Subject: 19990925 The Relief
Society Proclaimation:
The Relief Society
Proclamation:
Announced September 25, 1999
THE RELIEF SOCIETY OF
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
cji
19990925/20181228
(These
were written when the Proclamation was presented at Women’s Conference)
We are Beloved Spirit Daughters of God,
Thus we know
from where we come
and whose we are
none other
can proclaim
knowledge differing
from this sweet
statement of truth.
That we are beloved
is more important
than anything
the world has to offer
for what more
could one ask
than to be
beloved of
Heavenly Father?
Our Lives Have Meaning
What great opportunity
we have of knowing
that we have meaning!
How many seek
in this life
to find what meaning is?
Yet we know
because of who we are
that we have meaning
and it is clearly defined
within the Scriptures
and our understanding
of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
Our Lives Have Purpose,
With singleness
of purpose
we know as
the divine daughters
of the Master
we have multiple
purpose in our lives.
It is not just
a haphazard
existence
we are in
to see who can
out-do another
in honors
but to be
in a greater
service
to all our
fellow sisters
and brothers.
Our Lives Have Direction
Goals give direction
to any endeavor
President Kimball
at the end of a
General Conference
made this comment,
(paraphrased)
'It seems from the talks
given by the Brethren
I should change
the sign on my desk
from 'Do It' to
'Do It With a Plan.'
Thus a life with direction
knows where it is going
and where it should
be going at all times.
Many feel this is
too restrictive
however it will
be proven out
if you are
not working
your goals
you are working
out another's.
As a worldwide sisterhood
The grandest understanding
is we are not alone
we are worldwide
with the same
scriptures
the same Prophet
the same Priesthood
the same Beliefs
the same Teachings;
not one sect here
or another there.
One Church
One Gospel
One Goal
One Understanding
One with each other
a sisterhood
for forever
bound in the service
to One God.
We are United in our Devotion to Jesus Christ,
(our Savior and Exemplar)
To bring the synergism
of all to the goal
and love of one
in absolute devotion
is almost unheard
yet one of the greatest
gifts of the Gospel
is to make us
one in heart
might, mind
and strength;
all working
together to love
honor and obey.
We are Women of Faith,
To believe
something
without the surety
of knowledge.
But still
to go forth
as assigned
with the understanding
nothing is impossible
if the Lord
has commanded it.
What an advantage
this give us
over the adversary
who lives in a world
of doubt, self remorse
and indecision.
We are Women of Virtue
Unspotted from the world
what wonderful words
to have virtue
to be pure and clean
to be able to be used
in Heavenly Fathers
quiver of arrows
in His kingdom
not fearing
worthiness before
the bar of judgment
but more have
we done all
we could've done
while in this service.
We are Women of Vision
Too see beyond the mirror
which only shows
us today or yesterday
but to see forever
to what the scriptures
tell us is true
if we but do our part
beyond our best
is to see in vision
all that the Father has
knowing we need
to bring others
to be able
to see the same
vision we've been
allowed to see.
We are Women of Charity
Thus we come
to understand James
and the blessings
of pure religion
'to have charity
for all'
thus we are
truly daughters
of Father.
Or in Proverbs
31:10-31
the kind of woman
whom all know
and recognize
thus to give honor
not in gifts
but in respect
of the highest form.
We Increase our Testimonies of Jesus Christ
We do this through prayer
and scripture study
in Family Home Evening
and in Visiting Teaching
doing service projects
calling a sister
to wish her well
to stop by
to help the sister
with three still
in diapers;
while attending
to the needs
of the elderly
who once
attended faithfully
to ours.
We Seek Spiritual Strength
There are many ways
as there are reasons
for seeking this
but we know
in regular attendance
at our meetings
going to the Temple
when able
and helping others
will then lead
to the Spiritual strength
to physically
carry on,
carry on.
We Follow the Prompting's of the Holy Ghost
We stay in tune
with the Celestial
radio-waves in all we do
and say and think;
thus this opens
our feeling receptors
to hear the still small voice
or feel the tender, gentle
warm touch of the Master
to look hither
to see another in need.
We indeed seek these prompting's
by unselfish acts of service
rather than to wait
for them to automatically
come to us by waiting
in any form of idleness.
