General Women's Meeting March 2014

This is my "first pass" through the talks of this meeting and the upcoming General Conference.  Hopefully I will get back to them, but I didn't do too well with the last conference. Something is better than nothing. A reminder that my own thoughts are in blue. The rest are my notes from the meeting. Here is the link where audio, video and text will be posted:  
                             

Prelude: "I Love To See the Temple"

Conducting: Bonnie L. Oscarson; YW General President

• Sept 1992 - last time all yw/women attended; tonight - 1st time ever with 8 and 9 yr olds girls Historic meeting
• Introduce brand new "world-wide" board everyone needs to feel a part of this great work, wherever you are.
• 290 stakes represented in a combined choir ages 8 - 80 this is a collective effort; it takes everyone.

Opening Hymn: "Hark All Ye Nations" -  I heard this as a declaration to the world to listen to our combined voice of testimony, power, conviction, and covenant. We are on a mission to build the Kingdom of God on the earth. It will be done! The "powers that be" understand that with numbers you have power and if we respond to the call to truly, truly keep our covenants, they should be very afraid. They will not respond kindly.


Child prays later we will learn that we create our own barriers. Here we have an example of the leaders possibly saying, "we are the ones that said children don't pray from this podium...we can change that." and they did.


Hymn: "Daughters in His Kingdom"  regardless of age - 8 or 80 - we are all daughters in His kingdom. We must unite in faith and stand together in fulfilling His Great Plan. We are precious, beloved, and faithful daughters of our God.

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom - Primary General President

• "We are daughters of Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him"
• We will stand as witnesses of God at all times, in all things, in all places
• Covenant making women - our covenants protect, prepare, empower
• (8 - 11 yr old stand) invited to sing as soon as they recognized the tune "Teach me to walk in the light of his love" First you must stand to show your willingness to be taught and to participate; next you must listen; it must be the right source/voice; then you respond with your own voice. Others will join you in that response and the collective synergy and power will be amazing!"
• (12 and older sing) "come little child and together we'll learn of His commandments"
• We all walk in His light. 
• When we are baptized we are changed forever. 
• Listen to Holy Ghost as He reminds you you have promised to remember the Savior and keep His commandments.
• We look to the temple.
• Covenant girls and women:
• witness even though couldn't speak
• sacrifice to attend temple
• sacrament
• older woman - hold fast to covenants
• Must press forward with steadfastness in Christ; perfect brightness of hope; love of all men
• With God we are unstoppable.
• Cleave unto covenants

I Am A Child of God - video/hymn (sung by children, girls and women worldwide; 8 countries in 9 languages)

Bonnie L. Oscarson - YW General President 

• Just raised our voices, worldwide sisterhood, in testimony of the eternal truth that we are daughters of a loving Heavenly Father.
• Tremendous strength in our unity; combined power of testimony and faith in Jesus Christ surely constitutes one of the most faith-filled and powerful assemblies of women in the history of the church, if not the world.
• We are sisters, no matter our differences or different roles. We are united in building the kingdom of God, in the covenants which we have made, no matter what our circumstances.
• To be sisters implies that there is an unbreakable bond between us.
• Sisters take care of each other, watch out for each other, comfort each other, are there for each other through thick and thin.
• "Be one and if ye are not one ye are not mine"
• Don't concentrate on differences or compare. Don't be critical or judgmental.You will feel inadequate or resentful.
• Pat Holland: "The point is, we simply cannot call ourselves Christian and continue to judge one another or ourselves so harshly...There is nothing that is worth losing our compassion and sisterhood over."
• Relax and rejoice in our divine differences. 
• Fact. We really and truly need each other. Women naturally seek friendship, support, and companionship.
• Self-imposed barriers can keep us from associating with others which could be among our greatest blessings in our lives. 
• There is no age barrier when it comes to Christ-like service.
• Young Woman leaders and mothers need to joyfully testify to the 18 yr. old girls of the blessings of Relief Society. Feel enthusiastic about becoming part of such a glorious organization.
• New young sisters need a friend to sit next to; an arm around their shoulders; and an opportunity to teach and serve.
• Let us all reach out and help one another through the transitions and milestones of our lives.
• The errand of angels is given to women.
• If there are barriers, it is because we ourselves have created them.
• We must stop concentrating on our differences and look for what we have in common. Then we can begin to realize our greatest potential and achieve the greatest good in this world.
• Sister Hinckley, "Oh how we need each other. Those of us who are old need you who are young, and hopefully you who are young need some of us who are old. It is a sociological fact that women need women. We need deep, satisfying and loyal friendships with each other."
• There is no other group in the world that has access to greater blessings than we do as Latter-day Saint women.
• As we look beyond our differences in age, culture and circumstances, to nurture and serve one another we will be filled with the pure love of Christ and the inspiriation which leads us to know when and whom to serve.
• I extend to you and invitation which was issued once before by a General RS Pres. who said, "I invite you to not only love each other more, but love each other better."
• Realize just how much we need each other.

