July 6, 2014 lesson

Lesson for 6 July 2014 Today our lesson was taught by Irma Lopez, titled “Sisterhood, O How We Need Each Other.” Irma showed us the video that went with Sister Oscarson’s conference talk about how important it is to share ourselves with other sisters in the gospel. In the video several groups of sisters of all ages from all over the Church sang, “I Am A Child of God.” Irma asked Amy Young to share her experience of being in the Conference Center and Amy said it was amazing. Irma said it is our privilege to be women in the Church and to belong to that society that is a great force for goodness. Heather Cantrell read a quote about the international nature of our society. Irma said it is magical that we all belong to the same society. No matter where we go in the world, we have a home in a ward or branch where the lessons and the doctrine and the meetings are the same. Emily Campbell said she doesn’t bicker with us like she did with her sisters, but we are sisters. Many sisters in the ward said we all feel like sisters. We are all going through different stages and different ages, so no matter where we come from or what part of life we’re in, we can all be sisters and have beautiful friendships. Irma said she came into our ward 21 years ago, from a ward where her best friend was in Relief Society. She is still her good friend. She is available to Irma for prayers and encouragement and to talk to when she has problems. Bonnie said she lived in Cleveland, Ohio and had lots of friends, but she felt she needed a special friend. She prayed for a friend and Michelle moved into the ward, but her husband was immediately transferred. She is still Bonnie’s good friend. Irma said the adversary is always telling us we are not good enough, instead of saying that we have wonderful traits. She pointed out that we should not compare ourselves to others, but learn new things. Sister Bahr read a quote about not judging ourselves, but seeing ourselves with compassion and recognize our divine background. Our desire is to lift up one another and serve one another. Irma said we need to help people as sisters. Emily Campbell said that women have a biological need to connect with other women. Barbara Aldridge said sometimes only a woman can understand another woman. Only a woman will get it. Irma said she asked several women who they go to when they have problems. Many said their sisters, or another woman friend. Some said Heavenly Father and then another woman. Jessica Lewis said that when we were baptized we covenanted to take on each others’ burdens. Sister Oscarson in her talk said we need to rely on each other. She told of a little girl named Sarah and went with her mother to help another little girl who had multiple sclerosis. She learned to be compassionate and caring for another. Another story she told about the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth as they supported one another through their pregnancies—old and young who strengthened each other. Amy Young said she has met sisters in every situation in life through visiting teaching, and these women are her friends still. They have given her wonderful advice and she has wonderful friendships through visiting teaching. Irma said we have much to contribute to each other. Heather said she has a friend who is a Methodist, but she was gathered in by the local Relief Society who helped her through an illness 24 hours a day for two years. Sister Oscarson’s mother walked to church on her own as a child because she had Primary teachers who loved her. Another story is about an 81 year old sister who was called to be a MIA Maid advisor and who brought wisdom and love to the girls and the girls helped her. Irma asked how we can include the young women to get them to see that Relief Society is for them, too. In one ward, they included the younger sisters once a month. Sister Campbell said we need to include them. One young sister said she wanted to join Relief Society from the time she turned 18 and she thinks she liked going to activities with the Relief Society. Sometimes it would be good to recognize the young women and say hello to them and invite them to sit with us. We can find out what is going on in the high school, so we can tell the youth that we saw them. Sister Oscarson said we have each other and are rich in connections so we can nurture and serve each other.