be in the Chapel for any portion of the conference.


We will start off the conference in the cultural hall (gym).  Please try to arrive a few minutes early to find a seat.  Our opening program will begin at 9:30am and move very quickly into the class rotations.

There will be a program available at the beginning of the conference with the class listings - including times and rooms.  You do NOT need to pre-register for this conference.  All classes will be offered only once and you simply go to the one you choose for each time rotation.

If you plan to attend the Yoga Class, please - Wear comfortable clothing to move in and bring either a yoga mat or a beach towel.

There will be various displays in the cultural hall for sisters to view during the conference.

Our service project is a quilt for donation to a shelter.  The squares will be available in kits for sisters to pick up and work on while attending the classes.  It is a simple hand stitched project using crochet cotton thread - so larger and easier to see while working.  The finished squares will be assembled by a sister at a later date and a photo of the completed quilt will be posted via this blog and our Facebook group before it is donated.  Look for a table in the cultural hall to pick up and drop off the squares.

Sample of Quilt Squares

Below is the list of classes - there will be one from each category offered each hour.  They are listed within their category in the order they will be taught.

Rise Up in Faith

The Enabling Power of Christ's Atonement - Heather & Erwin Schoeney
Using the enabling power of Christ's atonement in our lives and teaching the enabling power of His atonement to our children.

Improving Scripture Study - Mary Greenwood
Discover ways to make your daily scripture study have more meaning.

Finding Joy in Trials - Gisela Pinargote
Life is hard, but hard is not necessarily bad. How can we remember and recognize the good in life when things get hard?


Rise Up in Family Strength

I Will Not Doubt - I Will Not Fear - Harold Sheppard
Dealing with Gospel doubts - personal, family members, friends.

The Partnership of Marriage - President Derek Ipsen
When we work together in love and unity we can expect heaven's help.

One Work: Family History & Temple Blessings - Roots Tech 2017
Video Presentation with Sherri Dew, Rene Mahe, Vai Sikahema

Rise Up and Serve

Intro to Web Indexing - Lorie Pierce
Find out how you can provide family history service through Indexing. Learn how the new Web Indexing program works and how you can get started.

Finding the Joy in Service - Kellie Jenkins
Does all the service at home, at church and everywhere else sometimes feel burdensome? Come share our discussion about finding the joy in our lives of service.

Preparing Youth to Bring the World His Truth - Elder & Sister Delahunty
Practical and spiritual preparation will help our youth adjust to mission life more easily and be able to serve their best.

Rise Up in Creativity

Cooking with Kids - Katie Hanson
We'll talk about the importance of involving kids of all ages in the kitchen, with some tips on how to make it more meaningful and fun. Katie will share some of her favorite recipes and even demonstrate how to make doughnuts from scratch in less than 30 minutes.

Meal Planning: Feeding Your Family Without Losing Your Mind - Jillene Ladle
Ideas for cooking quick, healthy, budget-friendly meals for busy families. Feeding our families, both literally and spiritually, is God's work.  Let's discuss how we can improve (and maybe even enjoy!) this never-ending task.

Energize Your Home to Live Your Best Life - Kristi Birch
Everything we have around us has a call on our attention. Learn how color, balance, and the right objects keep us calm, focused, and living the life we desire.

Rise Up in Vitality

UnDieting: Help & Hope for the Chronic Dieter - Raquel Braithwaite, MA, BSN, RN
You can achieve your natural weight, be at peace with your body, and have a healthy relationship with food—without another diet program. During this class we will discover principles of mindful eating and how these principles relate to gospel truths. Note: this class is designed for sisters of all shapes and sizes who struggle with food or body image.

Simplify Your Life - Ellen Trusty
While other people are living a life of stress and chaos, learn how you can simplify your life so you can focus on what's most important.

Yoga With Olga - Olga Campora
How yoga helps anxiety and depression using breathing, easy gentle movement and relaxation. Wear comfortable clothing to move in and preferably bring either a yoga mat or a beach towel.

Rise Up in Provident Living

Be a Re-fashionista! - Linette Teerlink
Ideas for altering and re-fashioning clothes to make them modest and add pizzazz.

Square Foot Gardening - Lorin Lund
Learn how to plant and harvest more crops in a compact area.

Not Your Mother's Food Storage - Beverly Christensen
Practical ways to get started building a 3 month supply of foods you and your family normally eat.

Did You Know? FHC Language Nights

Did you know that our Columbia Maryland Family History Center (located at our Stake Center) offers language specific services?

Our members and friends, who's native language is not English, can receive help doing their family history. This is a wonderful resource. Below is the information on what languages they can assist with, when and how to contact them.