Video: Ways we love and support one another as we live covenant-centered lives.

• covenant of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost
• cookies to the lonely
• temple reccommend 
• family history
• study scriptures together
• temple marriage
• family
• teach, nurture, pray, study
• help young mothers
• serve in primary
• temple with missionary
• temple as senior couple
• endure in loving marriage
• to the end

Linda K Burton - General Relief Society President

• Reach out and help someone along the covenant path.
• We can offer hands to help and hearts to hasten Heavenly Father's wonderful work.
• Know your identity as a beloved daughter of God and understand your purpose and the vital work He has for you to do.
• Do His will to know of the doctrine.
• What do we need to know and do to live with Him someday?
• keep the commandments; lay aside the things of the world, cleave to our covenants and come and follow Him. That's what disciples do.
•  "perfect" means "complete"
• You do not do this alone - cannot do the difficult things you are asked to do without help. Help comes through the atonement, the Holy Ghost, and the help of others.
• Neal Maxwell, "All the easy things that the church has had to do have been done. From now on it's high adventure and follower-ship is going to be tested in some interesting ways."
• You have been sent to earth in this dispensation of time because of who you are and what you have been prepared to do.
• Your true identity is a disciple of Jesus Christ.
• Give the gift of daily discipleship. Declare in word and deed "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ."
• Don't be distracted by the evil that surrounds you. Your calling at this time in the history of the world is a 'gift'.
• Sister who was ridiculed for following the prophet's counsel to store food was told that that if times became desperate, her food would be taken and given to others anyway. Her simple and resolute response as a true disciple was, "At least I'll have something to bring."
• Give willingly without fanfare or publicity, drawing attention to the God we worship and not yourself; with no thought of what you will receive. That's what disciples do.
• The best way to strengthen a home current or future is to keep your covenants - with each other (marriage) and to God. That's what disciples do.
• Let us stand together and go forth boldly - doing what disciples do, serving and loving as the Savior.
• Disciples:
• bring up children in light and truth
• mentor and offer helping hands to others along the covenant path
• listen to and act on impressions from Holy Ghost
• are missionaries
• are rescuers
• are covenant keepers to stand firm for what is true and right
• are Family History and temple workers
• live the gospel daily in small and simple ways
• are true disciples
• Clarion Call "to proclaim loudly; clear and ringing; inspired"by Elder Ballard: a prophet, seer, and revelator; apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ"Between now and the day the Lord comes again, what is prophesied to happen between now and the day the Lord comes again? Read Matthew 24. What will those prophesied events require from the true disciples of Christ? Will you shrink and give up? Or will you step forward. God will need every willing heart and hand. He needs women in every family, every ward and every community, in every nation hence, the gathering of all those groups tonight who will step forward in righteousness and say by their words and actions, you must be willing to speak; you must be willing to move, to act, to serve, to sacrifice, to put the needs of others above your own 'Here am I; send me'.  My question is, "Will you be one of those women?"
• "We are covenant daughters with a gift to give. We will teach the gospel by the way we live. It is not enough to just "know" His will and word, we must live it With each word and action we will testify. we testify because the gospel matters, truth makes a difference in our lives We believe and we serve Jesus Christ." "If ye love me, feed my sheep". We serve one another because we love Jesus and want to serve him.
• As a true disciple, offer your willing heart and your helping hand to hasten His work." Can we just obey and serve because we want to? not out of expectation or duty? Helping hands are hands in action. We must do more to actively hasten His work. It is not just going to fall in to our laps and we cannot just think others will carry the work forward for us. Each of us must respond, like the bees in a hive. Our individual effort may seem unimportant, but it isn't. It takes each and every bee doing their part to produce the hive full of sweet honey.

