I've recently been called to be a counselor in the Relief Society Presidency in my Single's Ward. When Bishop called me into his office, I wasn't too worried. When he extended this calling to me, I was shocked, but not really worried. I knew I could handle this. And knowing Kandis was going to be the President, I was really eager and excited. As I accepted the calling, I still wasn't worried. And then the calling began.
I had no idea the work that goes into these callings.
Hence my new appreciation for the hard work that goes into making Relief Society what it is. Not only the work that goes on in our ward, but in the stake, the General Relief Society Presidency in Salt Lake City, and the very beginning of this remarkable organization that started in the early days of the church.
I've generally liked all my callings. This past fall up in Utah I was fortunate to be able to teach Relief Society, which brought me closer to the Savior, the Relief Society Presidency, and gave me an opportunity to share my testimony. But I have to say, this calling is not only a blessing, and not only is something that excites me and motivates me everyday, but it is a calling I know has been given to me for a divine purpose. I absolutely love my calling. I love the girls I serve with. I love our Relief Society, and that every girl has something different to offer. I love that we've been given this platform to be able to get to know each girl individually, visit on a regular basis, and stretch ourselves to spiritually grow more everyday.
This calling is preparing me for great things to come in my near future, and for that I am grateful.
This calling has given me a new appreciation for Relief Society, for the order of the church, for the divine role of a woman, for the necessity of sisterhood, for a place where women can go to connect, bond and support one another, for the foundation Emma Smith and those early women layed, for a feeling of purpose and something to work towards and be proud of, a place where learning is not just a right but a privilege, and for the hard work of every stem of the Relief Society that more times than not goes unnoticed.
The Presidency meetings are long, flooded with overwhelming duties, information, debriefings, visits, calls to be made, lessons to be taught, errands to be run, prayers to be said, lists to be fulfilled, activities to be planned, and so on. But I have to say, these meetings are amazing, filled with the Spirit, and are downright hilarious.
Tonight Kandis and I had a little pow wow at my house. Okay, one long pow wow, which would be stressful except it's Kandis...so it's more like I get to hang out with my good friend and talk about spiritual stuff. Every month a member of the Presidency teaches a sunday Relief Society lesson. This Sunday is my turn to step up. Overwhelmed to say the least. So after our meeting, Kandis and I read the scripture I am to teach the girls.
Isaiah 55: 8-13
After reading it over and over, our love grew for this scripture, the more we read it and invited the spirit in, the more we learned and felt a strong tie to this scripture, so much that we were near tears.
We've been through so much, and learned so much already, and I can't wait to see what else these callings have in store for us. We're so lucky to have the Gospel, the Doctrines, the organization and order of the church, the leadership and Priesthood, our individuality and talents, and to have a place to come every week to purge, grow, learn, mold ourselves, and be around people who truly want to see you succeed and will do anything to help you achieve your divine potential.
