New Mormon.org

This could be an idea for a midweek RS meeting.  Sisters could learn of this new missionary tool by making it part of a presentation on missionary work.  A member of your RS Meeting Committee could teach it, someone in your ward or stake with this type of skill could teach it, or it could be an opportunity to simply view the profiles that are currently on the website for ideas.

Here is an explanation...

New changes are coming to Mormon.org - the biggest of which is the profiles of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Their goal is to have 1,000 profiles of Mormons by the end of May 2010.

The new Mormon.org is designed for visitors to learn more about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Each profile is a collection of stories and testimonies from Mormons.  Participation is optional, but you must be a member of the Church to create a profile.  The profiles will be made public this summer when the new site will launch.  English only profiles will be available this year; other languages will follow.

Here is an example of a profile...  (Click on the photo for more information)

Cinco de Mayo - 4th Ward May RS Meeting

The new 4th Ward Presidency launched their second mid-week RS meeting on May 5th - the actual day of Cinco de Mayo.  Their new RS Meeting Committee went to work advertising with this bright poster.  Since Stake Conference fell the Sunday before, they wanted to make sure it was well advertised - and flyers were handed out in all auxiliaries the week before that.  The day before, a ward-wide email went out reminding the sisters.

Each table was set with simple Mexican decor, and there was a small cup of mexican soda similar to carbonated apple juice (the name escapes me!) for everyone to taste.

A 'Cafe-Rio-like' buffet was set up, and the sisters served themselves in tin pans similar to the restaurant. 

After dinner, Jane McClement introduced her son Brian - who served his mission in Mexico.  He spoke about the Cinco de Mayo holiday - which is only celebrated in a very limited region in Mexico, and more so in the United States.  (Here is a little synopsis below)  We found that it is NOT to be confused with Mexican Independence Day - which is celebrated on September 16th.

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday held on May 5 that commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín.^[2][3] It is celebrated primarily in the state of Pueblaand in the United States.^[4][5][6][7] While Cinco de Mayo sees limited significance and celebration nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed nationwide in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.^[8] Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day,^[9] the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.^[10]

Claire Chance - the RS Meeting Coordinator (official title, notice?) gave a little quiz to see how much we remembered.

Following Brian, Cami Clark (Sharie's daughter) spoke of her experience teaching English in Mexico.  She  set up a slide show and gave us background on food, culture, etc...  She spoke of the hard-working, humble people she worked with.

This was a fun atmosphere to mingle and visit - which all sister really miss because of limited time during the Sunday meeting times.  It was also a way to get to know Cami better - one of the talented, younger sisters in Relief Society.

*Many thanks to Karen Palmer - she is a fantastic photographer/historian for the 4th Ward Relief Society.  She always makes a point to bring her camera to every activity - just in case.

Each RS should think about having a historian - just think how fortunate we were to have the photos in the Women's Conference slide show...

*We would love to spotlight your recent RS Meetings so we can share ideas.  Photos are great, but not absolutely necessary - so don't let that deter you!  Please send them to me by email, or I can swing by and pick them up from you if needed.  My email is located to the right...

Welcome New 8th Ward Presidency

Last night we were happy to get to know the new RS Presidency in the 8th Ward.

Here they are (from left to right...) Jill Petersen (president), Kathy Eskelson (1st counselor), Paula Hardy (2nd counselor), and Barbara Mitchell (secretary). They have been in just a short time, but already have several things planned.

One in particular that sounded fun was a "Sisters In Zion Picnic" - which is essentially a mother/daughter activity. The name has been changed to be more inclusive for all sisters in their ward. (What a great idea!)

The theme they are using this year is "The Empowered Woman" - which was instituted by the recently released presidency.

Their ward has always had the most success in their RS Meetings when sisters are given the opportunity to work on humanitarian projects.

They currently have a humanitarian committee where 3 sisters decide on projects that would be beneficial and of interest to the sisters of their ward to help with. Their bishopric often states that the 'humanitarian fund' in their ward is always generously contributed to - and they often have to come up with projects to use those donations.

One recent project they shared with us last night - which was making burial clothing for stillborn and very premature infants.

There is a real need for these items, as parents are most often not prepared for finding appropriate clothing to dress these very tiny infants in prior to their burial. It is common practice now to turn these very tiny deceased babies over to their parents - even at 16 weeks gestation. What a difficult time for parents (most often young and struggling financially), and what a relief to be offered lovingly handcrafted items as a service to them.

