For Unto Us A Child Is Born...

For Christmas videos, stories and traditions see lds.org here.

Have a beautiful Christmas full of peace and love ...

late December announcements...

• This week's Relief Society Lesson will be based on the talk by Claudio R.M. Costa entitled, Obedience to the Prophets.
• There are a few days left to do your visiting teaching.  See here for the December Visiting Teaching Message. 
• See our "Calendar of Events" (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  Also see http://www.lds.org/ for other Stake and Ward calendar events.

Vegas Valley Ward Relief Society Announcements...

• This week's Relief Society Lesson will be taught by Carlee H., Lesson 24, The Sabbath Day. 
• Would you like to help a family in need this Christmas?  The Vegas Valley Ward has an Angel Tree in the foyer.  See here for details.  This is the last Sunday to turn in your Walmart gift cards. 
• See here for the December Visiting Teaching Message. 
• Ward Temple Night is Saturday (12/18) . . . 6 p.m. session.
• See our "Calendar of Events" (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  Also see lds.org for other Stake and Ward calendar events.

Fa la la la la . . . announcements!

• This week's Relief Society Lesson will be taught by Naoma, S., Lesson 23, The Sacrament.
• Would you like to help a family in need this Christmas?  The Vegas Valley Ward has an Angel Tree in the foyer.  See here for details
• The Vegas Valley Ward Relief Society Temple Brunch is this Saturday, December 11th.  We will meet at the 8:30 a.m. session and have brunch at Christy L's house following the Temple.  Please join us for brunch, even if you aren't able to make the 8:30 session (at approximately 10:45 a.m.).
• See here for the December Visiting Teaching Message.
• Our Ward Christmas Party is Friday . . . this Friday!  6 p.m. at the Stake Center.  Please bring a dessert.  See you there...
• It isn't too late to sign up for Pixie Week.  Please call Christy L. by Thursday at noon to let her know if you want to participate.
• See our "Calendar of Events" (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  Also see lds.org for other Stake and Ward calendar events

Welcome December...

• This week's Relief Society lesson will be based on the Marvin J. Ashton talk entitled There Are Many Gifts. 
• The First Presidency Christmas Devotional is Sunday, December 5th at 5 p.m. PST.  The devotional will feature the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. Members of the First Presidency will be the speakers.  For more information on worldwide broadcast times and options see the broadcast schedule here.
• Due to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional our Ward Choir will meet Sunday at 11 a.m. at Lisa B's home.  Please join us as we prepare for the Christmas program on December 19th.
• Come join us for our informal play group on Friday at 11:30 a.m.  More details are here.
• See here for the December Visiting Teaching Message.
• A few visiting teaching routes were changed beginning with the month of December.  If your routes have changed you have received your new list, either in person or via the mail.  Thank you again for your patience.
• Pixie Week sign ups will be in the Relief Society binders on Sunday.  Curious?  If you sign up for Pixie Week you will be given a family name to surprise each evening during the week of December 13th.  Monday through Friday of that week you will deliver a delightful Christmas surprise to the family you've been assigned . . . you can expect surprises at your door, too!  You can leave homemade goodies, crafts, decorations, notes, a goodie bag . . . a simple expression of Christmas love is what this is all about.  Your family can choose to be anonymous (running away after ringing the doorbell is fun) or reveal your identity - it's up to you.  Look for sign ups on Sunday.  December 13th through December 17th is the week, so mark your calendars!
• Would you like to help a family in need this Christmas?  Look for our Vegas Valley Ward Angel Tree in the lobby on Sunday with details on how to participate.
• See our "Calendar of Events" (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  Also see lds.org for other Stake and Ward calendar events.

Happy Thanksgiving, Announcements, Details...

