Updates made to the purpose of the Relief Society

[Anonymous]

http://www.ldsdaily.com/church-lds/linda-k-burton-announces-updates-purposes-relief-society/” class=”bbcode_url”>http://www.ldsdaily.com/church-lds/linda-k-burton-announces-updates-purposes-relief-society/

Linda K. Burton wrote:

When we were newly called as the Relief Society General Presidency, we sought the Lord earnestly to know what essential things He would have us focus on to continue moving His work forward. We were impressed that He would first have us help His beloved daughters understand the doctrine of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that their faith and righteousness might increase. Second, we considered the critical need to strengthen families and homes and felt that the Lord would have us encourage His beloved daughters to cheerfully cleave to their covenants. When covenants are kept, families are strengthened. Finally, we felt He would have us work in unity with the other auxiliaries and with our priesthood leaders, striving to seek out and help those in need to progress along the path. Focusing on these things helps prepare us for the blessings of eternal life.

Here’s the new purpose:

Quote:

Relief Society helps prepare women for the blessings of eternal life (see Moses 1:39) 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.

In the explanation it sounds like the emphasis is placed on keeping covenants that have already been made but in the actual mission statement itself it sounds like the RS sisters are performing the ordinances.

I don’t have many thoughts on the subject. To me it’s more of the same. I just thought I’d share.

[Anonymous]

I read it last night. Meh.

We already had a theme “Charity Never Faileth”

Then we added the monster length, “We are beloved spirit daughter’s of God….”

Now this. Right now for me covenants and church is a disconnect. When the church references covenants it’s code for “More Hours In the Temple”. When I think of covenants, I think God is expecting me to fulfill my life purpose outside the temple and to be like Jesus. So there we are. A pure example of misfitness.

[Anonymous]

I second the Meh vote. While this purpose is good at a high level, I don’t see it boiled down to really practical goals that have a high impact on the local wards.

In the last five years, I’ve seen how powerful TANGIBLE, Practical goals are. I don’t find goading others to get their TR’s, for example does it. Now, teaching the RS practical skills that parents in general need — like effective parenting skills from professionals and people who really know, resources to help them when their kids aren’t doing well in school, how to teach the gospel effectively in the home, those things help.

For me, tangible goals, as a Sunday School would mean (aka, a strategic plan, flowing from the mission to Perfect the Saints would look like this):

1. Updating our use of technology in the classroom. This means investing in cabling and projectors, and training teachers how to use their mobile and wireless devices to teach effectively. The church has gone technological (for their own convenience, partly) putting all the resources online, and we have gutted all the videos and DVD’s from our library! But the only technology available are medium sized tv screens, VHS and DVD players. Yet the teaching resources are all web based, and people use hand held devices and wireless computers.

2. Designing an effective reservation system that is low hassle and effective in making technology accessible to teachers (our libraries system is in the dark ages to the point no one even knows how to reserve a TV)

3. Implementing a sensitive, supportive, but effective measuring system for determining the effectiveness of gospel teaching in the Ward.

4. Transforming our dominant teaching methods from Lecture/Discussion to an activity-based model — small group discussion, panel discussions, guest speakers, teaching games for kids, etcetera.

[Anonymous]

Another “meh.” I don’t see much difference, just some semantics. I appreciate the focus on the Savior and the atonement. It’d be great if there was more of a focus on real, hands on community service but I also appreciate that the sisters generally do serve other church members more than most men in the church do.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I don’t see much of a change.

It still is much better than Priesthood quorums in most ways, even with the myriad local issues in some units.

[Author]

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