Purposes of the Relief Society

Reading: “Relief Society: A Sacred Work,” Julie B. Beck, Relief Society General President, General Relief Society Meeting, October 2009

In the General Relief Society Meeting about a week ago, Sister Beck, the president of Relief Society, reminded us of the three main purposes of the relief society, which are:

1. Help sisters increase their faith and personal righteousness.
2. Help sisters strengthen their families and homes.
3. Help sisters serve the Lord and his children.

She then talked about the various ways the relief society does this, such as through relief society meetings, through visiting teaching, and through service.

Hearing the purposes of relief society help me be more motivated to attend and participate.  Sometimes it seems like relief society is for socializing, or entertaining, or even a competition. When I lose sight of the real purpose of relief society I often get discouraged because I’m not particularly good at socializing, or entertaining, and I always seem (at least in my mind) to be behind other more spiritual and friendly sisters in my ward. Yet, the purpose of relief society is centered on the gospel and on service.  It is okay that I may not be the “best” because relief society is truly about helping all the sisters wherever they are at in life.

What side purposes sometimes distract you from the real purpose of the relief society? How do you keep the true purposes of the relief society in your heart?

Change of Plans

As you may have noticed, I have not been posting for the past couple of weeks. This is because we just went through a big move.  Plus, we are expecting our second child and I’m finding chasing after a toddler while being pregnant is hard enough, even without a big move thrown into the mix.  So, I’ve decided, for now, to go to just posting on Sundays.  I’m hoping this will both give me a good Sunday activity (which I have definitely been missing) and give me a little bit of a break during the week while I juggle my family responsibilities.

Thanks for reading!

Pure Doctrine

Reading: “Keeping Doctrine Pure,” Mormon Identity, Mormon Channel

This weekend I got to listen to a few shows from the Mormon Channel that they just recently made available as podcasts. One show, Mormon Identity’s discussion on pure doctrine, particularly stood out to me. In this podcast they discuss what constitutes the accepted doctrine of the church, and why we should focus on those doctrines as we teach at church and in our homes.

Here are some interesting points (just from memory, so forgive me if they aren’t exact):

• Mainstream doctrine constitutes teachings that appear in both the scriptures and in modern discourse by the leaders of the church
• Any publication by the church is carefully vetted by general authorities to make sure it is in line with current doctrine.
• Something that was said once by a church leader a long time ago may not necessarily be part of mainstream doctrine.
• Something can be true and yet still not be taught as part of the mainstream doctrine of the church.
• The mainstream doctrine of the church focuses on the most important concepts which will help us live the gospel.
• Teaching doctrine is more effective at changing behavior than trying to change behavior directly.

All in all this was a great discussion. I do worry sometimes that too much false doctrine, that feels good, yet has no support in the teachings of the church, is passed about as truth. There is a reason the brethren are so careful to make sure that we stay focused on our core beliefs. I also know from experience that learning doctrine helps me to change the way I act more than charts and goals and so on. This will definitely be an important thing to remember as I teach my children.

Today I am going to try to see if there are times I can explain to my daughter why she should or shouldn’t do certain things, instead of just giving her orders.

What helps motivate you to change the way you act? Are there any doctrines of the church that are particularly special to you?

A Conversation That Could Be Happening Now

Reading: Alma 30

Today I read the story of Korihor, and was amazed and how similar the tenets of Korihor’s preaching are to what is taught today. Korihor was raised in the church of his time yet taught that there was no God. In the latter part of the chapter Alma refutes each of Korhior’s tenets. The following sums up the argument:

Korihor’s Point: There is no God and there is no Christ.

Alma’s Counterpoint: I know there is a God and I know there is a Christ through my personal testimony, and by looking around me at the world God has created. You have no evidence that there is no God.

Korihor’s Point: The Nephites are in bondage to the teachings of the church.

Alma’s Counterpoint: The people are free to believe whatever they wish, nothing is forced on them. This is why you are able to preach what you are preaching!

Korihor’s Point: You are teaching the people false things so that you can get their money to support you.

Alma’s Counterpoint: I (as leader of the church at the time) have labored my whole life to support myself, even though I have taken a great deal of time away from my own work to travel and preach for the church. You know this, and so does everybody else.

Korihor’s Point: If God is real, show me a sign.

Alma’s Counterpoint: God has given many signs, and they are written of in the scriptures, yet you do not believe any of them.

Korihor’s Point: If God is real, show me a sign.

