Genealogy and the Relief Society
When did the interest of genealogy begin? There were family organizations in the 1700s, and the American Antiquarian Society was founded in 1812. By 1845, eleven states already had historical societies. And of course, prominent American families were interested in their attachment to European Royalty, and had records to prove it. But, did you know [...]
Relief Society and Family History
Ahhh!!! Family History. How does one get the sisters excited about Family History? Typically, every ward has a Bishop who puts some form of Family History on his list of goals for the year. Sometimes it’s measurable, sometimes not. Does anything come of it? Do you know, by the end of the year, what has [...]
Family History Stories
Who doesn’t love to hear a story? The more I interact with people the more I realize the value of Heavenly Father’s children, my friends, who ALL have stories to tell. When we think of Family History work, we might think the same boring thing: research a bunch of faceless names and dates. If you [...]
Women and the Abrahamic Covenant
I promised that I would explain how temple symbolism, and its relationship to the Abrahamic Covenant, has to do with Relief Society and us, the Women of God. As I have taught this concept in my Gospel Doctrine classes these past weeks, I have gained a deeper understanding of how much God loves us, his [...]
Abrahamic Covenant As Represented On The Exterior of the Salt Lake Temple
Abraham is promised that if he and his wife will keep the covenant they make with the Lord, and marry under the Everlasting Covenant of Marriage, they will have seed or posterity like the sand on the seashore and like the stars in the heavens. This promise of endless posterity is symbolically represented on the [...]
Why the Big Dipper on the Salt Lake Temple?
On the exterior of the Salt Lake Temple there are many celestial symbols such as moonstones, sunstones, starstones, etc. On the central west tower of the Salt Lake Temple on the upper section is the constellation of the Big Dipper. Why? All of these celestial symbols are reminders of the vision of Abraham in the [...]
How Beautiful Thy Temples
One of the great things about reading talks from the Brethren is that besides giving us deeper understanding, they dig up some inspiring quotes from others that we either aren’t aware of, or don’t know where to find. Thanks, Elders! From Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk (given at a BYU Family History Fireside, March 2002), [...]
Saving Souls
What did it really mean when Joseph Smith turned the key to the women in the Relief Society? It was quite a profound statement when you think of the period of time they lived in. In the 1850’s, married women had even fewer rights than single women. In some states “married women, insane persons, and [...]
New Vision, New Attitudes
It appears that gone are the days of month-to-month entertaining. We have to adjust our thinking and think anew. As I have studied how our early sisters organized themselves, I see, readily, Sis. Beck’s vision. She is not asking us to do anything new, she is asking us to refocus. Times are always changing, and [...]
Old and New Jerusalem
I just have to share with you my lesson on settling the Salt Lake Valley. It was way out there enough that I hope you’ll find it interesting too. As we read in Eph 2: 19-21, Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone. At each of our temples we have cornerstones, with the Southeast being the [...]
