relief society

On Palm Sunday weekend, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared messages of hope, faith and peace during the 193rd Annual General Conference on April 1 and 2, 2023. They spoke about the blessings of temple service, gathering Israel, avoiding contention by being peacemakers and finding lasting joy. Each speaker also bore testimony of Jesus Christ during this sacred Easter season. This episode of the Church News podcast features excerpts from these general conference addresses.

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Sarah Jane Weaver, reporter and editor for The Church News for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

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089 Bonus Episode (Thoughts): Soul Sisters

I don´t know about you, but I have met so many wonderful sister missionaries recently! And this week, two of them went home, and today I got to listen to their homecoming speach. And also I had a long conversation with my cousin and childhood friend that was just amazing! I´ll tell you all about the importance of sisterhood! Hope you like it! 

Our next episode will be released on 2023-04-04 but we release Bonusepisodes every week between our monthly episodes.  Plus the episodes for the course New Year New Me! Be the Light. Share the Light. Spread the Light. Shine!

LDS AND MEDIUM PODCAST BACKGROUND:
I was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or LDS for short. All my life I felt awkward and out of place, not because of my religion, but because of my spiritual gifts. It was hard to combine the idea of what first seemed like two separate worlds. So my whole life I have tried. I have learnt more about my gifts, and stayed faithful to my faith. But then I heard people left the church because it seems impossible to combine the two. So I am here, to try and mend the rift. To show that it is possible to be both LDS and to have, and use, our spiritual gifts. I am not alone on this journey, but my sister, who just is waking up to her spiritual gifts is by my side and she will also share her story.

Jesus Christ, our older brother, was a healer. He asked us to love one another. So let´s follow in his footsteps. Please join me on this journey, let´s make a community of strong spiritual LDS, or whatever religion you belong to, and all work together to make this world a better place.

If you like what I do, then you can find me here:
https://linktr.ee/ldsandmedium

If you have words of support or stories that you anonymously want me to share please write me at ldsandmedium@gmail.com. I will try and answer all your emails BUT I am very busy with my life and I hope you can have some patience with me.

If you would like access to the Podcast before it is released, all the bonuses and extra trainings and the meditation prayers as an mp3 you can support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ldsandmedium or send a Donation through Paypal. It will also be available as an archive that you can subscribe to on https://payhip.com/LDSandMedium


DISCLAIMER: This Podcast is not official LDS doctrine, nor is it in any way financially supported by the LDS church. All the content is either our own personal thoughts and reflections or stories from our lives or the lives of others. Any quotes included will come from the Bible, The Book of Mormon or other scriptures, Church publications, hymns, General Conference or spiritual sites. 

LINKS:
Learn about the LDS faith: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/
Get your free copy of the Book of Mormon: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/uk/forms/order-book-of-mormon

General Thoughts:

• This is a fantastic sermon! So don't fall into the trap of retelling the sermon. 
• The talk includes references to Mark 2:1-12. You may want to consider finding Come Follow Me resources about these chapters to further inform your lesson preparation
• You could focus on the 4 individuals who carry the man stricken with palsy. If you do so you could invite the class to process who they would be in their life and then share it with another individual (or a group) in the class. 

Warm Up:

• Who is Jesus in one word? 
• Find one characteristic of Jesus in the scriptures.
• Invite 5 people to make a boy scout stretcher to illustrate how the man stricken with palsy was carried (see how to make this stretcher here). This gets a group out of their chairs and invites them to engage physically with the material and it will help people retain the lesson because of this unique visual. 

Media Mixup

• Jesus Forgives Sins and Heals a Man Stricken with Palsy
• Lift: The Power of Service
• "Lift Where You Stand" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf (October 2008)

Questions:

• How have you discovered Jesus to be different than you anticipated?
• How do we assume Jesus is one way when in reality, He is just the opposite?
• Who are the 4 people who deserve the most credit in bringing you to Jesus Christ?
• How do we sometimes wonder if Christ is able to lift the burdens of others?
• How has a community shown up for you on your journey to Christ? 

General Thoughts:

• Don't stay on the surface of forgiveness. Forgiveness is more complicated than a simple commandment.
• The instructor needs to take 5-10 minutes warming up the class so that they are willing to share personal stories of forgiveness during the class. 
• Don't share Sister Yee's stories; share personal stories from your own life or from people in the class. 

Warm Up:

• Use the prime the pump technic of asking very basic questions just to get the class talking.
• Have everyone explore "forgiveness" in the topical guide and share specific favorites with the class or small groups.

