Relief Society Lesson Plan for 2016

The Relief Society lesson plan for 2016 is taken from Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Howard W Hunter. We encourage all sisters who have laptops, tablets or smartphones to download the Gospel Library app and access the manual through that. Help is available for those who are not confident using their technology. Hardcopy manuals are available to those few sisters who are unable to use technology.

First Sundays are Presidency Messages of selected topics by the RS presidency, followed by testimonies.

Second and Third Sundays are taken from the manual.

Fourth Sundays, "Teaching for our Times" is taken from General Conference talks, topics determined by Stake.

Fifth Sundays are Bishopric's Messages of selected topics by the Bishopric. Relief Society combines with Priesthood for this time.

Last updated 27 Dec 2015.

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Jan 3 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Jan 10 Chap 1 "Jesus Christ--Our Only Way to Hope and Joy"
Jan 17 Chap 2 "My Peace I Give Unto You"
Jan 24 TFoT: Elder Bradley D. Foster "It's Never Too Early and It's Never Too Late" (Sat afternoon Session)
Jan 31 Bishop's Message

Feb 7 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Feb 14 Chap 3 "Adversity--Part of God's Plan for Our Eternal Progress"
Feb 21 Chap 4 "Help From On High"
Feb 26 Stake Conference Broadcast

Mar 6 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Mar 13 Chap 5 "Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration"
Mar 20 Chap 6 "The Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ"
Mar 27 TFoT: Pres Thomas S Monson "Keep the Commandments"

Apr 3 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Apr 10 General Conference Videos
Apr 17 Chap 8 "Taking the Gospel to All the World"
Apr 24 Stake Conference

May 1 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
May 8 Chap 9 "The Law of Tithing"
May 15 Chap 10 "The Scriptures--The Most Profitable of All Study"
May 22 TFoT: From Apr 2016 General Conference
May 29 Bishop's Message

Jun 5 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Jun 12 Chap 11 "True Greatness"
Jun 19 Chap 12 "Come Back and Feast at the Table of the Lord"
Jun 26 TFoT: From Apr 2016 General Conference

Jul 3 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Jul 10 Chap 13 "The Temple--The Great Symbol of our Membership"
Jul 17 Chap 14 "Hastening Family History and Temple Work"
Jul 24 TFoT: From Apr 2016 General Conference
Jul 31 Bishop's Message

Aug 7 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Aug 14 Chap 15 "The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper"
Aug 21 Chap 16 "Marriage--An Eternal Partnership"
Aug 28 Stake Conference

Sep 4 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Sep 11 Chap 17 "Preserve and Protect the Family"
Sep 18 Chap 18 "We Believe in Being Honest"
Sep 25 TFoT: From Apr 2016 General Conference

Oct 2 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Oct 9 General Conference Videos
Oct 16 Chap 20 "Walking the Saviour's Path of Charity"
Oct 23 TFoT: From Apr 2016 General Conference
Oct 29 Bishop's Message

Nov 6 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Nov 13 Chap 21 "Faith and Testimony"
Nov 20 Chap 22 "Teaching the Gospel"
Nov 27 TFoT: From Oct 2016 General Conference

Dec 4 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction
Dec 11 Chap 23 " 'No Less Serviceable' "
Dec 18 Chap 24 "Following the Example of Jesus Christ"
Dec 25 Christmas!

Christina's lesson: "Here to Serve a Righteous Cause"

For those sisters who couldn't attend RS due to callings, illnesses or out of town, here are the salient points of Christina's excellent lesson, taken from Carol F McConkie's Conference talk "Here to Serve a Righteous Cause".

"The worth of souls is great in the sight of God."

We are here to serve a righteous cause. The Lord's righteous cause: Moses 1:39. We support His righteous cause of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man by:

1. We are to do our best to choose the Gospel path, to make ourselves the best we can, receive all the ordinances and endure to the end.
2. We are to help one another, to uplift one another, to support and love one another.
3. When we do as He would have us do, we receive blessings. When we encourage others, we give them the opportunity to receive blessings.

May we choose to serve a righteous cause in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Know Who You Truly Are

Sis Joanne Ryan, Relief Society President, presented today's lesson.

Know Who You Truly Are

How do you know how the Lord feels about you?  The Holy Ghost testifies to you of your Divine Nature.

Today's lesson was based on Sheri L. Dew's book No Doubt About It -- "Remember Who You Are... And Who You Have Always Been."  Sheri L Dew is a former member of the General Relief Society Presidency.

"Noble and great. Courageous and determined. Faithful and fearless. That is who you are and who you have always been.

"It is not for you to be led by the women of the world; it is for you to lead... the women of the world, in everything that is praise-worthy, everything that is God-like, everything tha tis uplifting and that is purifying to the children of Men."

