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."