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We were thrilled to have around 45 sisters in attendance at our March RS Meeting. We gathered to celebrate the anniversary of the organization of the Relief Society. What a better way to celebrate than to encourage sisters to build bridges with one another and to develop friendship and kindness! A special thanks to all of the sisters who helped in organizing the event, who helped with set up and clean up and a very special thanks to our speakers and those who participated in our special musical number!
If you were unable to attend or would like to view the slideshow we presented, here it is for your enjoyment! Hope to see you all at our April Service Project for the youth! Look for more information to come!
Changing your contact info on lds.org
Did you know that you can change your email address and phone number on lds.org? You can also make your information more private and add a picture, if you prefer. I assume that these changes you make will be reflected in the ward's directory list and visiting teaching/home teaching lists as well, but I am not sure. If you change something, let me know and I can check it next month. You cannot change your home address, though. If that is incorrect, please inform Brother George Casteleiro at geonyut@msn.com or Brother Thomas Pool at trp28@yahoo.com.
Here's how to change your email address, phone number, privacy settings, and picture:
* Go to http://www.lds.org
* Click "Sign In" in the top right corner
* Sign in with your LDS Account information. (If you don't have an LDS Account, click on "Register for an LDS Account" on the right. You'll need your membership number [which can be found on your Temple recommend] and your confirmation date.)
* Click on "Tools" then "Directory."
* Find and click on your name. Your household and individual information will display on the right.
* Click on "Edit Profile" which is under the household information but above your individual information
* Edit the email address, phone number, privacy settings, and picture for each member of your household as desired.
* Click "Save Changes" at the bottom. (You may have to scroll down to see the "Save Changes" button.)
* Voila! Your household information is now updated!
Sisters, please take the time to do this. We would like to keep you informed of Arlington 1st Ward happenings, but it is also vital in an emergency to make sure everyone is okay and has their needs met.
Here's how to change your email address, phone number, privacy settings, and picture:
* Go to http://www.lds.org
* Click "Sign In" in the top right corner
* Sign in with your LDS Account information. (If you don't have an LDS Account, click on "Register for an LDS Account" on the right. You'll need your membership number [which can be found on your Temple recommend] and your confirmation date.)
* Click on "Tools" then "Directory."
* Find and click on your name. Your household and individual information will display on the right.
* Click on "Edit Profile" which is under the household information but above your individual information
* Edit the email address, phone number, privacy settings, and picture for each member of your household as desired.
* Click "Save Changes" at the bottom. (You may have to scroll down to see the "Save Changes" button.)
* Voila! Your household information is now updated!
Sisters, please take the time to do this. We would like to keep you informed of Arlington 1st Ward happenings, but it is also vital in an emergency to make sure everyone is okay and has their needs met.
Monthly RS Presidency Message - March
This year we celebrate the 170th birthday of Relief Society! So many wonderful things have happened since March 17, 1842 in Relief Society. In the first meeting of the Relief Society, Sister Emma Smith said, “We are going to do something extraordinary.” She was right. The history of Relief Society is filled with examples of ordinary women who have accomplished extraordinary things as they have exercised faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The history of Relief Society teaches the divine identity and infinite worth of daughters of God. It is a Spirit- filled story of strong, faithful, purposeful women who have served with little public recognition. It is through selfless acts of love that not only the one we serve is blessed, but we too are blessed.
Sister Belle S. Spafford, the ninth Relief Society general president, said: ”The average woman today, I believe, would do well to appraise her interests, evaluate the activities in which she is engaged, and then take steps to simplify her life, putting things of first importance first, placing emphasis where the rewards will be greatest and most enduring, and ridding herself of the less rewarding activities.” Even though she said that many years ago, I think it is applicable today. Let’s think about what is important in our lives. Is it serving the Lord or, for me, buying a new pair of shoes? Is it spending time with our families or working 80 hours a week? Is it spending hours on Pinterest or Facebook or reading our scriptures?
Sister Julie B. Beck, the fifteenth Relief Society general president, said, “Through Relief Society we practice being disciples of Christ. We learn what He would have us learn, we do what He would have us do, and we become what He would have us become.” One of the lines in my favorite hymn “As Sisters in Zion” says, “the errand of angels is given to women." What does that mean to you? To me it means serving one another, doing our visiting teaching, being a friend to all, sharing a smile, giving a hug, comforting those that mourn, sharing a meal, sharing the gospel, loving one another, to name just a few. After reading that, I am going to challenge myself to be a better disciple of Christ and sister in Zion.
I love you sisters. I am grateful to serve my Heavenly Father and to serve you. Let’s all go out and try to ‘do something extraordinary!'
