relief society broadcast

i was able to find a last-minute babysitter so i could attend the relief society dinner and broadcast. i took six pages of notes and had a fabulous time, and i just have to write about it!

i didn't go with anyone, so i was a bit nervous to enter the cultural hall and find it abuzz with women chatting at every table. thankfully, i spotted women from my ward at a long table in the center of the room, and made my way over. everyone turned and smiled and since there were no more seats available, they encouraged me to grab a chair from another table and pull it up the end - which i did.

oh, it felt amazing to have this much-needed break from children and be surrounded by friends in the gospel. i was excited to finally have some adult conversation and looked forward to hearing the uplifting messages from the broadcast.

the tables were beautifully set (as they always are) and dinner was delicious! we had these chicken & cheese crepes with a YUMMY salad that had apples, pears and craisins. my friends and i enjoyed the food as we got caught up on one another's lives, laughed about random things and cracked up as we scoped the room for more cheesecake.

after a delicious and enjoyable meal, we all headed like cattle into the chapel. haha..."mooooo!" well, i thought it was funny, anyway. there was still over half an hour before it was to start, so we (like everyone else) chatted and giggled until after about twenty minutes, when a musical slideshow began. it was a nice relief, from the noise of talkative women. i have to admit, i felt somewhat uncomfortable by the noise level in the chapel. i just feel it should be much quieter than that.

the slideshow began. all wards contributed photos for the slideshow, of various enrichment nights, activities and basically anything that showed what relief society was all about. it was exciting to suddenly see my sister on the big screen. i nudged my friends and said, "that's my sister!!" it was especially fun to see photos from my own ward, since the faces from other wards are so unfamiliar to me. i was in one of the photos - from a "lunch bunch" we had last year at the mexican restaurant, azteca. i vividly remember that day. my divorce was still very fresh and i cried through most of my lunch. *sigh* many of the women i met that day were strangers to me. today, those women are close friends.

when the slideshow ended, there were only a few minutes left - then the broadcast began. president hinckley and thomas s. monson were present. i thought that was so cool.

i love when the saints gather like this. it felt so amazing to sing together. it's nothing like singing hymns with the ward. it was very loud and clear - and so sweet. it was like a chorus of angels (which i am sure sounds even better). i just love voices booming beautifully, in unison like that!

julie beck, the general relief society president, spoke first. she spoke on the duties and values of the relief society. first, we must have faith. we must keep our covenants, share the gospel, hold family home evening, learn self-reliance and hold personal and family prayer and scripture study. these are the marks of true discipleship. second, she spoke on family. we are to uphold, nourish, defend and protect the family unit. we must respect the priesthood, nurture family members, perform temple ordinances, and defend the divine roles of women. the world would have us believe that our roles are indispensable. but the world offers only counterfeit happiness. we are to preserve our potential as daughters of God. i love how sister beck said, "families are work. we are not afraid of work." third, the relief society is about giving relief. we are to lift others up, lighten their burdens. we need to serve others as the Lord's disciples. we are truly His hands on the earth. we provide relief of all kinds - relief from physical strain, emotional pain, financial hardships, loneliness, and so forth. we must provide relief from all that would hinder joy and progression. we can assist the Lord by helping others. it's as simple as kneeling in prayer and asking, "Lord, who has need of me?"

our dear prophet, gordon b. hinckley, has said that "we have a greater challenge than we realize." the relief society is here to give relief from the storms of life. "there is a better way, than the way of the world" gordon b. hinckley also said.

silvia allred, first counselor of the general relief society presidency, spoke next. she spoke of relieving the poor and saving souls. she referred to john 21:15-17 when jesus said again and again, "lovest thou me? feed my sheep."

she spoke of the importance of visiting teaching and the great impact it can have on women's lives. the giver and the receiver are both edified through genuine and consistent visiting teaching efforts. we must serve gladly, with a joyful and willing heart.

barbara thompson, 2nd counselor of the general relief society presidency, spoke third. she talked about what is happening to families today. as a social worker, she sees a great deal of the sadness which comes from troubled families. the world would have us believe that moral values are silly and old-fashioned. we are enticed with the "easy life" - free of hard work and responsibility. the world teaches us that a mother and a father are unnecessary - that the family unit does not matter. then, she spoke about what distinguishes stable families from dysfunctional ones. stable families know who they are and have clear goals and values. within stable families, work and prayer are taught by example. parents read to and with their children, there is family time, forgiveness and patience.

this life is not easy. however, the Savior of the world knows how we feel. he has been through it. he has felt what we have felt. in matthew, chapter 11, it reads:

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

the Lord will help us. isaiah 41:10 reads, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

thomas s. monson spoke last. i love him!! he was so funny. he acknowledged all the women in the conference center as well as all the women watching the broadcast around the world. he realized, "i'm in the minority - i must be careful on my comments." of course, there was an appreciative boom of laughter from us. he also said something about a woman who asked a bookstore employee where she could find a book entitled, "men: master of women." the bookstore employee replied, "try the fiction section." haha!

president monson said it is imperative that we do three things: study diligently, pray earnestly, and serve willinging.

study diligently
D&C 88: 118 reads, "And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith."

scripture study helps our families. children must have a firm foundation or else they are susceptible to worldly influences. sadly, children are being educated by the media. president monson said children watch four hours of television each day - most often full of violence and sexuality. on top of those four hours are additional hours playing video games and so forth. scary!!

2 Ne. 9:28 reads, "O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish."

we must not take this lightly. the adversary is real. he is powerful and cunning. even the strongest can fall. if we study diligently, we arm ourselves against the adversary and can weather the storms that come our way. knowledge is power!

pray earnestly
D&C 19:38 reads, "Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof."

with prayer, we are able to resist temptations. what a wonderful thing! if only everyone did this!

president monson said, "do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, pray for abilities equal to your tasks." how true! how are we to ever grow if we do not allow challenges to send us into the refiner's fire? we can make it through anything, if we pray for strength to overcome and get through those adversities.

serve willingly
we need to be observant and act upon those promptings we receive. so many acts of service can be small to us, but a big deal to the person receiving that service. we forget that even something as simple as a smile can make a huge difference. yes, even a genuine smile can be an act of service!

here's a cute story i liked: president monson said one sister was up in the middle of the night with her children. she was very tired and worn out. a kind sister across the street told her she had seen her lights on in the middle of the night and knew she must have been up with her children. this sweet sister offered to take her children for a few hours so she could take a nap. grateful, this woman accepted. of course, later she realized that if that sister had seen her lights on in the middle of the night, that must have meant her neighbor was up in the middle of the night with her children, too!! i thought that was a funny story.

we need to think more of others and less of ourselves. truly, when we focus on others, our problems can diminish. they can sometimes even go away. if we lose ourselves in serving others, we can find ourselves. what a beautiful thing!

i am so grateful for the relief society broadcast i attended. i am so thankful to be a member of the relief society and be surrounded by such incredible women. what a wonderful organization!