Yesterday we enjoyed another lesson by Alida Abbott, this time during a combined Priesthood/ Relief Society third-hour meeting in the chapel. The topic of the class was family finances. All of the information presented to us was found by Alida on the Church's new financial website (www.lds.org - go to "home and family" - click on "family finances"). Each family in attendance received a budgeting worksheet, a debt repayment worksheet, a new pamphlet put out by the church called "All Is Safely Gathered In", and an outline of Alida's notes at the end of class. I think the best way to review what was covered in the lesson would be to email Alida and ask her for an electronic copy of her notes. There may be more copies of the new pamphlet at church this week. Otherwise, you can get it free of charge through the Distribution Center. Here are some of the highlights from the lesson:
Quote by the First Presidency: "We encourage you wherever you live in the world to prepare for adversities by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt...If you have paid your debts, if you have a financial reserve, even though it be small, you and your family will feel more secure and enjoy greater peace in your hearts."
Here are the 5 principles of a healthy financial plan, as outlined by the First Presidency:
1) Pay tithing and offerings
2) Avoid debt
3) Use a budget
4) Build a reserve
5) Teach family members
Monday, April 30, 2007
Stake Conference
Please feel free to post any insights that you had during Stake Conference last week here.
Monday, April 16, 2007
SWK #8: Selfless Service
Alida Abbott taught our lesson yesterday. She began by reading the story from the life of Spencer W. Kimball found on pages 79-80 (it is kind of long, so I'm not going to quote it here). After reading the story, Alida asked if any of us had ever been helped by a complete stranger. She shared her own experience of shopping at an outlet mall and having a stranger offer her a coupon that saved her a lot of money. Someone else shared about a time that a stranger at the airport helped her get a room at a hotel when her flight got bumped. P. told about an experience in Paris when a man helped them by using his phone card to find their hotel for them.
Next, Alida quickly covered three quotes from the lesson that she wanted us to think about: 1) "None of us should become so busy in our formal Church assignments that there is no room left for quiet Christian service to our neighbors." (SWK 82)
2) "We should not be afraid to ask our youth to render service to their fellowmen or to sacrifice for the kingdom. Our youth have a sense of intrinsic idealism, and we need have no fear in appealing to that idealism when we call them to serve." (SWK 84)
3) "May I counsel you that when you select causes for which you give your time and talents and treasure in service to others, be careful to select good causes. There are so many of these causes to which you can give yourself fully and freely and which will produce much joy and happiness for you and for those you serve. There are other causes, from time to time, which may seem more fashionable and which may produce the applause of the world, but these are usually more selfish in nature..." (SWK 83)
For the discussion portion of our lesson, Alida directed us to this quote from the manual: "[The Savior] gave himself for his followers...He was ever conscious of doing what was right and of meeting the real and true needs of those he served." (SWK 81) Alida emphasized the idea of figuring out others' 'real and true needs'. Various sisters gave examples of this from the scriptures: when the Savior restored life to the widow's son, although she had not asked him to do so; when the Savior forgave the sins of the man who was lowered down through the roof, and healed him so that the man would know He had the authority to forgive; when the Savior fed the 5,000 who had not come for food, but were hungry. One sister pointed out that like us, our children often want things that aren't good for them. God doesn't always give us what we want, but he always gives us what we need. In our service to others, we need to be tuned in to what is needed, not just what is wanted.
We talked about the brother of Jared's experience with the Lord when he asked for help with the barges. He needed a way for his people to breathe in the barges, and a way for them to see. The Lord gave him the solution to the first problem, but made him come up with his own solution to the second problem. The brother of Jared needed to do the work necessary to prepare himself to see the finger of the Lord (see Ether 3: 19-20). Another example of meeting real and true needs is found in the counsel that Alma gave to his wayward son, Corianton. Although Corianton's sin had to do with the law of chastity, Alma was inspired to give him counsel not on that law, but on the reality of life after death and the resurrection. Alma, as an inspired parent, realized that Corianton's true need was to understand that his actions in this life would affect him in the life to come.
We discussed what we can do to better meet the real and true needs of those over whom we have stewardship: our families, and the sisters we visit teach. We need the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and although it sounds simple, it is often hard to actually follow the promptings we receive. L. pointed out that we often behave as though we want our visiting teachers to somehow guess what are true needs are when we aren't willing to tell them. Alma knew his son, but it is difficult to get to know our visiting teaching sisters on that level, and we need their help in order to serve them properly. If we would open up more in our visits and really share how our life is going it would help. It is also important to be a gracious receiver of the service that others try to give us. S. suggested that if we can get to know our visiting teaching sisters outside of a formal monthly visit, it could help us to open up more.
In closing, Alida turned our attention to this statement by President Kimball: "In the Doctrine and Covenants we read about how important it is to '...succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.' (D&C 81:5.) So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds!" (SWK 82) As an example of the importance of simple acts of service, Alida thanked everyone who has emailed or spoken to her in person, telling her that she is doing a good job in her calling. She said that although it takes just a moment to do something like that, it means a great deal to the person you thank and encourage.