Happy Thanksgiving!  We hope this is your best holiday yet.  This week's announcements are as follows:

• This week's Relief Society lesson will be based on the recent Conference address by Of Things That Matter Most by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
• Our Ward Choir will meet at 4:30 on Sunday.  Please join us as we prepare for our Christmas program, won't you?
• Come join us for our informal play group on Friday at 11:30 a.m.  More details are here.
• See here for information about the November visiting teaching message.  There are only a few days left.
• A few visiting teaching routes will be changed beginning with the month of December.  If your routes have changed we will let you know on Sunday. Thank you so much for your patience.
• See our "Calendar of Events" (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  Also see lds.org for other Stake and Ward calendar events.

Relief Society Announcements...

• This week's Relief Society lesson will be taught by Amber P., The Gifts of the Spirit, Chapter 22.
• This Saturday is our Ward Temple Night.  We will be attending the 6 p.m. session.  Dessert will follow at Rachel M's home.
• Ward Choir will meet at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.  Won't you join us and participate in our Christmas program?
• Come join us for our informal play group on Friday at 11:30 a.m.  More details are here.
• The last day to pay for your pies ordered through the Young Women Pie Fundraiser is Sunday.  Please include your payment in a tithing envelope marked YW Fundraiser.  You can pick up your pies between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23rd.  Contact a member of the Young Women Presidency with any questions.
• See here for information about the November visiting teaching message.
• See our "Calendar of Events" (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  Also see lds.org for other Stake and Ward calendar events.

Vegas Valley Ward Relief Society Meeting...

Tonight is our first Vegas Valley Ward Relief Society Meeting.  Please join us at 6:30 p.m.  Dinner will be served and there will be a beautiful program.  There will be a nursery.  It should be a fun and uplifting evening.  Please join us!

Relief Society Announcements (and maybe a few others...)

• This Sunday's lesson will be taught by Naoma S.  It' Lesson 21, The Gift of the Holy Ghost.  It's a beautiful lesson . . .
• Next Tuesday is our first Vegas Valley Ward Relief Society Meeting.  November 16th at 6:30 p.m.  Dinner will be served and there will be a short program.  There will be a nursery.  It should be a fun and uplifting evening.  Please join us!
• Come join us for our informal play group on Friday at 11:30 a.m.  More details here.
• See here for information about Christmas Missionary Care packages.  Packages will be set up in the lobby on Sunday and the list will be in the binders. Please help us wish our missionaries well during the holiday season.  Packages will be mailed after our November 16th Relief Society Meeting so our missionaries will have them in time for Christmas. Just a few days left to treat a missionaries to a package from their home Ward.
• See here for information about the November visiting teaching message. 
• Did you know the Young Women are selling pies as part of their fundraising efforts for Girls' Camp?  Delicious pies?  It's true.  See here or contact a member of the YW Presidency to place an order.
• See our "Calendar of Events" (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  Also see lds.org for other Stake and Ward calendar events.

De-Stress Night

Come to De-Stress Night at Monta's tonight at 7 p.m.  It's fun . . .

(18 and older, no children over a year old.)

Vegas Valley Ward Relief Society Announcements...

• Stake Conference is this weekend.  The Saturday evening adult session will be at 7 p.m. at the Stake Center.  Sunday's session begins at 10 a.m.
• The Stake Strengthening Marriage Class will begin on Sunday, November 7th at 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in the Stake High Council Room.  The course consists of six Sunday evening classes with a break on November 28th for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Babysitting will be provided. 
• Mark your calendar for our first Vegas Valley Ward Relief Society Meeting on Tuesday, November 16th at 6:30 p.m.  Dinner will be served and there will be a short program.  There will be a nursery.  It should be a fun and uplifting evening.  Please join us!
• Come join us for our informal play group on Friday at 11:30 a.m.  More details here.
• See here for information about Christmas Missionary Care packages.  Packages will be set up in the lobby on Sunday and the list will be in the binders. Please help us wish our missionaries well during the holiday season.  Packages will be mailed after our November 16th Relief Society Meeting so our missionaries will have them in time for Christmas.
• It is not too late to send us your family Christmas traditions.  For more information see here.
• See here for the November visiting teaching message.  Because the November issue of the Ensign contains a report of General Conference we do not have a specific Visiting Teaching Message. Visiting teachers are encouraged to prayerfully select a conference address to share with those they teach.
• Did you know the Young Women are selling pies as part of their fundraising efforts for Girls' Camp?  Delicious pies?  It's true.  See here or contact a member of the YW Presidency to place an order.
• See our "Calendar of Events" (to the right) for other important dates to remember.  Also see lds.org for other Stake and Ward calendar events.

