Relief Society: A Sacred Work

My thoughts on Sister Beck's talk "Relief Society: A Sacred Work"

I wish I could have been in the stake center when this was spoken, but I was so ill that night I barely made it through the dinner.

There is so much good stuff in here.

"“Members [of Relief Society] should permit neither hostile nor competitive interests of any kind to detract from the duties and obligations, the privileges and honors, the opportunities and achievements of membership in this great Society.”"

How many times do we break this rule in our hearts. How many times do I stop myself from participating in the blessings of the priesthood and membership in the Relief Society because I let competition and even hostile thoughts enter my mind?
I won't answer that for fear of the truth being known.

"We work in partnership with priesthood leaders, who hold keys which give them authority to preside in the name of the Lord. We operate in the manner of the priesthood—which means that we seek, receive, and act on revelation; make decisions in councils; and concern ourselves with caring for individuals one by one. "

Do we realize this? Do I act on this? Do I use this?

Pres. Packer said, "“Attendance at the Sunday meeting is but a small part of your duty. Some of you have not understood this and have set aside much of what Relief Society has meant over the years—the sisterhood, the charitable and practical parts of it.”"

For the past 20 plus years I have only attended RS meetings for about 3 years and 2 of those were as the president. I miss it. I miss the connections of sisterhood that are made there. I miss the Sunday meetings and with children in the stage of life they are in, the weekday meetings are next to impossible to make. Yes, it makes it hard to feel apart.

"One of the most precious commodities we all have is time."
So I ask, what do we do with it? And we all have the same amount of time.

Pres. Uchtdorf said, "“What are the nonessential things that clutter your days and steal your time? What are the habits you may have developed that do not serve a useful purpose? What are the unfinished or unstarted things that could add vigor, meaning, and joy to your life?”

Is facebook gone?
I don't know? I've connected with some wonderful people. My circle of friends has grown so much. I've become a more social person with those that are physically closer to me as well as reconnect with people who matter.
Is Internet gone?
I don't know? I've learned so much.
Is TV gone?
I don't know? I need some down time and I get my crocheting done during that time. It is a service to those who will get my afghans (my children and some orphans). I also enjoy the down time late at night.
What else can I cut from my life to give me more time in pursuing something more worth while?

Those additional meetings! Love 'em, hate 'em.
Love the name change. I was president when the name change first happened and it was so difficult, but it did give us a guideline for our meetings. If it wasn't about the home, family or personal enrichment then we didn't do it.

I love how Sister Beck calls these meeting "valuable supplements to Sunday instruction". They are not to take the place of, but for those who are in primary (me) they are the only Sunday instruction I get.

"These meetings are meant to be instrumental in teaching the skills and responsibilities of womanhood and motherhood in the Lord’s plan. It is here that women learn and apply principles of provident living and spiritual and temporal self-reliance, and they also increase in sisterhood and unity as they teach one another and serve together."

Do the meetings I go to do this? Why am I going to a meeting?

I need to reevaluate my time and energy spent. I need to think if what I'm doing is going to benefit my family in the best way. I will have to use the "Good, Better & Best" test. I need to sit down with my calendar and do that NOW!