Be Thou Humble

Is Your "To Do's" List Bringing You Down?

Dear Sisters, 

I am a very task oriented person: lists, calendar reminders, goals charts are ways for me to stay on top of my family and my busy schedule. Even with all the tools I use to motivate, track and complete tasks, I often fail to accomplish everything I set out to do each day.  There are just too many things to do, too many distractions and too many unplanned events that derail our perfectly layout plans. But do they really?

I recently watched a Mormon message titled “Is your ‘To Do’ list bringing you down?’” I could identify myself with the frazzled mother trying to do her best to serve her family, neighbors and friends who looks at her ‘to do’ list at the end of a difficult day and sees only what’s still left on it.

At the end of the video President Hinckley states, “Many of you think you are failures. You feel you cannot do well, that with all of your effort it is not sufficient.”

“We all worry about our performance. We all wish we could do better. But unfortunately we do not realize, we do not often see the results that come of what we do. My dear sisters, you are doing the best you can, and that best results in good to yourself and to others. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do. Then leave the matter in the hands of the Lord. You will discover that you have accomplished something beyond price.”

Years ago I realized I could not do everything on my ‘to do’ list. It was then that I applied the promised given to us by Pres. Hinckley. I do what I am asked to do by the Lord – prayer, scripture study, family home evening, church service – and leave the rest in His hands. He has blessed me to be able to do everything I must do (not want to do) and to recognized those unplanned events as a way in which He manifests His hand in my life. Sisters, don’t be discouraged, you are amazing women. You do more good than you realize. May you be blessed with the strength to do all you must do and the wisdom to know what’s most important.

Much love,

Romy Humphries

Adversity - The Refiner's Fire

Dearest Sister,

Last week while tending to our new baby, I heard a thud followed by a chorus of giggles.  After listening to several rounds of this, I realized our 3 and 5 year old girls were taking turns jumping from the staircase onto a bean bag below.  One minute later, once I had the baby settled, I walked over to reiterate that this was the NOT safest way to entertain themselves.  As I stood at the top of the stairs I saw our Anna leap from the 6th stair and miss the bean bag below….. Instant tears.  Her pain was obvious as she crawled and limped around.  We were grateful that X-rays were normal.  But I, ever the safety queen, blamed myself for not stopping the rough housing sooner.   Sensing my guilt, Lyman assured me that kids have to learn the consequences of their actions and it’s impossible and in fact counterproductive to prevent them from feeling pain or discomfort. 

Pain, discomfort, and adversity are inevitable.  Sometimes it is difficult to remember that adversity is the refiner’s fire that bends iron but tempers steel. 

Whether the trials we face are financial, involve health, job, family-related, or caused by our own unwise decision, know that help is always available.  The Lord’s hand is always stretched out to us.  The church and its programs provide a safety net to give us the spiritual and temporal help to lift us up in times of need. A loving home and visiting teacher, a wise gospel doctrine instructor, a concerned Relief Society or Priesthood leader or simply a good friend can help to carry us through difficult times. 

President James E. Faust suggests ways we can prepare for and in fact prosper times of adversity:

1. Wean ourselves away from dependence for our happiness upon mere material and physical things. This could mean a bicycle instead of a car. It may mean skim milk instead of cream.

2. Learn to do without many things and have some reserve to fall back on.

3. Develop an appreciation for the great gifts of God as found in nature, in the beauty of the seasons; the eloquent testimony of God in the sunrise and the sunsets, the leaves, the flowers, the birds and the animals.

4. Engage in more physical activity that does not employ the use of hydrocarbons, including walking, jogging, swimming, and bicycling.

5. Have a hobby that involves your mind and your heart and can be done at home.

6. Pay your tithes and offerings.

“In life we all have our Gethsemanes. A Gethsemane is a necessary experience, a growth experience. A Gethsemane is a time to draw near to God, a time of deep anguish and suffering. The Gethsemane of the Savior was without question the greatest suffering that has ever come to mankind, yet out of it came the greatest good in the promise of eternal life.” (James E. Faust, BYU Devotional. 1978)

We love you sisters,

 Julia Kirkland

Peace Be Still

Dearest Sister,

Recently, we had a lesson in Relief Society on “Peace In Troubled Times”.  In David A. Bednar’s new book, Power to Become, there is a story that brings up an interesting principle to consider when learning about peace in troubled times.  Elder Bednar relates the story of a young couple who just three weeks after their marriage, found the husband had bone cancer.  After many treatments and surgeries, Elder Bednar was asked to administer a priesthood blessing.  Not intending to ask this question, Elder Bednar was surprised that he was impressed to ask, “John, do you have the faith not to be healed?...do you have the faith to submit to His will and not be healed?”

 Elder Bednar teaches us a principle that applies “to every devoted disciple: strong faith in the Savior includes submissively accepting His will and timing in our lives—even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted.” 

 Later, John told Elder Bednar, “…I do not want to die. I do not want to leave Heather.  But if the will of the Lord is to transfer me to the spirit world, then I guess I am good with that.”

Elder Bednar  responds, “ My heart swelled with appreciation and admiration as I witnessed this young couple confronting the most demanding of all spiritual struggles—the submissive surrender of their wills to God’s will.” 