Pies, fundraisers and Vegas Valley Ward Young Women...

The Young Women in our Ward are selling pies for their Girls' Camp fundraiser.  The pies come in two sizes, 9" and 10" and are $10 and $11 (pecan pies are $11 and $12).  Here's what's available:

-Coconut Cream
-Pumpkin
-Chocolate Cream
-Apple
-Key Lime
-Strawberry Cream
-Peanut Butter Cream
-Rhubarb
-Blueberry
-Banana Cream
-Cherry
-Pecan

Contact a member of the Young Women Presidency for ordering and delivery information. 

This week's announcements...

• This coming Sunday is the 5th Sunday of the month.  We will be meeting together for the third hour.
• Come join us for our informal play group on Friday at 11:30 a.m.  More details here.
• See here for information about Christmas Missionary Care packages.  Packages will be set up in the lobby on Sunday and the list will be in the binders. Please help us wish our missionaries well during the holiday season.
• The Ward Trunk or Treat will be this Friday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m. at the Treeline Building parking lot. See here for more details.
• Please send us your Christmas traditions.  For more information see here.
• The Stake Strengthening Marriage Class will begin on Sunday, November 7th at 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in the Stake High Council Room.  The course consists of six Sunday evening classes with a break on November 28th for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Babysitting will be provided.  Look for sign up sheets from the Sunday School.
• See here for information re: your October Visiting Teaching message. 
• See our "Calendar of Events" (to the right) for other important dates to remember.

Vegas Valley Relief Society Announcements

• Sunday's Relief Society Lesson will be taught by Pilar R. The lesson is based on  Bishop Keith B. McMullin's talk entitled Our Path of Duty.  See here to read Bishop McMullin's talk.
• Come join us for our informal play group on Friday at 11:30 a.m.  More details here.
• See here for information about Christmas Missionary Care packages.  Packages will be set up in the lobby on Sunday and the list will be in the binders.
• The Ward Trunk or Treat will be Friday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m. at the Treeline Building parking lot. See here for more details.
• Please send us your Christmas traditions.  For more information see here.

East Stake "Strengthening Marriage" Class

The Strengthening Marriage Class will begin on Sunday, November 7th at 5 p.m. (until 6:30 p.m.) in the Stake High Council Room.  The course consists of six Sunday evening classes with a break on November 28th for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Babysitting will be provided.  Sign up sheets will be available on Sunday.

Time Out for Women

Time Out for Women, sponsored by Deseret Book, is sold out for this coming Friday and Saturday.  We know of at least two tickets available for $40 each.  Do you know someone who would like to attend?  If so, call Patti L. at 767-6135.  See here for the list of special speakers.

Time Out for Women 2010
Las Vegas, NV

Friday, October 22, 2010
6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Cashman Center
Theatre
850 N. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89101 US

Ward Temple Night

The first Vegas Valley Ward Temple Night will be tonight, Saturday, October 16th, the 6 p.m. session.  Please join us for dessert following the session at the Lunn's home.

This week's announcements...

