Sunday, June 21, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Consider the lilies...
This has always been one of my very favorite church songs. The message is amazing, and the MoTab choir's delivery gives me serious chills.
(Click play, then pause it for a minute so it can load completely.)
The writer of the song tells of his inspiration here.
Alma 5:59-60
"For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him."
"And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed. "
Keep the faith.
Love you all.
(Click play, then pause it for a minute so it can load completely.)
The writer of the song tells of his inspiration here.
Alma 5:59-60
"For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him."
"And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed. "
Keep the faith.
Love you all.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Little note from one of our own...
Today during church we had a special Visiting Teaching/Home Teaching Conference of sorts. Today also happened to be the day I was released as Visiting Teaching Coordinator/Supervisor. I have had a Visiting Teaching calling in this ward for nearly 2 years and I am very sad to say that it has taken me this long to really truly appreciate my calling.
I would like to share with you a brief history of my experience as a Visiting Teacher thus far in my life. When I turned 18 I was just finishing my Jr. year of High School and decided to leave the Young Women's program and move into Relief Society. That meant that I began Visiting Teaching while I was a Sr. in High School, attended early morning seminary, weekly institute (45 minutes away), and working a three quarter-time job. In my home ward I was pretty much the designated babysitting and babysat for most of the children in the ward. My first companion took very literally the instructions that we only HAVE to visit the sisters once a quarter...not necessarily the best way for me to learn the true importance of Visiting Teaching. All the same we went, once a quarter (most of the time) basically just to get it done.
Then, I moved out to college and as most of us know, unfortunately, Visiting Teaching does not even rank on our list of priorities while we are going to school, socializing, working, etc. The next few wards I lived in I don't think I even had a Visiting Teaching assignment because we were only there for a short time and to be honest, I felt relief that I didn't have to worry about HAVING to visit anyone.
Then, three years ago, my husband and I moved into the Willow Springs Ward. I don't think any other ward can ever claim responsibility to "converting" me to Visiting Teaching. The first year we lived here I didn't know anybody, I worked full-time and only saw people at church. I had my assignment but could never get a hold of my companion, and she never tried to get a hold of me so I figured "whoops, I guess I can't go Visiting Teaching." Then I was called to be a Visiting Teaching Supervisor and I guess something clicked. I began to TRY to do my calling. If I couldn't get a hold of my companion, I would go by myself. If I couldn't get a hold of my sisters, I would drop a note off at their door each month with a message and my contact information. I still was/am not perfect but a joy for Visiting Teaching was beginning to spark.
After a few months as a Supervisor I was called to be the Coordinator. I can't begin to tell you what a difficult, time consuming, but wonderful calling this was. I truly developed a LOVE for each and every sister in this ward. Not only for the sisters that I personally was assigned to steward over, but for every single sister in this ward. I found myself thinking DAILY of the sisters. I found myself crying myself to sleep in pain knowing that Sister X was not being visited and that if we made a change then Sister Y would probably not be visited. I found my heart aching for all of the sisters struggling in one area of their lives or another. In short, I found a true and humble testimony of Visiting Teaching.
I find today that my heart aches even more knowing that I have had this wonderful calling released from me and that I didn't take enough opportunities to express my deep gratitude for each and ever sister in the ward. I know we all have struggles, I know we are all in different stages of our lives, I know we are all busy, but I know we all want to someday return and report to our Heavenly Father that we did everything in our power to bring that one sister along with us back into fellowship and to return to live with her Heavenly Father.
Sister Stice asked us all today to write down the name of every sister we visit and then under their name make a LIST of things that that sister may need. Something as simple as taking our her trash, or something more involved as taking her kids for the evening so her and her husband can attend the temple for the first time in months. Sister Stice then challenged us to offer help to those sisters. Instead of asking "is there anything we can do for you?" ask specifically "can I help take out your garbage as I leave today?" "can I take your kids to the park this afternoon?" I want to second that challenge and I accept it whole hearted myself.
