On the 182nd anniversary of the group of the Aid Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, girls all around the world gathered to listen to messages from Church President Russell M. Nelson and the Aid Society normal presidency, and to bear testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Aid Society — one of many world’s oldest and largest service organizations — was organized on March 17, 1842, throughout building of the Nauvoo Temple and in anticipation of the ordinances and covenants to be supplied there, defined Aid Society Common President Camille N. Johnson.
“Now, on this season of unprecedented temple constructing, the target of the Aid Society stays the identical: to organize a individuals temporally and spiritually for the blessings of the home of the Lord,” President Johnson mentioned in her opening remarks.
All Aid Society sisters who enter right into a covenant relationship with God can have entry to these blessings — together with His priesthood energy.
“No worldly group can articulate a comparable, divinely appointed platform to that of the Aid Society,” she mentioned.
President Nelson’s gratitude, invitation and blessings for ladies
In his remarks, President Nelson mentioned he’s deeply grateful to the sisters of Aid Society. He mentioned a lot of the nice the Church accomplishes — and a lot of the nice that occurs on the planet — takes place due to girls.
He thanked girls for his or her devotion to the Lord and their efforts to ennoble others.
“I marvel at your religion and sensitivity to issues of the Spirit. I’m impressed by your diligence, dynamic management, and your skill to see a necessity and meet it. … Your entire mission of the Lord’s Church is strengthened by you.”
He mentioned girls have a divine endowment that permits them to actually change lives — significantly as they’re working to collect Israel.
“Anytime we assist anybody discover the covenant path and keep on it, we’re serving to to collect Israel. Nobody does this higher than you do — as moms, leaders, lecturers, sisters and associates. You might be getting ready future generations of the Lord’s Church and the world.”
Whereas he mentioned he loves his brethren and cherishes working with them, the 2 individuals who have influenced him most are his late spouse, Dantzel, who died at age 78, and, for the previous 18 years, his spouse Wendy.
“They’ve modified my life,” he mentioned. “They’ve made my life extra full.”
Ladies have been on the heart of Heavenly Father’s plan from the start. Covenant daughters of God have a receptivity to the Spirit and an enhanced ethical compass, he mentioned.
“Sisters, please by no means underestimate the extraordinary energy inside you to affect others for good. … If the world ought to ever lose the ethical rectitude of its girls, the world would by no means recuperate.”
Sisters’ voices are wanted to show the doctrine of Christ, detect deception and articulate fact. The knowledge of ladies is required of their households, ward and stake councils, and different locations of affect all through the world.
President Nelson invited girls to make the scriptures their private Liahona, the temple their place of refuge and recalibration, and their private prayers the way in which they study the place the Lord wants them to be that day. Over time, he mentioned, they may see how the Lord guides them to assist others.
Then, he supplied the next blessings for ladies:
- Elevated non secular discernment and the power to search out pleasure in providing aid to others.
- Knowledge to discern what’s needful and to not run quicker than they’re ready.
- Braveness to dwell as much as divine privileges as covenant daughters of God.
- To really feel deeply that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, know them and love them.
- To understand that their divine presents as daughters of God give them the ability not solely to vary lives however to vary the world.
President Johnson invitations girls to enter right into a covenant relationship with God
President Johnson shared how the Prophet has repeatedly taught that when individuals bind themselves to Jesus Christ by means of sacred priesthood covenants in the home of the Lord, they could draw upon God’s energy and want by no means really feel alone.
All enter the covenant path at baptism, after which enter it extra fully within the temple, she mentioned as she invited girls to organize for and obtain the blessings of endowment in the home of the Lord.
Younger girls turning 18 this yr had been invited to look at the published with their native wards or stakes. President Johnson defined that worthy sisters could obtain their very own endowment if they’re not less than 18 years previous; have accomplished or are now not attending highschool, secondary faculty or the equal; one full yr has handed since their affirmation; they usually really feel a want to obtain and honor temple covenants all through their lives. They don’t have to attend till marriage.
“Sisters, in case you are endowed, keep really helpful to the Lord by retaining your advocate present and by attending the home of the Lord frequently. The Lord is making His temples extra accessible to His covenant kids.”
President Johnson shared a second when she addressed a girls’s convention in South Korea. Almost 1,400 Aid Society sisters gathered for the occasion.
On the finish of the assembly, a sister close to President Johnson whispered to her, “He loves you.” The lady later advised President Johnson that when she shared that message of affection, she felt a affirmation from the Spirit of God’s love for her as properly.