Love,
Maxine Hoff
Sister Belle S. Spafford, the ninth Relief Society general president, said: ”The average woman today, I believe, would do well to appraise her interests, evaluate the activities in which she is engaged, and then take steps to simplify her life, putting things of first importance first, placing emphasis where the rewards will be greatest and most enduring, and ridding herself of the less rewarding activities.” Even though she said that many years ago, I think it is applicable today. Let’s think about what is important in our lives. Is it serving the Lord or, for me, buying a new pair of shoes? Is it spending time with our families or working 80 hours a week? Is it spending hours on Pinterest or Facebook or reading our scriptures?
Sister Julie B. Beck, the fifteenth Relief Society general president, said, “Through Relief Society we practice being disciples of Christ. We learn what He would have us learn, we do what He would have us do, and we become what He would have us become.” One of the lines in my favorite hymn “As Sisters in Zion” says, “the errand of angels is given to women." What does that mean to you? To me it means serving one another, doing our visiting teaching, being a friend to all, sharing a smile, giving a hug, comforting those that mourn, sharing a meal, sharing the gospel, loving one another, to name just a few. After reading that, I am going to challenge myself to be a better disciple of Christ and sister in Zion.
I love you sisters. I am grateful to serve my Heavenly Father and to serve you. Let’s all go out and try to ‘do something extraordinary!'
Love,
Maxine Hoff
March 2012 Spotlight, Elizabeth Clint
I am Elizabeth A. Clint. I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and have lived in Texas for over 20 years. I have two beautiful daughters, one granddaughter and one grandson. I enjoy sports, creating art, and making jewelry. I am a convert to the church and was baptized July 30, 2011.
February Visiting Teaching
Sisters,
If you haven't already done so, please report January's visiting teaching to your district supervisors. You still have two days to do it, if you haven't already!
Here are the links to the visiting teaching message and handout for February:
VT Message: http://lds.org/liahona/series/
VT Handout: http://www.theideadoor.com/
Also, if you have not received a slip of paper informing you of your visiting teaching route for February, please let me know. The new changes we've made take effect February 1st. If you already visited your new route, no worries. This month was kind of hectic trying to inform everyone of the changes. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
What a wonderful Ward Conference we had today! I love how God knows exactly what I need to hear! Even though the themes seemed to be on home and visiting teaching and family history, the overall themes I noticed were love and following the promptings of the Spirit. Why do we do home and visiting teaching and even family history? Because of love. How do we know what we need to do with regards to these responsibilities? Through the Spirit. I loved the story in Sunday School about the sister who was praying about how to handle difficulties in her life. God's answer to her was do her family history. She then gave up her one precious free hour a day to do family history, something she really didn't know anything about.That reminded me of my own life. I was having a hard time in high school. During the summer before my Sophomore year, I started studying the scriptures 30 mins a day. Really studying, not just reading. I'd open with a prayer and write in a journal any impressions or questions or comments I had about what I was reading. Unfortunately, I stopped being that diligent sometime in college. I'd read, but that was really it. Even though I was happy, I could see myself getting more and more emotionally drained and unable to handle going through the day. I prayed for years about what to do and the thought always came into my mind to study my scriptures again. I didn't, and my life kept going. Finally, I got to the point where I finally started studying again. Over night, it made a HUGE difference. I can't tell you how nice it was to feel the Spirit that close again. I'm glad I finally listened to the Spirit, but I do wish I had listened earlier.
I tell you this story to illustrate a point: everyone has at least one thing that they were called in life to do; something that will change their lives if they will just do it. For the sister in the Sunday School story, it was family history. For me, it was studying the scriptures. As much as it would be nice, we can't do everything. All God asks us to do is try our best, but our best in what? We need to try our best to follow the promptings of the Spirit. We need to live our lives worthy to feel the Spirit, first of all. If we don't feel the Spirit, how can we know what we need to do? If you're not sure what it means to "feel the Spirit", ask someone who knows, or at least seems to know. If they don't know, then you can find out together. You've heard that it's a feeling or thoughts that come into your head, etc, but it is hard to know without practice, faith, diligence, and patience. My biggest question for a long time was, "how do I know the difference between my thoughts and the promptings of the Spirit?" Practice, faith, diligence, and patience. You learn to recognize a certain feeling that accompanies the thoughts in your mind. For the record, I am by no means perfect, but I know that the Spirit is real because I have felt it. God does talk to us. We just have to learn how to listen, like tuning a radio to hear a channel clearly. He is always transmitting; we just need to tune in.
One other important thing is we need to make sure not to judge others if they are not doing things according to our standards. Some people are better at teaching than others. Some are naturally better mothers or homemakers. Some are better listeners, some better readers, some better athletes, and the list goes on. Find what you are supposed to do. Rather than judging each other for not living up to our standards, let us help each other in areas where we are strong that others need help with. Let us lift, not look down on.
