Have you ever wondered what is happening behind the scenes
in our Relief Society? Well, I’m here to give you a sneak peak into a part that
has happened recently. So, sit back, relax and enjoy this post.
On Sunday I had the opportunity to attend a Relief Society
board meeting. Early Sunday morning the RS Presidency, District Supervisors, and
other coordinators gathered in the Bean Museum. Since I have never been to a
board meeting before I wasn’t sure what to expect. To start, Katy informed us
that our ward was asked to be a part of a pilot program for the church for a
Self-Reliance effort. We were also instructed about the recent Relief Society
Auxiliary Training to tailor all Relief Society efforts to meet the goals of
the Relief Society Organization.
___________________
Relief
Society helps prepare women for the blessings of eternal life as
they:
•
Increase faith in Heavenly Father
and Jesus Christ and His Atonement;
•
Strengthen individuals, families,
and homes through ordinances and covenants; and
•
Work in unity to help those in
need.
Handbook 2: Administering the Church, [2010], 9.1.1
________________________
What does this mean for our ward?
First, our ward has had a focus on self-reliance for some
time now. You have probably heard the Relief Society presidency members share
that one of our goals as a Relief Society is to “help our sisters help each
other to help themselves”. Aligning with the pilot program would not be far
from what we already have in place. But what does “piloting a program” require?
It requires that we approach what we have been doing
differently. But how?
Katy invited us to discuss where we think we are as a Relief
Society. How are our sisters? Are we aligned with the goals of Relief Society?
And how do we move from where we are to where we need to be?
It’s not every day that I get to hear the perspectives of
other sisters in Relief Society about how we are doing as a ward, but can I
tell you that it was great. It was interesting to hear their different
perspectives and insights. We talked about how at times it can be difficult to
fulfill our callings when we are given limited guidance but expected to deliver
great outcomes. It was great to hear that others were experiencing the same
thoughts, feelings, struggles, and concerns that I have felt before.
I recall one sister saying that our effort to implement this
pilot effort was actually a pioneering effort that would eventually provide
feedback that could potentially affect sisters of the world.
On one hand, I could feel the weight and the importance of
this effort. We were being charged to try something new, something that has
never been done before, and really change how we approach our work in Relief
Society.
For me, and the other district leaders, this is about
visiting teaching.
Although the instructions given were vague about how to
implement this effort, I could feel an overwhelming empowering freedom extended
to us, as sisters in our Oak Hills ward, to accomplish the goals of the Relief
Society.
In essence, we have been entrusted to rely on our personal
revelation and inspiration to know how to extend inspired and intentional
service to each other.
On the other hand, I at first felt overwhelmed by the task. I
couldn’t help but think about my own responsibilities. As a district leader we
are asked to not only check in with our sisters about their visiting teaching,
but we also help some compassionate service needs, we facilitate lessons each
third Sunday, and now, with our Bishop’s support, we also help to facilitate
monthly 3rd Monday District FHEs. Usually, this would seem very
doable, but this semester I have a lot of my plate and I could not help but
feel tired and overwhelmed. I often feel like this sometimes:
But I digress.
Over time through our discussion I started to feel better. After
brainstorming, we were asked to discuss what our goals were. We wrote our ideas
on the board and shared our thoughts and feelings.
Katy explained that the essence of Relief Society boils down
to visiting teachers – sisters serving and watching over one another. A simple yet profound effort.
For example, as a district leader, I know that sisters are
invited to accept a call as a visiting teacher. When they do, they are charged
to provide service and watch care for each sister they are assigned. Although,
it is assumed that “everyone” is a visiting teacher and it is something that we
should do, it is sometimes a calling and responsibility that is not always a
priority. However, as we talked as a group, Katy made it clear that the basic
role that we each have in the ward comes down to visiting teaching.
After much deliberation, we decided that our goal would be: Each sister will understand the visiting
teaching is her main responsibility.
This statement felt profound to me.
What would it be like to have visiting teaching as my
main priority?
How would that change how I approach visiting teaching?
How would I spiritually prepare to visit my sisters?
What does this mean for the watch care that I provide?
For me, it would change everything. If visiting teaching
were my main priority, I would pray for my sisters daily. I would fast for them
often. I would read my scriptures with them in mind. I would do anything in my
power to serve them. I would pray for inspiration to know how to bless them.
I know this post was long, but I hope it gives you insight
into the effort that we are all invited to be a part of – caring and watching
over each other – in the Oak Hills 8th ward.
