December Newsletter pg 1

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,...Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.- 2 Nephi 19:6

Dates To Remember:

4-First Presidency Christmas Devotional
25-31- Family Week
25- Sacrament Only at 11:30 am

Lesson Schedule:

4-Presidency Message
11- The Final Judgment  pg. 269
18- Exaltation  pg. 275
25- NO Lesson

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!


Birthday Wishes!!
5-Lisa Christensen
6-Leisel Hulse
9-Billie Lu Bagles
11-Kathy Platis
12-Ann Schropp
13-Rhonda Imlay
16-Janice Adrus
18-Lori Wood
22-Colleen Platt
26-Amanda Nielson


Visiting Teaching Message:

An Extensive Sphere of Action

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Study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit. Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief Society an active part of your own life.

An Extensive Sphere of Action

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The Lord, His Church, families, and communities need the influence of righteous women. In fact, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that “every sister in this Church who has made covenants with the Lord has a divine mandate to help save souls, to lead the women of the world, to strengthen the homes of Zion, and to build the kingdom of God.”¹

Some sisters may wonder if they can accomplish such lofty aims. But as Eliza R. Snow (1804–87), second Relief Society general president, explained, “There is no sister so isolated, and her sphere so narrow but what she can do a great deal towards establishing the Kingdom of God upon the earth.”² Sister Snow also taught that Relief Society was organized “for the accomplishment of every good and noble work.”³

Participation in Relief Society enlarges our spheres of influence by giving each sister opportunities to build faith, to strengthen families and homes, and to provide service both at home and throughout the world. And fortunately, our efforts as individuals and as Relief Societies need not be large and overwhelming, but they should be deliberate and consistent. Righteous practices such as daily personal and family prayer, daily scripture study, and consistently magnifying Church callings will help increase faith and build the Lord’s kingdom.

To sisters who wonder if these seemingly quiet contributions make a difference, Elder Ballard affirms: “Every sister who stands for truth and righteousness diminishes the influence of evil. Every sister who strengthens and protects her family is doing the work of God. Every sister who lives as a woman of God becomes a beacon for others to follow and plants seeds of righteous influence that will be harvested for decades to come.”⁴

From the Scriptures

1 Corinthians 12:4–18; 1 Timothy 6:18–19; Mosiah 4:27; Articles of Faith 1:13

From Our History

Eliza R. Snow, who had served as secretary when Relief Society was organized in Nauvoo, was called by President Brigham Young (1801–77) to travel throughout the Church, helping bishops organize Relief Society in their wards.

Sister Snow taught: “If any of the daughters and mothers in Israel are feeling in the least circumscribed [limited] in their present spheres, they will now find ample scope for every power and capability for doing good with which they are most liberally endowed. … President Young has turned the key to a wide and extensive sphere of action and usefulness.”⁵

What Can I Do?

1. 1. How can I help the sisters I visit recognize and act on their ability to be a righteous influence?
2. 2. How can I use my unique gifts and talents to bless others?

December Newsletter

Our Focus this month is - Bringing Christ into Christmas
1. Think and ponder on the true meaning of Christmas.
2. Share your thoughts of our Savior's birth with your family and friends.
3. Think of what you can give Christ this year for a gift.

Pulled French Dip Sandwiches
Serves 8
Cooking Time 8 hr

Ingredients
1( 3-4 pound) top chuck roast
2 cups beef broth
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 reaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
8 hard rolls or French Bread

Instructions
1. Place roast in a 3- quart slow cooker.   Ina medium bowl, combine beef broth, soy sauce, and spices; pour over roast.
2. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until meat is very tender.  Remove meat from broth'shre with forks and keep warm.
3. Place meat on rolls.  Strain broth and pour into small cups for dipping.



Congratulations to Zach and Erika Mitchell on the arrival of their baby girl.  ZayLee was born in November.

New Gadgets

I have added some new gadgets to our web page.  Hopefully you will find them useful.  You will notice a tab that says Richmond 2nd Recipes, this is a blog that has all of the recipes that we have put in the newsletter so far and will continue to be updated.

Please pass the word along about our blog.  Check back often as there will be updates.

