(I was called to serve in the Jerusalem Branch to create the Relief Society Newsletter each Sunday summarizing our meetings for the sisters who cannot attend church, because of sickness, or they are not permitted to enter Jerusalem by the government to come to church.)
Jerusalem Branch Relief Society Newsletter
September 12, 2009
Announcements
Branch Family Home Evening at 7pm in the Oasis
Forum at 7:30pm Tuesday, Sept. 15th featuring 3 graduates of BYU
Saturday, Sept. 19th Linger-longer after Church meetings. Food assignments will be emailed.
Sis. Rebekah Jensen is the new Visiting Teacher Coordinator. Report visiting teaching or assignments to her.
Birthdays: Rebecca Peterson (Sept. 13) Guada Soriano (Sept. 15)
September 12, 2009
Announcements
Branch Family Home Evening at 7pm in the Oasis
Forum at 7:30pm Tuesday, Sept. 15th featuring 3 graduates of BYU
Saturday, Sept. 19th Linger-longer after Church meetings. Food assignments will be emailed.
Sis. Rebekah Jensen is the new Visiting Teacher Coordinator. Report visiting teaching or assignments to her.
Birthdays: Rebecca Peterson (Sept. 13) Guada Soriano (Sept. 15)
Opening Song: "Love at Home"
Lesson: "How Glorious Are Faithful, Just and True Friends" by Brooke Stoneman.
Personal Story by teacher: She met a woman while at a dinner who said she was "really into friendship". Usually we do not think of friendship as being a hobby.
Joseph Smith had several people with whom he had a deep love and close relationship.
Journal entries from the manual were read describing Joseph's friendship with many different people.
The first journal entry described Emma, his wife. Characteristics he used to describe Emma were undaunted, firm and unchangeable. She gave him unspeakable delight. A comment was made that "every woman craves [the ability to give their spouse such happiness]"
The next journal entry read was about Hyrum Smith, and expresses Joseph's appreciation for his faithful brother.
"Oh, may the Eternal Jehovah crown eternal blessings upon your head, as a reward for the care you have had for my soul!" This was expressed as a model of friendship to seek after. Several comments were made regarding asking blessings upon ones friends. "We should ask 'What can I pray for you this week?'" We have great power as friends to call down blessings.
Joseph Smith also spoke of Newel K. Whitney in a journal entry saying, "Thou art a faithful friend in whom the afflicted sons of men can confide..."
The question "Why is their friendship so meaningful to Joseph" was posed.
Answers included: Joseph's friends let him know he was not alone, and that they were with him. A link was also made between Joseph and Jesus Christ. When Christ was teaching people and it became hard, they walked away. He asked his disciples if they would also leave, to which they replied they would have no where to go.
Friendship is commitment, including friendshiping someone when it is not easy.
Are there ways you have been buoyed up by friends during diversity?
(Personal stories responded to this question.)
The idea of fellowship and friendshiping is true doctrine. If you cannot think of those people in your life, you can be one of those people. We need friends in joy, not just in sorrow.
Quote by Benjamin F. Johnson, personal secretary of Joseph Smith "Joseph the Prophet’—as a friend he was faithful, long-suffering, noble and true. … As a companion, socially, he was highly endowed—was kind, generous, mirth loving. … For amusement he would sometimes wrestle with a friend, or oftener would test strength with others by sitting upon the floor with feet together and stick grasped between them. But he never found his match. Jokes, rebuses...matching couplets in rhymes, etc., were not uncommon."
1. What helps you understand the prophet Joseph in this quote?
2. How can mirth loving help our family/friends?
It is good to have all kinds of friends, serious and silly.
"Friendship is one of the grand fundamental principles of ‘Mormonism’; [it is designed] to revolutionize and civilize the world, and cause wars and contentions to cease and men to become friends and brothers." p. 463
Another question was asked: How have presidents of the church been examples of friendships with all people?
Many comments were made about President Hinckley and his sense of humor. A story was told about President Hinckley when he was at Hill Cumorah and wanted to climb it. He had the help of 2 other men, each one latched at his side to help. While climbing he was to have said "You know I can make it up to the top of the hill okay, but it's hard when I have to drag you two."
Quote from Joseph Smith after receiving a letter while being imprisoned at Liberty jail.