Family History Special Language nights 7-9pm:

1st Tuesday: Korean

2nd Tuesday night: Chinese

1st Friday night: Spanish

We now also have a Spanish speaking specialist at the Family History Center on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 9am to 2pm.

If these times do not work for you, please call Diana Gardner at 410-461-5596.

The family history consultants who are fluent in the various languages are willing to help at other times, by appointment.

Access to the Columbia Maryland Family History Center is through a lower level outside door.  There is parking available in the lower lot, which will put you closest to the entrance.  Look for the Family History Center sign at the corner of the sidewalk.

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

Gina Stephens - YSA Branch

There are so many thoughts that come to mind when I think of President Gordon B. Hinckley. He was the prophet as I was growing up in Young Womens, and was the first living prophet I really gained a testimony of.  I always picture him carrying a cane on doctor’s orders, but not actually using it. His sense of humor was amazing! I can hear his voice when I read his talks, and can still feel his love whenever I relisten to his words.

One of my favorite talks was given by President Hinckley in October 2004. As he gave his talk “The Women of Our Lives,” my heart was so full as I listened to him reflect on the life and passing of Sister Hinckley. As he continued to talk about womanhood, I gained a greater testimony of my worth and divine heritage as a daughter of God.

His work to build temples within reach of all of God’s children, to me, was an outward manifestation of his love for each of us and his desire for us to be able to take part in the blessings of the temple. Reflecting on my younger self, I think watching President Hinckley’s efforts to build temples helped me to understand the importance of these sacred buildings, and cemented a greater desire in me to attend the temple someday.  I am thankful for his impact in helping me to recognize that I needed to make the temple a goal in my life.

I am forever grateful for the Lord’s prophets and apostles on the earth today!

Ice Cream Social & General Women's Session Recap

Last Saturday, we enjoyed an ice cream social followed by wonderful and uplifting messages in the General Women's Session.  What a blessing it is to be Latter-day Saint women!

We were close to 200 in number - Relief Society sisters, Young Women and Primary girls.  Thank you to all who joined us at the Stake Center and an extra thank you to the brethren who always come to assist and support us.  Here are just a few pictures from the ice cream social.

New Stake Relief Society Counselor

For those who are not aware, this past Sunday Sister Jill Goodrich was released from the Stake Relief Society Presidency.  It was a blessing to serve with Jill and she will be greatly missed. We wish her well in her new calling, and know that those whom she serves will benefit from her care and love.

We also wish to welcome Sister Kim Olivier as the new 2nd counselor.  We are excited to work with her and know that she will be an asset to the Relief Society program.  Below is a brief bio from Sister Olivier to help us get to know her better.

Stake Relief Society Presidency - March 2017
Lisa Larson - Cindy Erekson - Kim Olivier

Kim Olivier - Stake Relief Society Counselor

I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and lived in Spain, Utah, Iowa, Iran, and Texas before moving back to Maryland during high school.  I was raised in the church by my parents, who are both converts.  I am very grateful for the missionaries who taught them the gospel.  The gospel has blessed my life in so many ways and I cannot imagine life without it.

I met my husband, Mike, at BYU, got married and then graduated with a degree in Family Science.  We’ve been married for 23 years this summer.  We have 5 children (3 boys and 2 girls) that range in age from 20 down to 4 years old.  Our oldest is currently serving his mission in Brazil.  Our family has lived in Utah, Illinois, Arizona, and moved to Maryland in 2009.  I love to read (mostly nonfiction), run, do crafty things, and spend time with my family. 

Relief Society has given me the opportunity to find friends that are kind, generous, fun, loving, loyal, and faithful. These friends have brought great happiness and support to my life.  It’s very nice to know that during times of need I will always have someone who can help.  I’ve also been blessed to learn numerous skills and feel the Spirit during many Relief Society lessons. I am so grateful to be a member of this program!

RISE UP! Columbia Stake Relief Society Women's Conference

Sisters - we are excited to announce our upcoming Women's Conference.  Our classes/teachers, displays, service project and luncheon are shaping up wonderfully.  We are looking forward to this opportunity to gather as sisters to learn, to mingle, to serve, to be uplifted.  We hope you will be able to join us.  Please watch for the publicity postcards that will be distributed in your wards and branches.  If you have sisters you visit teach, who might not be at church to take one, please take one for them and invite them to join us.

We will be posting the complete list of class descriptions next Sunday (April 2) here on the blog.  Please be sure to check back to see what is being planned.

Questions can be sent to columbiastake.rs@gmail.com.