General Relief Society Conference Notes

Between the 4 different talks, I found that the message given last night was that as sisters in Relief Society and daughters of God, we need to live faithfully and be steadfast and immovable.  As we do so we can likewise strengthen and uplift our other struggling sisters through service as we show the pure love of Christ towards them.  We must also be careful as not to judge those that we serve.  We must love them as Christ loves all.

1. [Sister Beck's Talk]

• This meeting is a gift for those seeking His will and want to know how to align their will with his
• Main Topic: How To Live Faithfully and To Be Strong
• Remember who we are --> We are daughters of God
• Stay watchful and prayerful -- Pray, read our scriptures -- Let us not be "silly women"
• Understand the history of the Relief Society so that we may learn who we are, apply the history in our lives, and learn the ways to prepare and receive our covenants in the temple.
• Our work as sisters is to further the salvation of our families
• We shouldn't be spending our time or money on things that are of no worth
• History helps us learn how to change, to be united
• Knowing who we are removes doubt and fear by replacing it with hope and faith.

2. [Sister Allred's Talk]

• Main Topic: What Helps You To Be Steadfast and Immovable?
• Knowing that my Heavenly Father knows me, loves me and knows what I am feeling
• Birthing and rearing children is our vital role -- to raise a family and bring salvation to them.
• Jesus continually has our disappointments before Him upon his palms. He knows how to succur to our needs.
• Prayer, Scripture Reading, Obedience, Service
• Pray morning and night for protection [Invites Spirit into our lives]
• Read the scriptures to find answers [Invites Spirit into our lives]
• Obedience shows our commitment to our covenants and it brings blessings
• Our service to others is to help them with their spirital and physical needs
• Those who are strong need to help strengthen the weak

3. [Sister Thompson's Talk]

• Main Topic: The Lord Has Aksed Us To Do What He Has Done Through Visiting Teaching: Serve Others with Love and Compassion
• Blessings we give: show compassion, we are answers to their prayers
• Blessings we receive: personal revelation, relief of our own burdens as we do service to others, increase in unity and love
• We are the Lord's hands here on this earth

4. [President Monson's Talk]

• Main Topic: What Do We See When We Look At Others? What Kind of Judgement Do We Pass?
• Appearances can be deceiving. Don't judge on appearances
• "If you judge people, you have no time to love them" (Mother Teresa)
• Charity: tolerant of others, forgives, merciful, compassionate, patient
• Charity is love in action -- the pure love of Christ
• We should wear the mantle of Charity -- Charity Never Faileth

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Today the Relief Society lesson was on "Turning to the Lord" and "Forgiveness".  Some of the things we talked about corresponded with last night's message and also what I have reading in the scriptures this last week.  In 2 Nephi as Nephi and Jacob talk to the people, they emphasize that we must turn to the Lord, be thankful for what He has done for us and still praise Him during our trials.  We shouldn't murmur or complain but know that these trials our for our own good.  We can learn from them, grow character and spiritually progress as we live through them.  I felt like this message was reminding us to not dwell so much on the negative that is happening in our lives and that as we turn to the Lord when going through trials we can be uplifted by Him and our burdens lightened as we do what He has counseled us.  We can lose ourselves through service.  It is like an eternal round.  We suffer, we turn to the Lord, we are strengthened by Him, we now can serve and uplift others, then more trials come and we are then uplifted by those that are stronger.  Just as the Bible and the Book of Mormon have the Happiness/Corruption/Destruction/Repentance/Happiness cycle, we also have the cycle described above.