RS Message 12-21-2008

Dear Sisters:

Our lesson today was lesson 23 from the Joseph Smith Manual "How Good and
How Pleasant It Is...to Dwell Together in Unity."  Sister Diane Smith
taught a wonderful lesson (and brought delicious treats :-).  She
facilitated a great discussion among the sisters .  We talked about how
unity has touched all of our lives and how we can foster more unity in our
families, wards, communities, etc.

The lesson pointed out the as we strive to be obedient to God's laws and
over come our selfish feelings, we grow in unity with Christ and with each
other.  One quote from Joseph Smith is, "Let us realize that we are not to
live to ourselves, but to God; by so doing the greatest blessings will
rest upon us both in time and in eternity."

I love that quote because it references the fact that striving to be more
Christlike and being more unified with those we love brings us joy not
only in the life to come, but also right here and right now.

I've included a link to a talk by Sheri Dew from the 2008 Women's
Conference.  As always, she is wonderful.  Print it and take it to bed
with you to read each night before you go to sleep.  It will make you
smile and give you a strong desire to strengthen your commitment to be
more Christlike and more unified as sisters in the Gospel.

http://ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/archive/2008/pdf/sheriDew2008.pdf

Merry Christmas, Sisters.  We love you.  We pray for you and think of you
each day.  Thank you for all you do for each other.  Thank you for the
unity we share.  Thank you for your righteous examples.  Have a wonderful,
Christ-filled Christmas.

Love,

Your Relief Society Presidency