AN EVENTFUL WEEK!

This week has proven to be an eventful week for our ward Relief Society.  Congratulations to Sister Ashley Christensen and her little family on the birth of a brand new daughter.  We understand that she is a cutie.  We hope that they are working through the breathing problems and will be home very soon.

Our prayers go out to Sister Elaine Shriver and her husband, Tony, as they deal with the trauma in their lives.  What was thought to be an aneurysm, then a tumor, is now in limbo, and we are waiting to hear the final diagnosis and treatment plan.  They are presently in a hospital up north.  Please continue to remember them in your prayers.

Our Relief Society Celebration is planned for Tuesday, March 15.  Efforts are underway to get things in place to have a wonderful event.  A sign-up sheet went around today for food assignments.  If you would like to contribute, please contact a member of the presidency.  We are also trying to get a group of sisters together to sing and are holding practices each Sunday following Sacrament Meeting.  If you would like to join with this group, just show up.  You're in!  We'd love to have you.

The Stake Relief Society Fireside is coming up next Sunday.  We invite everyone, 18 years and older, (including Priesthood brethren) to join with us at this special event.  It will be held at 6:00 p.m. in the Stake Center.  President Bruce C. Hafen and Sister Marie K. Hafen will be our special guest speakers.  It will be such a treat to have them in our midst.

LESSON:

We are so blessed in our ward to have wonderful teachers that bring the lessons alive for us each week.  Sister Joan Platt presented a great lesson today taken from the November Ensign, pg. 24, AGENCY:  Essential to the Plan of Life by Elder Robert D. Hales.  So often we take gospel principles for granted and forget how simple gospel truths affect our daily lives.

"Without agency we would be unable to make right choices and progress . . . our wise use of agency and our actions are essential that we might have eternal life . . . when we choose to do the will of our Heavenly Father, our agency is preserved, our opportunities increase, and we progress."

"Whenever we disobey, we spiritually paint ourselves into a corner and are captive to our choices . . . As we understand the challenge of repenting, we appreciate the blessings of the Holy Ghost to guide our agency and Heavenly Father, who gives us commandments and strengthens and sustains us in keeping them."  Repentance is a blessing given to us through the great love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He came to "suffer for our sins and redeem us if we would repent."

We are grateful for the continued moisture that the Lord has seen fit to bless us with and to enjoy the beautiful days of February.  It has been great to have some relief from the very cold days we have experienced and to enjoy a few warmer ones.  Let's enjoy each day . . . Spring is just around the corner and will be here before we get turned around.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Blue and Gold Banquet will be held this coming Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.  All Scouts, Parents, Leaders, and Friends of Scouting are invited to attend.  Please come and help to celebrate the Birthday of Cub Scouts.

Remember that this weekend is the Family History Expo in St. George.  Please note details in last week's post.

The Humanitarian Center in St. George is reminding us that there is still a need for more twin and full-sized quilts for the warehouse in SLC.  If anyone is interested in submitting quilts for this project, please see that you receive a copy of the current guidelines from Sister Marilyn Tullis.  It is important that we follow these guidelines exactly in completing any project we submit.

The Stake Relief Society is sponsoring their annual Fireside on March 6 at 6:00 p.m.  President and Sister Bruce C. Hafen from the St. George Temple will be the guest speakers.  Living Faithfully -- "A Very Personal Motal Experience" is the theme chosen for this special event.  Please put this date on your calendar and plan now to attend.

LESSON:

Sister Bea Gubler prepared a wonderful lesson on "Work and Personal Responsibility".  There was a great deal of class participation as we discussed this very important gospel principle. 

"The prophets have taught Latter-day Saints to be independent and self-sustaining and to avoid idleness . . . Work is essential to each of us for growth, character development, and many satisfactions that the idle never know."

President McKay said, "Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success."

How blessed we are to live in this time and place that gives us the opportunity to work to improve ourselves and the lives of our families.

Presidency Appreciation!

As we sit and enjoy the sisterhood in our weekly Relief Society Meetings, we often take for granted those who do so much so that we can enjoy our time together each Sunday morning.  We do not have to look far to see the sacrifices our presidency makes as they serve the sisters of our ward.  Thank you sisters for giving of your time, energy and talents so that we can be so blessed here in our ward. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

There will be a Family History Expo on February 25-26 at the Dixie Center in St. George.  Although registration is required for much of this Expo, the exhibit hall and keynote address is free for you to attend.  They say it's the place "Where Ol' Dogs Learn New Tricks!" Reserve your spot at http://www.fhexpos.com/ or call (801) 829-3295.

LESSON:

Thanks to Sister Christy Gardner for the wonderful lesson she gave us on Sacrifice.  It is good for us to reflect on principles that we sometimes put in the back of our minds and fail to bring to the forefront very often.

 "Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God . . . If we are to be a living sacrifice, we must be willing to give everything we have for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- to build the kingdom of God on the earth and lavor to bring forth Zion."

"Only through sacrifice can we become worthy to live in the presence of God.  Only through sacrifice can we enjoy eternal life."  "Yet a place in our Heavenly Father's kingdom is worth any sacrifice we have to make of our time, talents, energy, money and lives.

Much food for thought as we embark on a new week.