Thank you again, sisters, for being amazing! You are amazing because you are daughters of God. Never forget that He loves you. Never forget that it is never too late to ask for forgiveness and come closer to Him. He will welcome you with open arms. I know this is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Dansell
If you haven't already done so, please report January's visiting teaching to your district supervisors. You still have two days to do it, if you haven't already!
Here are the links to the visiting teaching message and handout for February:
VT Message: http://lds.org/liahona/series/
VT Handout: http://www.theideadoor.com/
Also, if you have not received a slip of paper informing you of your visiting teaching route for February, please let me know. The new changes we've made take effect February 1st. If you already visited your new route, no worries. This month was kind of hectic trying to inform everyone of the changes. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
What a wonderful Ward Conference we had today! I love how God knows exactly what I need to hear! Even though the themes seemed to be on home and visiting teaching and family history, the overall themes I noticed were love and following the promptings of the Spirit. Why do we do home and visiting teaching and even family history? Because of love. How do we know what we need to do with regards to these responsibilities? Through the Spirit. I loved the story in Sunday School about the sister who was praying about how to handle difficulties in her life. God's answer to her was do her family history. She then gave up her one precious free hour a day to do family history, something she really didn't know anything about.That reminded me of my own life. I was having a hard time in high school. During the summer before my Sophomore year, I started studying the scriptures 30 mins a day. Really studying, not just reading. I'd open with a prayer and write in a journal any impressions or questions or comments I had about what I was reading. Unfortunately, I stopped being that diligent sometime in college. I'd read, but that was really it. Even though I was happy, I could see myself getting more and more emotionally drained and unable to handle going through the day. I prayed for years about what to do and the thought always came into my mind to study my scriptures again. I didn't, and my life kept going. Finally, I got to the point where I finally started studying again. Over night, it made a HUGE difference. I can't tell you how nice it was to feel the Spirit that close again. I'm glad I finally listened to the Spirit, but I do wish I had listened earlier.
I tell you this story to illustrate a point: everyone has at least one thing that they were called in life to do; something that will change their lives if they will just do it. For the sister in the Sunday School story, it was family history. For me, it was studying the scriptures. As much as it would be nice, we can't do everything. All God asks us to do is try our best, but our best in what? We need to try our best to follow the promptings of the Spirit. We need to live our lives worthy to feel the Spirit, first of all. If we don't feel the Spirit, how can we know what we need to do? If you're not sure what it means to "feel the Spirit", ask someone who knows, or at least seems to know. If they don't know, then you can find out together. You've heard that it's a feeling or thoughts that come into your head, etc, but it is hard to know without practice, faith, diligence, and patience. My biggest question for a long time was, "how do I know the difference between my thoughts and the promptings of the Spirit?" Practice, faith, diligence, and patience. You learn to recognize a certain feeling that accompanies the thoughts in your mind. For the record, I am by no means perfect, but I know that the Spirit is real because I have felt it. God does talk to us. We just have to learn how to listen, like tuning a radio to hear a channel clearly. He is always transmitting; we just need to tune in.
One other important thing is we need to make sure not to judge others if they are not doing things according to our standards. Some people are better at teaching than others. Some are naturally better mothers or homemakers. Some are better listeners, some better readers, some better athletes, and the list goes on. Find what you are supposed to do. Rather than judging each other for not living up to our standards, let us help each other in areas where we are strong that others need help with. Let us lift, not look down on.
Thank you again, sisters, for being amazing! You are amazing because you are daughters of God. Never forget that He loves you. Never forget that it is never too late to ask for forgiveness and come closer to Him. He will welcome you with open arms. I know this is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Dansell
January Relief Society Meeting: A Night Among the Stars
Sisters, we would love for you to join us TONIGHT, January 24th at 7pm at the California Building for our monthly Relief Society Meeting. Rain is in the forecast but don't let that stop you from joining us for a wonderful night together.
A lot of recent growth in our ward has blessed us with many new members we want to get to know! Come tonight and learn about many of these new sisters. You may be surprised to find out what you might have in common with them! Let's show them lots of love and support and how excited we are to have each of them in our ward!
Before our presentation of "stars" of the night we will be learning about the Young Women Personal Progress Program. The program has been revamped over the years, complete with new medallions and awards! What does this mean for you? Each and every sister in the church has the ability to do the Personal Progress Program, even if you have already received your Young Womanhood Recognition Award! It would be a great way to keep Gospel-centered in your life, and to help encourage the girls in our young womens organization to achieve their goals as well! We will have a sign-up sheet for anyone interested in participating!
