February 2014 Relief Society Monthly Message

Dear Sisters,

Last night (Sunday evening, 2-23-2014) we gathered our children for family prayer and scripture study and asked them what they had going on this coming week. There were heavy sighs and long faces all around (myself included) as we anticipated getting up early to start seminary, school and thoughts of starting a Monday. One of my children mentioned that she has to “mentally gear up” for Monday. Isn’t life hard sometimes? I thought about what advice to give my children to make both the high hills we have to climb, as well as the routine, day-to-day, monotonous things easier. I believe the answer is prayer.

Prayer is a powerful tool that can change the energy of a soul instantaneously. As we speak to our Father In Heaven and feel his love and presence, we are immediately lifted to a higher plain. We can ask Him to help us get started or help us through difficult things. We can also reflect on the things we are grateful for. In D&C 46:32 it states, “And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.”

We can also pray for guidance and direction (even in what we consider to be the “little” things). Elder Richard G. Scott spoke in the October 2009 General Conference and said the following:

Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness.

What a blessing prayer is in our lives!

Have a wonderful week Sisters!! ….. “Don’t forget to pray.”


Sister Liz McCash
2nd Counselor RS Presidency
Bentonville 2nd Ward

Chapter 4: Strengthening and Preserving Family - Kelly 2/16/2014

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith

"It is the will of the Lord to strengthen and preserve the family unit."

1.The family is the most important organization in time or in eternity.

The Church exists to help the family.

2. The Lord instituted the family to endure eternally.

Have a close relationship with your kids and family members. They should feel comfortable coming to talk to you about anything. We were put in family units to help each other along the way. 

3. We strengthen and preserve our families as we spend time together, love each other, and live the gospel together.

It can be hard to host friends and family all the time, but if you allow your children to have their friends over to hang out, then your kids won't need to text and be on facebook as much. They would rather spend time with their friend who is over. Try to be more present this week. Put down the phone and have a real conversation.

Chapter 2: Our Savior, Jesus Christ - Ronny 2/9/2014

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith

1. Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God and the Savior of the world.

May I say, as plainly and as forcefully as I can, that we believe in Christ. We accept him without reservation as the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

2.We become the sons and daughters of Jesus Christ through His Atonement and through our covenants of obedience to Him.

Our Heavenly Father trusted Christ to create this world. We are spiritually born of him through our covenants. Children learn how to live through their parents examples. Christ set the perfect example for us.

Christ is the Son of God by spirit and birth. But he is our father because he offers life through the atonement. He has given us eternal life. We also take upon his name, which defines our relationship to him. That's where some think that Christ, God, and the Holy Ghost are all one being. They are one in purpose, but separate beings. 

3. The Savior has revealed Himself in this dispensation, and each of us can have an abiding testimony of Him.

How can we reveal to others that we believe in Christ?

-Picture on the wall

-Say the full name of the Church

-Wear a CTR ring or Young Womens Medallion 

4. We all should pattern our lives after the life of Jesus Christ. 

3 Nephi 27:27 "What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." 

1) Be baptized and believe as Christ did

2) Worship the Father as He did

3) Do the will of the Father as He did

4) Seek to do good as He did

5) Ask yourself, what would Jesus do?

Adult Stake Dance Feb-21st

High Counselor Darrell Gibby has asked that I let you know about the upcoming 

2nd Annual Stake Adult Dance to be held Friday, 

February 21st, from 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm at the Stake Center. 

The DJ for the dance will be Brother Quinten Sperry from the Sugar Creek Ward who does an absolutely outstanding job. Last year a great time was had by all.

This dance will be for adults 18 and up. Please come dressed in what you would have worn to dances in your era.

One last request! Brother Gibby needs our help with refreshments. Could the following RS Presidents (Bella Vista, Bentonville 1st, Bentonville 2nd, Bentonville 3rd, Centerton, Central Park, Little Flock, Pea Ridge, Rogers 1st, Rogers YSA, and Sugar Creek) reach out to the sisters in your ward to sign up to bring the following to the dance along with their receipts which should be given to Brother Gibby for reimbursement. Please have the sisters involved write their names and addresses on their receipts. Please remind the sisters of their assignment the day before the dance so they don't forget.