Alma’s Counterpoint: If God is going to show you a sign, he is not going to afflict anyone else just to make you believe, it is going to be a sign on you. This isn’t something you want to do, trust me.

Korihor’s Point: Show me a sign.

Alma’s Counterpoint: You are struck dumb in the name of God.

Korihor’s Point: ! (In writing): I knew that there was a God but the devil came and told me to say these things and I said them because they were pleasing to hear.

It seems to me that many people today insist that the church is out to enslave its members in order to get rich off of them, yet it is plain to see that no one is getting rich from tithing money. Many people insist that believing in God is silly, yet they have no real evidence that God does not exist, just their own beliefs. Many people insist that if God is real he should show himself, yet God has showed himself many times and it has not made a difference because they will just dismiss it as a trick or a natural occurrence. Unlike Korihor, though, many have been taught these things from a young age and truly believe them because they don’t know anything else.

Today I am going to watch for Korihor-like beliefs as I go through my day and watch for the consequences that come from such beliefs.

What other similarities can you see between Korihor’s preaching, and things people believe today? Why do people so readily believe such things?

God Grants Our Desires

Reading: Alma 29

As I was reading today I was particularly struck with the following verses, teaching that God grants us what we desire:

I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction. Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.

Two things struck me:

1. God grants us what we desire, whether it is “unto death or life” or whether it will make us happy or sad.
2. God protects those who do not know the principles of the gospel by not granting them their desires.

In a way, this is really quite scary, because it makes me examine what it is I really desire out of life? Is it serving others? Is it centering my family on the Savior? Or is it a clean house or status or wealth? Just like anyone else, I have many desires competing for my attention, but I hope I am giving the greatest place to those desires that are truly the greatest.

In another way, though, this is comforting because it shows that God recognizes what it is I truly want to do, even when I may not be fully capable of achieving it. God knows that Earth life is challenging and that we are not perfect yet, so he takes into account our intentions. Of course, God is too wise to fall for the claim that although I didn’t actually work for something, I wanted it anyway – after all, you work for those things you want the most.

Today I am going to examine my desires and watch to see what desires come up the most in my mind during the day.

What desires have you been pursuing lately? Are your desires in line with the gospel principles you know and understand?

A True Believer

Reading: Alma 26

Today, the reputation of religious people in society at large has been tarnished by the bad examples of a few. Religious leaders who are after money, political power, and who do not practice what they preach are much too common. As I read Alma 26, which consists of Ammon rejoicing in how blessed he has been by the Lord, I saw the attitude of a true believer.

Ammon is perhaps the greatest missionary in the Book of Mormon. He and his brothers forsaked their own right to rule the Nephites as king, and instead went to preach the gospel to a group of people who had been their enemies for centuries. As they preached they debased themselves, seeking to serve their enemies so that they could convince them of their sincerity and the truth of their word. Ammon and his brother’s choices lead them to the conversion of a whole kingdom of people who so loved the Lord that they were willing to give up their lives rather than continue to fight and kill. Even after all of this, Ammon did not take credit for himself but gave credit to the Lord. In verse 12 he says,

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therfor I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

In our church the clergy is set up in such a way that it discourages anyone who is after money and power. All but a very few in the church do their work entirely as volunteers. Even missionaries and mission presidents must pay their own way as they take two to three years out of their own lives and whatever other employment they have. There is also a high rotation, so that a person serving as a bishop now many in a few years be serving in the nursery (basically babysitting 1-3 year olds) and no one would think it strange. Those in the highest levels of the church are kept so busy administering to a large worldwide church that they have no time for lives of leisure. Yet, church members are not perfect and you still occasionally hear of a bishop who behaves inappropriately or others who abuse their positions (always with quick punishment and removal from said position upon discovery of the infraction).

Ammon, however, had the opportunity for all the money and power he wanted. He could have been king. He could have let the Lamanites worship him as a God. Yet, each time he gave God the credit and sought only to serve God and his fellow men. Ammon was a true believer and I only hope that we all can follow his example.

Today I am going to try to be extra thankful and thank God for all they many ways he blesses me.

What great leaders have you seen in your life? What was it about them that made them such a great leader?

Honoring Pioneers

Today is Pioneer Day, and here in Utah it is a statewide holiday. Most communities have big celebrations going on, and most people get the day off of work. In Utah, Pioneer Day is a pretty big deal.

This is a great day to reflect on the pioneers who have affected our lives. As Elder Oaks says in the following video, a pioneer is anyone who forges on ahead in order to show others the way. Pioneers live in every time, including ours.