• The first Vegas Valley Ward Temple Night will be Saturday, October 16th, the 6 p.m. session.  Please join us for dessert following the session at the Lunn's home
• Sunday's Relief Society Lesson will be taught by Carlee H. - the topic is Baptism.  See here for the lesson. 
• Please send us your Christmas traditions.  For more information see here.
• Come join us for our informal play group on Friday at 11:30 a.m.  More details here.
• See here for information about Christmas Missionary Care packages.  Packages will be set up in the lobby on Sunday and the list will be in the binders.
• The Ward Trunk or Treat will be Friday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m. at the Treeline Building parking lot. See here for more details.
• Please send us your Christmas traditions.  For more information see here.
• See our "Calendar of Events" for other important dates.
• Please join us for DE-STRESS NIGHT at Monta L's house on Tuesday at 7 p.m.  (18 and older, no children over a year old).  It's FUN!

Vegas Valley Ward Trunk or Treat

The Ward Trunk or Treat will be Friday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m. at the Treeline Building parking lot.  If you're decorating your car to hand out treats please be in the parking lot before 6 p.m. and park in the south parking lot until it is full.  Afterwards fill in the west parking lot.  If you are not handing out treats please park your car in the north parking lot. 

There will be yummy nachos!  In addition, look for sign-ups in your Relief Society binders on Sunday to bring some chili. 

The children will be judging the cars as they Trunk or Treat, so pull out all the stops!  There will also be a game booth with prizes!  This should be a fun night.  See you there...

Ward Christmas Party...

Save the date, mark your calendars . . . the first Vegas Valley Ward Christmas Party will be Friday, December 10th. 

Announcements...

• Sunday's Relief Society Lesson will be taught by Naoma S. - the topic is Repentance.  See here for the lesson.
• Congratulations and best wishes to Amber F. (and David and Asa) on the birth of her daughter Ella.
• Please send us your Christmas traditions.  For more information see here.
• Come join us for our informal play group on Friday at 11:30 a.m.  More details here.
• See here for information about Christmas Missionary Care packages.
• See here for General Conference talks.

October Visiting Teaching Message

The October 2010 Liahona and Ensign will be a special issue focusing entirely on temples. The issue will not contain a specific First Presidency Message or Visiting Teaching Message. Home and visiting teachers are encouraged to prayerfully select their message from the contents of this special issue.

A few changes have been made to the Visiting Teaching routes for the month of October.  If your route changed you will receive it in the mail.  You may have a new Visiting Teaching Supervisor as well.  Please call your Visiting Teaching Supervisor with your report before the end of the month.

Great things have happened in our Ward during the month of September directly related to the Visiting Teaching Program at work.  Thank you for being so diligent.

Christmas Missionary Care Packages

We will be sending Christmas packages to the missionaries serving from our Ward.  Beginning this Sunday we will have boxes out for any donations you might wish to make to these missionary care packages.  Some suggestions are as follows:

Pens                               

Mechanical pencils

Post-its                           

Small notebooks

Thank you cards             

Small stickers to pass along to children

Small bottles of lotion  

Hand sanitizer

Shampoo                       

Razors

Soaps                             

Drink mixes you add to individual water bottles

Dark socks                     

Ties (even ugly ones)

Deodorant                      

Chap stick

Beef jerky                        

Marshmallows

Peanut butter                 

Any candy like Reese's, Snickers, etc.

Crackers                          

Small boxes of cereal

Add water mixes for cookies

The boxes will be sealed shut and mailed immediately following our Tuesday Night Relief Society Meeting on November 16th.  This will give us time to make sure the Elders serving from our Ward have heard from us by Christmas.

General Conference weekend...

Enjoy your General Conference weekend.  See here for the new Conference website.

General Relief Society Meeting...

If you missed the General Relief Society Meeting last Saturday (spiritual nourishment) you may read all four (4) talks here. 

Fill us in, would you?

We want to know your family Christmas traditions.  We'd like to share some of them at our November Relief Society Meeting on Tuesday, November 16th (save the date).  Our meeting theme is Gifts to the Savior - Christmas and Service .

