RELIEF SOCIETY MEETING, Sunday, August 1, 2010

In our Relief Society Meeting this week Sister Candace Hafen presented a wonderful visiting teaching message centered on the Savior’s love for the people. She reminded us as visiting teachers we are to minister to the sisters in the Savior’s behalf which is with love, knowledge, and understanding. She played a recording of a song entitled, “Somebody’s Waiting Not Too Far From Here,” which conveyed an inspiring message of how somebody, somewhere, is in need and we can fill that need.

RELIEF SOCIETY LESSON—HUMILITY
President Terri Evans taught a beautiful, spiritual lesson on humility. To introduce her lesson she told of an instance in her parent’s home where a speeding ticket came in the mail. In Washington State, cameras are positioned along the road, if an infraction occurs, a ticket is sent directly to the home without a police officer issuing a ticket. Terri’s mother was goading her father about getting the speeding ticket. In addition to recording the infraction, the camera also takes a picture of the individual. It turned out the person committing the infraction was her mother, not her father. Her mother had to become humble very quickly.

Sister Evans centered her lesson around the scriptures and asked the class to look inside ourselves when we serve one another. She had the scripture of John 13:12-17 read concerning the Savior washing the feet of his apostles and pointed out how he knelt and carefully washed their dirty feet. He did it with love and humility. She asked the class what they thought of when they thought about the word humility. The responses were compassion, teachable, empathy, sincerity, being content with what we have, being courteous, being meek and lowly, and embracing quiet and peacefulness. She then asked if we thought we had these qualities. The scripture of Micah 6:8 was read concerning walking humbly with God and a scripture in Luke was read concerning the Savior asking God to forgive those who crucified him.

Sister Evans impressed on the class the importance of asking to be forgiven by others even if we don’t think we are at fault. Sometimes, relationships cannot and will not progress unless someone seeks forgiveness and although asking to be forgiven is hard (especially if you don’t know what you might have done to offend), we should all be humble enough to seek an understanding.

Ali Arrington commented that she had to ask her child to forgive her for something she said to him that offended him. Although she didn’t feel she was wrong in what she said, her son did and she had to seek his forgiveness before they could move on.

Missy Stuart stated that when someone is hurt by something you did, it is really hard to tell that person you are sorry. It’s easy to blame them instead of looking at yourself.

Monica Runia said her husband says she has the hardest head of anyone he knows. It’s almost impossible for her to apologize but everything improves greatly when she does. Their relationship grows.

Matthew 5:44-48 was read concerning loving your enemies. Sister Evans pointed out that God loves everyone and is able to help everyone. We must love those we serve even if we feel they don’t deserve our service. Grumbling before, after or the entire time we are giving service does no good for anyone. She pointed out that “YOU WILL NEVER REGRET BEING NICE TO SOMEONE.”

Sister Evans pointed out it is extremely difficult to serve some who has offended you. Even if you think you have forgiven them, you haven’t if it bothers you to give the person service.

Ali Arrington stated that serving is easy if you do not judge those you are serving. Everyone, every single person, has some kind of problem (baggage) and we have no business judging them because we do not know their circumstances. We need to try to understand, when we know the details, most often we have judged in error.

Sister Evans summed up her lesson challenging us to remember three things about being humble. 1. Can we admit it when we have wronged someone? 2. Can we accept others’ circumstances without judging them? 3. Are we able to serve with humility?