I felt President Uchtdorf\u2019s talk on \u201cYou are my hands\u201d was geared directly toward the Relief Society.\u00a0 If we neglect, or are too busy, to act upon the two great commandments, \u201cwe are missing the point.\u201d\u00a0 As sisters in the Relief Society, we cannot afford to miss the point.<\/p>\n
He spotlighted many examples \u00a0of Jesus Christ demonstrating his most important commandments.\u00a0 \u201cAnd He always talked with, never down to, people.\u00a0 He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation.\u00a0 That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.\u00a0 As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
We just came back from St. Louis, Missouri where we attended church.\u00a0 I observed a ward fulfilling this very commandment of our Savior\u2019s.\u00a0 The ward has adopted this nice African-American young man who has a very disabling disease and uses a walker to get around.\u00a0 This young man (perhaps 14 years of age) was given the privilege of passing the sacrament with the help of an older man who would hold the tray for him, and help him move on to each aisle; a tedious process.\u00a0 This young man is the only member in his family, but the ward has taken him in, accepted his difficulty, and loved him.\u00a0\u00a0 It was beautiful to see.<\/p>\n
President Uchtdorf says, \u201cEvery person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father.\u201d\u00a0 Because we believe this, we need to act differently.\u00a0 \u00a0Being busy can\u2019t be our excuse.\u00a0 \u201cWe are commanded \u2018to mourn with those that mourn\u2019 and \u2018comfort those that stand in need of comfort.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 As sisters, we need to reach out, connect, follow our impressions, and listen more.<\/p>\n
All of us have struggles and trials that we bear.\u00a0 Often they are borne alone.\u00a0 Sometimes a dependable friend is there to lean on.\u00a0 It breaks my heart to hear that the Relief Society sisters are sometimes not there.\u00a0 I talk to many sisters about the Relief Society and I ask specifically, Has the Relief Society been there for you?\u00a0 It is rare that the answer is\u2014Yes.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have an answer for this breakdown in compassionate service toward one another.<\/p>\n
Mormon women are great when it comes to bringing in meals; they are great when they are asked to do something, or given an assignment.\u00a0 What we don\u2019t do, is take the time to check up on one another\u2014just because.<\/p>\n
I recently heard of sisters in a ward taking care of another ward sister, because the RS President was in the middle of her own crisis.\u00a0 They knew someone needed help, so they took matters into their own hands and covered all the necessary bases; including helping the president.\u00a0 That\u2019s our sisterhood in action; acting before the call.<\/p>\n
Sometimes the president just can\u2019t get to everyone, every time.\u00a0 What\u2019s to prevent a Compassionate Service Leader to step in and check up on sisters who haven\u2019t been seen in a while, or look sad, or are struggling?\u00a0 What\u2019s to prevent any of us from stepping in and performing compassionate service to one another?\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that what it\u2019s all about?<\/p>\n
Sometimes we spend too much time helping those sisters who are perpetually weak and struggling, and ignore the strong sisters who have a setback.\u00a0 We can\u2019t afford to overlook our Core membership (look for my post: Organize, Teach, and Inspire).\u00a0 Everyone needs love.<\/p>\n
My mother spent her life as a Social Worker.\u00a0 She was used to listening to people, making herself available to women who just needed to talk.\u00a0 When she retired, she couldn\u2019t shake this habit and began making a list of sisters she observed on Sunday, who maybe looked a little down.\u00a0 During the week she would call them and listen to them. \u00a0Every ward needs at least one person willing to listen.<\/p>\n
When we go visiting, do we have to have cookies to give?\u00a0 Do we use that as an excuse that we can\u2019t possibly visit with empty hands?\u00a0 When you need someone to listen to you, do you care if they\u2019ve brought goodies?\u00a0 No.\u00a0 You are just grateful someone thought of you.<\/p>\n
He concludes, \u201cAs we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us.\u00a0 Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger.\u00a0 We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.\u201d\u00a0 As a sisterhood, we need to find more ways to connect with one another.\u00a0 We are not alone.\u00a0 By serving one another, we strengthen ourselves as well.\u00a0 Our unity makes us stronger still.\u00a0 It is this strength that will become the spiritual influence throughout the world.\u00a0 Our destiny, as Women of God, lies in helping each other one at a time, personally, and with genuine Christlike love.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I felt President Uchtdorf\u2019s talk on \u201cYou are my hands\u201d was geared directly toward the Relief Society.\u00a0 If we neglect, or are too busy, to act upon the two great commandments, \u201cwe are missing the point.\u201d\u00a0 As sisters in the Relief Society, we cannot afford to miss the point. He spotlighted many examples \u00a0of Jesus […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[483,21,473],"tags":[621,38,376],"class_list":["post-2092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-acts-of-charity","category-conference-talks","category-faith-2","tag-service","tag-pres-dieter-uchtdorf","tag-rs-responsibility"],"yoast_head":"\n