Week of November 20: Endure to the End

Dear Sisters,

Follow the journey!  Check out the blog, Strength From Stories.  And/or follow on twitter: @SeattleNStakeRS

Join the journey!  This week:

Read: 2 Nephi 31-33, Enos

           Our Heritage, pages 40-45 (PDF attached)

Write:  In 2 Nephi 31, Nephi prophesies of the baptism of Jesus Christ.  Write about your own baptism.  What do you remember about being baptized?  Be sure to include details!   

Our writing prompt this week was to reflect on a modern day prophecy that is important to us right now. Below is my reflection on Christ's warning about the last days found in Matthew 24:

This week I was in slow traffic on Holman Road, late for a meeting, feeling blue and angry, listening to KD Lang sing "Calling All Angels" with Jane Siberry, and I wished that I could see the angels around us, shining and lifting and speaking in our ears, and I felt alone and dejected, wondering where the angels are.  Suddenly I noticed in the car ahead of me the eyes of the driver reflected in her driver's side mirror.  My eyes met hers, and for one second, I felt connection and empathy.  We smiled at each other and then drove away as the light changed.  I thought, "She's in this traffic too.  We're both here together."  And in an instant I realized that we are all here for one another, in this amazing and frustrating time in history, in this busy and crowded city.  We are surrounded by people who we look at but do not see, who we travel with but do not know.  I thought of Christ prophesying that in the days before his second coming the love of many shall wax cold, and I think He was seeing our large and busy cities, our isolated cars and houses and jobs and neighborhoods, where we fear one another and are afraid to connect.  But all it takes is one small second to look into someone's eyes, even in traffic, to be lifted, to feel love, to remember that each person is miraculous, is loved by God, and should be loved by me too.  

Have a beautiful week dear sisters!

With Love,

Marni Campbell, Michelle Quinn, Theresa Roth, and Jenni Currit

Seattle North Stake RS Presidency

Week of November 13 2016: And they shall write it

Ezekiel holding the Sticks of Joseph and Judah

Follow the journey on Twitter: @SeattleNStakeRS

This week's journey:

Read: 2 Nephi 9, 29

           Our Heritage pages 33-39 (link here and chapters attached in the email)

Explore: The Sally Phelps Hymnal (https://history.lds.org/article/-sally-phelps-hymnal?lang=eng

Write: Write about a latter-day prophecy that is particularly important to you right now

Dear sisters,

Last week we read 2 Nephi 3-5, which contains the psalm of Nephi, Nephi's beautiful reflection on his faith and conversion.  You also had a chance to ask someone in your family about her or his conversion story.  We hope that this gave you a chance to reflect on the nature of your faith, your ever-growing testimony, and beauties of spiritual gifts.  You also had a chance to look at some historical documents, including letters from Joseph Smith to his wife Emma while he was leading Zion's Camp.  

What strength do you draw from these stories?  Nephi's many, many trials led directly to his deep testimony.  Zion's Camp, though in some ways a failure given the initial goal, built strength and vision in the early latter-day saints.  Those in our lives who can describe their conversion, however it happened, at whatever point, to whatever degree, likely had to endure doubt and questioning before they reached out to know God.  How is your own story of faith continually unfolding?

We hope that you have a beautiful week of reading, writing, and discovering your own strength. 

With love,

Marni Campbell, Theresa Roth, Michelle Quinn, and Jenni Currit

Seattle North Stake RS Presidency

Week of November 6 2016: My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord

Dear sisters,

Follow on twitter: @SeattleNStakeRS

Week of November 6 2016

Read: 2 Nephi 3-5

           Our Heritage pages 26-32 (see attached PDF)

Explore: 3 Little Known Details AboutZion’s Camp

Write: Ask a family member to tell you about her/his conversion story.  Write the story and your thoughts.

This week we read the final words of wisdom of the prophet Lehi, and pondered the nature of opposition in all things.  You also had the chance to look at original manuscripts from the earliest days of the restoration, the "Joseph Smith Papers" available on lds.org.  I found myself marveling at the tangible Joseph Smith's incredibly difficult calling as prophet, seer, and revelator, and the critical significance of these precious documents.  Your own personal histories will be powerfully important to you and those who follow you as a record of your own faith.

This week we are privileged to read the reflections of Emily Garcia of the Woodland Park ward.  Emily, thank you for sharing your journey with us!  Emily's reflection below:

"There must needs be an opposition in all things..."

14 years ago one of my best friends got sealed in the San Diego temple. I was so excited for her. I remember praying and fasting on my mission a few years after she got sealed that she would get pregnant and I could babysit by the time I got home. She came to my sealing a few years later and babysat my first child on almost a weekly basis when we lived closer.  She remained childless. I remember growing up that she always wanted to be a mom. One of the hardest parts about being a mom is seeing those you love, who really want to be moms, not have that dream realized yet. 

"But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things..."

She still does not have any kids. I now have three. She is currently in the process of getting a divorce. Those "unanswered prayers" turned out to be a blessing in making her divorce simpler. It still really sucks that she doesn't have kids and doesn't have a loving husband to have those kids with. It hurts but I know that right now, she is actually happier than she's been in awhile.

"Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy..."

I have faith that someday her dreams will come true because Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and to have joy. It is not right now. Mine are right now. I guess with all of this opposition it is important to remember what Solomon learned, "this too shall pass." Right now my dreams are being fulfilled. Her turn will come and I will also experience hardships. I think it will be important to remember when those come to be happy for my friend for the joy that she will have and remember the good times myself.

Sisters, it's not too late to join the journey!  Begin where we are this week.  There is so much to read and learn!

With love,

Marni Campbell, Michelle Quinn, Theresa Roth, and Jenni Currit

Seattle North Stake Relief Society Presidency