Saturday, April 20th

An update on tomorrow's activities!

We are having a pancake (and bacon) breakfast for Miss Jenna tomorrow morning at my house at 7:30 am! We are so so so so excited for Jenna to join us in young womens!

Afterwards, about 8:30 the young men will meet up with us at my house and we will say a prayer together as a group and leave together. I know some of you are planning on going with your parents and that is fine. But we have been asked by the stake to have a prayer as a ward prior to leaving.  Brother Andersen and Brother Chambers will be taking the youth from our ward who won't be going with their parents. Also, if you need to leave before noon that is fine. But please let Brother Andersen and Brother Chambers know because we are responsible for you and they will get worried if they do not know where you have gone.

I am excited to know that so many of you will be coming to the leaf raking activity. It is wonderful you are so willing to serve! And don't forget- yummy pizza afterwards!

I am sorry it took so long to clarify exactly what the plans were for tomorrow!

Love, Sister Chambers

Insight to share....

The other day in my personal scripture study I came across some passages that left an impression on me, and thought I would share them with you girls. 

I was reading in the book of  Alma chapter 16.  In this chapter it talks about Alma and Amulk teaching the people after a victory over the Lamanite people. I have read this chapter several times but I have never stop to liken this passage to my life.  I mean,  Alma and Amulek are missionaries right?  I am not, so I couldn't possible apply the principals taught in the next verses to  my life...or so I thought!

 Alma Chapter 16

13 And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance to the people in their ^a
temples, and in their ^bsanctuaries, and also in their ^csynagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews.

 14 And as many as would hear their words, unto them they did impart the word of God, without any ^arespect of persons, continually.

What stood out to me is how they taught the gospel...

 "without any respect of persons, continually"

What does "respect of persons" mean exactly? Well to me I think that it means that Alma and Amulek went and taught EVERYONE.  They didn't look and judge people by their actions, or appearance before they taught them.  They just taught them and trusted the Lord would do the rest! I know that can be very hard to do.  We sometimes tend to think that we know the "type" of people that will accept the gospel.  You know, those that look, act and think like us right?  Well not exactly, that is a lesson I learned over and over on my mission, sometime the people you think are the least prepared and ready to receive the gospel are the ones that the Lord has went before us and softened their hearts. 

So I know what you are thinking, "OK Sister Dutton, where are you going with this, how does it apply to our young women's group?" Well this is what the Spirit taught me after pondering these scriptures. 

We as a Young Women group have a strong desire to see all that are in our group become active and strong members. We talk about it, we pray about it, we are even fasting about it, its a VERY righteous desire.  I can tell you that nothing would make me happier than to see our classroom full every Sunday and I do think that it would make Heavenly Father very happy as well! So what am I doing to help that desire?  What actions am I taking to reach out to everyone in our group?  Am I doing as Alma and going forth "with out any  respecter of person"?  Or do I talk myself out of it by thinking "they are not ready yet, they don't seem like they want to come" I know that I am personally taking the challenge upon myself to be more like Alma and Amulk.  To try to see EVERYONE as Heavenly Father sees them, and to pour out love to them, not just once but CONTINUOUSLY!  I am going to trust the Lord more and go and do! 

I know that Heavenly Father will listen to our prays and knows the desires of our hearts.  It reminds me of my most all time favorite scripture Alma 5:7

"Behold, he changed their hearts;

          ...yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God"

Love, Sister Dutton

Fast

Just a reminder about our special Young Women's fast this coming Sunday, March 3rd.

There are many young women who should be with us and are not. There are also young women who will be joining us this year as they turn twelve. As you fast, please keep these young women in mind.

Consider how we as a group or you as an individual can reach out to these young women. Through you they can feel their Heavenly Father and Savior's love for them.

 Our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, has encouraged us to "reach out and rescue those who need our help and lift them to the higher road and the better way. ... It is the Lord's work, and when we are on the Lord's errand, ... we are entitled to the Lord's help."

I know that, as the scriptures teach, if we will bring at least one soul into the gospel, great will be our joy.

Love, Sister Chambers