Nottingham Country Relief Society: February 2014

Here are the emergency preparedness lists that have been handed out as bookmarks for the last two months.

February:
Food Storage Item - 21 lbs. Rice (date for rotation)

Week 1 - place a flashlight next to your bed and one in an alternate location, check batteries

Week 2 - add 2 cans of tuna fish/canned meat to your 72-hour kit

Week 3 - add a recent photo of each member of your household, including pets

Week 4 - add a can opener to your 72-hour kit

January:
Food Storage Item - 21 lbs. Wheat (date for rotation)

Week 2 - obtain a suitable 72-hour kit container (backpack, duffle bag, rolling suitcase, 5 gallon bucket, etc.)

Week 3 - add 1 1/2 gallons of water per person to 72-hour ki

Week 4 - add $10 cash to emergency cash stash

Relief Society Lesson Links

Because a few sisters have asked about the talk and resources referenced in Brother Alsop's depression lesson last week, here are the links to those and links to the rest of the February's lessons.

Brother Alsop:
"Like a Broken Vessel" (Elder Holland)

"Nine Things You Shouldn't Say to a Depressed Loved One (And What to Say Instead" (LDS Living)

February:
2nd - Presidency Lesson "Finding Happiness" (Elder Scott)

Catherine Craner's Notes:

After Kelly’s lesson a few weeks ago, I went home and read the first lesson in the Joseph Fielding Smith manual. (I hadn’t read it yet).Like Kelly, I had what I would call, an “Awakening” about our Father in Heaven. Mostly about his LOVE for ME as an individual, and how has interest in ME.

These are the scriptures that particularly struck me as I read them:

In the Pearl of Great Price, in the Vision of Moses, Moses is caught up into an exceeding high mountain, and God talks face to face with Moses, and shows unto him ALL the Children of men “to the latest generations,”

Moses 1:35 - The Lord says: “For Behold, there are Many Worlds…. But all things are unto me, for THEY ARE MINE, & I KNOW THEM.

vs 37 - the Lord spoke saying, (Paraphrased) that the Heavens are many and cannot be numbered unto man, but they are numbered unto me, for THEY ARE MINE.

Moses 7, the Lord speaks to Enoch and shows him the nations of the earth, and Enoch witnesses the Father weeping, in sorrow for his children’s disobedience. And Enoch asks, how can you weep? You’re the Father, Holy, and from All eternity to all eternity? (meaning, how can this affect you, you have SO many children!)

However, in vs 29 & 30, Enoch recognizes that even with the magnitude of Heavenly Father’s Children (which are numberless), .. that “Thou are there THERE, and thy bosom is there, and also thou are merciful and kind forever.

When I read these scriptures, I re-understood how much he loves me, and KNOWS me, & I imagined being wrapped in the arms of his love, and I truly FELT his love. I had a spiritual witness come over me, about GOD’s love for ME. It was a special experience.

BECAUSE Heavenly Father loves me, (loves all of US), he provided a plan for us. – “The Plan of Happiness.”

I realized that the name itself , infers that we are to be Happy! I know that if I’m obedient to the plan, I will be happy for eternity, after I die, but I want to feel Happier NOW. Surely, Heavenly Father wants me to also be happy NOW, in THIS LIFE.

So I went to LDS. org and typed in, “Finding happiness” – found Elder Richard G Scott’s talk.

As I read this talk, Elder Scott talked about how he woke from a dream: He said, “there flooded over me, feelings of love and gratitude for our Heavenly Father.” He (Elder Scott) could not convey the unspeakable joy, the feeling of being wrapped I pure love.

This description is of his experience, was describing what I had just experienced. I could relate. And it seemed amazing to me that I had just had that same “confirmation” of God’s love.

Then Elder Scott said something that stuck a chord with me…. He said – “How easy it is to take for granted our relationship with our Father in Heaven and his Beloved Son, our Master and Savior. Oh, how blessed are we that they are as they say they are, perfect in every possible capacity and attribute. Fundamental to their purpose is that you “might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25).

As I read this talk, I thought to myself, “Okay…I know Heavenly Father loves me, and I know the Plan of Happiness, and I try my best to live it… but why am I feeling so unhappy, so frequently?”

Then I read this paragraph:

“If you are one of the truly happy individuals who love your Father in Heaven and are grateful for each day’s blessings, reaching out to others in preference to thoughts of self, I rejoice for you. You have found a pattern of life that will ever bring you happiness. I can do little more than encourage you to continue to enjoy a life squarely centered in love of your Father in Heaven, your Savior,”

“If, however, you are among those who have not found a fullness of joy, even in your determination to live the commandments of the Lord, I pray that you may feel how very much your Father in Heaven loves you and wants you to be happy. I pray that you will be stirred to recognize how infinitely blessed you are to have a Father in Heaven, to have a plan that is perfect, to be able to acquire a clear understanding of what brings happiness in life-- through pondering, prayer, and application of his teachings.

Elder Scott went through SIX ways to “SEE” with greater clarity, day to day, and be happy.

(these are summarized from his talk)

1. Guiding principles – What does he mean, “guiding principles?” He means, Rules that you live by. Your standards…. Like:

Be honest, serve, don’t judge, be responsible, DON’T DEVIATE, no matter how it seems that circumstance would allow for departure
Difficulties in life start, when small deviations from standards are justified
Strength comes from making no exceptions.
WHEN YOU CENTER YOUR LIFE IN TRUTH, YOU ARE ASSURED SUCCESS & HAPPINESS

2.Scriptures – As we read the scriptures WITH FAITH in the Redeemer, and confidence and trust in the plan,

You will receive great strength
Feast upon the words. Fill your soul, like you’d fill your body, with daily nourishment, of GOOD FOOD. Not junk food

3.Temple Worship – temple attendance has a calming, settling, consoling influence that distills peace and contentment. (These are all needed in today’s fast lifestyle, & help us be happy amidst the craziness.) The accompanying family history work yields similar blessings.

4.Prayer – Prayers that bring comfort, solace, direction and great inner strength are of the variety offered by Enos. His record teaches us the importance of PRAYING WITH FAITH IN CHRIST AND BEING DILIGENT IN KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS.

5.Faith – Faith is abiding trust in Truth. Enduring happiness is rooted in unchangeable truth. Without faith, we have fear, doubt, despair. Not happy feelings. But Faith leads to hope. Hope leads to happiness.

6.Good Music – (this is a very tangable thing we can use to help us feel happy.) Good music, especially sacred music, helps us feel the spirit. Helps prepare our emotions to respond to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Makes spiritual things more understandable.

Closing…

From pg 237 in Joseph Fielding Smith manual: (emphasis added)

“the Lord has spoken in OUR DAY… His message is one of Hope and Joy and Salvation. I promise you that if you will walk in the Light of Heaven, be true to your trust, and keep the commandments, you shall have Peace and Joy IN THIS LIFE, AND in the life to come.”

--Joseph Fielding Smith

9th - Lesson #3 "The Plan of Salvation" (Joseph Fielding Smith Manual)

16th - Lesson #4 "Strengthening and Preserving the Family" (Joseph Fielding Smith Manual)

23rd - Stake Conference

Friday, February 28, 2014

March Lesson Links

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Relief Society Activity - Thursday, Feb. 20 @ 6:30 pm

2014 Emergency Preparedness Bookmark Items: January & February

Saturday, February 1, 2014