Media Mixup

• Chris Williams Video

Questions:

• Are we expected to forgive immediately? 
• When is forgiveness hard to give?
• How does Christ release us from the sin and weight of a warring heart?
• What others stories from the scriptures highlight forgiveness?

Link:
Doctrine: Models to Evaluate Types and Sources of Latter-day Saint Teachings

General Thoughts:

• Figure out a way, to sum up the parable of the marriage feast without taking much of your lesson time
• Parables cause you to go two levels deep in order to find the doctrine.
• Don't make it about the behavior of wearing the temple garment. If you reference the temple garment, make it about the doctrines connected to the temple garment. 
  • Good "teaching doctrine example"

Warm Up:

• Have everyone put something on as they walk into the class (Ties, scarves, etc.)
  • Or have someone wear something ridiculous 
• The Royal Marriage Feast Play/Narration
• Call text people 

Media Mixup

• Show the clip of quotes you share
• Share a clip of his testimony at the end

Questions:

• What is the difference between being called vs. being chosen?
• When have you felt called in your life?
• Even though you were called as a missionary, did you also choose that calling as well? 
• Who is doing the calling and who is doing the choosing?
• How would putting on the temple garment be an action of wanting to be called and chosen?
• Does God have a chosen people? If so, does that mean He loves some more than others?

General Observations:

• She packs a lot into each paragraph so don't move the class to quickly through each paragraph. This is the importance of only picking one specific doctrine to consider during the class (maybe two). Create a lot of time for the class to digest the content. 

  Warm Up:

• Upside down glasses
  • Buy or ask if someone in your ward owns it
  • Doesn't the world seem upside down sometimes? 
• Blurry image game
• Bring 3-5 tools to display (or ask 3-5 people to bring a tool)
• Prime the pump question

Engagement Activity: Digest the paragraph

• Paragraph "In our lives..."
  • Give 5 minutes to digest 
  • Have them read both scripture references as well
  • "What principle is being taught here?"
  • "What are the two 'available daily resources' we can depend on?"
  • "What do these phrases look like in real life?"
    • "Be a light which shineth"
    • "Enlightening our eyes"
    • "Quickening our understanding"
  • "When have you seen things as they really are and as they really will be?"
    • Give them 2 minutes

Engagement Activity: Divinely Appointed Tools 

• Paragraph "As covenant children..."
  • Tools
    • The words and teachings of Jesus Christ
      • Scripture
      • Words of living prophets
      • Daily prayer
      • temple attendance
      • sacrament
        • "How have these tools help you 'restore peace and provide the necessary gift of discernment?'"
          • Give 2 minutes to think and get one story of each

Our tools

• the Savior's love for us individually
• being His covenant children
• His teachings and laws

Questions:

• What tools do we have that help us clarify, focus, and ground the world around us?
• How does Jesus Christ "[direct your] feet to meetinghouses each week to partake of His sacrament, to the house of the Lord to make covenants with Him?"
• For you, how has Christ steered you through both the calm and the turbulent waters of life? (Paragraph: As covenant children...)
  • ***Push them past the vagueness***
• What significant decision have you had to make in life that weighed on you?
  • How did you reach clarity?
  • What spiritual tools did you use?
  • Did it work as expected?
• Is focusing on the Savior only possible through specific behaviors like prayer, scripture study, and temple attendance?

Warmup:

• Start with a basic question to get everyone talking

Engagement Activity:

• Find 3-5 paragraphs and invite them to digest the content in groups of 2-4.

Questions:

• How does sobering news impact you?
• Why is feeling love from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ vital?
• How do overwhelm and exhaustion typically show up for you?
• What does rest through Jesus Christ look like?
• Have you ever had a season where the church demands have felt too much for you?
• What does it look like in your life to overcome the world?
• How do you take charge of your own testimony of Jesus Christ?
• How do you define "false philosophies of men?" 

The church is people. We are a support to one another and a blessing. One of the things the church teaches its members is how to be self reliant. Younger ages are blessed with leadership  and service opportunities. As parents, grandparents and extended family members we are their best and first teachers.

Music acknowledgements

Music: In Dulci Jubilo by J.S. Bach

Arranged by: Michel Rondeau (trumpet)

Performers: Marthe Jobidon (trumpets), Eric Vaillancourt & Steve Guerin (trombones)

Publisher Info.Michel Rondeau

Copyright Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 

Misc. Notes These file(s) are part of the Werner Icking Music Collection.