Every sister in Relief Society received a small silver box of wisdom. When opened, they were able to know who they truly are and to see themselves as God would see them.  It does not matter what superficial features your mortal body has. Look past the flaws to see you are truly a Daughter of God.

Being United in our Family--Mortal and Eternal

As taught by Sister Helena Hodges

Who is our Family?

Consider the Plan of Happiness - it is all about family.

We all belong to a family. In the premortal life, we were spiritually born to a divine Father and Mother. We are all brothers and sisters. We are born into a family on earth.

As families we need to be united. What are some things we do to help each other out in our mortal family?
Feed the family. Family Home Evening. Making members feel loved and wanted. Show unconditinal love without expecting anything in return. Teach and lead by example. Teaching social skills. Spending time together. Ask about their day. Read to one another.

The Family Proclamation specifically says:

"ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally."

We need each other to unify and come together. Unite with our talents, our skills, our experience, our wisdom. Serve one another and teach this to the next generation.

Service for our Family

Service is the Gospel of Jesus Christ in action.  Service blesses both the given and the giver.

Serve Heavenly Father through obedience to His commandments. Support one another thorugh action.

The purpose of Relief Society is to save souls. We can provide temporal relief and spiritual relief.

Ultimately, we all want to return to our Heavenly Father. We can provide service to our family to help them achieve this beautiful destiny.

Temple Provides an Easy Way to Serve our Family

Thinking back to the Plan of Happiness, we can serve our family by helping them complete their Ordinances.  For those who did not have the chance to receive Temple blessings while on earth, we can serve them by helping them complete their work.

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One thing we ask our sisters to do this week:  Think of one important thing we do in our family to bring them together. Use that act on someone who's not a member of your family or the Church.

Helena's lesson: "Returning to Faith"

Due to Self-Reliance lesson last week, this week's lesson, taught by Sis Helena Hodges, is from Sister Rosemary Wixom's April 2015 Conference talk, "Returning to Faith"

Returning to Faith

Sis Rosemary Wixom

The Lord can only teach an inquiring mind.

Sometimes we have doubts or questions. It's a natural part of our journey. However, we can get discouraged and lose our faith and testimony.

Sister Wixom tells a story of a faithful Latter-Day Saint woman who, as an adult, had questions in her life: "But as the questions grew harder, so did the answers. And sometimes there were no answers—or no answers that brought peace. Eventually, as she sought to find answers, more and more questions arose, and she began to question some of the very foundations of her faith." It was a difficult and confusing time. She wanted the satisfaction of answers.

Through this time she had the love and support of her family and ward, but she had to work through the question of what she truly believed on her own.

Sister Wixom shares, "In a 1953 letter, Mother Teresa wrote: “Please pray specially for me that I may not spoil His work and that Our Lord may show Himself—for there is such terrible darkness within me, as if everything was dead. It has been like this more or less from the time I started ‘the work.’ Ask Our Lord to give me courage.”

"Archbishop Périer responded: “God guides you, dear Mother; you are not so much in the dark as you think. The path to be followed may not always be clear at once. Pray for light; do not decide too quickly, listen to what others have to say, consider their reasons. You will always find something to help you. … Guided by faith, by prayer, and by reason with a right intention, you have enough.”5

"My friend thought if Mother Teresa could live her religion without all the answers and without a feeling of clarity in all things, maybe she could too. She could take one simple step forward in faith—and then another. She could focus on the truths she did believe and let those truths fill her mind and heart.

President Uchdorf said, "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."  (Oct 2013 General Conference)  See what is causing your doubts and question that.

This sister had to focus on what she knew.

She started her journey back by looking at what remained of her testimony. Much of her testimony was in ashes, but what remained was a belief in Jesus Christ. She also had a desire to rebuild her faith.

She began with the basics--Primary songs, those deep, beautiful songs we teach our children. Soon, scripture reading and prayers became a priority.

Sister Wixom shares, "She learned that when she came up against a statement that caused her to doubt, she “could stop, look at the whole picture, and make the gospel personal.” She said, “I would ask, ‘Is this the right path for me and my family?’ Sometimes I would ask myself, ‘What do I want for my children?’ I realized I want them to have temple marriages. That’s when belief came back to my heart.”"

"I was reminded that “it is upon the rock of our Redeemer” that we all must build our foundation. I was also reminded of the counsel of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: “Hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.”"

We may not know everything, and we may not have answers to every question in our heart. However, if you know that it is good, hold to that goodness and build your faith upon that. Take one step at a time. Trials come to us all. We may all go through the darkness, but we can come through the other side. Focus on truths to fill your mind and heart.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said: “We are all pilgrims seeking God’s light as we journey on the path of discipleship. We do not condemn others for the amount of light they may or may not have; rather, we nourish and encourage all light until it grows clear, bright, and true.”

