Belated Ward Birthday Celebrations

In the whirlwind of Ward Conferences and Women's Conference - we are late posting each individual ward RS Birthday Party.  Thank you so much for inviting us to attend.  Some evenings there were as many as FOUR wards celebrating - so we had to "divide & conquer".  We absolutely LOVED being to each one of them!

We've only received photos from two of the 12 wards in the stake - and hope you will still share them with us if you haven't had the opportunity to do so yet (that's a BIG HINT!)  Please send us information about your ward celebration if you don't find it here...

(Please send your photos & a description to appetersen@me.com.)

1st Ward:
This ward RS Presidency had just barely been sustained and they put together a fabulous night.  After a wonderful dinner, they had several sisters assume the role of the former General RS Presidents.  It's obvious these amazing sisters love each other and enjoy being together.


2nd Ward:  
The 2nd ward has a HUGE Relief Society - I think they have 198 sisters and there are other wards in our Stake who only have around 100. They had a great turnout.  Lots of older sisters. Just grand ladies. They had us sit at our "birthday month" table and they had different sisters decorate the tables. Our October table was set with beautiful blue china that had belonged to a sister's GRANDMOTHER so it was special. There were cakes and cupcakes as centerpieces on each table and they were to die for.  They had a slide show of all of the sisters during the year and it was fun watching everyone react to their own picture - and enjoy seeing their year in photos. The guest speaker was an expert on all things Emma Smith. He was very good. 


3rd Ward:
The ladies of the 3rd ward are friendly, inviting, and loving.  They have so much talent.  The food was delicious and the program awesome!!  They decorated with old pictures and pioneer decorations.  A delicious chicken, spinach salad, and great rice - followed by wedding cake.  The program included speakers, singers, and videos.  It was based on Jenny Phillips "Remember the Journey".   Jenny Curtis was the sister in charge and she did a phenomenal job.  Sis Curtis invited us back to come to another event on April 3rd called 100 dresses.  This is a book about a girl who always wore the same dress.  They will have models and have ladies donating old dresses.  It sounds so fun.




4th Ward:
They all had a great time with a good turnout and pizza for one and all. They had a getting to know you night where they had plastic buckets on the tables where you had to write a "bucket list" and then everyone changed tables and played another game with another group of ladies.  It was buzzing with energy. They played another game where you had to tell things about yourself to the sisters at the table while you wound up a length of string and you couldn't stop talking until you ran out of string!

6th Ward:
We received this fun "Princess" invitation to attend their night of "Princess Crowning".  Hopefully there were photos taken of "King Irving" - who personally crowned each Relief Society sister.  Several sisters shared their thoughts on Relief Society.  Julie George & her RS Meeting Coordinator/Committee put together a wonderful night.

9th Ward:

This ward had an awesome turnout - and celebrated in style.  They followed the "Purse-onality" theme that some of the wards used last year.  Delicious food, amazing decorations, and wonderful speakers who shared their testimony of Relief Society.  Charity Hawkins (2nd Counselor) & Allison Peterson (Meeting Coordinator) made it a memorable night.

10th Ward:

The 10th ward had a great celebration.  (Jennie attended this ward's celebration)  They had a good turnout, even though some of the women were at an HOA meeting for the subdivision.  There were tables decorated with items from different countries.  They served lasagna, salad and breadsticks.  They had a woman show different cake decorating techniques and then they served the cake.  We also played a game where we had to guess interesting RS facts.  One of the questions was "Who is our current Stake RS Pres?  Maria and I shot up from our chairs so fast and blurted  out -- BARBARA SWEAT!!!!!  Everyone got a chuckle out of that!  It was a great night and Evelyn was her wonderful, friendly, gracious self!


River Crest Ward:
These dear sisters are so fortunate to have such a loving Relief Society Presidency!  There were about 6 sisters who felt well enough to join in around the big table in the common area of the River Crest Care Center.  Leoma shared a beautiful story, and then each sister was given a page to keep in their RS books.    You can feel a special spirit here among these women who have spent most of their lives serving the Savior in past church callings, raising fine families, and caring for those around them.  They love having visitors - so check with the River Crest RS Presidency about offering to share your talents with them. 

File this one away for next March...

Your Relief Society Birthday Celebrations have come and gone, but I thought this may be something you would like to file away for next March.  It would also be a great opening activity at a RS Meeting.  

RS Jeopardy

CATEGORIES

               Scriptures Pertaining to Relief Society

               Hymns Significant to Relief Society

               General Relief Society Trivia

               Name That Smith

QUESTIONS

A.  Scriptures Pertaining to Relief Society

1.  Sister Parkin said that sisters do visiting teaching for this reason:  "To bear one another's burdens,…To mourn with those that mourn,…comfort those that stand in need of comfort."

