2015 Relief Society Goal

2015 Relief Society Goal

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Bluffdale 9th Ward Stake Goals for 2014

This year our Stake Presidency gave us three goals to work on. First, add something to your family tree. This sounds overwhelming at first, but it doesn't have to be. If you can talk to someone in your family and learn a new story about one of your ancestors. If you find a picture in your family and add it, that is all you need to do! Elder Richard G Scott reminds us that " “Temple and family history work is one work divided into two parts. They are connected together like the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Elder Eyring reminded us of those that have gone on before us. He says “Remember that the names which will be so difficult to find are of real people to whom you owe your existence in this world and whom you will meet again in the spirit world. When you were baptized, your ancestors looked down on you with hope. Perhaps after centuries, they rejoiced to see one of their descendants make a covenant to find them and to offer them freedom. In your reunion, you will see in their eyes either gratitude or terrible disappointment. Their hearts are bound to you. Their hope is in your hands. You will have more than your own strength as you choose to labor on to find them.” Goal number 2 is increase missionary work. This also feels like a daunting task, but we have been taught that it does not need to feel this way. If you live your life to be worthy of inspiration, if you pray for missionary experiences, and if you look for those experiences Heavenly Father will bless you. Missionary work can be as simple as telling your friends what you did over the weekend. You could invite someone to your house for dinner. The church website speaks about missionary work. It states "The Lord has declared that missionary work is the responsibility of all who follow Him (see Matthew 28:19–20; D&C 88:81). Members of the Lord's Church can, by the goodness of their lives and the strength of their testimonies, share the gospel message and help prepare family members, friends, and other acquaintances who are not Latter-day Saints to be taught by the full-time missionaries." By the goodness of your life and your testimony, you can be a missionary. The third goal is to read the Book of Mormon this year. President Hinkley gave this promise about reading the Book of Mormon. "Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God” We encourage you to prayerfully consider these goals and work on them as a family.