Thanks,
Becky Funk 

June Newsletter

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:"-Job 19:25

DATES TO REMEMBER: June

1-RS Temple Day

5- Fast Sunday

19-Father's Day

15-17- AP in Action Camp

24-25-Youth Conference

Lesson Schedule:  June

5-President's Selection

12- Obedience - Pg 201

19- The Family Can
Be Eternal- Pg 207

26-The Eternal Blessing Of Marriage (Elder Richard G. Scott)

Birthday Wishes

4-Vivian Johnson

4-Korin Johnson

5-Teresa Taylor

5-Melissa Titensor

8-Ann  Bowcutt

9-Seantae Jackson

10-Sandy Hamby

14-Lynette Lewis

19-Debbie Allan

21-Shirley Blau

22-Grace Avalos

24-Shari Alvey

Visiting Teaching Message: 

Strengthening Families through Temporal Self-Reliance

Developing self-reliance-the ability to care for ourselves and our families-is the responsibility of every sister.  We become self-reliant as we learn to love work, as we seek inspiration to find the best ways to provide for ourselves, and as we work with family members to meet basic needs.

When we are self-reliant, we use our blessings and resources to prepare for and avoid problems.  Self-reliance, however, is enhanced as we pray for the courage to meet with faith the challenges that will surely come.  Self-reliance also enables us to keep our covenant to care for others.

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society General President, explains that "providing for ourselves and others is evidence that we are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ."

From Our History:

Relief Society sisters have always participated in the work of saving souls temporally and spiritually.  Each week as the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo me, sisters reported on people in need.  This foundational work of relieving suffering has continued to be the work of Relief Society through the generations. 

Scriptures:

John 13:34-35; James 1:27; Mosiah 4:26; D&C 29:34-35; 38:30;44:6

What Can I Do?

1. How can I help my sisters and their families improve in temporal self-reliance?

2. How can I improve my own temporal self-reliance?

June Newsletter- pg 2

Our focus this month is- O Remember, Remember-

1.  Do you have a written copy of your testimony of Christ? Take time to write one. You might want to include your belief in Him, your gratitude for Him, or an experience that has strengthened your testimony of Him.

2. Obtain and keep a journal, start by maybe taking a few minutes and writing each Sunday this month, if you don't already have a routine.  If you do, write and ponder your testimony.

These are a couple of recipes of the salads that were brought to our Relief Society Meeting in May.

Thank you Sisters!!  They were all yummy, I will try to get the other recipes.

Cherry Delight Jello Salad

Diane Bowden & Mardene Hillyard

1 lg cherry jello, dissolved in 2 cups boiling water

1 can cherry pie filling

1 small can crushed pineapple-divided

1 lg package instant vanilla pudding

1 1/2 cup milk

1 small container cool whip

Mix jello & water, add pie filling and pineapple and set, Blend vanilla pudding and milk.  Add cool whip.  Spread on top of jello.  Garnish with sliced almonds.

Fantastic Fruit Salad

Becky Crossley- Chris Barnes brought to RS Mtg

2 15 oz cans pineapple tidbits

2  cans mandarin oranges

2 15 oz cans fruit cocktail

2 sm. pkgs. vanilla instant pudding

2 c. buttermilk

12 oz. Cool Whip

Drain pineapple, oranges and fruit cocktail 3 hours in colander.  Mix in small bowl pudding and buttermilk.  Put Cool Whip in large bowl, fold in pudding mixture.  Add well drained fruit.  Mix together

Relief Society Weekday Meeting

Richmond 2^nd Ward

Relief Society Weekday Meeting

STRENGTHENING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Thursday, May 19^th

7:00 p.m. at the Church

Speaker:  Paul Findlay, Family Therapist for LDS Family Services

Will discuss ways to strengthen relationships and how to avoid/improve upon common problems

Summer Salads Served

Nursery Provided

NewsLetter Page 2

Our focus this month is-

1. To remember and focus on the reality of being a Daughter of God, you are royalty.
2. Pray to enhance or come to know who you are in your relationship with the Father.
3. List good characteristics about yourself
4. Listen and follow the direction of the spirit to share your feelings about being a daughter of God with someone you know.

Congratulations to Brittany and Jonathan Anderson who welcomed a baby boy on Monday, April 25th.  He weighed 8lbs 2oz.

Welcome Chelsey and Brady Dixon, they moved into the Gilbert home, a little while ago, but I realized I forgot to put them in the newsletter,  they have a baby girl named Bailey. We are so glad you have moved into our ward. Welcome!