CHOIR: "Lord, I Would Follow Thee; Love One Another" We should each feel to sing in our hearts, in response to the words just spoken, a pledge to follow the Lord; to hear the call to action; to love and serve one another - in and out of the church.

Pres. Henry B. Eyring: Words of encouragement and testimony, comfort and hope

• Let the words that have been spoken go down into your heart. We don't act until we feel something about what we hear. Our heart is the seat of emotion; the place from which we act. What you have been told is what the Lord would have you hear. Just in case you are tempted to go home and say, "that was nice..." but then make no effort to change... An apostle of the Lord has just given you a second witness that you are to hear these words as if the Lord was speaking them. So...now what are you going to do? Go back to being distracted? Rest on your justifications for why you should be exempt from the call?
• The path you must take there is only one path back to Heavenly Father is marked by your covenants with Him. The covenants we make at baptism and in the temple mark a path of progression from the telestial way of life, to the terrestial, to the celestial. God is trying to move us out of the telestial to the terrestial, for that is the state the world and it's inhabitants must be in during the millennium. You move by your virtue of your covenants. Keeping them is not just going to church and saying your prayers and reading your scriptures....
• Find joy in making and keeping your covenants and helping others to keep theirs. We all want to be happy. The covenant path isn't easy, but it is the path to joy. It can bring persecution, yet we can find joy even in our affliction.
• Desire to forgive and to be forgiven. Increase your determination to do right. Time to let go of grudges and resentment. It is "right" to be determined to forgive.
• Parents are charged with the responsibility to carefully prepare let the church programs enhance your preparation, not replace it their children to make these covenants.
• Your divine heart is from God so you can nurture others for God.
• You were tutored by God for the tests and trials and opportunities that were perfectly chosen just for you. The Plan of Happiness is to get you safely through those trials. I don't know why this struck me as new. I mean I have heard others suggest this is so, but has it been taught over the pulpit? No matter... to believe that you have been prepared for what you are experiencing is so comforting. We need not spend time asking "why" anymore. Just "am I responding/doing what I was prepared to do?" An eternal perspective is critical to see us through our trials.
• You covenanted to help others safely through theirs. I know this to be true. We promised we would be there for each other. Someone needs you to keep your promise or they may not make it safely through their trial. Someone will be there to help you through yours. That is Zion!
• You are one of the favored few who have even had the opportunity to learn of those covenants. Sit with that one for a bit. Our membership in God's church is no small thing; no small responsibility. We are not here to just sit back and feel "lucky" that we are so blessed. You promised Him that you would act in doctrine and help gather others into the garner.
• Heavenly Father taught you before you were born about the experiences you would have; He said it again. You knew, at least on paper, what you were sent here to experience. Of course experiencing it is something different, but we understood, at least mentally, what lay before us that the way back would not be easy; that it would be too hard without help. If you feel life is too hard, then you don't have the help you need. But remember, the Character of Christ is turning outward to help another in their hour of need...even while you are in the middle of your own hour of need. It is possible that the help we give is actually the help that we need. Does that make sense?
• Comfort and help each other - with a smile! Stop looking at keeping your covenants as a burden. Trust the Atonement to give you the strength and time to do it; that your other commitments will still work out fine.
• Heavenly Father is pleased every time you try to keep your covenants. It's direction, not distance that matters. One of my favorite scriptures is "As often as my people repent will I forgive them." (Mosiah 26:30)
• He sees what you are and what you may become. Are you becoming? Again...are you moving from the telestial to the terrestial?
• The path to your potential is upward. Upward climbs take us up mountains. Few mountain trails go straight up. They switchback. But the hike is not easy and we have to stop and catch our breath from time to time. During those stops it is important to take a moment to see how far we have come. But we must always turn our face back to the remaining climb and press forward. Sometimes it is better to just look at the few steps ahead of you rather than the distance you still have to travel. Always, we have the motivation of the grand vista at the top to keep us going. If you think life is easy...you need to start climbing again.