 John expressed to Elder Bednar that, “Having the faith not to be healed seemed counterintuitive; but that perspective changed the way my wife and I thought and allowed us to put our trust fully in the Father’s plan for us.  We learned we needed to gain the faith that the Lord is in charge whatever the outcome may be.  As we prayed, our petitions changed from ‘Please make me whole’ to ‘Please give me the faith to accept whatever outcome Thou has planned for me.’

 One might ask, as John did, “Why should I have faith if His will ultimately is what will prevail?  …having faith…was not necessarily knowing that He would heal me, but that he could heal me.  I had to believe that he could, and then whether it happened was up to Him.  As I allowed those two ideas to coexist in my life, focused faith in Jesus Christ and complete submission to His will, I found greater comfort and peace.”

 Is our faith sufficient that we will be submissive enough to surrender our will to God’s will?

 May we all ponder the importance of  remembering that our purpose on earth is to learn what God wants us to learn.

 “Sometimes God calms the storm… sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.” (unknown)

We love you sisters,

 Frankie Holt

In God is Our Trust

Dearest Sister,

The month of July is when we come together as family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate our heritage, our history and our blessings.

Independence Day and Pioneer Day remind us of those who sacrificed so much for all of us, including me, a foreign national, and only a second generation member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Our nation’s Founding Fathers and Mormon pioneers shared an akin, driving belief, best described by Francis Scott Key, in the lyrics of the Stars Spangled Banner, “And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust!’”

Do we share their same inspiring trust in the Lord? President Henry B. Eyering explained, “You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn and repent and then you go and do whatever He asks. If you trust God enough to listen for His message in every sermon, song, and prayer […], you will find it. And if you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you.”

As Relief Society sisters we are in the Lord’s errand whenever we are striving to fulfill the purposes of Relief Society:

- Increase faith and personal righteousness

- Strengthen families and home

- Seek and help those in need

There is no sweeter feeling of love and joy than witnessing the Lord’s hand in your life. I have put my trust in the Lord and witnessed the blessings it has brought to me and those around me.  May we join in chorus with those who have come before us and make it our motto: “In God is our Trust!”

We love you sisters,

 Romy Humphries

God Knows Our Needs - Every Hour

Dearest Sister,

Recently, I took a trip to California to help our daughter and her family. On the flight home, the plane made a stop in Las Vegas. The flight attendant announced that every seat would be filled for the flight to Salt Lake City. As the passengers filed onto the plane, my eyes caught the glance of a young lady. I smiled at her.   She smiled back and asked if she could take the seat by me. We exchanged names, talked briefly about our trips, where we had been, and where we lived. During a lull in the conversation, she pulled an Ensign out of her bag. It was the March issue. I had already read many of the articles in that issue while in California.  I immediately knew we had much in common.

The young lady started flipping through the pages. I told her about an article concerning a court case where the defense and prosecution gave arguments to the judge. One lawyer cited several recent cases. The other lawyer cited a Supreme Court decision that was quite old. The judge asked the lawyer why he had cited one case that was so old. He said, “Your Honor, may I point out that when the Supreme Court speaks they hold the trump card.”  The judge agreed.  The article then went on to say that God has spoken to us through scriptures and prophets, teaching us how we should live. God holds the trump card. The sister sitting next to me stated she couldn’t wait to read the article.

By the time we were getting close to Salt Lake, the young sister confided in me about how fearful she was of flying—especially by herself.  As we landed and taxied toward the gate, she thanked me for the conversation and stated I had put her at ease.  I had been an answer to her prayers.

After this experience it reconfirmed to me that God puts people in our path to help us with our needs. Sometimes we are the answer to a prayer. Someone may need guiding in their darkest hour. We can be a ray of hope to someone and to ourselves. Let’s say kind words to each other.  Let’s lend a helping hand.   Let’s make a call to a friend.  Heavenly Father puts us there to guide with love, to teach us to give, that we may know how to live.

Some say there are no miracles anymore.  Watch and listen—you will know that there are miracles today. You may be part of one, for you may be someone’s angel sent from above to help in a time of need.

We love you sisters,

 Jan Jessop

Charity Never Faileth

Dearest Sister,

A reported in the International Business Times in 2011, a 16-year old boy in Hebei, China,  Lui Shi Ching, had carried his friend to school daily for the previous eight years. His friend Lu Shao had a congenital disorder that made it difficult to walk. Lui Shi Ching, smaller than Lu Shao, decided to help carry him home one day when Lu Shao’s mother didn’t make it on time to pick him up. Since then, he carried Lu Shao to and from school and even to restrooms. Not one to brag, Lui Shi  Ching didn’t tell his own parents for four years. When asked how he could carry such a heavy load Lui Shi Ching said, “I was happy helping out and it’s been eight years already.” Lu Shao mentioned in his personal diary that Lui Shi Ching’s help had lifted a dark cloud in his life and let sunshine in.

“Of all the blessings which I have had in my life, the greaterst blessing I can share with you is that feeling which the Lord provides when you know that He, the Lord, has answered the prayer of another person through you,” said President Thomas S. Monson. “As you love the Lord, as you love your neighbor, you will discover that our Heavenly Father will answer the prayers of others through your ministry.”

Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood,” said President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, (2009 Oct. General Conference). “Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendships, tolerance, civility and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Loves should be our walk and our talk.

When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience  becomes a joy rather than a burden.

Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. (Moroni 7:47)

We love you sisters,

 Sherry Moore