Perfection Pending - Notes on Sister Hirama's First Sunday Lesson

Dear Sisters,

If you were unable to make it to Relief Society today (5 July) here's our notes on Sister Hirama's lesson.

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Perfection Pending

From an Oct 1995 conference talk by  Elder Russell M Nelson

We are all familiar with Matthew 5:48.  Keeping the commandments can be a concern because we are not yet perfect.

We are all on our own journey towards perfection.

You do yourself no favours if you compare your journey to those of others. You are on your own journey. You can look to the positive examples of others, but do not compare yourself.

Two areas of reaching for perfection:  Mortal Perfection and Immortal (Eternal) Perfection.

Perfect: tendings towards being complete or finished.

Elder Nelson explained, "In Matt. 5:48, the term perfect was translated from the Greek teleios, which means “complete.” Teleios is an adjective derived from the noun telos, which means “end.” 10 The infinitive form of the verb is teleiono, which means “to reach a distant end, to be fully developed, to consummate, or to finish.” Please note that the word does not imply “freedom from error”; it implies “achieving a distant objective.” In fact, when writers of the Greek New Testament wished to describe perfection of behavior—precision or excellence of human effort—they did not employ a form of teleios; instead, they chose different words."

How can we obtain Mortal Perfection? By being perfect in little things. We can be perfect in tithing. We can be perfect in our prayers. We can be perfect in other areas, such as punctuality, for example. Have you done everything in your power to make the choices that move you to perfection?

Strive to do your best. You may not succeed every single time, but your rate of success will improve.

Put Heavenly Father first. Raise your sights.

The focus on our pending perfection is not that we are without error right now, but that we are striving to do our best in all things we have power over. Do not let the foibles of mortality deceive us from actively striving towards perfection.

Our weaknesses are to make us humble. Acknowledge that we have not yet completed the journey.

Perfection is a journey. We are either moving forward or moving backwards. If we are actively working to move forward towards perfection, we are on the good path. If we are not making any choices or even rebelling, we are moving backwards.

*Our Challenges -- these give us something to work on.
*Chastisement -- Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth (Hebrews 12:6). This gentle correction of the Lord helps us to recognise and overcome error.

We need to acknowledge our weaknesses and challenges, then we need to work on them.

Eternal Perfection

The Saviour is our example. We can do no greater thing than follow His examples.  Christ was not perfected until the third day of his crucifixion, when he was resurrected.

The ordinances of the Temple and the covenants we make are the path that takes us towards Eternal Perfection.

D&C 67:13  Continue in patience until ye are perfected.

RS Lesson - The Parable of the Sower

Today's lesson is taken from Elder Dallin H Oaks April 2015 Conference talk "The Parable of the Sower."  It's really good. Go have a read.

This parable was for the Saints, or those who have already received the gospel. "It is up to each of us to set the priorities and to do the things that make our soil good and our harvest plentiful."

Today we asked the question: What do we do with the Savior’s teachings as we live our lives?

The parable speaks of stony ground with very little soil. Seeds may sprout here, but the moment the relentless heat of the sun or strong winds (adversity) come along, the seeds whither. Pride, stubbornness, hubris and other poor attitudes can create a stony heart. The gospel cannot flourish in a stony heart.

Then there is the ground taken up by thorns. Seeds may sprout and start to grow, but the thorns of worldliness and deceitfulness can choke out the gospel so it cannot bear fruit.

But the rich soil of a good ground nourished constantly by living the gospel, or as Christ explained, “the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).

Your Homework:

How nourished is your soil? Does the gospel of Jesus Christ flourish in it?
On a piece of paper, write down the ingredients of Good Ground.

The Ingredients of Good Ground
What I do Acknowledge what you are doing right	What I want to do? How can you improve? Everyone has room for improvement.
Read scriptures? prayers?

Lesson: Setting and Achieving Goals - 2015

(Notes from Hilary Seymour's Relief Society lesson 7 June 2015)

As it is half-way through the year, it is time to reflect upon our goals. How are we doing?

Review, Re-Evaluate, Revise, Realistic, Refocus, Re-energise

3rd Article of Faith states: "We believe in that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Laws - by following laws, we grow closer to God.

4th Article: We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, second, repentance, third baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, fourth laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Principles & Ordinances will help us get to where we are going.

A principle is an enduring truth, a law, a rule you can adopt to guide you to making decisions. -- Pres Boyd K Packer

What we do here and now is so important in the Eternities.

Increasing our personal faith and righteousness.  

What are our goals?

Faith is a principle of action and power. When you work towards a worthy goal, you exercise faith.

Have trust in yourself when you set a goal. You can achieve it. Don't be discouraged if you don't reach your goals in the boundaries you've set. This is where faith comes in.

