Tuesday 28 April 2009

Come What May, and Love It

"The way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life."Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

1) Learn to Laugh
"The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable."

2) Seek for the Eternal
“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.”...Sometimes the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome."

3) The Principle of Compensation
The third thing we can do is understand the principle of compensation. The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.

4)Trust in the Father and the Son
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” The Lord Jesus Christ is our partner, helper, and advocate. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to be successful. If we do our part, He will step in.

Sunday April 26th Teaching for our Times.

April Birthday Brunch


HAPPY BIRTHDAY
01 Jenny Dees
03 Latda Sundara
03 Rachel Scott
04 Nary Uch
05 Ardell Rivera
05 Monica Johnson
06 Alida Abbot
07 Sandra Gavin—Wicks
07 Felicia Allard
08 Nikki Hiatt
08 Sarah Baldwin
10 Peggy Plamer
10 Jennifer Nelson
12 Stephanie Martin
13 Janette Hansen
14 Susan Conlon
17 Christina Carling
17 Heather Linn
20 Emily Rowley
21 Nicole McCoy
23 Maria Haines
25 Meisha Mean
26 Pam McCoy
26 Michelle Gillman
28 Tina Parmelee
30 Valerie Oliva

Tuesday 21 April 2009

Valiant in the Cause of Christ

“Fight the good fight of faith that ye may gain the crown which is laid up for those that endure faithful unto the end of their probation [see 2 Timothy 4:7–8]. Therefore hold fast that which ye have received so liberally from the hand of God so that when the times of refreshing shall come ye may not have labored in vain, but that ye may rest from all your labors and have fulness of joy in the kingdom of God.”18

“You cannot be too good. Patience is heavenly, obedience is noble, forgiveness is merciful, and exaltation is godly; and he that holds out faithful to the end shall in no wise lose his reward. A good man will endure all things to honor Christ, and even dispose of the whole world, and all in it, to save his soul.”19

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith
Lesson 30

Happy Easter










The Jelly Bean Prayer

GREEN ~ is for the grassy blade

YELLOW ~ is for the sun God made

ORANGE ~ is for a flame so bright

BLACK ~ is for the sins not right

Red ~ is for the blood He gave.

WHITE ~ Is for Jesus grace. He saved

PURPLE ~ is for the hours of sorrow

PINK ~ is for a new tomorrow

A bag of jelly beans so colorful and sweet,
Is a promise, a prayer, and a loved ones treat.
Happy Easter

Love your Relief Society Presdiency


Relief Society Birthday Celebration


We hope you all had a wonderful time and missed those who could not attend. Hope to see you all at the next activity.

Wednesday 15 April 2009

Super Saturday!

Get ready for a fabulous day of fun, sisters!

Saturday, May 9th at 8AM
Laredo Cultural Hall

Here are some pics of the planned crafts.
Be sure to sign up on a coming Sunday for the ones you would like to complete.

Payment for each item must be received PRIOR to Super Saturday so that materials can be purchased for you.

Thanks!









Friday 3 April 2009

Top Ten Ways To Visit Teach!

1. Care more about the sister than a check mark by your name.
2. Find all the good qualities that you can in each sister you visit and compliment them often.
3. Sincerely get to know the sisters well enough to become their friend.
4. Learn her children's names and say hello to them too.
5. Be more concerned about bringing a God's spirit and message than about bringing something that only looks cute and clever.
6. When personal problems are shared be sure to try and understand how your sister is feeling and find ways to help -- even just a sympathetic ear is a huge help and often all that is needed.
7. Remember that there are many things about each sister that you do not know so stay clear of judging and concentrate instead on lifting and helping.
8. Become friends with your companion.
9. Never forget that you are God's representative and should be looking for ways to serve as He would if He were there -- be sure to ask for His help! Pray with your companion and with the sister as part of your visit.
10. Always strive for unconditional love both for the sisters you visit and for your companion.

Debra Oaks Coe (c ) 1999 all rights reserved

April Visiting Message

Search the Scriptures Diligently
Teach the scriptures and quotations that will help the sisters you visit understand these principles. Invite those you visit to share what they have felt and learned.

