2022 Stake Relief Society Blog

2022 Stake Relief Society "PhD" Blog

One last Peace, Hope & Deliverance (PhD) from Sister Sweeney: (Thx Heather for pic) This is Star Trails: involves opening a camera’s aperture for a long time against the darkest night sky to capture the pattern of stars reflected by the earth’s rotation. The photo shows what is happening in the universe but is imperceivable to the naked eye. It is remarkable, almost spellbinding.

Many of us have faced deeply dark & difficult nights. The photo shows that even in the darkest places there is light! Additionally, the light is organized. God is a God of order, of reason, of purpose. If we will open our hearts, our spiritual apertures & face them toward heaven we will see beautiful, organized, divine light.

In 3rd Nephi 11 we read of the Savior’s visit. He invited the people to come forward “one by one.” I have come to love the next phrase: they went “until they had all gone forth.” UNTIL they had ALL come. He stays. He waits. He helps. He lights. He redeems UNTIL ALL have come! No one is forgotten. No one is left behind. No one is lost. We just have to open our spiritual apertures (sometimes for a very long time like the photos) & see His light. He proclaimed “I am the light and life of the world.”

Admittedly, I like Nephi, “do not know the meaning of all things.” Sometimes, like the Star Trails, the light/order are imperceivable. I don’t know all the reasons we suffer. I don’t know all the purposes for those dark nights. But, also like Nephi “I know that he loveth his children.” (1 Nephi 11) He stays! He waits! He helps! He lights! He redeems UNTIL ALL have come!

Elder Uchtdorf said, “On that future day, you will look back.. & you will see that the dots really did connect into a beautiful pattern, more sublime than you ever could have imagined. With unspeakable gratitude, you will see that God Himself, in His abounding love, grace & compassion, was always there watching over you, blessing you & guiding your steps as you walked toward Him.” (Devotional 1.2018)

Our Savior is always there! He is aligning our stars into a beautiful, sublime pattern. In those dark moments, open your spiritual aperture & see His light. That gives me PEACE & HOPE.

Melissa Porter 7/10/2022

Hi ladies!! Here are just some thoughts I’ve had this week and today.

Today as I was sitting in sacrament meeting, I turned to the scriptures and decided to just go to a random scripture which happened to be Mosiah 16:6-9. This week I’ve been thinking about and missing so many people who I love that have passed on and it’s been hard. But I also had a new niece born and she’s just a sweet reminder of heaven 💕 knowing that through Jesus Christ, death is not the end and we will see our loved ones again brings me so much peace and hope! I am grateful for our loving Heavenly Parents who sent their son, Jesus Christ, to Earth to make all these things possible. 🤍

Are you finding messages of Peace, Hope & Deliverance in your Book of Mormon studies? I can hardly get through a page without seeing some message of PhD! It is remarkable.

I was just reading about when Nephi & family arrived at the land Bountiful. 🌴🌺🍊🍌💦🌳🐝🌼 A new insight & sweet message of PhD came to me.

8 yrs in the wilderness so far! They had “wade through much affliction… suffering & much difficulty.” Perhaps we can relate. But then they came to this beautiful place Bountiful🏝 “all these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish.”

I don’t want to perish; physically, emotionally or spiritually. Note:

1. Our loving, merciful Savior prepares “Bountifuls” for us so we don’t perish!

2. Nephi tells us “if it so be that [we] keep the commandments of God, he shall nourish, strengthen & provide.” We won’t perish if we stay on the Covenant Path.

As I was reading I thought “I need a Bountiful!”🏝🌺🍋 We all need little, wonderful, peaceful Bountifuls along our way. Right? I am enjoying a brief Bountiful in the beautiful Bahamas.🏝💦

It’s not our ultimate destination of a Promised Land. For me, that won’t come until I am reunited with my sweetheart, Doug. Which sometimes feels very far away. But in our journey in the “wilderness of affliction” the Lord can provide us sweet Bountifuls along the way. A Bountiful of PEACE.

