25 Lessons learned as a Relief Society President

This past month our wards got rearranged and I got released from my calling as a relief society president.  I feel so happy, light, and relieved and at the same time kind of sad.  I've reflected a lot on my experiences, both good and bad, and made a list of what I've learned from them.  The main lesson I've learned is that the Lord is with those who are making an effort to do his work.  Hopefully I will take the time to write down stories that go with all these lessons.  Here's my list :

1.  "When you are on the Lord’s errand, you are entitled to His help." Thomas Monson

2.  Satan is always in opposition to God’s work- anxiety, fear, doubts, and criticism from others

3.  Never call, text, email or visit someone when you are angry.  Take time to respond and respond by focusing on principles, not people or character traits.

4.  Self-reliance is taking responsibility for yourself and your family in all aspects of your life.  Blaming others is not self-reliance.  Blaming God is not being spiritually self-reliant.  Expecting God to tell you EVERYTHING is not being spiritually self-reliant.  Expecting someone else to solve your problems or to reach out to you is not being self-reliant.  Self-reliance is the goal: a truly self-reliant person is able to help others on their quest to become self-reliant-  spiritually, emotionally, financially…

5.  Charity is withholding judgment.

6.  Sometimes charity is not rushing to someone’s aid, but counseling with them in love and helping them realize that the power is in them to solve their own problem.

7.  Ministering- 1.  The Lord is concerned about our spiritual wellbeing.  2.  We need each other.  3.  The Lord loves His daughters.

8.  Revelation is scattered among us.  Counseling with others is well worth it.

9.  Other people have nothing to do with my own salvation.

10.  Our enemy and competition are not with each other.  Our battle is against sin and Satan.  We have a common enemy, goals, and purpose in life; it can bring unity and power.  The only competition is with ourselves- to become a little better each day.

11.  The Lord wants us to love and help the refugees and the poor.

12.  One of the greatest gifts is the gift of revelation.  Revelation takes work- study, prayer, and action of faith.  Revelation most often comes after taking steps of faith.  If we want to call down the powers of heaven we need to do the Lord’s work and will in conjunction with study and prayer.

13.  Relief society presidents need to be emotionally stable and have a solid testimony.

14.  Every generation has their call, just as the pioneers did.  One of our great calls in this generation is to do family history and temple work.  Our families need it for our own spiritual strength in the last days.

15.  “Love is making space in your life for someone else.” Sis Marriott

16.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the greatest organization on the earth.  The Relief Society is the greatest women's organization.  The inner workings of the church (ministering, temple, revelation, repentance, welfare, addiction recovery, counseling…) are full of light and hope and are awesome!

17.  It is ok and good to focus on and use your strengths.  Don’t always focus on your weaknesses.

18.  Wisdom is being able to see things as they really are.

19.  “You know when someone is ready to change when they stop blaming others”  Gina (my counselor)

20.  Don’t let opposition get in your way of doing the Lord’s work, push it aside with faith.

21.  It’s usually best to assess a situation in person- listen and gather information- before making decisions.  Then do what you feel the Lord wants you to do, not necessarily what someone else wants you to do.

22.  In ministering interviews, focus on who is being ministered to.  Help the person ministering to look outward, not inward and how convenient or inconvenient this will be.

23.  How to deal with toxic personalities: 1- Avoid contact with them as much as possible.  2- Always remain professional and keep communication short- respond like a rock with not much to say.  Respond with “thanks for letting me know”. 3-  Avoid speaking to them alone. 4- You most likely cannot help them; they need to be willing to help themselves and to get professional help. 5- Don’t let their poison in to affect your happiness.

24.  Progress won’t happen without humility and obedience.

25.  The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, sometimes just for your own knowledge to show God is listening and cares about you.  Tender mercies of the Lord are real and come to those who are doing His work.