2.  At the 2005 General Relief Society Conference, a short film called, "Instruments in the Hands of God" was shown.  Find that scriptural reference of that title.

3.  The Relief Society theme is "Charity Never Faileth."  What is that scriptural reference?  There are two.  One in the B of M and one in the New Testament.

4.  Sister Cannon, the Education Counselor in the General RS said, "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.  But sisters, we can not seek after all of them at the same time.  To everything there is a season."  What scripture was she quoting?

B.  Hymns Significant to Relief Society

1.  As members of the RS, "we'll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak."  

What hymn does this line come from?

2.  This was the opening song at the 1st RS meeting in 1842.  It says that "through we our faith may begin to inherit the visions and blessings and glories of God."  What is the title of this hymn?

3.  This was the closing song at the 1st RS meeting, held in 1842.  It says, "No longer as strangers on Earth need we roam….we'll love  one another and never dissemble."  

What is the title of this hymn?

4.  Finish this line from the hymn, "We Meet Again As Sisters":

"We meet to plan our service to neighbors now in need.  May charity and kindness inspire ____ ____ ____."

C.  General Relief Society Trivia

1.  What is the symbol of Relief Society?

2.  What is the name of the magazine sent to LDS women who paid their dues and joined the Relief Society Organization?

3.  What is the name of the president of the General Relief Society Board who was featured in the March 2006 edition of the Ensign?

4.  What was the original purpose of visiting teaching before it changed to its current goal of bringing the spirit into homes through friendly visits?

Quotes by Smiths about Relief Society

1.   Name the Smith who said,

"We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together."

2.  Name the Smith who said,

"And now I turn the key to you in the name of God and this Society shall rejoice and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time.  This is the beginning of this Society."

3.  Name the Smith who said,

"This organization is divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God to minister for the salvation of the souls of women and of men."

4.  Name the Smith who said,

"We are going to do something extraordinary.  We expect extraordinary occasions and pressing calls."

ANSWERS

Scriptures

1.  Mosiah 18:8-9

2. Alma 26:3

3. Moroni 7:46 or 1 Corinithians 13:4-8

4. 13th Article of Faith

Hymns

1.  As Sisters in Zion

2.  Spirit of God

3.  Now Let Us Rejoice

4.  "inspire our every deed"

Trivia

1.    The Sego Lily/ Wheat Sheaf (The sego lily was selected because of it's usefulness in sustaining life along pioneer settlements.  It is an appropriate symbol of purity, beauty, patience through winter and darkness, and storing of strength for the time of blossoming.  The wheat sheaf has been used as an emblem also.

2.   The Relief Society Magazine

3.   Belle S. Spafford

4.   Goal of gathering money for charity

Quotes

1. Lucy Mack SmithA

2. President Joseph Smith

3. President Joseph F. Smith

4. Emma Smith

"Purses" - two wards using the same theme in different ways...

We've been honored as a Stake RS Presidency to be able to attend some of the birthday celebrations throughout the River Stake.  We would love to spotlight each ward, and invite you to send us an email giving us details to share with everyone who takes the time to check this site...

Two of our wards (the 3rd & the 4th) used the "Purse" theme that is so versatile.

The 4th Ward put the "Purse-onal" spin on the theme.

Each table was decorated with a large centerpiece made from cardboard die-cut purses stuffed with tissue, confetti, etc...  Each place setting included a tiny die-cut purse with a treat inside.  (Look closely at the background of the photos below for the decorations...)

A dinner of chicken croissants & salad was served - with birthday cake (of course!)

For the program after dinner, sisters spoke on different types of purses.  A diaper bag, backpack, prom purse, and temple bag.

They related their purse to times in their lives when values were developed  relating to Relief Society and how it helped influence them at that particular age.

Before the evening ended, sisters cleaned out their purses to compete in some purse-related games.



The 3rd Ward's theme was "Purse-suit of Happiness"  I asked Jeanne Maw, their president, to describe what went on at their Birthday Party.  She will be getting me photos and additional information that I will add in the next few days.  They had a delicious meal, and had over seventy sisters attend - a record!  (Check the next post for Bishop Porter's inspired direction in the planning of their midweek RS meetings)

"There were, as you know, purses on each table beautifully decorated.  


The three sisters who spoke were Valerie Broadbent, who talked of the things in her purse that remind her of how she should act.  She also talked about her three small children and her diaper bag and how that is her purse-suit of happiness right now.  


