Funny Friday 7

 Happy week-end everyone!


By Sandy Munro

EMP Mormon Journal - Sister Estelle Alfred

Two years ago, I came back to the Church after being inactive for almost seven years. During my time of inactivity, I lived as the world entices us to.  Like the great and spacious building in Lehi`s dream, I lived a life that to others outside of our faith would have been perceived as normal and happy. It is not a fact I am proud of, but it has helped shaped me into the woman I am today.  In a way, I consider my reactivation as my real conversion story.

Like the Prodigal son of old, I went out into the world to see the sights and wonders this earth possesses.  I lived overseas, away from family, friends and all I knew and was comfortable with, for six months. For a time, all was well – I lived as righteously as I could. I felt I had a firm foundation of faith in my Lord and Savior as well as trust in His infinite plan for me.  Unfortunately, due to certain experiences in my life at that time, I fell away.  I felt that because of this my Heavenly Father had turned His back on me and this confirmed my worst fear – that I was not good enough, that I was unworthy. For years this fueled my anger and to my shame, even hate.

At first, I would only go to church on what I considered special occasions: Mother's and Father’s Day, Easter and Christmas.  I did this because I knew what it would mean to my parents, who are righteous and had raised me in the love of the gospel, and required only an hour or so of my time – not much of a sacrifice.

Throughout my time of self-imposed exile I had many members try and reach out to me. For too long my heart was too hard and I rebuffed many who tried. I cannot pinpoint an exact moment of time when it changed but it did start with two women - my visiting teachers.  At first, I told them they could visit but I did not want to hear their message. Despite this, these two sisters continued to come and before they left each time would somehow manage to share their message without me even realizing it. I found I didn’t mind hearing it and my heart began to soften very slowly as it was surrounded by the love these sisters shared, not only from themselves but from the ward and from our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. These diligent sisters continued to visit for over a year, never wavering from their efforts.

The catalyst that pushed me into coming back was a musical fireside I attended by Kaye Starr, a talented musician from the States, who had bought her choir and gift to share. My mother has performed many cantatas by Kaye Starr, so I had grown up with her music. This night, I sat in the congregation and from the very first song, an overwhelming feeling of peace, love and rightness filled my entire being. With tears streaming down my face, I realized I was feeling the Spirit and thought “Perhaps I am not too far gone after all”. The Spirit stayed with me the entire performance, filling me with a sense of wonder and awe. Afterwards, I had many of the choir members come and thank me, because they had seen how touched by the Spirit I was, and in turn it touched them so much that they could hardly look at me during the performance. The Spirit testified to me that night that my Heavenly Father knew me, knew of my troubles and heartache, knew my sins and loved me nonetheless.

I share this with you sisters in the hope that for those of you who may be struggling at this point in time, with whatever life is throwing at you to bring you down, that you may know that no matter what, you are loved. Do not despair, do not lose hope, because if we lose hope, then Satan wins. Our Father in Heaven loves us with His whole heart and while we may do or say things that lead us away from Him, He will always continue to love us.

By Estelle Alfred

                                                                                                                                               

Estelle is married, with a beautiful six year old son.  She and her three sisters were born into the Church.  Estelle describes herself as compassionate, creative, loyal, hard-working, and responsible.  She works for Travelex, in the city, and has recently earned a promotion that will involve her traveling all over Queensland, to Darwin and to Guam.  Asked to name her happiest moment, Estelle answers that it was going to the temple for the first time after she came back to Church - there was a wonderful feeling of peace, and happiness that she was worthy to be in that sacred place.  Estelle has struggled with depression at times, but is learning that if she hangs on, it will pass. "It's a part of who I am", she says. Being active at Church  again has given her a sense of family - not just immediate family, but that the Ward and the Stake are her family too.  She feels a sense of worth and of belonging, and of being loved and accepted by all the members of her ward. "It's better - I'm now converted fully.  I've come back to Church for myself.  I feel faith and hope and love from my Heavenly Father and Saviour.  I can't do it without them.  They are walking with me every step of the way. I know I am not alone."  Estelle especially loves music, and is the Ward Music Director in Kuraby Ward.                                                                                    

By Sandy Munro

How Does The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints Serve The Poor?

