Sustaining New Authorities & Teaching Relief Society

Yesterday was Ward Conference in our ward. We didn't realize it until we got to church. However, once we did realize it, we were really excited to have the opporunity to sustain the new first presidency. It was so different to hear the person conducting say, "President Thomas S. Monson as President, with Henry B. Eyring as first counselor, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf as second counselor." And then we were able to raise our right hand and sustain them. It was so awesome. We didn't make it to the leadership meeting on Saturday (don't worry, my Dad gave me hard time for missing it enough). I was really bummed though because we missed President Monson's first talk as the Prophet. I am anxiously awaiting for it to be up on the web site so I can listen to it. I have always been fond of President Monson, ever since I was in Primary. It seems as though when I was in Primary he always spoke to me (and the other primary age children :)), and then when I was a youth/young adult he focused on that age group, and now that I am married and in my life he speaks to me still. I love listening to him speak and the wonderful things he always says. I will miss President Hinckley a lot, however I know that President Monson is capable of filling the shoes.

I was asked on Thursday to teach Relief Society at church yesterday. The lesson was from the Joseph Smith manual, it was #2 entitled "God Our Eternal Father". I was having the most difficult time planning the lesson for some reason. I kept trying to think of other things that I can add to what the manaul has to say but nothing seemed appropriate. So, I happened to talk to my Dad Saturday night and he told me that President Blazer, from his Stake Presidency, was at a leadership meeting in Utah and one of the speakers said that the "Teachings of the Prophets: Joseph Smith" book is the most true book of Joseph Smith ever written. I found that so interesting and I wanted to share it in my lesson the next day, but I didn't want to make a sort of hearsay type thing. So, I found the following on www.lds.org and since I shared it with everyone in class, I thought that you all might enjoy it as well.

Elder Jay E. Jensen Executive Director of the Curriculum Department and member of the Seventy said, “Joseph Smith taught hundreds of inspiring sermons while he was the Prophet and President of the Church. Unfortunately, only about 50 were written down. For the past several years, many people, including professionals and volunteers, have diligently searched historical records to compile and review the statements that have been attributed to the Prophet. His teachings were carefully studied, authenticated, and compiled. The compilation was then approved by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Each statement in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith was thoroughly researched for accuracy. Extensive and painstaking effort was expended to check original sources. This effort was necessary because the way in which sermons were recorded in the Prophet’s day differed significantly from the way sermons of later Presidents of the Church were recorded. As explained in the new book: “During the lifetime of Joseph Smith, … shorthand was not in widespread use. Therefore, the sermons he delivered were recorded imprecisely in longhand, generally by scribes, Church leaders, and other Church members. Almost all of Joseph Smith’s addresses were given extemporaneously, without prepared texts, so the notes taken by those who listened to him constitute the only record of the discourses.”

This new book contains inspiring statements from Joseph Smith on more than 125 gospel topics.”