June 2 Lesson Presidency lesson

Today the lesson is being given by the Relief Society presidency. Sister Lewis said to look ahead to Sister Wixhom's talk with the goal of helping her with the lesson. Amy Young started with the quote from President Kimball, "God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other." Comments were made that if we follow the promptings of the Spirit we will recognize when we can help and when we are being helped. One quote said that we are the hands that must help and be God;s hands. Amy said that the statue of Christ about when the hands were vandalized, that it was decided to leave them off with the sign on it that we are God's hands. We also need to be observant about what we can do and how we can do it, because we need to notice when others need help and how to make it effective and not awkward. If you start with a prayer in the morning you will be more observant. When you ask Heavenly Father for specific things, He will answer your prayer specifically.We should also recognize that serving is a blessing. Sister Burton tells a story about how we are busy and doing things, but when we take the opportunity to serve others, we are blessed. She took the time to go to the temple and met a young lady who was there for the first time and needed guidance. Sister Burton felt that she was the one who benefited most. Such occasions are like a little love note from Heavenly Father, said Sister Craig. Stacie Card thought it was interesting that she has been prompted and not recognized it. She had a friend in high school who thanked her for smiling at her all the time. Stacie always smiled and didn't know she was making a difference.Sister Lewis said that sometimes people just need a hug or someone being friendly. One sister said that it is easy to serve someone with a temporal need, but others need spiritual help. Would we go to someone's house who was suffering from alcoholism or drug abuse and be strong enough to lift others. Sister Campbell said there are certain times in our lives when we can serve. She told of her mother who was well known as someone who had a hot meal and a place to stay for homeless, military, and family. Amy said we need to be more sensitive to the Spirit. There are simple ways we can serve others. President Monson said that we can invite others to sit by us or invite someone to a ward function and that it is simple things. Amy was in a ward where the bishop actually assigned someone to be her friend, but that person kept forgetting her name. She would have liked a real friend. Visiting teaching and home teaching is a way to get to know people and know when to serve. Emily Campbell said that for those who had been served, they really appreciated it. One sister said she once prayed to have someone help for three days and no one came, so now she tries to follow the Spirit because she knows. Sister Cantrell also told of a recent experience where she called a friend whose husband had died and she was very grateful. Amy Young said when she was first Relief Society president she had to learn that she actually had to do more than pray for sisters who are having trouble. There are sisters who are uniquely ours to help, such as those for whom we are visiting teachers or our family or those we teach or even those our husband's home teach. Linda Campbell said that serving others can change us. After her little daughter died and she had Spencer, she was despondent and watched soap operas for several months. Then she realized she was being pathetic and she got a box of note cards and wrote to others. It helped her forget her problems. Little things we do can have huge consequences, even though we may not think we are being anything but nice.