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are 'to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church or in any other, or in no church at all, wherever he finds them.' (link)

In speaking of its charitable aid programs, the Church strives for balance, to both, 'do not your alms before men, to be seen of them' and, 'let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven'.  Even members of the Church frequently have little idea of the scope of the Church's humanitarian activities worldwide.

Humanitarian Services is just one of several welfare arms of the Church.  Since the Church began keeping track in 1985, more than $1.4 billion in cash and material assistance (to 2011) has been donated through this program, to over 178 different countries in need of humanitarian aid. 

The following video gives a brief overview of the Church's Humanitarian Aid program:

(Further videos on Church humanitarian aid efforts are available here - recommended.)

Where does the money come from to support Church humanitarian aid programs?

One hundred percent of the donations given to the Church’s humanitarian services are used for relief efforts. The Church absorbs its own overhead costs.  A portion of our tithing donations are also disbursed directly to humanitarian and welfare efforts. (link)

Do Mormons only help Mormons?

The Church's humanitarian program serves mostly those outside the Mormon faith - all those who face disasters or acute needs throughout the world. Additionally, more than 11,925 welfare and humanitarian missionaries volunteer their time and money to administer this aid every day. During times of disaster, Church facilities such as Church buildings are used as places of refuge, and local Church members assist humanitarian missionaries and the currently more than 80,000 proselytizing missionaries in providing immediate relief.

What are some these humanitarian aid projects?

Emergency Response: the Church has partnered in more than 200 major disaster assistance efforts, including the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2010 Chile earthquake, the 2010 Pakistan flooding, the 2009 Samoa tsunami, the 2009 Philippines typhoon, the 2009 Indonesia earthquake, the 2008 Ethiopia famine and many others. 

Neonatal resuscitation training: providing resuscitation training and equipment to health practitioners and organizations each year in countries with high infant mortality rates.

Clean water projects: working with local community leaders to provide access to clean water with wells and other water systems in countries where such access is unavailable.

Food production and nutrition initiatives: providing training to families and communities to increase productivity and self-sufficiency with home food production and nutrition training.

Wheelchair distribution: working in partnership with local organizations to provide wheelchairs to the disabled.

Vision treatment: providing equipment and training to local, qualified medical personnel to perform eye surgeries and prevent blindness.

Childhood immunizations: partnering with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to provide immunizations and vaccinations for measles, whooping cough and other conditions.

Atmit: food supplement to help those who are malnourished.


800,000 Christian refugees have fled their homes this month in Iraq. Is the Church doing anything to help these refugees?
(link)



Humanitarian Aid Related Links

Humanitarian Aid
Humanitarian Services
Humanitarian Aid and Welfare Services Basics: How Donations and Resources Are Used
Mormon Representatives Discuss Church Humanitarian Efforts at the United Nations

LDS Charities
LDS Philanthropies

By Sandy Munro

Funny Friday 6

Happy week-end!

EMP Mormon Journal - Sister Karen Smibert

I am occasionally blessed to be able to accompany my husband as he fulfills his calling or priesthood responsibilities. On this particular occasion he was asked to give a priesthood blessing to a friend of mine. There was a lovely spirit in their home as we entered and chatted with them. I felt the spirit very strongly as I sat and listened to the words of the blessing.

Then something special happened. I began to see this friend differently. Through the words of the blessing and the spirit in the room, I saw her as Heavenly Father saw her. I really felt that I was able to get a glimpse of her through heaven's eyes.

I'm not sure why this happened at that time, and with this sister, because I had always felt so good towards her, but I was grateful to gain a deeper understanding of Heavenly Father's love for His children. I feel that this is what charity is. And, as most of us do, I had been regularly praying to have this charity, this perfect, Christlike love. And having this experience helped me to realise that I want to feel that all the time, with everyone. I want to see everyone through Heaven's eyes, the way Heavenly Father sees them. I would judge less, and serve more. I would think of myself less, and pray for others more. I would stay in my comfort zone less, and share the gospel more.As I pondered on this experience, a quote from Elder Wirthlin came to my mind...

"We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of
becoming."

