Fontana Stake Conference

Saturday, January 15 and Sunday, January 16, 2011. Our visiting Authorities are Elder Hallstrom a member of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Garns an Area Seventy.

Priesthood Session: Saturday, January 15 from 4:00-6:00 pm

Adult Session: Saturday, January 15 from 7:00-9:00 pm

General Session: Sunday, January 16 from 10:00-12:00 pm

Saints Unified Voices Directed By Gladys Knight

"ONE VOICE"

A Presentation of Music and Testimony presented by the Saints Unified Voices (or SUV Choir), an LDS gospel choir that is directed by Gladys knight. The choir's performance of energetic soulful music praising Jesus Christ dominates the fireside, and Sister Knight and other speakers share gospel messages and testimony. It is an extraordinary opportunity to touch the hearts of our non-member and inactive friends and family members of diverse cultures.

The firesides will be held Saturday, January 29 and Sunday, January 30, 2011. Please see your Ward Mission Leader for tickets and details.

December's Visiting Teaching Message

Our Responsibility to Participate in Temple and Family History Work

Over the centuries many people have died without knowledge of the gospel. Some of those people are your near and distant relatives. They are waiting for you to do the necessary research to link your families together and perform saving ordinances on their behalf.

Most of the temples of the world are not busy enough. The Lord has promised that your hearts would be turned to the fathers so that the earth would not be utterly wasted at His coming (see D&C 2:2–3).

There are personal blessings you receive as a result of participation in temple and family history work. One of these is the joy that you feel as you serve your ancestors. Another is that you are able to qualify for a temple recommend, which signifies your worthiness before the Lord. Those who are not worthy today of the privilege of having a recommend should be working with a bishop or branch president to qualify as soon as possible. Please don’t be without this vital qualification. I testify that the Atonement is real and that sins can be forgiven upon proper repentance.

As we participate in temple and family history work, we are certain to have the Spirit to comfort us in our challenges and to guide us in important decisions. Temple and family history work is part of our work of providing relief, or service, to our own ancestors.

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president.

From the Scriptures

Malachi 4:5–6; 1 Corinthians 15:29; 1 Peter 3:18–19; D&C 110:13–16;128:24

From Our History

“The Prophet Joseph Smith said, ‘The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead’ (History of the Church,6:313). From the beginning, Relief Society sisters have supported this great work. In Nauvoo in 1842, Sarah M. Kimball’s desire to help the temple construction workers prompted a group of sisters to organize themselves so that they could serve more effectively. As they began to meet, the Prophet … organized the first Relief Society after the pattern of the priesthood. From that time on, the Relief Society sisters helped further the work on the Nauvoo Temple. …

“In 1855, eight years after the Saints first arrived in Utah, the Endowment House was established. Eliza R. Snow, who had been one of the original members of the first Relief Society and had preserved the records of that organization, was called by President Brigham Young in 1866 to be the general Relief Society president. She and other sisters were faithful workers in the Endowment House. Then, as the St. George, Logan, and Manti Temples were completed, these sisters traveled to each temple so they could do work for the dead there.”¹

Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting

A worldwide leadership training meeting will be broadcast on November 13, 2010. This broadcast will provide instruction about the new Church handbooks (Handbook 1: Stake Presidents and Bishops and Handbook 2: Administering the Church).

The following are invited to attend this broadcast: General Authorities; Area Seventies; stake, mission, temple, and district presidencies; stake and district clerks; stake and district executive secretaries; high councilors; stake and district Relief Society, Young Men, Young Women, Primary, and Sunday School presidencies; bishoprics; branch presidencies; ward and branch clerks; ward and branch executive secretaries; high priests group leaders and assistants; elders quorum presidencies; ward and branch Relief Society, Young Men, Young Women, Primary, and Sunday School presidencies; ward mission leaders.

Details of broadcast times will be provided later.

A History of Relief Society

In the general Relief Society meeting on September 25, 2010, Sister Julie B. Beck taught, “Studying and applying the history of Relief Society gives definition and expression to who we are as disciples and followers of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” She announced that a history of Relief Society will be published in 2011.


An exact date has not been determined for the release of this history. In the meantime, updates and additional information will be available on the Relief Society site of LDS.org and on the visiting teaching message page of the Liahona and Ensign, where you will find excerpts from the history of Relief Society.


Sister Beck said, “As we move the Lord’s work forward, the history of Relief Society will continue to be written by faithful sisters throughout the world.” For this reason, the Relief Society general presidency encourages you to record what is happening in your life. Though you might not feel that you are making history, sisters around the world can learn from you and your personal experiences. Consider recording:

• Visiting teaching experiences.
• How faith and personal righteousness is being increased.
• How homes and families are being strengthened.
• How the poor and needy are being sought out and blessed.

In your continuing efforts to fulfill the purposes of Relief Society, remember the following statement by Sister Beck: “Ultimately, the value of history is not so much in its dates, times, and places. It is valuable as it teaches us the principles, purposes, and patterns we are to follow, and it helps us to know who we are, what we are to do, and unites us in strengthening the homes of Zion and building the kingdom of God on the earth.”

October Visiting Teaching Message

The October 2010 Liahona and Ensign will be a special issue focusing entirely on temples. The issue will not contain a specific First Presidency Message or Visiting Teaching Message. Home and visiting teachers are encouraged to prayerfully select their message from the contents of this special issue.

General Relief Society Meeting Highlights

http://new.lds.org/pages/general-rs-meeting-sept-2010?lang=eng