Next was Maggie Wilde, who is not a member of the Church.  She is a dear friend and neighbor who has been suffering with cancer for the past few years.  She is cancer-free at the moment, though!  She talked about the things in her purse that make her happy, such as photos of her twin grandbabies and her children.  


Last was Robyn Smith who talked about the happiness she finds as she fulfills her service mission in the county jail teaching the female inmates gospel principles.  

I felt like the messages were beautifully planned to reach every sister and from the comments I've heard since I think everyone had a fabulous time!"

Ten Virgins, Ten Stories - 10th Ward RS Birthday

The 10th ward presented a wonderful musical parable (written by Emily Freeman) on Tuesday, March 9th in the Stake Center.  Evelyn Stallings & her presidency & board - what a spiritual night.

Patti Davies was the director, with many others in the ward assisting.  When we walked into the chapel that night, the spirit was reverent and quiet - a perfect setting for such a spiritual feast.  Costumes, stage setup, lighting, etc... were just amazing.  The entire ward appeared to be involved - from the High Priests in charge of the Nursery to all those who decorated - it was so well done!

The cast included Sandy Clifford (narrator), Marialice Nielson (Eliana), Angella Hutchings (Ashira), Val Schilling (Dina), Nedra Sproul (Nava), Karen Lonsdale (Gabriella), Patti Davies (Adi), Emma Hutchings (Liraz), Amanda Richmond (Malka), Kris Quinn (Leora), and Pattie Briggs (Jessa).

Following the presentation in the chapel was a wedding feast in the cultural hall.

(For more information - the BYU Bookstore carries the CD, script, etc...  Here is a brief description:)

Based on Emily Freeman's bestselling book of the same title, this stirring album is a musical journey through the ever-relevant parable of the ten virgins. Featuring various artists, including Hilary Weeks, Jenny Phillips, and Cherie Call, The Ten Virgins presents songs and narration inspired by the individual stories of each virgin. Listeners will relate to the characters and their lives and will find encouragement to fill their own lamps daily. With a script, performance tracks, and sheet music available, The Ten Virgins can easily be presented at group activities and programs.

Includes the following tracks:

The Shopkeeper on the Hill by April Meservy
What I Need (Eliana's Song) by Emily Castleton
Nothing Matters More (Ashira's Song) by Jenny Phillips
Until (Dina's Song) by Hilary Weeks
Easy to Forget (Nava's Song) by Krista Q. Maurer
More (Gabriella's & Adi's Song) by Kathryn Tuttle & Kerilyn Johnson
Time Goes By (Liraz's Song) by Cherie Call
Magnificent Work of Art (Malka's Song) by Tamara McFadden
Lantern Light (Leora's Song) by Mindy Gledhill
Only One (Jessa's Song) by Jessie Clark Funk
The Coming of the Bridegroom by April Meservy
When He Comes for Me by The Ten Virgins Ensemble

Birthday Celebration ideas...

Sisters - there are many websites out there containing ideas for Relief Society meetings - formerly "Enrichment".  We are not suggesting you use any of these - we are including them simply as a vehicle to "prime your pump" for ideas.   Each of our wards is unique - it's not necessary to use a "cookie cutter" approach to planning meetings.  

Elder Uchtdorf's talk entitled "Happiness, Your Heritage" in 2008 includes a statement to keep in mind as we plan meaningful, uplifting Relief Society Meetings...  (for his talk in it's entirety - click HERE)

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before".

We wish you success as you plan meetings that are as unique as your ward!

Included below are a few ideas found on the LDS Living website...

Relief Society Birthday
by Kate Ensign-Lewis

On March 17th, the Relief Society celebrates its 166th birthday, making it one of the world’s oldest women’s organizations. It is also the world’s largest women’s organization, with five and a half million sisters in 170 countries. If you’re planning a Relief Society celebration in your ward or branch, we’re got some great ideas to help strengthen testimonies as well as strengthen bonds between Relief Society sisters.

---

A Night of Relief Society History

Relief Society Jeopardy
Teach your sisters more about the mission of Relief Society by reviewing its roots. A fun way to teach the sisters the history of the organization is to play Relief Society Jeopardy. Depending on how competitive your sisters are, divide the group into teams, or allow sisters to yell out their answers freely. Create questions that bear some significance to Relief Society––questions concerning scriptures that are significant to Relief Society, hymns that have significant Relief Society history, trivia about Relief Society leaders, or other general trivia. Use this game in conjunction with a dinner and message about the growing mission of Relief Society through time.
Video of the General Relief Society Meeting of 2005
Another way to highlight Relief Society history is to share the video that was shown during the General Relief Society Meeting of 2005. This video beautifully explains the reason for organizing the Relief Society and the power behind the organization. After watching the video, invite a priesthood leader to share some statements Joseph Smith made about the purpose and potential of the Relief Society. Gather some statements from the brethren in the ward on how the Relief Society contributes to the purposes of the gospel. Share them and lead a discussion exploring what the sisters can do to help the Relief Society live up to this great potential.