First of all, I decided to change "ourselves" to "others". That explained how I had felt. We only know people from what has happened and what is happening in their lives. But Heavenly Father sees people
as what they may become. And I guess that is what charity is. We can see people and life with an eternal perspective. Now, I did not see this sister's future, it was more a feeling that Heavenly Father loves her.

Then I decided to keep the quote as is. And this was the second thing I needed to learn. I imagined seeing myself the way Heavenly Father sees me. As a woman, this is a hard thing to do. As I closed my eyes to ponder this thought, I also pictured the Saviour, pleading for me in Gethsemane. Because of the Atonement, my future is bright. If I can see myself as what I can become, I am a step closer to becoming like Heavenly Father. How would I act if I saw myself through heaven's eyes? Life would be bliss!!! I would be able to face and overcome any challenge with an eternal perspective.

I feel so grateful to have had that simple experience, and I continue to pray to see others and myself the way Heavenly Father does.

By Karen Smibert

Karen is the wife of our current stake president. She has a degree in Occupational Therapy, but keeps busy as a full-time mother to their four boys, ages 3, 5, 7 and 9.  Asked to describe herself, Karen says that she is, '"introverted, happy, no-nonsense, hard-working, and simple."  She loves serving and is happiest when serving, and when she is, "out in nature."  Her advice to the sisters is, "If you want the most out of your life, contribute to someone else's life."  On being married to the stake president: "It's good.  It's busy.  I'm blessed to meet and have experiences with so many people and to see so much goodness in the stake."    On Relief Society: "I like what it's all about - that 'Charity Never Faileth'.  I love Visiting Teaching.  That you make friends with people that you wouldn't normally make friends with."  Karen also plays piano and enjoys playing sport.  Her Patriarchal Blessing speaks of her seeing the good in others.


(By S.Munro)

Five Fabulous Mormon Web Sites

It has been decided that the EMP stake Relief Society Presidency will discontinue this Blog in its current five-day-a-week format.  The Blog will now post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only.

We most sincerely thank those sisters who have already shared their talents, lives, testimonies and comments with us.

The site has received 7,768 'views' since it began - 3, 398 of those in July last month.

1.   To read more articles and testimonies from members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the official church Ensign magazine is an excellent read that is highly recommended.  (Click here.)

2.   To learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the mormon.org site is available here.  

3.   Mormon Channel has great messages, videos, films and more.  (Click here.)

4.   Mormon Newsroom (here) delivers facts, statistics, background information, context, and more.  See an overview of what is available here.

5.   Lds.org is here.  A resource site especially for Church members.

By Sandy Munro

Funny Friday 5

Happy weekend everybody!

By Sandy Munro

EMP Mormon Journal - by Ally Vessi

Not long ago, I attended a ward where the Sunday School president gave a talk that stood out to me. As befitted his calling, he spoke about the importance of daily scripture study and continual gospel education. He urged the congregation to never miss a day of reading the Book of Mormon, and then bore testimony of its truthfulness and power. He mentioned that of the people he has known in his life-time who have left the Church, ALL of them had stopped reading the scriptures weeks and months prior to making the final decision to leave.

I am sadly familiar with the experience of watching loved ones decide the church is not for them. A few months ago, a particular friend of mine shared her reasons with me for giving up her membership. On the whole, she stated that living the gospel is too inconvenient and that many of its teachings “don't make sense”. After all, as she put it, what is the harm in having a drink every now and then; or going shopping on Sundays; or choosing to do other things with one's money rather than pay tithing? Choosing worldly courses of action like these seemed inconsequential to her and she couldn't see why the gospel placed such so-called restrictions on its people. Surprisingly, in my attempt to understand her point of view, I came away from that conversation on the verge of believing that her opinions were justified. That feeling didn't last long though, once the scriptures pulled me back into reality as I studied them every day.

I currently have less than 1 week to go before completing the Book of Mormon after starting the challenge in mid-March. I have NEVER before read this beautiful book of scripture in such a short amount of time, but I am eternally grateful that I did not let my lack of experience discourage me from trying. For me, this intensive approach to reading the Book of Mormon has opened up the stories within with such clarity and realism, that I sometimes feel like I was there in person.

