Branch Relief Society President Thought

I handed out new visiting teaching routes for this month. I want you to know that a lot of thought and prayer went into each of them. On www.lds.org, the church states that the responsibilities of visiting teachers are:
Come to know and love your sisters.
Minister through regular contacts.
Learn of needs and offer appropriate assistance.
Look for specific ways to help.
Share and testify of gospel doctrines.
Notice that it says to make regular contact. There are several ways to contact your sisters-home visits, phone calls, emails and letters, etc. I encourage each of you to pray about your list. Pray about what kind of contact your sisters need. Reach out to those sisters on your list who need your help. Become friends with your sisters. Teach and discuss the lesson each month with them. Ask them about their temporal and spiritual goals and help them achieve them.
When you report each month (wilmingtonvt@gmail.com, 937-556-4227, 330-310-3622), let us know about how your sisters are doing and if they are in need of anything. Let us know about their goals and how they are doing with them. It’s not about if you did your visiting teaching or not-it’s about your sisters and their needs. If anyone needs help or would like me to do a visit with them-please call me. I would love to go with you. (937-383-2981).
Mindy Zeigler

Branch Relief Society President Thought

“When we invite the Holy Ghost to fill our minds with light and knowledge, He “quickens” us, that is to say, enlightens and enlivens the inner man or woman. As a result we notice a measurable difference in our soul. We feel strengthened, filled with peace and joy. We possess spiritual energy and enthusiasm, both of which enhance our natural abilities. We can accomplish more than we otherwise could do on our own. We yearn to become a holier person.” (Keith K. Hilbig, “Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 37–39)

I know it is imperative that we feel the Spirit in our lives each and every day. It can be difficult to set aside our busy schedules and daily tasks to make room for the Spirit to fill us. Each time I feel the spirit, it motivates me to be a better person, it opens my mind to inspiration to help me with my daily struggles, it keeps me on the right track, and it makes me happy. That is why I need to feel the Spirit each day.

Something I have found to help me feel the Spirit each day is by listening to uplifting music and talks on my mp3 player while I clean the house. Anytime I do the dishes, vacuum, do laundry, pick up after the kids etc, I put my headphones on and get to work. Each and every time I do this, I feel the spirit.

Here are a few places I have found great things to listen to while I work. They are mp3 files that you can download to your computer. Right click on each link and choose “save target as” to save them.
http://www.lds.org/mp3/newarchive/0,18615,5249-1,00.html
-Ensign, scriptures, General Conference, other manuals, etc

http://www.byub.org/talks/
-BYU Women’s Conference talks, Education Week talks, devotionals etc.

http://radio.lds.org/eng/programs
-Mormon Channel LDS Radio Station has several programs including “Conversations” –interviews with apostles etc, “Music with a Message”-inspirational music with spiritual thoughts, and many more.

Please share with us ways you have found to invite the Holy Ghost to fill your minds each day. We would love to share your ideas too!
leave a comment or email me any ideas you'd like to share!

Mindy Zeigler

Branch Relief Society President Thought

Because the May issue of the Ensign contains a report of general conference, it does not contain a specific Visiting Teaching Message. Visiting teachers are encouraged to prayerfully select a conference address to share with those they teach.

I wanted to share with you my favorite quote from conference. It is from Sister Julie B. Beck’s (Relief Society General President) talk entitled “And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit.”

The second general Relief Society president, Eliza R. Snow, said this to the sisters: “We want to be ladies in very deed, not according to the term of the word as the world judges, but fit companions of the Gods and Holy Ones. In an organized capacity we can assist each other in not only doing good but in refining ourselves, and whether few or many come forward and help to prosecute this great work, they will be those that will fill honorable positions in the Kingdom of God. . . . Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities.”

This quote tells me so much and I love the bluntness about it. It makes me want to step up and refine and cultivate myself and work on something I can change in my life that will make me more Holy. I love how Sister Snow tells us not to worry if we do not get the appreciation that we feel we deserve. I challenge each of us to work on refining ourselves by finding something we can change in our lives and become better at. I promise you it will bless your life.

Mindy Zeigler

Branch Relief Society President Thought

“The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses much more than avoiding, overcoming, and being cleansed from sin and the bad influences in our lives; it also essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better. Repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always do so. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit such that “we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2), as did King Benjamin’s people, is the covenant responsibility we have accepted. This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin.” (David A. Bednar, “Clean Hands and a Pure Heart,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 80–83)

Sisters, I would encourage each of you to find an area in your life that you can do good, be good, and become better in. I know that as we try to become a better sister in the gospel that the Lord will work a mighty change in us and we will be blessed beyond measure. Imagine if each of us picked just one or two areas in our lives that we can become better, how our branch would be lifted up and be changed! I thank each of you for the work you do in your families and in your homes. Sometimes things get overwhelming, but if we just focus on one thing at a time, we will become better women, mothers, and sisters in the gospel!

Mindy Zeigler