To end the lesson, Alida had asked a small group of sisters to sing this favorite song of hers.
"Saints" by Thomas L. Kay and Rachel Bastian:
Thank God for those who give relief, For those who really care, Who put their arms around the weak And plead for them in prayer.
Thank God for those who hear the heart And listen to the words, Who know a look or gentle touch Mean more than all the world.
Thank God for those who lift the hands And strengthen feeble knees, Who go about restoring souls In quiet ministry.
Next, Alida quickly covered three quotes from the lesson that she wanted us to think about: 1) "None of us should become so busy in our formal Church assignments that there is no room left for quiet Christian service to our neighbors." (SWK 82)
2) "We should not be afraid to ask our youth to render service to their fellowmen or to sacrifice for the kingdom. Our youth have a sense of intrinsic idealism, and we need have no fear in appealing to that idealism when we call them to serve." (SWK 84)
3) "May I counsel you that when you select causes for which you give your time and talents and treasure in service to others, be careful to select good causes. There are so many of these causes to which you can give yourself fully and freely and which will produce much joy and happiness for you and for those you serve. There are other causes, from time to time, which may seem more fashionable and which may produce the applause of the world, but these are usually more selfish in nature..." (SWK 83)
For the discussion portion of our lesson, Alida directed us to this quote from the manual: "[The Savior] gave himself for his followers...He was ever conscious of doing what was right and of meeting the real and true needs of those he served." (SWK 81) Alida emphasized the idea of figuring out others' 'real and true needs'. Various sisters gave examples of this from the scriptures: when the Savior restored life to the widow's son, although she had not asked him to do so; when the Savior forgave the sins of the man who was lowered down through the roof, and healed him so that the man would know He had the authority to forgive; when the Savior fed the 5,000 who had not come for food, but were hungry. One sister pointed out that like us, our children often want things that aren't good for them. God doesn't always give us what we want, but he always gives us what we need. In our service to others, we need to be tuned in to what is needed, not just what is wanted.
We talked about the brother of Jared's experience with the Lord when he asked for help with the barges. He needed a way for his people to breathe in the barges, and a way for them to see. The Lord gave him the solution to the first problem, but made him come up with his own solution to the second problem. The brother of Jared needed to do the work necessary to prepare himself to see the finger of the Lord (see Ether 3: 19-20). Another example of meeting real and true needs is found in the counsel that Alma gave to his wayward son, Corianton. Although Corianton's sin had to do with the law of chastity, Alma was inspired to give him counsel not on that law, but on the reality of life after death and the resurrection. Alma, as an inspired parent, realized that Corianton's true need was to understand that his actions in this life would affect him in the life to come.
We discussed what we can do to better meet the real and true needs of those over whom we have stewardship: our families, and the sisters we visit teach. We need the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and although it sounds simple, it is often hard to actually follow the promptings we receive. L. pointed out that we often behave as though we want our visiting teachers to somehow guess what are true needs are when we aren't willing to tell them. Alma knew his son, but it is difficult to get to know our visiting teaching sisters on that level, and we need their help in order to serve them properly. If we would open up more in our visits and really share how our life is going it would help. It is also important to be a gracious receiver of the service that others try to give us. S. suggested that if we can get to know our visiting teaching sisters outside of a formal monthly visit, it could help us to open up more.
In closing, Alida turned our attention to this statement by President Kimball: "In the Doctrine and Covenants we read about how important it is to '...succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.' (D&C 81:5.) So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds!" (SWK 82) As an example of the importance of simple acts of service, Alida thanked everyone who has emailed or spoken to her in person, telling her that she is doing a good job in her calling. She said that although it takes just a moment to do something like that, it means a great deal to the person you thank and encourage.
To end the lesson, Alida had asked a small group of sisters to sing this favorite song of hers.
"Saints" by Thomas L. Kay and Rachel Bastian:
Thank God for those who give relief, For those who really care, Who put their arms around the weak And plead for them in prayer.
Thank God for those who hear the heart And listen to the words, Who know a look or gentle touch Mean more than all the world.
Thank God for those who lift the hands And strengthen feeble knees, Who go about restoring souls In quiet ministry.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
April 2007 General Conference
Dear Sisters:
Please write in about your favorite Conference talks this past weekend. One of my favorites was Elder Holland's Saturday morning talk about speaking with the tongue of angels. It inspired me to both be more careful with the negative things I say, and to be more generous with the positive. I especially struggle with saying bad things about myself, and this talk reminded me that I need to keep working on that. If you missed any of the sessions, or, like me, struggled to hear and pay attention to the sessions you were trying to listen to, you can find the audio for all of the talks on the church website (www.lds.org).
Please write in about your favorite Conference talks this past weekend. One of my favorites was Elder Holland's Saturday morning talk about speaking with the tongue of angels. It inspired me to both be more careful with the negative things I say, and to be more generous with the positive. I especially struggle with saying bad things about myself, and this talk reminded me that I need to keep working on that. If you missed any of the sessions, or, like me, struggled to hear and pay attention to the sessions you were trying to listen to, you can find the audio for all of the talks on the church website (www.lds.org).
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