Friday 24 November 2017

December 2017

Prayerfully study this material and seek for inspiration to know what to share. How will understanding the purpose of Relief Society prepare daughters of God for the blessings of eternal life? reliefsociety.lds.org.

Willing to Bear One Another’s Burdens
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“We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness,” said President Thomas S. Monson. “We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.”1

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “A great change began in your heart when you came into the Church. You made a covenant, and you received a promise that began changing your very nature. …

“… You promised that you would help the Lord make [others’] burdens light and be comforted. You were given the power to help lighten those loads when you received the gift of the Holy Ghost.”2

“We want to use the light of the gospel to see others as the Savior does—with compassion, hope, and charity,” said Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President. “The day will come when we will have a complete understanding of others’ hearts and will be grateful to have mercy extended to us—just as we extend charitable thoughts and words to others. …

“Our obligation and privilege is to embrace improvement in everyone as we strive to become more like our Savior.”3

As we bear one another’s burdens and keep our covenants, we open the way for Jesus Christ to heal others. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Considering the incomprehensible cost of the Crucifixion and Atonement, I promise you He is not going to turn His back on us now. When He says to the poor in spirit, ‘Come unto me,’ He means He knows the way out and He knows the way up. He knows it because He has walked it. He knows the way because He is the way.”4

Additional Scriptures and Information

Matthew 25:40; Galatians 6:2; Mosiah 2:17; 18:8–9

Consider This

How does helping bear the burdens of others and keeping our covenants open the way for Jesus Christ to heal those in need?

Notes

1. Thomas S. Monson, “Serve the Lord with Love,” Ensign, Feb. 2014, 4.
2. Henry B. Eyring, “The Comforter,” Ensign, May 2015, 18.
3. Jean B. Bingham, “I Will Bring the Light of the Gospel into My Home,” Ensign, Nov. 2016, 6, 8.
4. Jeffrey R. Holland, “Broken Things to Mend,” Ensign, May 2006, 71.

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Some other sites to check
Sugardoodle
The Idea Door
Inkablinka
My Happy Tribe

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Sunday 29 October 2017

November 2017

The message for November
is taken from a conference talk. As you carefully consider the needs of those under your care select a talk/talks that would uplift them.

These quotes are all from the conference and can be downloaded by clicking on 'Download'. They are 6x4 format ready to print.Or if you prefer resize and print smaller.

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Some other sites to check
Sugardoodle
The Idea Door
Inkablinka
My Happy Tribe

Still looking for ideas? Google 'Visiting Teaching Message October 2017'

Saturday 30 September 2017

October 2017

Enfolding with Love Those Who Stray

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“The reality is that there are no perfect families … ,” said President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. “Whatever problems your family is facing, whatever you must do to solve them, the beginning and the end of the solution is charity, the pure love of Christ.”1

Of those who are not participating fully in the gospel, Linda K. Burton, former General President of the Relief Society, said: “Heavenly Father loves all His children. … No matter where they are—on or off the path—He wants them back home.”2

“However wayward [your children] might be, … when you speak or talk to them, do it not in anger, do it not harshly, in a condemning spirit,” taught President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918). “Speak to them kindly.”3

Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy reiterated the Savior’s instruction to those who have 10 pieces of silver and lose one: “Search until you find it. When the lost one is your son or your daughter, your brother or your sister, … after all we can do, we love that person with all of our hearts. …

“May you and I receive the revelation to know how to best approach those in our lives who are lost and, when necessary, to have the patience and love of our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, as we love, watch, and wait for the prodigal.”4

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “I have prayed with faith that someone I loved would seek and feel the power of the Atonement. I have prayed with faith that human angels would come to their aid, and they came.

“God has devised means to save each of His children.”5

Additional Scriptures and Information

Matthew 18:12; Alma 31:35; 3 Nephi 13:32; D&C 121:41–42

Consider This

How can we continue to show charity to those who do not want to live the principles of the gospel?
Show References

Notes

1. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “In Praise of Those Who Save,” Ensign, May 2016, 79, 80.
2. Linda K. Burton, in Sarah Jane Weaver, “Sister Burton, Sister Wixom Visit Church’s Pacific Area,” Church News, Apr. 2, 2013, lds.org/church/news.
3. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith (1998), 254.
4. Brent H. Nielson, “Waiting for the Prodigal,” Ensign, May 2015, 103.
5. Henry B. Eyring, “To My Grandchildren,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 71.

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Wednesday 23 August 2017

September 2017

Prayerfully study this material and seek for inspiration to know what to share. How will understanding the purpose of Relief Society prepare daughters of God for the blessings of eternal life?

Of One Heart

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“And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18). How can we become one?

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “At the heart of the English word atonement is the word one. If all mankind understood this, there would never be anyone with whom we would not be concerned, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or social or economic standing. We would strive to emulate the Savior and would never be unkind, indifferent, disrespectful, or insensitive to others.”1

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, taught: “Where people have [the] Spirit with them, [they] may expect harmony. … The Spirit of God never generates contention (see 3 Nephi 11:29). … It leads to personal peace and a feeling of union with others.”2

Speaking of family challenges, Carole M. Stephens, who served as First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, said: “I’ve never had to live through divorce, the pain and insecurity that comes from abandonment, or the responsibility associated with being a single mother. I haven’t experienced the death of a child, infertility, or same-gender attraction. I haven’t had to endure abuse, chronic illness, or addiction. These have not been my stretching opportunities.