Help us by emailing your family Christmas tradition(s) to pattilunn@hotmail.com

Last week of September...

The month of September feels as if it has evaporated . . . we are in the last week.  This month the Visiting Teaching message is about nurturing children and youth.  As I look around our new Ward I feel like I have examples all around me of women who are great role models when it comes to the nurturing of children and youth.  I am constantly amazed by my friends, family and those I visit teach and their different ways of nurturing . . . sometimes it is their children, sometimes their nieces and nephews, or sometimes the youth they teach at church.  You inspire me.  Thank you for teaching me that we all have different strengths in this area and not one of them should be taken for granted.  I am constantly asking for guidance in my quest to figure out this thing called motherhood and I always seem to come up full.

Thank you for making your visiting teaching a priority.  It has already made a difference.  Find the message here.  And remember . . . your Visiting Teaching Supervisor will call you this month for your report.

Good News Minute...

• Willie R.'s friend is taking the missionary discussions.
• Ana T. took our her endowments September 18th.
• Tanner C. committed to play baseball for BYU.  He is about to sign.
• Yolanda W. received a call from someone who saw her son in Central America (where he is serving his mission).
• Jenna H. is engaged to be married . . . February, 2011.

Everything you need to know...

• Sunday's Relief Society lesson will be taught by Roxanne R. from Elder Donald L. Hallstrom's talk entitled, Turn to the Lord.  This is such a beautiful article.  Please read it before our Sunday meeting.
• We want to know your family Christmas traditions.  Our goal is to share some of them at our first Vegas Valley Ward Relief Society Meeting on November 16th (save the date).  Help us by emailing your family Christmas tradition(s) to pattilunn@hotmail.com.  To those of you who have already responded, thank you!  They are beautiful.
• Did you know there is an informal playgroup that meets each Friday at the Hollywood Park behind the Rec Center?  We are there from 11:30 until 1 p.m.  Bring a lunch and join in the fun. 
• See here for the September Visiting Teaching message.  For the month of September your Visiting Teaching Supervisor will be calling you for your reports.
• See here for What You Wanted to Know About Visiting Teaching
• Don't forget  about the General Relief Society Broadcast this Saturday, September 25th at the Stake Center.  At 6 p.m. there will be an Ice Cream Social in the Cultural Hall for all sisters 18 and over.  The General Broadcast will begin at 7 p.m. in the Chapel (English) and the Primary Room (Spanish). 
• Since General Conference is October 2nd and 3rd, Fast Sunday will be this coming Sunday, September 26th.

General Relief Society Broadcast

The General Relief Society Broadcast will be held this Saturday, September 25th at the Stake Center.  At 6 p.m. there will be an Ice Cream Social in the Cultural Hall for all sisters 18 and over.  The General Broadcast will begin at 7 p.m. in the Chapel (English) and the Primary Room (Spanish).  Please join us for a nice evening together as sisters of the East Stake.

Relief Society Quarterly Temple Brunch

Please join us for our first Quarterly Vegas Valley Ward Temple Brunch on Saturday.  This Saturday!  We will meet at the Temple for the 8:30 a.m. session and join together at Patti L's house for brunch at approximately 10:30 a.m.  If you aren't joining us for the 8:30 a.m. session please join us afterwards for some brunch and conversation.

Calling all Christmas Traditions...

We want to know your family Christmas traditions.  We'd like to share some of them at our November Relief Society Meeting on November 16th (save the date).  Help us by emailing your family Christmas tradition(s) to pattilunn@hotmail.com

Sunday Lesson - September 19th

Sunday's Relief Society lesson will be taught by Carlee H., Lesson 17 from the Gospel Principles Manual, Faith in Jesus Christ.

Please make sure to see a member of the Presidency if you do not have a manual.

Beginning Friday, September 17th

There will be an informal playgroup each Friday at the Hollywood Park behind the Rec Center from 11:30 until 1 p.m.  Bring a lunch and join in the fun.  See you there...

