Lunchtime Moment

Sisters,

I hope you can take a moment during your day to watch this. Afterward, I invite you to be the 1/10th to return in an offering of gratitude.

We are Daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us…and we love Him.

With Great Love,

Sister Gish

Let Young Women Lead (L3)

While perusing the Young Women page on lds.org recently, I came across this new addition:  Leading in the Savior’s Way: Leadership Lessons for Young Women Class Presidencies. In fact, it is so new, it is still under construction. Nevertheless, it is packed full of timely counsel, great leadership ideas and useful ministering tools. You’ll notice that it is organized very much like Come, Follow Me. 

Here is an example of one of the lessons:

Which lesson do you and the Class Presidents feel would be the most beneficial to learn and discuss during your next meeting? Is there a particular doctrine or principle that, if better understood, would increase joy in your service and theirs? In what ways can this leadership tool be used other than Young Women class presidency meetings?

We pray, and know, that the Spirit will reveal to you and your Young Women class presidencies exactly the best way to utilize these principles as you move forward in your callings to both - prayerfully administer the guidelines of the Young Women Auxiliary of your ward, and then go forth to lovingly minister to the Young Women of your ward.

With Great Love & Gratitude…

Presidency Message - January

From Sister Shannon Gish – President, Exeter Stake Young Women Presidency 

Happy New Year my beloved friends and Sisters.  As I sit here at my computer and type these words, my heart is full of love and gratitude to my Father in Heaven for the precious blessings of family and friends.  I see each of you in my mind’s eye leading with love and serving with sacrifice. I am overjoyed to be equally yoked with you and our Savior in His marvelous Work.

Perhaps like you, the new year always brings to me a sense of re-birth, of second chances and of deepened desires to – as I heard it said once – “get it right”. In searching for inspiration during my preparation to set new goals and renew previous ones, I came across a few quotes that set my mind and heart in motion. I hope they do the same for you.

"The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul... new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.”  (attributed to G. K. Chesterton. A catholic philosopher and writer.)

“I thank Jesus for…His marvelous management of time, for never misusing a moment, including the moments of meditation. Even his seconds showed his stewardship” ~ Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, May 1976, 26

"One day we will take that unavoidable step and cross from this mortal sphere into the next estate...and wonder if we could have been better, made better decisions, or used our time more wisely…[I]t would be wise to make some resolutions today. Therefore, let us:
• Resolve to spend more time with those we love.
• Resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person God wants us to be.
• Resolve to find happiness, regardless of our circumstances.
It is my testimony that many of the deepest regrets of tomorrow can be prevented by following the Savior today." ~ President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Of Regrets and Resolutions”.

"Every person is different and has a different contribution to make. No one is destined to fail. As you seek revelation to see gifts God sees in those you lead…you will be blessed to lift their sights to the service they can perform. With your guidance, those you lead will be able to see, want, and believe they can achieve their full potential for service in God’s kingdom." ~ President Henry B. Eyring, “Help Them Aim High”.

"Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage…to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.' May we remember to cultivate a positive attitude, a belief that we can achieve our goals and resolutions, and the courage to face whatever challenges may come our way. Then the abundant life will be ours." ~ President Thomas S. Monson President Monson, “Living the Abundant Life”.

As we pray and ponder about our goals, may we add the resolve to stand, unmoved, in holy places and invite our loved ones to do so as well. I also encourage you to visit the following links as you consider your own individual, family and presidency goals. Consider sharing them at the first class presidency meetings of the new year. They might be useful in guiding revelation for our young women as they strive to minister to the other young women that they, like us, are also called to serve and love.

“Go For It!”

“Have I Done Any Good In the World Today?”

“He Lives.”

I pray that we will be One in this Work. I pray that our families will be blessed and feel the love of God in their lives; that they will be protected and strengthened for their support of us. I pray that each one of you, my beloved Sisters of the great auxiliary to the Priesthood - the Relief Society, who serve these righteous, good, divinely beautiful Daughters of God, will find strength beyond your own capacity; that you will continue to aim high so that you – that we – may bring souls higher as we grow towards eternal life. Most of all, I pray “with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with [charity], which [is] bestowed upon all who are true followers of Jesus Christ; that…when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.” (Moroni 7:48) This is our ultimate goal.

With great love, deepest gratitude and a joyful hope for 2013 and the years ahead.

(To create your own “wordle” like the image above,click here http://www.wordle.net/create. This is a great FHE activity! Call me if you have any troubles with it. I am happy to help.)