We Dedicate Ourselves to Strengthening Marriages
Knowing not all sisters
are married
where some are widowed
some now single
and others
have yet to marry;
still we understand
the sacredness of marriage
and support and sustain
all (including ours)
to be strong
rich in the gospel
and growing to bear
fruit which someday
may be eaten
by all.
We Dedicate Ourselves to Strengthening families
One does not just set out
to strengthen a home
first a foundation
must be in place
and then the design
of what it is
we are trying to built
or strengthen within.
Thus with fervent prayer
and seeking advice
making decisions
and then carrying them
to Father as we've
been taught in humble
prayer to confirm
such decisions.
We often find
what we think best
is not what best be done
and therefore
we need to change
to improve
rather than to
make another change
to meet our standard
which may be
weakening
instead of strengthening.
We Dedicate Ourselves to Strengthening Homes
To build up
is so much better
than to tear down.
Thus when we ponder
home or homes
we must think eternal.
A home is where
a family is found
Celestial potential.
Thus to dedicate
to this strengthening
we must build
for the eternal
and not just
for the mortal.
We Find Nobility in Motherhood
Whether it be our own
or another's
it is most precious
to honor a mother
or one with the potential
(if not here - eternally)
to have this honor.
Nobility denotes a royal right
granted on high by Father
for all His spirit children
to be able to fill this Earth
in its time and season.
Such nobility is found
in our unbending love
to service those
who've been blessed
to now be found
in the role of Mother.
We Find Joy in Womanhood
Thus to be a daughter
a sister, a mother
a woman
what delight
to be blessed
as His special child
here on Earth
in the role of womanhood.
We defend its virtue
and its purity
the absence
of any abuse
from the world
to make it less
than it ever could be
most precious
in Heavenly Father's eyes.
We Delight in Service and Good Works
Again we see James
as he sits pondering
what is 'pure religion
and undefiled'
thus find the same
conclusions
as he found
in service and good works
to the homeless, the widow
the sick and needy
among us daily;
this is what we
have learned
to delight in now.
We Love Life
The special gift
to live
and have
moral agency
to be able
freely to choose
to do good
and not evil;
for this is happiness
not to be wicked.
Thus we love life
and all that it means
the struggles and trials
the hardships and mis-haps
the blessings
but most we love
the opportunity to live
and all that it means.
We Love Learning
It is to study
to be more than
we are now
and all we can become.
This comes from study
of the great works
to seek
the scriptures
to study science
understand history
to write and ponder
ask questions
then research the answers
for this is to learn.
To go to great mountains
and climb great trees
finding in libraries
the lost greatness
that once was man.
Education is paramount
to growth in this life
and in the life to come
when we will all
be accountable
for all we should
have learned here.
We Stand for Truth and Righteousness
You can't have truth
without righteousness
or righteousness
without truth;
we stand for both
or together as one.
We seek to be honest
in all our dealings
with what we say
it is to spread truth
or spread happy thoughts
then to say things
of good rapport
and bring blessings
upon another.
We Sustain the Priesthood as the Authority of God on Earth
What privilege
we have to sustain
the Priesthood
restored in its fullness
during these last days.
That we have those
worthy to come to our aid
administer
unto the sick
the sacrament
and the sacred ordinances
of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ
in these latter-days.
We Rejoice in the Blessings of the Temple
Eternal families
what more could one ask
the fulfillment
of the promises
found from the Prophets
where else can
we learn of the meanings
of Revelations
and Malachi?
To do the work
for our kindred dead
and have the blessings
of being sealed
for time and all eternity;
how different this
covenant from the world's
degree of
'till death do you part'
when you think of commitment
and the requirements
of an eternal relationship.
We Understand our Divine Destiny
To be forever
even as the Father
and the Son
our Savior
life without end.
Thus we know
the goal
is the Celestial Kingdom
and for a family
to be forever
with promises
for those who
keep their covenants.
How special the command
'If you love me,
keep my commandments'
when you understand
the blessings for doing so.
We Strive for Exaltation
It is the journey
not all can be done
in one or two steps
but we seek
minute by minute
hour by hour
day by day
week by week
month by month
year by year
tear by tear
hardship by hardship
blessing by blessing
to gain exaltation
and return to Father
where we came from.
Thus we know
from where we come
and whose we are
none other
can proclaim
knowledge differing
from this sweet
statement of truth;
for what more
could one ask
than to be
a beloved child
of
Heavenly Father?
Copyright ©
2018 – cji
