March Message
Thank you sisters for all you do to build the Kingdom of God here in the Takapuna Ward. We appreciate your efforts to visit teach and reach out in service to one another. It is indeed impressive to observe the good works of the young single adult sisters as well. Your willingness and enthusiasm is a wonderful example to us. Thank you so much!
Our chosen topic for March is Prayer. Prayer changes things! Oh how it does!
The Savior teaches us in the Book of Mormon directly and indirectly through His prophets, that our prayers are heard according to our private charitable acts. See 3 Nephi 13, Alma 34:28&29
I am continually amazed at the organization of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is divinely designed to provide us with opportunities to grow spiritually and to keep our covenants. I marvel at how every child and adult member of the church is taught to pray from the heart. No one is exempt from this sacred blessing; everyone is invited to pray on behalf of the congregation at one time or another. What a remarkable blessing! I am also in awe of the blessing that visiting teaching is to us spiritually. We are constantly encouraged to reach out and serve one another. May I add here that small simple acts of service, as our Savior taught, can be most effective: the smile, the hug, the kind word, the phone call, the prayer in behalf of, or the uplifting message, etc.
In teaching the Nephites about prayer in 3 Nephi 13:20-21, our Savior taught the importance of praying from the heart. Our actions in daily life determine where our treasure is and thus where our heart is. Orson Hyde, an early Apostle, said,
“Whenever I see the hungry, and feed him, the naked and clothe him, the sick and distressed and administer to their wants I feel that I am laying up treasures in Heaven. When I am educating my children and embellishing their minds and fitting them for usefulness, I am laying up treasures in heaven. I would ask that little boy, who is well educated and well trained, “What thief can enter in and steal the knowledge you have got?” It is beyond the power of a thief to steal, it is out of his reach, that treasure is laid up in Heaven, for where is there a place more sacred than in the hearts of the rising generation which beat with purity and love to their parents and love to God and His Kingdom? What better place can you find than to deposit treasures than that? But all our obligations are not pointing to one source of quarter, there are many ways we can lay up treasures in Heaven by doing good here on earth”
May we each, “lay up more treasures in Heaven” this month and may we feel of His Spirit as we try our best to do so.
Our love to you all.
Relief Society Presidency
