Tuscany Ward Relief

Society Newsletter
April 2011

Visiting Teaching Mess age

The Purpose of Relief Society Ensign, April 2011
Happy Birthday!
When our presidency was first called, we were given some
resources about the history of Relief Society. We studied them
2- Denise Collins
prayerfully, wanting to know the purpose of Relief Society and
what the Lord would have us do. We learned that the purpose of
4- Debbie Fullmer
Relief Society as established by the Lord is to organize, teach,
and inspire His daughters to prepare them for the blessings of
8- Cheryl Fuller
eternal life. 10- Lisa Bernhardt
To fulfill this purpose of Relief Society, the Lord has
commissioned each sister and the organization as a whole to: 1) 29- Kelly Vestal
Increase in faith and personal righteousness. 2) Strengthen
families and homes.3) Provide relief by serving the Lord and His
children.
We can do this work in the Lord's way only when we seek,

Babysitters Corner
receive, and act on personal revelation. Without personal
revelation, we cannot succeed. If we heed personal revelation,
we cannot fail. The prophet Nephi instructs us that the Holy
Ghost will show us "all things what [we] should do" (2 Nephi Looking for a reliable babysitter? Please contact the
32:5). We must allow ourselves to be still enough and quiet following Young Women.
enough to listen to the voice of the Spirit. Young Woman: Age: Home#: Cell:
Sisters, we have a vital role to play in helping build the kingdom Brittany Anderson 16 672-8556
of God and preparing for the Lord's coming. In fact, the Lord's KeLynn Stanley 16 345-5667 570-4921
work cannot be accomplished without the help of His daughters. Lexie Gold 15 887-1051 559-8939
Because of that, the Lord expects us to increase our offering. He Kyrstin Siler 15 860-7044
expects us to fulfill the purpose of Relief Society as never before. Elizabeth Wagner 15 639-5908 585-8466
-Julie B. Beck
Emma Stanley 14 345-5667 570-4921
FROM THE SCRIPTURES: Deuteronomy 6:5–7; Luke 10:30–37; Katie Dougal 14 639-5949 830-6251
James 1:27; 2 Nephi 25:26; Mosiah 3:12–13 Kensie Gold 13 887-1051
FROM OUR HISTORY: At a June 9, 1842, meeting of the Relief Jessica Meyers 13 287-8380
Society, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught the sisters that their
Natasha Larsen 13 287-8272
society was "not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls.” This
Madison Thompson12 658-5454 869-2102
statement of a spiritual as well as a temporal purpose has
characterized Relief Society throughout its history. In 1906
Natassja Yearsley 13 887-9411
President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918) taught: "[Relief Society]
has not only to deal with the necessities of the poor, the sick and
the needy, but a part of its duty—and the larger part, too—is to
look after the spiritual welfare and salvation of the mothers and
daughters of Zion; to see that none is neglected, but that all are
guarded against misfortune, calamity, the powers of darkness, Congratulations!
Congratulations!
and the evils that threaten them in the world." In 2001 Elder M.
Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reiterated,
"Every sister in this Church who has made covenants with the
To Everyone that completed the Tuscany
Lord has a divine mandate to help save souls, to lead the women Ward Wellness Challenge! The Winner will be
of the world, to strengthen the homes of Zion, and to build the
announced soon. If you participated please join us
kingdom of God."
WHAT CAN I DO? 1) What inspiration have I received to help my for a girl’s night out to celebrate the wellness
sisters increase in faith and personal righteousness and challenge on Tuesday, April 26th at 6:30pm at Idaho
strengthen their families and homes? What relief can I provide? Pizza Company. If you would like to car pool, meet
2) How will I use this message to strengthen my faith and at Jen Gold's house at 6:15.
increase my own commitment to personal righteousness?

For more information, go to www.reliefsociety.lds.org.

 A Message from the Relief Society by Megan Jones
In 2009, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve, gave a profound talk, “None Were With Him”. As the Easter season is upon us, I
re-read the words of that talk and watched the YouTube Mormom Messages Video “An Apostle’s Easter Thoughts on Christ”
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFhS0dAduc). I was acutely touched as I pondered the very realness of the Saviors atonement and
sacrifice for me.
Elder Holland had said this Easter-season message was directed "in a special way" to all those who feel alone or abandoned.
"To all such I speak of the loneliest journey ever made and the unending blessings it brought to all in the human family," he said. "I speak of
the Savior's solitary task of shouldering alone the burden of our salvation."
He then recounted the days and moments leading to the solitary journey through the Atonement and the cross. The Lord would be rejected
by the citizenry, betrayed by Judas Iscariot and denied by Peter.
"Thus, of divine necessity, the supporting circle around Jesus gets smaller and smaller and smaller, giving significance to Matthew's short verse
'all the disciples [left] him and fled.' Peter stayed near enough to be recognized and confronted. John stood at the foot of the cross with Jesus'
mother. Especially and always the blessed women in the Savior's life stayed as close to Him as they could. But essentially His lonely journey to
His Father continued without comfort or companionship."
Elder Holland then reverently spoke of what might have been the most difficult moment of all on the path to Atonement. Christ must have
been prepared intellectually and physically for what He would endure — but He might not have fully anticipated emotionally and spiritually
the paralyzing despair of His Father's divine withdrawal.
"That the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the
comfort of His spirit, the support of His personal presence," he said. "It was required; indeed it was central to the significance of the
Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill, nor done wrong, nor touched an unclean thing, had to know how the rest of
humankind would feel when they did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not
only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly and hopelessly
alone."
But Jesus held on. The goodness in Him allowed faith to triumph. The Son of God restored physical life where death had held sway and
brought spiritual redemption out of sin, darkness and despair.
"One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone we do not have to do
so," said Elder Holland. "His solitary journey brought great company to us for our little version of that path — the merciful care of our Father
in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on
both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders and friends.
"All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the restoration of
His gospel."
Elder Holland then asked that the scenes of Christ's lonely sacrifice and those moments of denial, abandonment and betrayal never by
reenacted by members today.
"He has walked alone once. May I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance."
May we remember the great sacrifice that was given as our precious gift this upcoming Easter is my prayer. Let us celebrate the glorious reign
of our Savior in our lives as we exercise the Atonement in our lives.

RS Lesson Schedule-
Schedule- April Ward Calendar & Upcoming Events
2-3- General Conference
3 – General Conference 7- Threads of Gold {10am}
10- GP #28 Service 8- Stake Scout Camporee
17- GP #29 The Lord’s Law of Health 9- Stake Baptism
24- Stake Conference 10- FAST SUNDAY
12- Elders Pinewood Derby {6:30pm}
14- Relief Society Meeting {7pm}
17- Stake High Priest Meeting
Get your house in order. 17- Stake Youth Fireside
23-24- Stake Conference
Come learn some cleaning, organizing, decorating tips from 28- Auxiliary Training {7pm}
some awesome sisters in our ward.
Meet at Leslie Huish's home Thursday, April 14th at 7:00pm. Check out our Blog!
We will then visit the homes of Emily Patterson and Megan
Jones. It will be a great night. Stay up to date with ward happenings; learn about new
sisters, and upcoming activities!
We would love to have you join us! www.tuscanywomen.blogspot.com
www.tuscanywomen.blogspot.com