Each of the wards above is assigned to bring:

2 bags of chips
4 dozen cookies
1 veggie tray
1 pint of dip or salsa

Brother Gibby truly appreciates your help. Come and have a fun night!

Please call me if you have any questions.

Love,
Jean Fields
Rogers Stake Relief Society President
Home: 479-254-6765
Cell: 479-899-8855

January Presidency Message - Sarah

Sisters-

When I was in my youth, I remember working on papers for school. I would begin writing and make it through a couple sentences and make a mistake. Instead of erasing my mistake and continuing on with my work, I would crumple the paper up…throw it away…and start with a new sheet of paper. I didn’t want any sign of my mistake to be evident. I wanted a blank canvas…a clean start…and the appearance that it was perfectly and flawlessly written. As I progressed through my years of school and the assignments grew larger – it became clear to me that I would not be able to continue in my need for perfection and would have to get comfortable with using my eraser.

I look back on my years of young Motherhood and how I longed to be a “good” mom. When I was first pregnant, I thought of my child and KNEW that I would never raise my voice at her. I would have the patience of Job. We would go on walks, take naps together, share smiles and cuddles…all while the dishwasher was silently humming and the laundry was doing itself. The reality of Motherhood set in and the moment came, which I remember clearly. The dishes were piled up…the laundry was piled up…the dog had an “accident” on the floor…and my baby had been screaming, nonstop.

I remember my frustration and exhaustion and THINKING….”JUST STOP!!!” Even though the words weren’t SPOKEN…those emotions were so strong and I was ashamed of myself. In that moment, that POSTPARTUM moment, I was convinced that I had already failed as a mother. I had fallen short of what I had expected of myself.

Thanks to friends, family, and my sisters at church – I came to realize that not only was I not a “failure”…but I was quite “normal”. Through raising children and maturing, myself, I have come to understand some precious truths. The Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, allows us to crumple up the moments when we have fallen short…toss it out…and start fresh. Through his blood, we can erase those things in our life that have brought us shame, guilt, or disappointment in ourselves. We can have these things TRULY blotted out.

We can start fresh…with hope of a better day.

Satan, that seeks to take away all peace and happiness, is crafty in his ways. He would have us believe that our shortcomings are too great to be overcome. That author of lies would have us believe that perfection is expected and anything less than that lessens our value in God’s eyes. Satan would lead us to a place of despair. One in which we would “crumple up” – but never try again.

How blessed we are to have each other to help recognize the deception of the adversary in our lives and to turn back to the Lord…to His unconditional love…and to His promises.

Julie Beck said, "Every day, Relief Society sisters around the world experience the entire range of mortal challenges and experiences. Women and their families today live face to face with unrealized expectations; mental, physical, and spiritual illness; accidents; and death. Some sisters suffer loneliness and disappointment because they do not have families of their own, and others suffer from the consequences of poor choices made by family members. Some have experienced war or hunger or natural disasters, and others are learning about the strain of addictions, unemployment, or insufficient education and training. All of these difficulties have the potential to bleach the bones of faith and exhaust the strength of individuals and families.... In every ward and branch, there is a Relief Society with sisters who can seek and receive revelation and counsel with priesthood leaders to strengthen each other and work on solutions that are applicable in their own homes and communities. ("What I Hope My Granddaughters (and Grandsons) Will Understand about Relief Society," General Relief Society Meeting, September 2011; Ensign November 2011.)

I pray for each of you and the struggles you face. I do not pray that you will be free from times of difficulty or despair…but that you will always know that you have Sisters who care for you and are here to help you navigate the challenges of life. I pray we can each be gentle with ourselves – not be downtrodden or ashamed of where we currently stand…but ever reaching for the arms of our Lord and Savior…casting our burdens on Him and keeping our hearts open and soft – with His name forever written upon them.