Service Projects

Service projects are not just for the ward’s youth. After all, the Relief Society’s motto is “Charity Never Faileth,” and what better way can you celebrate the anniversary of its organization than by answering its call to serve?
Habitat for Humanity
One of the best-known service organizations specializing in large service projects is Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds homes for families in need. Habitat for Humanity even has a specialized program for girls and women, called Women Build. With this specialized program, crews of women and girls build the homes, so you can even involve the ward’s Young Women in the celebration event. If you would rather not call on the women of your ward to put in labor alone, involve the entire ward in a Relief-Society–sponsored Habitat for Humanity project, and everyone can participate in the legacy of Relief Society. Go to habitat.org to find other specialized programs, local affiliates, and service opportunities.
Deseret Industries Projects
You can also find ideas for individual service projects from a local Deseret Industries; each DI should have an office dedicated to humanitarian aid. In these offices, you can find examples of needed items, like knitted bandages for lepers, home-made picture books for children around the world, and colorful wall hangings to give visual stimulation to children in orphanages. You can also schedule evenings for sisters to come in and work on on-site projects, such as assembling school kits.
Church Humanitarian Aid
The Church’s website has several ideas for service under Humanitarian Service and the “How Can I help?” link. Ideas include smaller and larger projects.
After the big event, or on the day you have set for sisters to turn in their contributions, have a luncheon, followed by birthday cake, and share your experiences of the event. Combining your ward’s birthday celebration with a special service event truly is a wonderful opportunity to illustrate the mission of the Relief Society.

Themed Birthday Parties and Programs

The Relief Society Birthday celebration can also be just that: a party. But include in your celebration more than birthday cakes; create a theme that inspires discussion and reflection. Here are some thoughts:
Months of the year
Celebrate the birthdays of your sisters. Decorate each table with a centerpiece that represents a certain month of the year. Ask sisters to sit at the table that represents the month they were born in. Serve dinner and have a speaker deliver a message on how to remember the Relief Society mission all year long by serving the sisters around us. This gives sisters a great opportunity to learn more about sisters they don’t normally spend time with; it can also be a good occasion to discuss the blessings of visiting teaching.
Of Royal Birth
Emphasize the value of each Relief Society sister by organizing a program that reminds them of their royal heritage as daughters of God. Remind them of their divine purpose as members of Relief Society, as women, and as individuals. Ask a leader or sister to speak on divine purpose, or organize a skit that highlights milestones of life and the guidance Heavenly Father promises. You might even include daughters as part of the program. You can find an already-compiled program at theideadoor.com/skits—complete with script and music to use.
Celebrate Femininity and Nurturing
Brainstorm topics for four classes, two on femininity and two on nurturing. On a Sunday leading up to the celebration, ask the sisters to sign up for two classes; schedule the classes in such a way that the sisters attend one class on each subject. Possible class subjects for nurturing classes include: first aid/CPR training or building relationships with friends and family. Possible topics for femininity classes are: creating time for self-improvement (physical, educational, etc.) or a basic art class (drawing, watercolor, or sculpture). Make these classes twenty minutes each, and then come back together for dinner. This makes for roughly a two-hour evening.
A Worldwide Sisterhood
Plan a potluck dinner where everyone brings an international dish or family recipe to share. Decorate each table with flags and souvenirs from different countries. For the program, organize a gala where people from different countries perform traditional ceremonies or tell folk tales from that country. After dinner and the program, ask the Relief Society president or bishop to address the sisters on how our differences bless our lives and further the work of the Relief Society. Break a piñata filled with handouts at the end!
Remember, we celebrate the organization of the Relief Society to remind the sisters of the divine mission of the Relief Society, and to remind them of the divine mission of each sister. Whether you use these suggestions or not, be sure that each sister leaves your celebration with a renewed sense of purpose as a sister in this inspired organization and as a daughter of God.

LDS Living Magazine, Jan/Feb Issue

Relief Society Quiz - fun icebreaker idea for RS Birthday...

It's nice to have an activity for your sisters to work on together as they begin to gather at an event.  This is a quiz that may be fun to have on the tables as sisters sit down for the evening.