In honor of Women’s History month, we wanted to do something new and share one of our favorite podcasts with you. It's called Latter-day Saint Women, and in this episode, the Relief Society General Presidency has an important conversation with a few of their friends: a foster mom who's worried about a little boy she's come to love; a 22-year-old who's angry and confused when she can't serve a mission; and a recent convert whose parents are Mexican immigrants, so she wonders whether she will fit in. Through their discussion we come to see one of the most beautiful parts of Relief Society—we all belong.

Show Notes + Transcripts: http://ldsliving.com/thisisthegospel

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Nadia Cates is on a mission. Literally. She and her husband are mission leaders of the Costa Rica San José West Mission. But long before putting on the black name tag she now wears, she felt a desire to create something that would preserve the hispanic heritage she has grown to love and cherish—a heritage that has given her power and confidence. But on this week’s episode of “All In,” she explains why that was not always the case.

"I've felt my ancestors call me. I've felt ideas pour to my mind of ways that I could connect and lift those in our community who are like me."

Show Notes

1:45- Hiding Heritage
5:12- Recognizing Disconnect in Reconnecting
7:36- Finding the Gospel
9:25- Mexico MTC
14:32- Food Is Everything
19:09- Coming Home Changed
24:06- Arise and Shine
29:10- Creation
36:00- Turning Hearts to Fathers
39:07- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elder Cook addresses the role and importance of bishops and their counselors to the organization of the ward family.

Music acknowledgments

Music: In Dulci Jubilo 

Michel Rondeau (trumpet)

Performers: Marthe Jobidon (trumpets), Eric Vaillancourt & Steve Guerin (trombones)

Publisher Info.Michel Rondeau

Copyright Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 

Misc. Notes These file(s) are part of the Werner Icking Music Collection.

You know,  there are a few mottos that I've adopted in my thirty-five years. Obviously, to Live The Vibrant Life is right at the top of the list. Another one is Be Not Weary In Well Doing which has seen me through many hard days. But today, we're covering another principle that has truly changed my life. It's something that I've strived to practice in my day to day for a long time now, and that is Never Suppress A Generous Thought. 

Join Emily Romrell on The Vibrant Life Podcast as she continues to explore inspiring stories and insightful conversations that empower you to live a life full of purpose and joy. Tune in for weekly doses of positivity and practical wisdom to help you create your own vibrant and fulfilling journey. Check out emilyromrell.com for more!

With general conference quickly approaching, we have the privilege of bringing you a candid conversation with the Relief Society General Presidency. These three women are uniquely qualified with life experiences that make them a powerful force for good. In this week's episode, the General Presidency discusses what they have learned from working closely with the First Presidency. They also share what they wish women in the Church understood right now and what 2020 has taught them about God’s love.

“When we want what He wants we find joy, even in times of difficulty.” 

Show Notes

3:48- Life During a Pandemic
9:30- Labels Don’t Matter
13:36- Uniquely Called and Qualified
18:48- “I Hope Being Single Isn’t The Most Interesting Thing”
21:58- “Our Story Is Not Over Yet”
25:06- Women and the Restored Gospel
30:13- Lessons Learned in Three and a Half Years of Service
34:48- Actively Participating
36:03- 2020, Anxiety, and God’s Comfort
37:42- Difficulties Are Part of Life and Christ is the Answer
39:01- What Does It Mean To Be “All In” the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After studying Clayton Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation, Whitney Johnson developed the concept of "Disrupting Yourself"—a principle she has successfully taught in the business world for years. On this week’s episode, she teaches us how the model is demonstrated in our Heavenly Father’s plan and is founded on gospel principles. By continually evolving and developing, rather than competing with one another, Johnson says we can spend our time living in abundance. Additionally, when we focus our efforts on continually creating, we will recognize not only our own strengths, but others' strengths, as well.

"When you think about taking the right risks from a gospel perspective, this is us thinking about ‘What am I going to create? What kind of future will I create?' This is God's plan. We have agency. So what can we create?"

Show Notes 

1:13- The Mentorship of Clayton Christensen
10:48- Disrupt Yourself Through Creation
17:34- Why Growth Matters in God’s Plan
20:47- Repentance as Another Word For Disruption
22:51- The Job to Be Done
25:09- Play to Your Distinctive Strengths
32:47- Avoiding Comparison
36:00- What Does It Mean to Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.