That gives me HOPE! 💙

Kristen Sweeney 06/18/22

Sometimes we wonder about all the war chapters in Alma. I personally think one of the reasons they are there is to prepare us for the Helaman chapters of our lives. Spiritually preparing us for “serious difficulty” & “great uncertainty.” Interestingly, the war chapters are filled with PEACE, HOPE & DELIVERANCE!

I was just thinking of a favorite little treasure in Alma 58. You will remember, Helaman & his troops are patiently waiting for reinforcements, food & help & they cannot imagine why help is not coming! They feel "grieved,” “filled with fear,” & as if they are “about to perish!” Sometimes we may feel the same when facing our trials & challenges. We often wonder "Why isn't help coming?" Or "Why is my prayer not being answered?"

So there is a great lesson in Alma 58:10-13. As we “pour out our souls to God” He can & will strengthen us. He may not take away the trial. Reinforcements & food did not come for those troops. But, the Lord blessed them with great assurances. He did “speak PEACE to our souls” & “did cause that we should HOPE.” Oh, how grateful I am for those assurances!

Then they were able to take courage & eventually overcome their trial.

So, have faith... hang in there! We truly can feel PEACE & HOPE. And we can face our challenges like Helaman’s troops. We too can “go forth with all our might.”

Deena Heap 4/5/2022

Every page we read of the Book of Mormon📖 is filled with the power of Christ who is the Prince of Peace, He gives us HOPE through His atoning sacrifice, and is our Deliverer! Our PhD has been such a great addition to my Book of Mormon reading.

I am reading in the final chapters when Ether, like Enos, “did cry from the morning, even until the going down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto repentance lest they should be destroyed, saying unto them that by FAITH all things are fulfilled!"

The next verse is all about HOPE. It says “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety HOPE for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which HOPE cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure & steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.” (Ether 12:5.) Thanks all for sharing!

Kellie Bowman 3/10/2022

I am enjoying searching the Book of Mormon for examples of Peace, Hope and Deliverance, and think that Nephi and his broken bow is a great representation of PhD. Even though the Lord had provided Lehi with the Liahona to direct and guide them, the everyday tasks of finding food and shelter was left up to them. When they found themselves unable to hunt for food because of their broken bows, I am sure they thought they would perish in the wilderness.

While Nephi’s brothers were complaining, he went forth with faith and hope in efforts to build a new bow and arrow. Following the directions on the Liahona, Nephi was directed to the top of the mountain, where the Lord delivered, and he was able to find food for their families. “By small means the Lord can bring about great things.”

I love what Nephi says in 1 Nephi 16:32, “And it came to pass that I did return to our tents, bearing the beasts which I had slain; and now when they beheld that I had obtained food, how great was their joy! And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord, and did give thanks unto him.”

Our Heavenly Father loves each one of us, and I know that during difficult times in our lives, He is always there to give us peace, hope, and deliverance.

Heather Foster 2/22/2022

I am so very grateful for the sweet opportunity to participate in the Stake Relief Society Book of Mormon Challenge to read the Book of Mormon seeking for words of Peace, Hope and Deliverance. I cannot think of a time in all my life when we as a society or myself in my own personal life have needed those three words more.

I found as I was studying that the words of Enos resonated deeply with me!

Enos had a “wrestle before God” before he received a remission of his sins. The words of his father sunk deep in his soul. His soul hungered. He prayed and cried unto the Lord all day long and into the night. Then the voice came saying in Enos:5, “Enos thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art blessed. The next verse is so powerful. Enos says in verse 6 he “knew that God could not lie; wherefore his guilt was swept away!!”

And then Enos asks a question: “Lord, how is it done?”

I absolutely love the Lords response in verse 8, “Because of thy Faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen….wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.” Enos didn’t get a lesson on mechanics or process. The Lords explanation was simple….its because you have faith. Faith in Christ’s mercies is what enables the atonement to sweep away sin. We don’t have to worry about how it’s done. We don’t need to fret over the particulars or the details. God says to you and I, If you trust me and have faith I can deliver you!

It is his greatest promise!!