"...but those who have not been enclosed in the walls of prison without cause or provocation, can have but little idea how sweet the voice of a friend is; one token of friendship from any source whatever awakens and calls into action every sympathetic feeling; it brings up in an instant everything that is past; it seizes the present with the avidity [eagerness] of lightning; it grasps after the future with the fierceness of a tiger; it moves the mind backward and forward, from one thing to another, until finally all enmity, malice and hatred, and past differences, misunderstandings and mismanagements are slain victorious at the feet of hope.”
Think of the power that the gesture of friendship can have! It can rid another of vices.
Sister Stoneman read the 1st, 2nd and 5th verses of the hymn "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief".
As we give to others and serve, our own wounds will be healed.
May it be said that any sister we come in contact with will not be in want of a friend while we live.
Closing hymn: "Nearer My God to Thee"
Have a splendid week sisters!
Lesson: "How Glorious Are Faithful, Just and True Friends" by Brooke Stoneman.
Personal Story by teacher: She met a woman while at a dinner who said she was "really into friendship". Usually we do not think of friendship as being a hobby.
Joseph Smith had several people with whom he had a deep love and close relationship.
Journal entries from the manual were read describing Joseph's friendship with many different people.
The first journal entry described Emma, his wife. Characteristics he used to describe Emma were undaunted, firm and unchangeable. She gave him unspeakable delight. A comment was made that "every woman craves [the ability to give their spouse such happiness]"
The next journal entry read was about Hyrum Smith, and expresses Joseph's appreciation for his faithful brother.
"Oh, may the Eternal Jehovah crown eternal blessings upon your head, as a reward for the care you have had for my soul!" This was expressed as a model of friendship to seek after. Several comments were made regarding asking blessings upon ones friends. "We should ask 'What can I pray for you this week?'" We have great power as friends to call down blessings.
Joseph Smith also spoke of Newel K. Whitney in a journal entry saying, "Thou art a faithful friend in whom the afflicted sons of men can confide..."
The question "Why is their friendship so meaningful to Joseph" was posed.
Answers included: Joseph's friends let him know he was not alone, and that they were with him. A link was also made between Joseph and Jesus Christ. When Christ was teaching people and it became hard, they walked away. He asked his disciples if they would also leave, to which they replied they would have no where to go.
Friendship is commitment, including friendshiping someone when it is not easy.
Are there ways you have been buoyed up by friends during diversity?
(Personal stories responded to this question.)
The idea of fellowship and friendshiping is true doctrine. If you cannot think of those people in your life, you can be one of those people. We need friends in joy, not just in sorrow.
Quote by Benjamin F. Johnson, personal secretary of Joseph Smith "Joseph the Prophet’—as a friend he was faithful, long-suffering, noble and true. … As a companion, socially, he was highly endowed—was kind, generous, mirth loving. … For amusement he would sometimes wrestle with a friend, or oftener would test strength with others by sitting upon the floor with feet together and stick grasped between them. But he never found his match. Jokes, rebuses...matching couplets in rhymes, etc., were not uncommon."
1. What helps you understand the prophet Joseph in this quote?
2. How can mirth loving help our family/friends?
It is good to have all kinds of friends, serious and silly.
"Friendship is one of the grand fundamental principles of ‘Mormonism’; [it is designed] to revolutionize and civilize the world, and cause wars and contentions to cease and men to become friends and brothers." p. 463
Another question was asked: How have presidents of the church been examples of friendships with all people?
Many comments were made about President Hinckley and his sense of humor. A story was told about President Hinckley when he was at Hill Cumorah and wanted to climb it. He had the help of 2 other men, each one latched at his side to help. While climbing he was to have said "You know I can make it up to the top of the hill okay, but it's hard when I have to drag you two."
Quote from Joseph Smith after receiving a letter while being imprisoned at Liberty jail.
"...but those who have not been enclosed in the walls of prison without cause or provocation, can have but little idea how sweet the voice of a friend is; one token of friendship from any source whatever awakens and calls into action every sympathetic feeling; it brings up in an instant everything that is past; it seizes the present with the avidity [eagerness] of lightning; it grasps after the future with the fierceness of a tiger; it moves the mind backward and forward, from one thing to another, until finally all enmity, malice and hatred, and past differences, misunderstandings and mismanagements are slain victorious at the feet of hope.”
Think of the power that the gesture of friendship can have! It can rid another of vices.
Sister Stoneman read the 1st, 2nd and 5th verses of the hymn "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief".
As we give to others and serve, our own wounds will be healed.
May it be said that any sister we come in contact with will not be in want of a friend while we live.
Closing hymn: "Nearer My God to Thee"
Have a splendid week sisters!
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