Upcoming RS lessons:
23 TFOT: Provident Living
30 Combined RS/Priesthood

Upcoming events:

Tuesday Aug 18th Book Club - Damsel in Distress by P.G. Wodehouse 7:30 at Jamie's. Snacks, kids welcome, Didn't read the book? Come anyways, bring another book that you have read!
Thursday Aug 20th 7:00 RS in-service at the Jensen's
Friday Aug 21st Ward Temple night
Sat Aug 22nd Colin/Ammon's Eagle Project. 8:30am - meet at church...Bring brushes, rollers & ladders. Don't be late, the women's shelter is at a non-disclosed place, you will only be able to get there by following others there. No address can be given out. Should be a great experience for all those who choose to go!
Mon Aug 24th Back to School!
Aug 29th BBQ 6-8:00
Aug 31st - Sept 14th Temple closed for cleaning
Sept 3rd 7:00 Enrichment
Sept 11- 12 Husband/Wife Retreat
Oct 23 - 24Ward Exchange Start putting aside things to bring now!

This Week's RS lesson by Paulette:
JS #39 - Relief Society: Divine Organization of Women
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=7ca8b00367c45110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=198bf4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD

The RS was organized on March 17th, 1842. Even though today was not their birthday, Paulette brought in little mini chocolate cupcakes with pink icing wrapped up with a bow on top to celebrate their organization.

the Prophet, accompanied by Elders John Taylor and Willard Richards, met with 20 women of all ages in the upstairs room of the Red Brick Store... Emma Smith rose to speak,œ"We are going to do something extraordinary. We expect extraordinary occasions and pressing calls."€2

Paulette started by asking us what we felt was extraordinary about RS. Those in the class gave answers about how they had seen lives transformed, examples of services rendered, testimonies of VTing, the sisterhood that everyone feels here, and just the ability to meet together as women once every week.

Paulette went on to say how RS is extraordinary. That it is not a man-made organization, but a divine organization, organized by our Heavenly Father. "The Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized" the Prophet declared. The Relief society was the final crowning stone in the organization of the church.

A quote from the manual:
"This Society is to get instruction through the order which God has established... through the medium of those appointed to lead, and I now turn the key to you in the name of God, and this Society shall rejoice, and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time...”this is the beginning of better days to this Society." From a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Apr. 28, 1842

I think few of us realize the full magnitude of the statement:

"I now turn the key to you".

Some other quotes from the lesson:
Lucy Mack Smith, "We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together."€

The relief society moto is "Charity never Faileth"€ Joseph Smith said "This is a charitable Society, and according to your natures; it is natural for females to have feelings of charity and benevolence. You are now placed in a situation in which you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms."€11. Said Jesus, "Ye shall do the work, which ye see me do."€™ [See 2 Nephi 31:12.] These are the grand key-words for the society to act upon."€12

Willard Richards "I attended by request, the Female Relief Society, whose object is the relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow and the orphan, and for the exercise of all benevolent purposes. There was a very numerous attendance at the organization of the society, and also at the subsequent meetings, of some of our most intelligent, humane, philanthropic and respectable ladies; and we are well assured from a knowledge of those pure principles of benevolence that flow spontaneously from their humane and philanthropic bosoms, that with the resources they will have at command, they will fly to the relief of the stranger; they will pour in oil and wine to the wounded heart of the distressed; they will dry up the tears of the orphan and make the widow’s heart to rejoice. .. Our women have always been signalized for their acts of benevolence and kindness; in the midst of their persecution, when the bread has been torn from their helpless offspring by their cruel oppressors, they have always been ready to open their doors to the weary traveler, to divide their scant pittance with the hungry, and from their robbed and impoverished wardrobes, to divide with the more needy and destitute; and now that they are living upon a more genial soil, and among a less barbarous people, and possess facilities that they have not heretofore enjoyed, we feel convinced that with their concentrated efforts, the condition of the suffering poor, of the stranger and the fatherless will be ameliorated."€14

In ideal circumstances, fathers provide the necessities of life, leaving women free to do the work of our Savior. Again, Said Jesus, "Ye shall do the work, which ye see me do." [See 2 Nephi 31:12]

It is truly a glorious, extraordinary place that we as women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints find ourselves in.

"If you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another. .. We are full of selfishness; the devil flatters us that we are very righteous, when we are feeding on the faults of others. We can only live by worshiping our God; all must do it for themselves; none can do it for another. How mild the Savior dealt with Peter, saying, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."€™ [Luke 22:32.] At another time, He said to him, "Lovest thou me?" and having received Peter's reply, He said, "Feed my sheep."™ [John 21:15–17.] If the sisters [love] the Lord, let them feed the sheep, and not destroy them."


If we are able to avoid the strife and pitfalls of the adversary, we will truly find the errand of angels is given to women. As sisters, as women of the covenant, may this be a gift that we claim.

Paulette ended by passing around another goodie - beautiful bookmarks with a quote from Sheri Dew on them -

"Am I the woman I think I am, the woman I want to be? More importantly, am I the woman the savior needs me to be?"

We are so blessed to meet together as sisters in God's divinely organized society. Thank you so much for this inspiring beautiful lesson Paulette!!!



One more week of summer vacation - enjoy it while you can everyone!
Jamie.