*Forgive the crazy "formatting"  - as it was taken off another RS blog/website and I couldn't adjust it...  The questions are in bold italic, and the answers are in bold (no italic).

(I have this saved as a word document as well as a PDF - please leave a comment, or send me an email and I'll send it to you so you can adjust it to what you need...)

1.  What was the first auxillary organization in the Church?

Priesthood    Relief Society

2.  What is the Relief Society Motto?

Home, Family & Personal Enrichment   Charity Never Faileth    Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

3.  Who was the longest serving General RS President?

Belle S. Spafford  Eliza R. Snow  Emma Smith

4.  The Relief Society is the oldest and largest women’s organization in the world.  What date was it officially organized?

Mar 20, 1832   Mar 17, 1840  Mar 17, 1842  Mar 20, 1842

5.  Who was the first General Relief Society President?

Emma Smith   Barbara B. Smith   Eliza R. Snow

6.  The RS was organized under the direction of which President of the Church?

Joseph Smith  Brigham Young  Wilford Woodruff

7.  Who was the General RS President in the Susquicentennial Year?

Amy Brown Lyman    Barbara B. Smith    Elaine L. Jack

8.  Who was the General RS President during the centennial celebration in 1942?

Amy Brown Lyman    Belle Spafford    Barbara B. Smith

9.  During the drought of 1879 the RS made an interest free loan to the church.  What was it they loaned interest free?

$20,000 cash    Garden seed for the next spring’s planting   30,000 bushels of wheat

10.  During World War 1 (1917-1919) the Red Cross had an approximate membership of 50,000 women in the US.  Of that number, approximately how many were also members of the RS?

35,000    42,000    47,000

11.  Who is the current General RS President?

Julie B. Beck    Amy Brown Lyman    Bonnie D. Parkin

12.  How many hymns did Eliza R. Snow write in the current hymn book?

10     12     14

13.  Select three of the hymns written by Eliza R. Snow.

How Great the Wisdom and the Love; Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses; O My Father

In Our Lovely Deseret; Hold to the Rod; Silent Night

I am a Child of God; Count Your Blessings; Choose the Right

14.  Who was the mother of Eliza R. Snow?

Emma Smith

Rosetta Leonora Pettibone (Snow)

Barbara B. Smith

15.  How long did it take to write the Relief Society Declaration?

3 hours

3 days

3 months

3 years

16.  Which General Relief Society President threatened to leave her husband because he had a bar in the house?

Belle S. Spafford

Amy Brown Lyman

Emma Smith

17.  On June 3, 1918, why did the President of the United States, Heber Hoover, write a letter of appreciation to the church?

For the copper donated from the Salt Lake copper mine for the war effort

For the contribution by the Church and Relief Society in the purchase of war bonds

For the contribution of wheat and flour for war use

18.  How many sisters were admitted as members when the Relief Society was founded?

14

18

26

34

19.  Which Relief Society President was also the president of the National Council of Women?

Rosetta Leonora Pettibone (Snow)

Belle Spafford

Elaine L. Jack

20.  What General Relief Society President was also the chairman of the Childhood and Family Committee of the National Council of Women?

Barbara B. Smith

Amy Brown Lyman

Bonnie D. Parkin

21.  When did the Visiting Teaching program begin?

1843

1860

1943

1960

22.  When was the Relief Society Building dedicated?

1946

1951

1956

1961

23.  How long after the establishment of the church did Emma Smith make a selection of hymns for the church?

3 hours

3 days

3 months

3 years

24.  Which General Relief Society president enjoyed cruising on the steamer "Maid of the Iowa" with her husband?

Emma Smith

Eliza R. Snow

Barbara B. Smith

25.  Who are the "Singing Mothers"?

Emma Smith and her two Counselors

Eliza R. Snow and her two Counselors

Combined Relief Society Choirs

26.  Which of the following is a program from which the Relief Society has never been responsible for:

Church Compassionate and Welfare Services

Educational Program

Nurse Training

Church Building and Construction

Temple and Burial Clothing Departments

27.  What was the actual official name of the Relief Society when it was first organized in 1842?

The Benevolent Society of Nauvoo

The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo

The Benevolent Relief Society Sisterhood of Nauvoo

28.  What circumstances initiated the organization of the Relief Society? A desire of the sisters to:

Unite in building work clothes for those working on the temple

Unite and bring to the attention of the brethren the mess left after Church and Priesthood meetings

Get out of the house and have a social club for activities

29.  Which General Relief Society President postponed and eventually canceled the grand centennial Relief Society Celebration titled "Woman’s Century of Light"?

Belle S. Spafford

Amy Lyman

Eliza R. Snow