• You have a great responsibility to treat every person as a child of God. Think about this statement in regards to those you struggle to love; those you are tempted to judge; those who have let you down; those you are disappointed in. You have a GREAT responsibility to still treat them as a child of God; as a brother or sister.
• Love your neighbor as yourself; Forgive them. If you are not feeling love towards your neighbor, chances are there is something you need to forgive them for.
• Feelings of kindness and forgiveness are your divine inheritance from God, as His daughter. It is your inheritance. Claim it.
• We are more alike than we are different. Find those things you are united on. Stand together at least that far. Then honor the agency of others beyond that and figure out how to see their differences as complimentary to yours.
•  Understand and accept each others feelings. Before acceptance comes understanding. Before understanding comes dialogue. Before dialogue comes desire. Before desire comes our covenants. The covenant path must be traveled by both to achieve under standing and acceptance.
•  Entering RS is an opportunity to enlarge your circle of sisters. In the gospel of Jesus Christ there are no cliques'. Adding someone into your life never pushes someone else out. Our circles only enlarge to include more and more people. Love is not finite. We do not have a bucket with only so much love to distribute. We have a circle of influence that is ever enlarging to include more and more people.
• Children are increasing in their capacity "power of receiving impressions, knowledge, actual or potential ability to perform, yield, or withstand:  quality or state of being susceptible to a given treatment or action" to see what they can become. How is this happening? How can we tell? What is "the capacity" to see? Are our children being enabled, via the Atonement to receive more light and truth than we are giving them? Can we see what they can become as well?
• Satan is attacking sisters at earlier ages, because they are "seeing" earlier and responding but at the same time, the Lord is lifting sisters to higher and higher levels of spirituality. Are you one of those sisters? Are you being 'lifted' to higher and higher levels of spirituality?
• Follow the examples of great women, like Eve:
• She had great courage and wisdom to do what needed to be done. We have heard the call. Do you have the courage to respond? Do you have the wisdom to really "see" what needs to be done, of all the things that seem to need doing?
• By revelation this is the only way we can know for sure we are doing what 'needs to be done' she helped her family to see the path home. And what is the path? It is the covenant path. Do you understand what the covenant path is?
• When the way ahead seemed hard, Eve saw the joy in it through eternal eyes. Between now and the coming of the Lord, the way ahead will seem hard. You are being asked to see joy in that hard way. You see it by looking at your experience through eternal eyes...like Eve did.
• She understood the Atonement made eternal life in families possible. Understand the Atonement.
• By keeping her covenants she knew the Redeemer and the Holy Ghost the Redeemer speaks to us through our conscience and the Holy Ghost confirms all truth would see her and her family through whatever sorrows and disappointments would come. There will be sorrow and disappointment ahead.  Keep your covenants, especially in hard times, and the voice of the Lord and the witness of the Holy Ghost will see you through.
• She knew she could trust in the Lord and her covenants. Trust will be required because we will not be able to see clearly. We'll be on the path, but there will be times where mists of darkness cloud our vision. But we trust the rod that we have firmly griped will take us through it; that the mist will eventually dissipate; that the love of God is still before us.
• Trust in the Lord; He shall direct your paths. The covenant path is one that is directed by the Lord himself.
• I bless that you may feel the same joy Eve felt as you journey back home. Think about all that Eve saw, felt, experienced, lost, worked at...learn to feel joy in all of it. The covenant path leads you to learn how to consecrate it all.
• God will provide the help that you need to move yourself and others, upwards, along the way back to His presence. So you don't have to know how He will do it...just that He will. Your job is to move yourself and others UP along the covenant path.

CHOIR: Let Us All Press On Press on. Move upward. Fight for right. Know truth. Fear not. Heed not the wicked. Do not retreat. Do what is right. The Lord is on our side!
 

Lyrics

1. Let us all press on in the work of the Lord,
   That when life is o'er we may gain a reward;
   In the fight for right let us wield a sword,
   The mighty sword of truth.
2. (Chorus)
   Fear not, though the enemy deride; (laugh, scorn, mock)
   Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
   We will heed not what the wicked may say,
   But the Lord alone we will obey.
3. We will not retreat, though our numbers may be few
   When compared with the opposite host in view;
   But an unseen pow'r will aid me and you
   In the glorious cause of truth.
4. If we do what's right we have no need to fear,I
   For the Lord, our helper, will ever be near;
   In the days of trial his Saints he will cheer,
   And prosper the cause of truth.