Join us...

There will be a Baby Shower/Open House for Amber F. on Friday, September 17th at Pilar's home.  Please stop by and wish her (and her about-to-be-born daughter) well from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. 

RSVP to Pilar at 641-3306

More business...

• This Sunday's Relief Society Lesson will be taught by Naoma S., Lesson 17 in the Gospel Principles Manual, The Church of Jesus Christ Today. 
• If you did not get your copy of the Vegas Valley Ward's Relief Society Directory (last Sunday) they will be available on Sunday, September 12th. If you are serving in Young Women or Primary the directories will be in your Relief Society binder. Feel free to take an extra copy for any sisters you visit teach.
• If you have not yet received your Visiting Teaching route for September please see a member of the Relief Society Presidency or Amber P. The majority were distributed and the remainder were mailed.
• For the month of September you do not need to call your Supervisor to report on your Visiting Teaching.  Your Visiting Teaching Supervisor will call you this month.  Your enthusiasm about your new Visiting Teaching assignments has been fun and refreshing!  Thanks for embracing this opportunity to get to know new sisters in our brand new Ward family.
• If you haven't provided us with your email address it isn't too late. Even if your previous Ward had your email address we still may not have it.  We want you to know what's happening in the Vegas Valley Ward Relief Society, so send your email address to pattilunn@hotmail.com.
• Mark your calendars for the Relief Society Broadcast and Ice Cream Social on September 25th at 6 p.m. at our Stake Center.
• Won't you come to our first Quarterly Temple Brunch on Saturday, September 18th?  We will meet at the Temple for the 8:30 a.m. session and gather together at Patti L's house for Brunch immediately following the Temple.  Even if you are not attending the Temple session please join us for our first Temple Brunch beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m.
•  See here for the September Visiting Teaching Message.

Unify with FHE

We are working on implementing monthly FHE Groups in our new Vegas Valley Ward.  These groups will be made of 3-4 families and will meet once a month for a spiritual FHE (and treat, of course).  The groups will rotate every few months so you will have ample opportunity to participate with many families in our Ward.  These little Vegas Valley Ward FHE Groups will help strengthen our Ward family.  Please join us as we work together to make our families stronger.

See your Sunday binder for the form to sign up for a FHE Group and return it to a member of the Relief Society Presidency.  Even if you were participating in a FHE Group before the boundary changes, please sign up again . . .  we are starting from scratch!

Announcements, announcements, announcements...

• This Sunday's Relief Society Lesson will be taught by Jackie H. from the talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Good, Better, Best. 
• Make sure you get your copy of the Vegas Valley Ward's Relief Society Directory on Sunday.  If you are serving in Young Women or Primary the directories will be in your Relief Society binder.  Feel free to take an extra copy for any sisters you visit teach or for anyone who might not be in town over Labor Day weekend.
• If you have not yet received your Visiting Teaching route for September please see a member of the Relief Society Presidency or Amber P.  The majority were distributed last Sunday and the remainder were being mailed.
• If you haven't provided us with your email address it isn't too late.  Send it to pattilunn@hotmail.com
• There will be a Relief Society Board Meeting on Tuesday, September 7th at 7 p.m. at Patti L's house.  If you have a calling in Relief Society please plan on attending. 
• See here for the September Visiting Teaching Message.

"New" Relief Society Meetings

Late last year, the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the General Relief Society counseled together regarding Relief Society, specifically the meetings formerly knows as "home, family and personal enrichment."

We thought our new Vegas Valley Ward Relief Society blog might be a good place to review those changes and to inform our sisters serving in the Primary and Young Women's organizations.

If meetings are no longer knows as "home, family and personal enrichment", what should we call them? We will refer to them simply as Relief Society meetings, or "weekday" Relief Society meetings.