Today I am going to think about my ancestors, and others in my life who have shown me how to live, as I celebrate.

What pioneers have shown you the way?

Commitment to Covenants

Reading: Alma 24

One of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon has always been the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies.  These were the Lamanites converted by Ammon who covenanted with the Lord that they would never again kill people in an effort to repent of their murderous ways before their conversion. When the other Lamanites decided to attack the Anti-Nephi-Lehies they remained true to their covenant, even though it meant allowing their attackers to kill them without fighting back. In verses 17 and 18 it says:

And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth. And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.

When the Lamanites attacked many of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies were killed, but they were happier to die remaining to their covenant than they would to live having broken their promise with God. Because of their example many of the attacking Lamanites were converted, which made the Anti-Nephi-Lehies very glad for their choice. In verses 26 and 27 it says:

And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved. And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people.

The scriptures make it clear that God does not ask all us to be pacifists like the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, but rather to defend our families if absolutely necessary, but God does require that all of us keep our covenants that we have made with him. Today we make covenants when we are baptized and when we go to the temple. When I read this story I hope that I can be so committed to my covenants that I would rather die than break them.

Today I am going to think about the covenants that I have made and make a short list of the things I have promised to do in my journal, and see if there are any places where I am falling short.

Is there any other lessons you learn from the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies? Can you think of the covenants you have made, and how you are keeping them?

Sharing the Gospel

Reading: Alma 17

I often feel that I don’t do enough to share the gospel.  A big part of the reason I feel this way is that I am really quite a shy person and have trouble talking to people at all, let alone talking to people about something that means so much to me.

Another reason, though, is that I fear being insincere.  I fear that if I treat missionary work as another item to check off my list that people will think I don’t really care about them so much as I care about being a “good missionary.”

As I was reading about Ammon’s mission to the Lamanites, I realized that I fear this too much. In verses 27 and 29 it says:

Therefore, as Ammon and the servants of the king were driving forth their flocks to this place of water, behold, a certain number of the Lamanites, who had been with their flocks to water, stood and scattered the flocks of Ammon and the servants of the king, and they scattered them insomuch that they fled many ways. . . Now  [Ammon's fellow shepherds] wept because of the fear of being slain. Now when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, or the power which is in me, in restoring these flocks unto the king, that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words.

Ammon was joyful at the chance to show others the power of God and thus win their hearts to the gospel. When we interact with others we should serve them and be friendly whether or not they accept the gospel: this is what the Savior taught, to love everyone. Yet it is not wrong to be happy to have the chance to share the gopsel, and it is not bad to help someone with the mindset that maybe you can help them see the power of God in your actions. If we truly love the gospel, and we truly love other people, then our desire to share the gospel will be sincere, and by sharing the gospel we will sincerely be trying to help our friends.

Today I am going to write in my journal about this insight and brainstorm a few ways I might be able to apply it to situations I encounter.

Are you ever scared of appearing manipulative or insincere as you share your testimony with others? What do you think helps others see your sincerity and your true desire only to help?

Giving One’s Life For the Gospel

Reading: Alma 14

In the gospel we are taught to trust in the Lord and we will be provided for.  However, what the Lord has in mind for us and what we think we should receive are often very different. Sometimes we are asked to give up everything, including our lives, for God.

Today I read about the women and children burned in the fire by the people of Ammonihah because they would not deny the gospel.  It made me think more deeply about what it means to find peace in the gospel.  God had the power to stop the murders, but did not.  Alma explains:

But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

God allowed this to continue for two reasons: First, the people who were burned would be rewarded with great blessings in the next life. Second, the people causing the murders could only be held accountable for murder if they actually committed the murder.  For example, you can’t punish someone for looking like they might break into your house – they have to actually commit the crime to receive the punishment. God was allowing the wicked people of Ammonihah to bring upon themselves their own condemnation.

This is still a hard thing to swallow – that God would allow good people to suffer.  Yet, good people suffer all the time in varying degrees.  In the scriptures we learn that in life we must “taste the bitter so that we may know the sweet” – that part of the purpose of life is to learn what pain and wickedness is like so that we can learn to value goodness and righteousness.  Part of that is also being ready to give up what we have for something greater, whether it is as small as giving up some of your own time to serve someone else, or whether it is as big as giving up your life as testimony of the gospel.

Today I am going to watch for times when I feel like God should bless me with something, whether it is more time, more cooperative children, or great insight, and instead thank the Lord for all that I am blessed with.

Do you know good people who have suffered bad things, yet remained with strong testimonies? How did they keep their faith?