As part of my calling as the Stake Primary President, we hold baptisms on the second Saturday of each month. It's such a sweet experience to be a part of these baptisms. When Covid hit, we changed things significantly from what they were before to a smaller, simpler, more "focused-on-the-one" style and I can't say enough how much I love it.
The last week of February we held a training meeting for the Ward Primary Presidencies and their Primary Activity Leaders. It was a lot of work to put together and I'm just hoping that it went well. The highlight is that I asked Lydia if she would come and be a speaker at the training. She did an amazing job talking about her experience with making and setting personal goals and her experience with her primary activity leaders. She asked if she could play "Peace in Christ" as part of her talk and I told her that she could if she wanted to. I wondered if she would be too nervous the day of, but she wasn't - she confidently read her talk (that I helped write, so it was longer than she would have done herself) and then played Peace in Christ beautifully. I was so proud of her and I am grateful for all she added to the meeting. I hope that it gave these primary leaders a glimpse into the why of what they are doing.
For my speaking assignment this month, I was assigned to the Lehi 51st Ward - our Spanish ward. I love this ward SO incredibly much - each time I get to interact with them I am overwhelmed with love. Love for them, love from them, love from Heavenly Father. I was a little nervous about speaking in their ward because, remember, I don't speak Spanish. I had a translator standing right next to me, who gratefully I knew and was comfortable with, and after I said each sentence she translated into the microphone. It was a wonderful experience and I hope that my message was well received by this ward that I hold so dear.
March 20, 2022 – Lehi 51st Ward
Topic: Invite members to prepare for General Conference and encourage the
brethren to help all women 11+ to be able to attend the Women’s Session.
The Need for a Church - President Oaks
Making time for the Lord - President Nelson
General Relief Society Podcast on “Belonging”
Good morning Brothers and Sisters, (Buenos días hermanos y hermanas)
I am Shantel Peaden, the Stake Primary President. We were in your ward several weeks ago for Ward Conference and there is such a sweet spirit in your primary. I love the primary children of your ward and I love those that serve with them. The Lord loves his Primary children and He loves this ward.
Did you know that this year marks the 180th year of the Relief Society? President Jean Bingham shared: “It started with a small group of women who joined together because they wanted to do good, and were formed through the power and structure of the Priesthood. Now there are 7.5 million members of the relief society. We still have the same purposes: we still have the same purpose to relive suffering and to save souls; to reach out to one another.
We have the same needs, we need to belong to a group who believes in God and who wants to pattern our lives after his son Jesus Christ. I think belonging to this group gives us strength as well as examples to see how this is done.
We gather strength through our association with one another. We give support to one another through our challenges. And as we are united in our goal to live eternally with God and with our families, we help each other over the bumps in the road that we all experience in this mortal life. We also see how staying on the covenant path brings happiness even through our challenges.”
You, each one of you, has an important place here – you belong. This ward and stake are better for having you here.
Sister Reyna Aburto said:
You are exactly who you need to be for the Lord to use you. Each of us has talents and gifts and strengths to bring to the table. That doesn’t mean that we are going to always be what we are right now because the Lord will change us and the Lord will make us better. But it does mean that we don’t have to be anyone else. We just have to look inside us and see those wonderful things that the Lord has already done with us and then offer them to Him and others.
Sister Sharon Eubank added:
“As we come more refined in the gospel, as the Lord works with us longer, I don’t think that we become homogenized, that we are like each other. I think we become more pure versions of our unique selves.”
Together, with each of your unique strengths and also your struggles, you can lift and support each other in this Gospel of Jesus Christ.
At our most recent general conference, President Nelson opened by saying:
“The pandemic has demonstrated how quickly life can change, at times from circumstances beyond our control. However, there are many things we can control. We set our own priorities and determine how we use our energy, time, and means. We decide how we will treat each other. We choose those to whom we will turn for truth and guidance.
I love the doctrine that President Nelson shares about how we get to choose how we use our energy, where we turn to for truth and guidance, and how we will treat each other.
I believe that choosing to put our energy into supporting each other, turning together to God for truth and guidance, and treating each other with kindness no matter our differences will create a sense of belonging in this ward family where each person knows they are valued and that they have an important part here in this ward.
Those same principles can guide our own spiritual development:
President Nelson also said “There has never been a time in the history of the world when knowledge of our Savior is more personally vital and relevant to every human soul.”
If we get to choose our own priorities and determine how we use our energy, where we turn to for truth and guidance, and how we will treat each other – then we have the responsibility to make those choices wisely for ourselves and for our families.
General Conference will be here in two short weeks, including a Women’s Session held Saturday April 2nd. I encourage you to open your hearts and prepare for the messages that we will hear.
-Listen for encouragement from the Spirit whispering that you are in the right place at the right time for the work that the Lord has for you to do.
-Listen for the ways that you can create space for those around you to belong and for the knowledge that YOU belong.
-Listen for the testimonies of the Savior Jesus Christ that your own testimony may be strengthened.
I testify that we are stronger together and that there is an important work for each of you in this Gospel of Jesus Christ. As you choose to make space for the Lord in your heart and in your life – your life will be blessed.
I will close with the words of our Prophet, Russel M Nelson:
“I love you, dear brothers and sisters. The Lord knows you and loves you. He is your Savior and your Redeemer. He leads and guides His Church. He will lead and guide you in your personal life if you will make time for Him in your life—each and every day.”
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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