Relief Society Lesson Plan June-Dec 2016

Here is the Relief Society Lesson Plan for the rest of the year. We encourage all sisters to read the lessons before coming to class so that they may be able to participate with more confidence.

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 5 June 2016.

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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: Elder M Russell Ballard - Family Councils


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: Elder D Todd Christofferson - Fathers
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 TFoT: Elder Dale G Renlund - That I Might Draw All Men Unto Me

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: Elder Robert D Hales - The Holy Ghost

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: Elder Quentin L Cook - See Yourself in the Temple
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! TFoT: From Oct 2016 General Conference

Jo's Lesson: Celebrating Relief Society

Celebrating Relief Society

On 17 March we celebrate the 174th birthday of the Relief Society.

To have a better understanding and appreciation of the Relief Society, how it can bless our lives, and enable us to bless the lives of others.

We are spirit daughters of God.

History of RS: In 1842, Joseph Smith recognised the highly-organised nature of the Latter-Day Saint women, and their desire to help in the building of the Nauvoo Temple.  The sisters had originally drafted a constitution and by-laws. The Prophet declared this offering to be pleasing unto the Lord. He organised them under the priesthood. The Relief Society has been organised under a divine and inspired manner.

How does being a member of the Relief Society inspire and uplift you? How does it help you rise above the world? How does it help you make changes in your life? How does it encourage you to serve others? How has Relief Society helped you realise the divine woman you truly are?

Get a copy of the Relief Society Declaration and read it often. Realise your purpose, your meaning and your direction.

Linda K Burton, General Relief Society President, said, "Each Spring, LDS Women commemorate the founding of the Relief Society. Know we are celebrating so much more than just a birthday."

We celebrate:

• Our Purpose
• Our Power
• Our Sisterhood
• Our Covenants with Heavenly Father
• Our Blessings we have received
• Our participation in the three-fold mission of the Church (Proclaim the Gospel, Perfect the Saints, Redeem the Dead)
• Our service to our fellow human beings
• Our Faith in Jesus Christ

How can we help each other? We each have significant contributions we can share with one another.

We can work in unity with our priesthood leaders. They are there to help and serve us.

We are part of a great worldwide sisterhood with seven million sisters. We are dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ. We are marvelous women! We must cherish one another. We must watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction, so we may all sit down in Heaven together.

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!

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.