And last but not least, we will be treating you to homemade brownies and ice cream. You don't want to miss it!
So brave the elements tonight and join us!
A lot of recent growth in our ward has blessed us with many new members we want to get to know! Come tonight and learn about many of these new sisters. You may be surprised to find out what you might have in common with them! Let's show them lots of love and support and how excited we are to have each of them in our ward!
Before our presentation of "stars" of the night we will be learning about the Young Women Personal Progress Program. The program has been revamped over the years, complete with new medallions and awards! What does this mean for you? Each and every sister in the church has the ability to do the Personal Progress Program, even if you have already received your Young Womanhood Recognition Award! It would be a great way to keep Gospel-centered in your life, and to help encourage the girls in our young womens organization to achieve their goals as well! We will have a sign-up sheet for anyone interested in participating!
And last but not least, we will be treating you to homemade brownies and ice cream. You don't want to miss it!
So brave the elements tonight and join us!
Monthly RS Presidency Message - January
Dear Sisters,
Last week, I went to the doctor for my yearly check-up----ugh! As I sat, waiting entirely too long, on the crunchy table paper and nearing the completion of my sixth magazine, the doctor walked into the examination room with her arms held victoriously in the air, a bright smile on her face and declared, “I just brought new life into the world”. Doctor B. had just returned from the hospital after successfully assisting with the arrival of yet another new and precious life. And so, we celebrated together.
At the commencement of a new year, we each have the opportunity to evaluate how we will bring “new life” and purpose to the approaching year. If you are like me, you sometimes consider a list of “resolutions” as something lifted from the recycling bin, a little worn, incomplete and a bit broken. In other words, a set goal that was not reached. Then, over the holidays, I had the opportunity to watch a Winnie-the-Pooh movie with my grandkids. Piglet squeaked something very profound in trying to explain the term “resolution” to Pooh Bear, “Resolutions are promises to do simple things that are good.”
We can all do simple things as well as good things. I offer a suggestion of three simple and good things from our prophet to us: “As I contemplate the Relief Society of today, humbled by my privilege to speak to you, I turn to our Heavenly Father for His divine guidance. In this spirit, I have felt to provide to each member of the Relief Society throughout the world , three goals to meet: study diligently, pray earnestly, and serve willingly”. (Thomas S. Monson, Oct. General Conf., 2007)
I borrow a quote from my niece’s blog: “Ordinary people who faithfully, diligently and consistently do simple things that are right before God will bring forth extraordinary results. In due time, I can only hope to become one of those “ordinary people”. (Gordon B. Hinckley)
How grateful I am for loving prophets who offer inspired guidance in our lives. Diligent study, earnest prayer and willing service will act as my “umbrella” of simple goodness throughout the year. How will you choose to bring ‘new life’ to 2012?
With much love,
Lori Brinkerhoff
Last week, I went to the doctor for my yearly check-up----ugh! As I sat, waiting entirely too long, on the crunchy table paper and nearing the completion of my sixth magazine, the doctor walked into the examination room with her arms held victoriously in the air, a bright smile on her face and declared, “I just brought new life into the world”. Doctor B. had just returned from the hospital after successfully assisting with the arrival of yet another new and precious life. And so, we celebrated together.
At the commencement of a new year, we each have the opportunity to evaluate how we will bring “new life” and purpose to the approaching year. If you are like me, you sometimes consider a list of “resolutions” as something lifted from the recycling bin, a little worn, incomplete and a bit broken. In other words, a set goal that was not reached. Then, over the holidays, I had the opportunity to watch a Winnie-the-Pooh movie with my grandkids. Piglet squeaked something very profound in trying to explain the term “resolution” to Pooh Bear, “Resolutions are promises to do simple things that are good.”
We can all do simple things as well as good things. I offer a suggestion of three simple and good things from our prophet to us: “As I contemplate the Relief Society of today, humbled by my privilege to speak to you, I turn to our Heavenly Father for His divine guidance. In this spirit, I have felt to provide to each member of the Relief Society throughout the world , three goals to meet: study diligently, pray earnestly, and serve willingly”. (Thomas S. Monson, Oct. General Conf., 2007)
I borrow a quote from my niece’s blog: “Ordinary people who faithfully, diligently and consistently do simple things that are right before God will bring forth extraordinary results. In due time, I can only hope to become one of those “ordinary people”. (Gordon B. Hinckley)
How grateful I am for loving prophets who offer inspired guidance in our lives. Diligent study, earnest prayer and willing service will act as my “umbrella” of simple goodness throughout the year. How will you choose to bring ‘new life’ to 2012?
With much love,
Lori Brinkerhoff
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