How does the Temple help us in the achieving of our goals? It gives us vision, direction and knowledge of our eternal purpose and plan. Set up holy habits and routines. These are the little goals that will help us achieve great ones.

The Gospel can fortify us and give us the strength for all our endeavours.

Keep an eternal perspective and reflect on the good things you have accomplished.

Reflect on your goals and actions:

• Is it true? 
• Is it uplifting? 
• Is it edifying?

"I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves." --Joseph Smith.  

The Lord will guide us, but we will need to act. 

RS Lesson Plan - May - Dec 2015

This is the Relief Society Lesson Schedule for the rest of the year.  

First Sundays are Presidency Messages of selected topics by the RS presidency, followed by testimonies.

Second and Third Sundays are taken from the manual for 2015: Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson

Fourth Sundays, "Teaching for our Times" is taken from the April 2015 General Conference talks.

Fifth Sundays are Bishopric's Messages of selected topics by the Bishopric. Relief Society combines with Priesthood for this time.

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May 3rd Relief Society/Quorum Instruction

May 10 Chapter 9 “The Book of Mormon – Keystone of Our Religion”

May 17 Chapter 10 “Flooding the Earth and Our Lives with the Book of Mormon”

May 24 T.F.O.T. Elder L. Tom Perry – “Why Marriage and Family Matter” (Saturday Morning Session)

Elder Robert D. Hales – “Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom”

(Sunday Afternoon Session)

May 31 Bishop’s Message

June 7 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction

June 14 Chapter 11 “Follow the Living Prophet”

June 21 Chapter 12 “Seek the Spirit in All You Do”

June 28  T.F.O.T. Elder Dallin H. Oaks – “The Parable of the Sower” (Saturday Morning Session)

July 5 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction

July 12 Chapter 13 “Priceless Blessings of the House of the Lord”

July 19 Chapter 14 “Marriage and Family – Ordained of God”

July 26 T.F.O.T. Sister Rosemary M. Wixom – “Returning to Faith” (Sunday Morning Session)

August 2 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction

Aug 9 Chapter 15 “The Sacred Callings of Fathers and Mothers”

Aug 16 Chapter 16 “The Elderly in the Church”

Aug 23 T.F.O.T. Elder Kevin W. Pearson – “Stay By The Tree” (Sunday Afternoon Session)

Aug 30th Stake Conference

September 6 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction

Sept 13 Chapter 17 “Keeping the Law of Chastity”

Sept 20 Chapter 18 “Beware of Pride”

Sept 27 T.F.O.T. Elder Russell M. Nelson – “The Sabbath is a Delight” (Sunday Afternoon Session)

October 4 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction

Oct 11 General Conference Videos

Oct 18 Chapter 20 “Feed My Sheep”

Oct 25 T.F.O.T. President Thomas S. Monson – “Blessing of the Temple” (Sunday Morning Session)

November 1 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction

Nov 8 Chapter 21 “Principles of Temporal and SpiritualWelfare”

Nov 15 Chapter 22 “Carrying the Gospel to the World”

Nov 22 T.F.O.T. Elder Dieter F Uchtdorf - "Be Not Afraid, Only Believe" (General Priesthood Session)

Nov 29 Bishop’s Message

December 6 Relief Society/Quorum Instruction

Dec 13 Chapter 23 “Strengthen Thy Stakes”

Dec 20 Chapter 24 “A Christ-Centred Life”

Dec 27 T.F.O.T. Sister Carol F McConkie "Here to Serve a Righteous Cause" (General Women's Session)

May Calendar

Please make a note of these upcoming events:

Calendar
12 May, 7pm -  Multistake YSA Temple Evening, 7pm
15 May, 7:30pm -  Multistake YSA Activity, Dianella Chapel
16 May; 7pm -  Multistake Devotional, Mandurah Chapel
17 May, 7pm -  Stake YSA Fireside, Rockingham chapel
18-31 May - Temple Closed
23 May 5:30pm  - movie night "Meet the Mormons", Rockingham cultural hall (bring friends)
24 May, 1pm-7pm - Multistake YSA Devotional, Dianella
24 May, 6:30pm - MultiStake Single Adult Fireside
26 May, 12pm - Friendship Luncheon  [location TBA]
1 June - Western Australia Day
5 June, 7pm - Ward Temple Baptisms
6 June, 2pm - Stake RS Garden Party, Gary Holland Centre (Dress vintage)

Coming up in June... Fortnightly workshops on "Food, Finance and Frugality"

All Church Calendar items, with details, can be found on the www.lds.org website.

Do you have your LDS Account yet? If not, get registered and get access to all the LDS Tools. You will need your membership number (found on your Temple Recommend, or contact the Ward Clerk for more info).