One principle that has become more apparent to me than ever before is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not meant to be easy. The likes of King Noah, and Laman and Lemuel, demonstrated what it can look like to follow the easy path. It is paved with deceit, greed, pride and laziness. Their goal was self-gratification and their methods took no thought for what it might cost others. In contrast, the goal of the Saviour's people was service and they took no thought for what living the gospel might cost themselves. In fact, to them it wasn't a cost at all. Sure, they made sacrifices, such as risking being killed or cruelly imprisoned by their enemies; voluntarily working tirelessly to preach the gospel; leaving the comforts and familiarity of their homes to go wherever the Lord directed them, while some lost family members and even their own lives for the Lord's sake. 

To someone without a testimony, these sacrifices might make no sense at all. However, through recent experience, I have learned an illogical (by the world's standards) yet exquisite truth: that sacrifices made in faith and with a sole desire to glorify God, bring short and long term blessings that surpass any comforts the easy path might afford. In essence, I view the sacrifices we are called to make in the Lord's church as a means to an end: a glorious, peaceful and loving end in the presence of our Heavenly Father. I have tasted the sweetness of the fruits of the gospel and have come to appreciate that the more I put into living it, the more spiritual and emotional strength I get out of it. 

Moroni teaches in Ether 12:6 that we receive no witness of the truth until after the trial of our faith. I hope the Lord can always rely on me to be willing to trial my faith no matter how hard it might seem to follow his counsel. There's still a long way to go before I will be perfect at following this principle, but in the meantime, I will read my scriptures every day, and remind myself of my commitment with this little quote by President Boyd K Packer: “The scriptures hold the keys to spiritual protection”.

By Alejandra Vessi

Beautiful Ally Vessi lives with her three delightful little girls in Springwood Ward, where she serves as a Counsellor in the ward Primary.  Ally was born in Mexico city, and is the eldest of 4 children.  She was brought up in the Church.  The family moved to Australia in 1988, when Ally was 3, so English soon became her main language.  She enjoys dancing, especially modern jive.  Also, riding her bike and playing with her children - particularly wrestling on the trampoline with them.  She loves sleep, when she can get it!  Ally has a degree in Speech Pathology from the University of Queensland, and teaches piano lessons, but her days are mostly taken up with home-schooling her 5 year old twins, (Long-Distance Education), and caring for her 3 year old.  "I'm really enjoying the process of learning that there is more than one way of doing things in life.  As long as I stay true to the gospel, life is full of various options.  I love one-on-one conversations with people, and connecting and laughing with them."

                                                                                   
(By S.Munro)             
                                              

Sister Ofeila Stowers

Sister Ofeila Stowers was born in Samoa, moved to NZ in 1981, and then to Brisbane in 2009.  She joined the Church in 1999, when she was 31, and her family was sealed in the temple one year later. She and her husband, Peniamina, have 4 children: Monica is 26, Daniel is 21, Ezekiel is 18, and Ezra is 12. Their son Daniel is currently serving a two-year mission in Sydney North.  Although Ofeila struggles to speak and understand English, her skills are improving, and she is becoming more confident.  It can be hard, and sometimes makes her feel lonely, to be almost the only Samoan family in Springwood ward, but Ofeila says she"feels welcome", and "I feel like a part of Relief Society.  I love our Springwood ward sisters - their smiles, their hellos."  Ofeila loves to sing in choirs, but it's harder in English.  She doesn't drive, so catches a bus to work each day.  She loves the gospel and comes to Church every Sunday.  Ofeila's sister, Puna Lepua, lives in Kuraby ward with her family.  

What is the happiest you have ever been?

"When my husband took me and my children to be sealed in the temple.  I am (also) very happy to go to work, to help support my family."

"I only met my husband for two weeks, and then we got married!  He didn't want to wait.  It was not a big wedding."  (Monica adds that her parents are still sweethearts, and that their love is still growing.)

What do you like to do?

"I like to clean.  I work as a cleaner at the Mater Hospital."  Why do you like to clean?  "The patients - I like helping people.  I like exercise.  I go walking every day for one and a half hours.  I like cooking.  And gardening - vegetables and flowers."