I love the Book of Mormon and I testify that it is the word of God! ❤️

Joyce Stokes 2/16/2022

Our Relief Society "peace, hope and deliverance" Book of Mormon Challenge has given me an opportunity to study in a way I never have before!

For instance, look at my markings in 1 Nephi 11 - 14.

I read and re-read the vision of the tree of life and came up with some new observations.

Nephi wants to know all the things...so he asks Heavenly Father, who sends the Spirit of the Lord. How many questions does the Spirit asks Nephi? (I counted 9)

How many times did the Spirit ask Nephi to "Look!" (13)

These chapters give me PEACE and HOPE because I can see how the Spirit can teach ME. I can ask for something, and be taught in the same way. Line upon line. This brings PEACE to my soul, because I don't have to know everything right NOW. That gives me room to breath.

And it may take time...I may learn 1 something, and then be given time to ponder, then get a nudge to "look", and maybe if I DO something, some action like looking, I may be given more, taught more. This gives me HOPE! Hope in the knowledge that my spiritual understanding is line upon line, Hope that I will be taught and understand those things I need in the future. Hope that as I'm being taught, that there will be the Spirit, asking me if I have any questions, and as I learn, I will be given more understanding. Maybe 13 times I will be told to "look!", and I will be blessed if I "behold" like Nephi! Peace and Hope.

I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon and alllllll the many lessons I learn from it! The Book of Mormon is true! And I love it! ❤️❤️

Ruth Andrews 1/6/2022

I am loving the opportunity to read and find messages of Peace, Hope & Deliveance (PhD) in The Book of Mormon as I participate in the invitation that was extended to us at our January Stake RS "Something Extraordinary Evening!" As a stake RS presidency we hope your're finding PhD and will join in as we share some of our findings. This was one of mine right at the start.

I feel peace and hope from my knowledge of the goodness of God. I know that He will make me mighty unto the power of deliverance as I pray, study His word, keep the commandments, follow the prohet, praise His name, and have faith in Him. My soul will rejoice, my heart will be full, and I will see His tender mercies in my life.

Kristen Sweeney 1/2/2022

What a great "Something Extraordinary" Evening! Peace, Hope, & Deliverance was the theme. We look forward to working together in 2022 as we earn our "PhD" together.

We gave out new Book of Mormons with fresh, clean, unmarked, white pages & invited all to read anew and find messages that bring Peace, Hope, & Deliverance.

We discused 3 of my most favorite titles for our Savior:

The Prince of Peace - Peace
High Priest of Good Things to Come - Hope
The Great Deliverer - Deliverance

We then looked through some amazing stories & verses that teach just that.

Then Hot Chocolate & Donuts were delicious. Everyone was filled physically & spiritually.

Past Events

Working from the Inside Out

Another great Emotional Resilience class.📝We are learning such valuable life skills!

Like gauges on a car’s 🚙 dashboard that remind us to slow down, get gas, or check the engine… we learned there are symptoms of stress that signal us to slow down, fill up our spiritual “tank” & look for new solutions. As we work to manage our stress effectively it helps to recognize these signals.

We learned about foods that contribute to stress & anxiety🍔🍩🥤 and foods that can help us avoid it. 🥑🍎🥦

Then, learning how to categorize stress into 4 different levels helps us become Emotional Resilient. We learned great tips how to manage the stress & anxiety! 🧘🏻‍♀️☀️🚴🏻‍♂️

Are there foods who need to eliminate from your diet? Foods you should add?

Where do you find yourself on the Stress chart?

February 9, 2022

We had a great Emotional Resilience class tonight.

We learned how to recognize Inaccurate Thinking Patterns & how unhealthy & dangerous they are. We identified triggers that bring them on then discussed & Practiced ways to avoid going down the spiral of inaccurate thinking! We came up with solutions to climb upward with positive thoughts & responses toward the Savior.

We are learning such valuable, spiritual & practical skills & tools to help us handle th emotions we face each day as we deal with the challenges of life.

We ended with a great discussion about the quote in the picture above from President Nelson.