“… But through my personal tests and trials … I have become well acquainted with the One who does understand. … And in addition, I have experienced all of the mortal tests that I just mentioned through the lens of a daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

“Our opportunity as covenant-keeping daughters of God is not just to learn from our own challenges; it is to unite in empathy and compassion as we support other members of the family of God in their struggles.”3

Additional Scriptures and Information

John 17:20–23; Ephesians 4:15; Mosiah 18:21–22; 4 Nephi 1:15; reliefsociety.lds.org

Consider This

How does unity with one another help us become one with God?

Notes

1. M. Russell Ballard, “The Atonement and the Value of One Soul,” Ensign, May 2004, 86.
2. Henry B. Eyring, “That We May Be One,” Ensign, May 1998, 67.
3. Carole M. Stephens, “The Family Is of God,” Ensign, May 2015, 11–12.

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Monday 24 July 2017

August 2017

Prayerfully study this material and seek for inspiration to know what to share. How will understanding the purpose of Relief Society prepare daughters of God for the blessings of eternal life?

Living a Consecrated Life

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“To consecrate is to set apart or dedicate something as sacred, devoted to holy purposes,” said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes.”1

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “We tend to think of consecration only as yielding up, when divinely directed, our material possessions. But ultimate consecration is the yielding up of oneself to God.”2

As we consecrate ourselves to the purposes of God, our faith in Jesus Christ and in His Atonement will increase. As we live a consecrated life, we can be made holy through those actions.

Carole M. Stephens, former First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, said:
“Elder Robert D. Hales taught, ‘When we make and keep covenants, we are coming out of the world and into the kingdom of God.’

“We are changed. We look different, and we act different. The things we listen to and read and say are different, and what we wear is different because we become daughters of God bound to Him by covenant.”3

Consecration is the covenant God makes “with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33). Living a consecrated life is in harmony with God’s plan for us.

Additional Scriptures and Information

1 Thessalonians 1:3; Doctrine and Covenants 105:5; reliefsociety.lds.org

Consider this

How does consecrating our lives to the Lord help us become more like Him?

Notes

1. D. Todd Christofferson, “Reflections on a Consecrated Life,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 16.
2. Neal A. Maxwell, “Consecrate Thy Performance,” Ensign, May 2002, 36.
3. Carole M. Stephens, “Wide Awake to Our Duties,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 115–16.

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Wednesday 28 June 2017

July 2017

Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” increase your faith in God and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

That They May Be One
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“Jesus achieved perfect unity with the Father by submitting Himself, both flesh and spirit, to the will of the Father,” taught Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“… Surely we will not be one with God and Christ until we make Their will and interest our greatest desire. Such submissiveness is not reached in a day, but through the Holy Spirit, the Lord will tutor us if we are willing until, in process of time, it may accurately be said that He is in us as the Father is in Him.”1

Linda K. Burton, former Relief Society General President, taught how to work toward this unity: “Making and keeping our covenants is an expression of our commitment to become like the Savior. The ideal is to strive for the attitude best expressed in a few phrases of a favorite hymn: ‘I’ll go where you want me to go. … I’ll say what you want me to say. … I’ll be what you want me to be.’”2

Elder Christofferson also reminded us that “as we endeavor day by day and week by week to follow the path of Christ, our spirit asserts its preeminence, the battle within subsides, and temptations cease to trouble.”3

Neill F. Marriott, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, bears testimony of the blessings of striving to align our will with God’s will: “I have struggled to banish the mortal desire to have things my way, eventually realizing that my way is oh so lacking, limited, and inferior to the way of Jesus Christ. ‘His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come’ [“The Living Christ”; emphasis added].”4 Let us strive humbly to become one with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Additional Scriptures and Information

John 17:20–21; Ephesians 4:13; Doctrine and Covenants 38:27; reliefsociety.lds.org

Consider This

How does doing the will of God help us to become more like Him?

Notes

1. D. Todd Christofferson, “That They May Be One in Us,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 72, 73.
2. Linda K. Burton, “The Power, Joy, and Love of Covenant Keeping,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 111.
3. D. Todd Christofferson, “That They May Be One in Us,” 71.
4. Neill F. Marriott, “Yielding Our Hearts to God,” Ensign, Nov. 2015, 32.

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Monday 22 May 2017

June 2017

Priesthood Power through Keeping Covenants

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“My message to … all is that we can live every hour ‘blessed by the strength of priesthood power,’ whatever our circumstance,” said Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
“… As you worthily participate in the ordinances of the priesthood, the Lord will give you greater strength, peace, and eternal perspective. Whatever your situation, your home will be ‘blessed by the strength of priesthood power.’”1

How do we invite priesthood power into our lives? Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminds us that “those who have entered the waters of baptism and subsequently received their endowment in the house of the Lord are eligible for rich and wonderful blessings. The endowment is literally a gift of power … [and] our Father in Heaven is generous with His power.” He reminds us that men and women “are both endowed with the same power” in the temple, “which by definition is priesthood power.”2

Linda K. Burton, former Relief Society General President, said: “Since priesthood power is something we all desire to have in our families and homes, what do we need to do to invite that power into our lives? Personal righteousness is imperative to having priesthood power.”3

“If we will humbly present ourselves before the Lord and ask Him to teach us, He will show us how to increase our access to His power,” said President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.4

Additional Scriptures and Information

1 Nephi 14:14; Doctrine and Covenants 121:36; 132:20; reliefsociety.lds.org

Consider This

How does keeping our covenants bless us with priesthood power?

Notes

1. Neil L. Andersen, “Power in the Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 92, 95.
2. M. Russell Ballard, “Men and Women and Priesthood Power,” Ensign, Sept. 2014, 32.
3. Linda K. Burton, “Priesthood Power—Available to All,” Ensign, June 2014, 39.
4. Russell M. Nelson, “The Price of Priesthood Power,” Ensign, May 2016, 69.

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