Ensign, Nov. 2007 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In Moroni 6:4 we are admonished
to remember and nourish those baptized
into the Church of Christ.
The monthly gospel message we
share in those visits builds faith and
testimony. The giver and the receiver
are both edified as they share insights
and personal experiences while discussing
gospel principles, scriptures,
and teachings of our prophets.
One additional blessing is the close
friendship and edification that take
place between the two sisters who are
companions in this errand. We learn
from each other, and we love each
other as we serve together.
We can and should be able to provide
meaningful relief. We have the
gospel perspective in our lives. We
have divine promptings encouraging
us to do good. Let us commit to effective
visiting teaching. We can provide
temporal and spiritual nourishment.
We can and should offer understanding
and be able to teach doctrine. We
can relieve spiritual hunger and feed
the sheep. Feeding the sheep might
mean strengthening and nourishing
the new members, the less active, or
even the fully active members.
Our service should be selfless,
quiet, and be done willingly, with our
hearts full of the love of God and His
children. There must be genuine concern
to shepherd the flock, to invite
them unto Christ.
It is my prayer that we will pledge
an increased commitment to extend
our arms of love and compassion to
bless, help, and strengthen each other
as we go about doing our visiting
teaching with a willing and joyful heart.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. ■
NOTES
1. See History of the Church, 5:25.
2. “Relief Society,” section 3 of the Church
Handbook of Instructions, Book 2:
Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders (1998),
202.
3. Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2,
203.
4. “The Circle of Sisters,” Ensign, Nov. 1980,
110, 111.
5. Personal correspondence.
I Will Strengthen
Thee; I Will
Help Thee
BARBARA THOMPSON
Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency
The greatest help we will have in strengthening families
is to know and follow the doctrines of Christ.
Several months ago Sister Beck
asked if I would consider speaking
about families and tell a
little about my experiences with families.
I am a single woman and do not
have any children of my own. I think
Sister Beck thought that I was qualified
to talk about families because I
have never made a mistake with any
of my own children. Many women
can’t claim that.
I am a social worker by profession
and have worked with many families
over the years—mostly with families
who are experiencing troubles or
great challenges. I have seen some
heartbreaking situations where children
have been badly hurt—both
physically and emotionally. I have seen
children who have been abandoned
and forgotten due to the substance
abuse or addictions of their parents. I
have seen 18-year-olds who have been
in foster care and are now out on their
own without any support and backing
of a loving family to help them.
Thankfully, most of us don’t have
abuse or neglect in our families, but
every family will experience some
type of challenge—illness, death,
disobedience, financial problems,
and so forth.
These problems raise some serious
questions. What is happening to families?
What is the difference between a
stable family and one that is dysfunctional?
What are some simple things
that will help families? And who can
provide relief to families?
Today I want to touch briefly on
these questions and give you several
observations I have made over the
years in hopes that they may help.
What Is Happening to Families?
Satan is working overtime to attack
the family. He tells us that marriage is
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