Why Search the Scriptures?
President Howard W. Hunter (1907–95): “I commend to you the revelations of God as the standard by which we must live our lives and by which we must measure every decision and every deed. Accordingly, when you have worries and challenges, face them by turning to the scriptures and the prophets” (“Fear Not, Little Flock,” in 1988–89 Devotional and Fireside Speeches [1989], 112).

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994): “Success in righteousness, the power to avoid deception and resist temptation, guidance in our daily lives, healing of the soul—these are but a few of the promises the Lord has given to those who will come to His word. … Certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it. …

“… Recommit yourselves to a study of the scriptures. Immerse yourselves in them daily so you will have the power of the Spirit to attend you in your callings. Read them in your families and teach your children to love and treasure them” (“The Power of the Word,” Ensign, May 1986, 82).

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985): “As you become more and more familiar with the truths of the scriptures, you will be more and more effective in keeping the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. Become scholars of the scriptures—not to put others down, but to lift them up! After all, who has any greater need to ‘treasure up’ the truths of the gospel (on which they may call in their moments of need) than do women and mothers who do so much nurturing and teaching?” (“The Role of Righteous Women,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 102).

How Can I Treasure the Scriptures?
2 Nephi 4:15: “For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.”

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president: “One good way to start studying the scriptures is to ‘liken’ them to ourselves (see 1 Nephi 19:23). Some people start by choosing a subject in the Topical Guide that they need to know more about. Or they start at the beginning of a book of scripture and look for specific teachings. …


“Whichever way a person starts studying the scriptures, the key to unlocking important knowledge is to keep studying. I never tire of discovering the rich treasures of truth in the scriptures because they teach with ‘plainness, even as plain as word can be’ (2 Nephi 32:7). The scriptures testify of Christ (see John 5:39). They tell us all things we should do (see 2 Nephi 32:3). They ‘make [us] wise unto salvation’ (2 Timothy 3:15).

“Through my scripture reading and the prayers that accompany my study, I have gained knowledge which brings me peace and helps me keep my energies focused on eternal priorities. Because I started reading the scriptures daily, I have learned about my Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and what I need to do to be like Them” (“My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2004, 108–9).

President Thomas S. Monson: “The holy scriptures adorn our bookshelves. Make certain they provide nourishment to our minds and guidance for our lives” (“The Mighty Strength of the Relief Society,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 95).

Pocket Full of Rocks


Malcolm was a young man when he began putting rocks in his pockets.

It all started one day when his boss got angry at him for something that wasn’t his fault. He couldn’t yell back at his boss, because he might get fired. The only thing he could do was be angry inside. He picked up a rock on the way home from work that day and put it in his pocket as a reminder of how angry he was. The next day, a taxi-driver drove by and left Malcolm standing in the rain. He stooped down and picked up another rock from the gutter. And thus the rock-collecting began. Whenever anyone did something to anger him – intentional or not – he picked up a rock and put it in his pocket so he would not forget. Years went by and rocks spilled out of his pockets and filled his house to overflowing. And Malcolm himself had become like those rocks – cold, gray, and lonely.

One day, a professor of geology brought some students to see the now famous rock collection. As the professor looked at all the ordinary rocks, he was confused and asked Malcolm why he had collected these particular rocks. Malcolm struggled to explain that each rock represented the anger he felt over a specific wrong-doing, although he had a hard time remembering the story for each rock. There were so many of them! The professor asked Malcolm if he had another collection – one to remind him of the nice things people had done for him. Malcolm was caught off-guard and spent a great deal of time thinking after the professor and his students left.

Soon, every one of those rocks was hauled off in a trailer. And Malcolm himself looked different. Happier. And his neighbors point now with pride to his attractive yard, with trees and flowers and bushes planted everywhere. They don’t have any explanation for his sudden interest in gardening. But one neighbor did notice that after she had taken a piece of cake to him, Malcolm went out to the flower bed and planted a single seed.

- Excerpts from “Pockets Full of Rocks” by Larry A. Hiller, New Era, Jan 1996