What is the purpose of weekday Relief Society meetings? LDS.org describes the purpose this way: To help women progress toward eternal life; and to learn and accomplish the charitable and practical responsibilities of the Relief Society.

Sister Julie B. Beck, General Relief Society President, in her talk "Relief Society: A Sacred Work" says, "When sisters meet for Relief Society meetings during the week, they have the opportunity to learn and accomplish the charitable and practical responsibilities of the Relief Society. This is where they learn and practice skills that will help them increase their faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and provide service to those in need. These meetings are meant to be instrumental in teaching the skills and responsibilities of womanhood and motherhood in the Lord's plan. It is here that women learn and apply principles of provident living and spiritual and temporal self-reliance, and they also increase in sisterhood and unity as they teach and serve together."

In an interview with Church News, Sister Beck matter-of-factly asks, if meetings "are not strengthening the faith of the sisters, if they are not helping them prepare for the blessings of eternal life, then why are they being held?"

Who will teach us how to "learn and accomplish charitable and practical responsibilities"? Or to "learn and practice skills that will help us increase our personal righteousness"? Or to "learn and apply principles of provident living"? We will teach each other. Sister Beck says, "Women don't need to go outside of their ward for ideas or teachers. The sisters in the ward grow from teaching and leading each other."

Who needs to attend weekday Relief Society meetings? All sisters of our ward, friends and neighbors are invited to attend weekday Relief Society meetings. However, in our fast-paced and hectic world, we all need to understand that everyone can't do everything. Sister Beck puts it this way, "The Lord is hastening His work. It seems we are all running faster. [Sisters] should not be made to feel that attendance at weekday Relief Society meetings is mandatory. Every woman needs to make the decision about what is essential for her family."

One useful resource for helping sisters determine which weekday meetings to attend is Elder Dallin H. Oaks talk "Good, Better, Best" from General Conference 2007.

What is the criterion for planning a weekday Relief Society Meeting? Our Relief Society will focus on our own "charitable and practical" responsibilities, in particular as it applies to the following areas of our lives:

• Homemaking

• Marriage and family

• Provident living and self-reliance

• Temples and family history

• Sharing the gospel

• Compassionate service

So far we've learned that we will be responsible for teaching each other... and also that attendance at weekday meetings isn't mandatory.

What if I am teaching a lesson and only one person shows up? That great! That means that not only did one much beloved sister from our Relief Society benefit from your knowledge and preparation... but so did her entire family, and also anyone that she in turn shares that information with. Success of our ward's weekday Relief Society meetings will not be determined by how many people show up.

This all sounds rather serious. Aren't we going to have any fun? In the article from Church News, Sister Beck says if the new objectives have a serious tone it is because this is a serious work. She says, "It is not a frivolous work. It is not a left over, made-up job for women... This is where the Lord organized His daughters to do His work. We have Sunday meetings to do that. We have visiting teaching that does that. And we have other meetings - if we need them - to help us teach one another and organize essential work. Then we expect that sisters will be friends and make friends and do many good things on their own outside of Relief Society... I have never been together with two LDS women who weren't having a good time... We feel the Spirit when we do the Lord's work and that is what we need more than anything."

Some helpful resources used in this post:

Sister Julie B. Beck's talk Relief Society: A Sacred Work can be found by clicking here.

Sister Beck's interview with Church News can be found by clicking here.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks talk Good, Better, Best can be found by clicking here.

LDS.org's pages on weekday Relief Society meetings can be found by clicking here.

Good News Minute/Missionary Moment

Please be sure to write down your "Good News Minute" or "Missionary Moment" in the binder each Sunday, even if you've shared in Relief Society.  We want to hear from you!

This month:

• Willie R. started filling out his mission papers.
• Brenda K.'s son-in-law was promoted to Staff Sargent and they bought their first home.
• Tasha K. left for college in Logan, UT

Calling all email addresses...

If you haven't given us your email address it isn't too late.  Send your email address to pattilunn@hotmail.com