Shown below is the basket where sisters can bring their finished items and place them during Sunday RS Meetings.

To give you an idea of how small these are, here are some photos.

These are burial shrouds - often the infants are so small that clothing them is impossible.

These are like tiny sleeping bags or buntings where only the little face is showing

These are small gowns which are much easier to dress such a tiny baby.

The ward RS provided small doll-sized patterns.

The caps are made from ribbing, cut to length and tied with ribbon at the top.

Hard to imagine how hard it would be to prepare such a small infant for burial.

These are small pads to place beneath the baby, with a pouch to enclose absorbent material.

Lovingly crocheted afghans that are 12" square.

Items such as these can rarely be found or purchased, and if they are available - they are often expensive and costly to ship quickly enough to be used in time for a burial.

The sweet thing about this is the fact that the hands that touched these donated items before the parents, did so with much love and compassion - so different than mass production from a business.




*Update to this post (added Sept 10, 2016)

So many have requested patterns and sources for these gowns, I have added a new post with that information.  See the link to this post here:

http://riverstakereliefsociety.blogspot.com/2016/09/infant-burial-bereavement-clothing-ideas.html

Testimony Tag

With one of the themes of our Saturday evening adult meeting of Stake Conference a few weeks ago, I've become more aware of opportunities to share testimony (in unobtrusive ways) with those we mingle with. Mingling can happen in many ways today - especially with the great tool of the internet.

I found this as I browsed the subject of using the internet for promoting the Gospel. I thought it had merit. Below I've included an example found on a personal blog that highlights this. It is subtle, noticeable, and invites curiosity without confronting others with the "golden question". (It is found HERE)

Wouldn't it be fun to have a RS Meeting where examples such as these are shared by your own ward members?

You might want to see the actual link where I found this idea - which is HERE.

Here is what Elder Ballard has said concerning the subject:

Elder M. Russell Ballard said "May I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet, particularly the New Media, to share the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration." (See video below)

Sharing your testimony or experiences of the Gospel via a blog has three principal benefits:

1. You increase your faith in the Gospel and stand as a witness of Christ.

2. You help increase the faith of your readers and may interest some to learn more about the Mormon Church.

3. You increase the likelihood that individuals searching for information about the Church on the web will be more likely to find fair and accurate information about the Church.

Sample Personal Blog Post:

Our Family is Forever

On our recent trip, while filling up at a gas station, Neal saw a bumper sticker that gave him a brilliant idea. Pretty soon he was writing in the dust on the back window. It took me a moment to figure out what he wrote (since I was reading it backwards from inside the car). I had to chuckle when I realized that he had written mormon.org. What better way to let people know that this is our religion and we are proud of it. I am so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our trip was wonderful and a challenge at the same time. As hard as it is to travel 3500 miles with three kids, 5 and younger, it was so worth it to be able to spend such quality time together. I love my husband and children I am so thankful to know that we can be an together forever. "What matters most is what lasts the longest..." and I hope my family knows that they are what matters most to me.


(You have to look really close because the rain washed most of the dirt away.)

Maximizing the Benefits of Modern Technology while Minimizing the Negative Moral Impact

In light of our recent Stake Conference Saturday Night session, we were all brought to a realization of how important it is to embrace the advances in technology of late in order to benefit the spread of the Gospel.

I found this and thought it was very applicable to what was presented.

You may consider expanding on this topic for a RS Meeting.

Many ward members are valuable resources you could use to explore some of these topics and present additional information.

I found it on a website called Internet Safety Podcast (the link is HERE)

Posted by cknutson as Podcasts

The host is Marcus Smith, and the program is “Thinking Aloud.” This 30-minute interview aired Wednesday, April 8, 2009, and was made available as a podcast on the KBYU-FM website on April 9, 2009. The program was entitled, “Way Too Wired and Overly Connected.” You can click the program link and listen from the KBYU-FM website or simply listen here.

Here’s the description from the KBYU-FM site:

We have gained many comforts and abilities through technology, but at what price? We’re not looking to rain on the technology parade, but merely to reflect on just how radically our lives have indeed been altered by it. Join us to explore some subtle risks of technology, problems that most people don’t seem to notice or care much about.

  Podcast #19: Way Too Wired and Overly Connected [28:54m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download