Inspiration from an Unexpected Source

 

We have been serving as Church Service Missionaries in the Welfare Services Department of our church. Our area of focus is in a regional Home Storage Center where members of our church, as well as those who are not members, can come and purchase pre-pack and bulk items of foods such as flour, wheat, sugar, beans, etc. for everyday use or for food storage.  Ask me about the Hot Cocoa Mix.  We have been doing this for a few months now and have really enjoyed our service.  

This past week things were a little slow, until a young mom came in to buy a couple of items while she was in the area. She does not live locally, but sometimes stops by when she is in town on business and picks up a few things.  She was probably in her 30’s, and was just a delight to talk to.  She radiated the spirit of the Gospel: her light was warm and beautiful.  As I sat there chatting with her about her current assignment in church–she is Primary President in her congregation–I was struck by how strong her testimony was of the Savior and living the Gospel–she has only been a member of the church for 4 years!  

I am 58 and was baptized at 8 years old, and she is more spiritually mature than I am.  I was honored and blessed to be talking to her and I kept thinking that it was so cool to be having this conversation with a perfect stranger, and yet, because of our beliefs we were really sisters.

She set an example for me that day of a loving mother, a beautiful daughter of God, a strong warrior for our Savior Jesus Christ.

It was a good day.

What’s In Your “Wallet?”

This Mormon Morsel was posted on November 27, 2011.  This same story was mentioned in a Relief Society lesson this past week and I thought it would be appropriate to share again.  I love the message here!
 
I was looking up information on http://www.lds.org/ for my upcoming lesson in Young Women and I saw this video for youth called “The Lost Purse.”  Oh my goodness.  It really makes you think about what your “stuff” says about who you are.  Take a look at this video.  I, for one, am going to check my “purse” and see what I am putting out there about who I am.
 
 
 

 
“The Lost Purse”
 
 

Daughters of Our Eternal Father

As busy, stressed, stretched–but continually faithful–women, we sometimes wonder if what we are doing is enough and if we are enough.  The Visiting Teaching message for the month of April assures us that we are each “a beloved spirit…daughter of heavenly parents.”  I am glad I get to share this with you today, because in a couple of hours I am going to visit one of the women in my congregation that I have been given stewardship over as a fellow sister in the gospel.

Here is part of the message that particularly inspired me:

“In [the premortal] realm, we learned about our eternal female identity,” said Carole M. Stephens, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency.

“Our mortal journey to earth did not change those truths.”2

“Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance,” said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “He hears your prayers. He knows your hopes and dreams, including your fears and frustrations.”3

“We each belong to and are needed in the family of God,” said Sister Stephens. “Earthly families all look different. And while we do the best we can to create strong traditional families, membership in the family of God is not contingent upon any kind of status—marital status, parental status, financial status, social status, or even the kind of status we post on social media.”4

Image from LDS.org