Message From Our Relief Society President, Linn Evans

The theme we have chosen for Relief Society for 2009 is ANGELS AMONG US - HEAVENLY HANDS. It is taken from this scripture found in D&C 84:88 "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up"

From the beginning of time God has dispatched angels as His messengers. They are sent to convey love and concern for His children. They bless us in times of special need and also reassure us that Heaven is always close and that His help is always near. President Joseph F. Smith said, “When messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not strangers…… our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the Divine Presence messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh.”

Elder Jeffery R. Holland "My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. Nor will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man (or one woman or child) upon the face thereof to be saved." When we allow ourselves to be used by Heavenly Father to do His work and become an instrument in His hands by helping others, showing charity, and ministering as earthly angels we have been promised that Heavenly Angels will walk beside us.

Our Birthday Gift this year for R.S. sisters is a bottle of pump hand soap. It is meant to remind you daily to use your hands to bless others. It comes with a challenge to allow yourself to be used by Heavenly Father to be a ministering angel. To look for ways and pray for opportunities to lift, comfort, and bring relief. To step out of ourselves, and our comfort zones and use those feelings of charity that God planted in our hearts as women.

The 2nd part of that challenge is to look for your angels in your life–you’ll be surprised, and overwhelmed at how often they cross your path. Heavenly Father never leaves us alone, and without help in the challenges that we face. There are always angels coming and going all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal.

This year our lessons and enrichment activities will all be based around this theme. Some of the titles of our first Sunday lessons will be: Tongues of Angels or voices of angels (speak no ill )– Errand of Angels is given to women (Service) - Heaven Sent ( Recognizing the Tender Mercies of the Lord) - "Oh that I were an Angel" (how we can help in missionary work) - Guardian Angels (protecting our families) - Angels in the Outfield (fellow shipping those who feel they don’t fit in) - Angels We Have Heard on High (Christmas Lesson)