I love you, sweet sisters.

Sister Allred

Lesson Summary Jan/12/2014 - Ronny Cerniga

Chapter 1: Our Father in Heaven
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 35–47

1) Beginning with Joseph Smith’s First Vision, the true knowledge of God has been restored in our day.

Joseph Smith beheld the Father and the Son; therefore he could testify with personal knowledge that the scriptures were true wherein we read: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him...” [Genesis 1:27.] This was to be understood literally, and not in some mystical or figurative sense.5

2) To exercise faith in God and worship Him, we must have an understanding of His characteristics.

He has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s (D&C 130:22), and he is the literal and personal father of the spirits of all men. I say also that he is an infinite and eternal being, and as an unchangeable being, he possesses these perfected powers and attributes from everlasting to everlasting, which means from eternity to eternity.

3) God is a personal being and the Father of our spirits.

We are the spirit children of God our Heavenly Father. … We are members of his family. … We dwelt with him for long ages in our premortal life. … He ordained a plan of progression and salvation which would enable us, if faithful and true in all things, to advance and progress until we become like him.

4) Heavenly Father loves us and is interested in each of us.

Man is the most important of all our Father’s creations. "...all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them"([Moses 1:35–37).

5) Heavenly Father weeps over His disobedient children.

“And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should choose me, their Father; but behold they are without affection, and they hate their own blood” (Moses 7:32–33). Make sure to remember the moments you have felt love from our Heavenly Father or others. Focus on the good.

6) Heavenly Father has provided the way of redemption so we can be brought back to His presence.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he received from his Father the power to ransom men from the spiritual and temporal death brought into the world by the fall of Adam. I say to you, and to the whole Church, and, for that matter, to the whole world, that a gracious and loving Father has in these last days spoken again from heaven to his servants the prophets.

December Presidency Message

Nineteen years ago I was 8 months pregnant at this time of year with my third child. Uncomfortable and ready to deliver, I was asked to participate in the sacrament meeting Christmas program.  My part was simple.  I was to read a portion of the script that depicted Mary, the earthly mother of the Savior.  I accepted this assignment and didn't think too much about it until a few days before the program when I started reading through my script to prepare.  A new understanding of this sweet woman swept over me as I read through the lines.  As a very pregnant woman, I tried to envision myself on a long journey on the back of a donkey.  An uncomfortable propsition at best.  As a mother who had been through child birth previously, I was aprehensive and at times fearful of the impending painful delivery I would soon experience.  My delivery would be in a clean, warm hospital room surrounded with every help I could possibly need, not in a stable surrounded by live stock and hay and far away from the people I knew and loved and found comfort in.  I felt a great love for Mary as I began to relate to her experience and desired to find ways to have an attitude in keeping with hers.  She allowed the quickening of the spirit to begin her on a jouney that had no prior rules or examples for her to look to.  She knew her child would face a life of hardship and sacrifice that she could not comfort or take away.  She must have been very close to the spirit, humble of heart and full of a unique love of God to have been chosen to be the earthly mother of the only Begotten Son of God. There are so many times since that sacrament meeting Christmas program that I have been frustrated, scared or sad and have turned to my thoughts of who Mary really was and the testimony that she had and I have found such comfort from her life and her experiences. So as we begin this holiday season, it is my hope that the burdens you find in your way may be lightened by the simple thought of a young woman, great with child, on a donkey who knew all things were in God's hands and that even though she didn't know how things were going to turn out or how on earth she was going to make it through these impossible and undefined circumstances ahead of her, she went forward and she trusted God.  I hope you find yourself at the beginning of each day with a desire to make a memory.  I love you, your Relief Society presidency  loves you and we appreciate all you do because it is working and helping! We have the greatest Relief Society on the earth and I am grateful for your contribution to it!

May your December be as awesome as you are!

Bunches of Love

Noelle and the RS presidency.