Sister of the Willow Springs Ward. I have such a strong testimony of Visiting Teaching now that I wish I had from the very beginning. I wonder how many people fell through the cracks when I had an "excuse" not to do my Visiting Teaching and that inpowers me to not let that sister 5 years from now fall throughthe cracks. I know that our Heavenly Father and Mother love us so very much and that it is through them that the calling to be Visiting Teachers comes from. I love each and every one of you and I close this testimony in the name of our beloved brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
--
Jessica S Haworth
p. 801-380-9430
alt email: jessica.haworth@mail.com
I would like to share with you a brief history of my experience as a Visiting Teacher thus far in my life. When I turned 18 I was just finishing my Jr. year of High School and decided to leave the Young Women's program and move into Relief Society. That meant that I began Visiting Teaching while I was a Sr. in High School, attended early morning seminary, weekly institute (45 minutes away), and working a three quarter-time job. In my home ward I was pretty much the designated babysitting and babysat for most of the children in the ward. My first companion took very literally the instructions that we only HAVE to visit the sisters once a quarter...not necessarily the best way for me to learn the true importance of Visiting Teaching. All the same we went, once a quarter (most of the time) basically just to get it done.
Then, I moved out to college and as most of us know, unfortunately, Visiting Teaching does not even rank on our list of priorities while we are going to school, socializing, working, etc. The next few wards I lived in I don't think I even had a Visiting Teaching assignment because we were only there for a short time and to be honest, I felt relief that I didn't have to worry about HAVING to visit anyone.
Then, three years ago, my husband and I moved into the Willow Springs Ward. I don't think any other ward can ever claim responsibility to "converting" me to Visiting Teaching. The first year we lived here I didn't know anybody, I worked full-time and only saw people at church. I had my assignment but could never get a hold of my companion, and she never tried to get a hold of me so I figured "whoops, I guess I can't go Visiting Teaching." Then I was called to be a Visiting Teaching Supervisor and I guess something clicked. I began to TRY to do my calling. If I couldn't get a hold of my companion, I would go by myself. If I couldn't get a hold of my sisters, I would drop a note off at their door each month with a message and my contact information. I still was/am not perfect but a joy for Visiting Teaching was beginning to spark.
After a few months as a Supervisor I was called to be the Coordinator. I can't begin to tell you what a difficult, time consuming, but wonderful calling this was. I truly developed a LOVE for each and every sister in this ward. Not only for the sisters that I personally was assigned to steward over, but for every single sister in this ward. I found myself thinking DAILY of the sisters. I found myself crying myself to sleep in pain knowing that Sister X was not being visited and that if we made a change then Sister Y would probably not be visited. I found my heart aching for all of the sisters struggling in one area of their lives or another. In short, I found a true and humble testimony of Visiting Teaching.
I find today that my heart aches even more knowing that I have had this wonderful calling released from me and that I didn't take enough opportunities to express my deep gratitude for each and ever sister in the ward. I know we all have struggles, I know we are all in different stages of our lives, I know we are all busy, but I know we all want to someday return and report to our Heavenly Father that we did everything in our power to bring that one sister along with us back into fellowship and to return to live with her Heavenly Father.
Sister Stice asked us all today to write down the name of every sister we visit and then under their name make a LIST of things that that sister may need. Something as simple as taking our her trash, or something more involved as taking her kids for the evening so her and her husband can attend the temple for the first time in months. Sister Stice then challenged us to offer help to those sisters. Instead of asking "is there anything we can do for you?" ask specifically "can I help take out your garbage as I leave today?" "can I take your kids to the park this afternoon?" I want to second that challenge and I accept it whole hearted myself.
Sister of the Willow Springs Ward. I have such a strong testimony of Visiting Teaching now that I wish I had from the very beginning. I wonder how many people fell through the cracks when I had an "excuse" not to do my Visiting Teaching and that inpowers me to not let that sister 5 years from now fall throughthe cracks. I know that our Heavenly Father and Mother love us so very much and that it is through them that the calling to be Visiting Teachers comes from. I love each and every one of you and I close this testimony in the name of our beloved brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
--
Jessica S Haworth
p. 801-380-9430
alt email: jessica.haworth@mail.com
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