“My new good friend, my Aid Society sister residing in South Korea, delivered non secular aid to me by speaking the love of Jesus Christ and was blessed to search out her personal aid in Him, a affirmation of the Savior’s enduring love for her,” President Johnson mentioned. “You see, once we deliver the Savior’s aid to others, we discover it for ourselves.”
Standing along with her counselors, President Johnson testified that ladies have an important function to play in getting ready the world for the Second Coming, and that every one have entry to God’s priesthood energy in conducting that work.
Sister Dennis outlines God’s energy
Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor within the Aid Society normal presidency, mentioned daughters of God might be endowed with priesthood energy — the ability of God that involves those that make and hold priesthood covenants.
“God’s priesthood energy will amplify our non secular presents and skills, it would give us power past our personal to hold the heavy burdens of mortality, and it’ll give us the peace and energy we want as we face the bodily, emotional and non secular earthquakes of our lives. This energy that flows from our covenants can bless our lives in so many various methods as a result of it’s God’s energy.”
Moms can draw on His energy for added capability, power and course. Those that have misplaced a beloved one can name on His energy to really feel comforted and carried. God’s energy may give hope to these dealing with tough life circumstances.
Ladies who’re known as and set aside or assigned to assist with God’s work are additionally given priesthood authority — God’s authority to characterize Him as they fulfill their callings and assignments.
The adversary tries to blind girls as to who they’re and what they’ve. However Sister Dennis mentioned she is aware of of no different non secular group on the planet that has so broadly given energy and authority to girls. “All girls 18 years and older within the Church of Jesus Christ who select a covenant relationship with God in the home of the Lord are endowed with priesthood energy immediately from God.
“And as we serve in no matter calling or project, together with ministering assignments, we’re given priesthood authority to hold out these obligations. My expensive sisters, you belong to a Church which provides all its girls priesthood energy and authority from God,” Sister Dennis mentioned.
Sister Yee testifies, ‘We’re by no means alone’
Every lady has the chance to accomplice with the Lord in a robust manner by means of her covenants — and he or she is supposed to turn out to be one with God by means of these covenants, taught Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor within the Aid Society normal presidency.
“We’re by no means alone. We don’t have to navigate the challenges, the uncertainties and the weaknesses of life alone. He shall be beside us; that is our covenant promise and blessing.”
A partnership by means of covenants is actual, she testified.
“As a sister who has not but married, this covenant relationship with God has a profound place in my life and is the supply of my peace, safety, pleasure and course. Our Father in Heaven and Savior want these blessings for every of us irrespective of our circumstance. They see you, and your path is understood to Them.”
Sister Yee mentioned retaining covenants modifications one’s nature to turn out to be as Jesus Christ. She invited girls to develop a covenant relationship with God and make investments on this relationship by residing their covenants and spending time with the Savior within the temple, in prayer, in research and in ministering.
Although she is just not presently married, Sister Yee mentioned she doesn’t essentially see herself as single. There’s way more to all daughters of God than a marital standing or demographic label. Covenant girls of the Aid Society can create a house the place the Spirit dwells — and create locations of safety and security from the world.
All girls are nurturers to all inside their spheres.
“Expensive sisters, your affect is nice, and your presents are wanted. Have a look at the lives of these round you and people whom the Lord has positioned inside your affect.”
What it means to belong to the Aid Society
The published started with all 9 girls normal officers of the Church standing collectively. Main Common President Susan H. Porter mentioned that whereas for this season she is named to assist the kids of the Church come unto Christ, she is grateful to all the time be a member of the Aid Society.
“Being a member of the Aid Society has allowed me to study from consecrated girls all around the world what it means to like and function the Savior,” President Porter mentioned.
Younger Ladies Common President Emily Belle Freeman talked a few ministering sister who instilled in her the idea within the aid that comes from a society that follows Jesus Christ.
“She taught me that irrespective of the place I serve within the Church, the Aid Society shall be my residence,” President Freeman mentioned.
President Johnson mentioned from the small group of 20 girls assembled in Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1842, a world group of practically 8 million girls has grown. And the Aid Society is main out within the Church’s world humanitarian initiative to handle the wants of ladies and kids.
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These wants are prioritized by means of maternal and new child care, baby diet efforts, immunizations and training worldwide. And one of the best humanitarian outreach is usually to these shut by in on a regular basis acts of kindness. President Johnson thanked girls for serving because the Savior would.
“Sisters, you might be fulfilling your divine mandate as a member of the Aid Society everytime you do something to deliver aid to others — temporal or non secular — since you are bringing them the love of Jesus Christ.
“I testify that as you do, you can be blessed to search out your personal aid in Him. Jesus Christ is aid. And also you belong to the Aid Society.”