Why did you join the Church?

"The missionaries shared the Book of Mormon.  I feel the Book of Mormon is true.  I believe it.  I always went to visit my grandparents, (in Samoa), when they were alive. They always shared with us the Church. They always read the Book of Mormon to me."

What would you like the sisters to know about you?

"I want the sisters to know I not speak very well and I understand just a little bit.  If they need help cleaning, then let me know to help.  I'd like to help.  I enjoy giving service.  I want to come to Church.  To meet new people and to set an example for the children."  

Monica added: "She's a great mother.  She's very sensitive.  She is nice and cheerful if you need someone to listen.  She really loves her family very much.  She talks to her sister nearly every day."

Do you have any advice for the sisters?

"To smile. Say hello.  Love.  We need to share the gospel with our children.  Have Family Home Evening.  We have always had it and it has helped our family, and especially to share our thoughts. Read the Book of Mormon and read it to the children.  Try to set an example to your children by always attending church and sacrament meeting, and showing them how much you love the gospel. Teach your children to serve the Lord."

Monica:  "She teaches her children the right things.  To go to the temple and temple marriage."

"My good friend is Sister (Marlene) Glass.  She always walks around my house and says 'hello', and always comes to say 'hi' to me when I come to church.  When I go to the temple I always talk to her.  I love my Visiting Teachers (Lyn Mieklejohn and Sarah Mahler) because they always visited me!"

How would you describe yourself?

"Love.  I like sharing.  I like to help people.  I like to talk.  Caring."

Monica: "She's a clean freak! We learn from her a lot, from her actions.  She always thinks about us kids before she thinks about herself.  She always finds a way to provide for us.  She is very quiet and shy.  They (my parents) are nice people.  It is hard for them to understand, and they are scared to speak English.  But they always try their best to say hello."

By Sandy Munro

Do You Want To Make a Quiet Book? - Jeanne Pitcher

Jeanne Pitcher dreamed of making her children a quiet book one day. Unfortunately, that would have taken more time and money than she had available when they were young.  When she saw a friend's homemade 'tactile' quiet book at church two years ago, "It just clicked!  I thought, I want to do that!"  She started straight away, and has now almost finished her third book, with the fourth already planned out - as heirloom gifts of love for her four grand-daughters, to be given on or soon after their first birthday.

The idea of a 'tactile' quiet book is to make it as interesting to look at and touch as possible - bright and colourful and textural, for younger children.  For Jeanne's first book, she copied her friend's book fairly closely, but has since branched out, and now finds ideas all around, to make each child's book unique. Jeanne loves to hand-sew, and uses embroidery on many of the pages, and cross-stitch on others.  She loves to be creative.

Altogether, Jeanne has completed about 60 pages so far.  She is happy to share this talent with others, if anyone else is interested in making their own book?  You can contact Jeanne on her Fb page if you would like to get together with her.  You can  also click (here) for the original instructions Jeanne used on how to make this tactile quiet book - some close-up pictures, what materials to use, and how to put the book together.

Jeanne Pitcher is Brisbane "born and bred".  She has four daughters and four grand-daughters.  Widowed ten years ago, Jeanne remarried four years later, and is "very happy in my life".  She loves being a wife and a grandma.  In addition to making quiet books, Jeanne also always wanted to do family history work, and to become a social worker or professional counselor.  She would like the sisters to know that even while they may feel 'bogged down' occasionally in some of life's stages, "there is a time and a season for everything!  There is time.  It does come.  Those years of raising your children go so fast!"  Jeanne completed her studies in recent years, and now does work professionally as an holistic counselor, just as she hoped.  Three years ago, Hazel Hillier, from Springwood Ward, helped start Jeanne with her family history, and this has become something that Jeanne is "totally passionate about."  Using ancestry.com, Jeanne has "been able to make leaps and bounds" and has "traced one line back to 1240AD.  It's like the record books have just been opened to me.  There is so much information.  I'm addicted!"  Jeanne works in Kuraby Ward as the Primary Secretary.  She has 'Grandma day' every Tuesday, loves going to the temple, and she hopes to write a book about her life next year, to pass on to her children and grandchildren.

By Sandy Munro