Goodbye Seminary! Hello Relief Society!

For almost all the time we've lived in Portland, I've taught seminary which is a four year program for high school students designed to teach them to study and use the scriptures in their daily lives.

 In our church we are asked to serve in various callings for a time and we feel that these 'callings' are given to us by Priesthood Leaders who receive inspiration.  My years in seminary have been absolutely wonderful.  I can honestly say that being a seminary teacher is the best calling in the church.  I mean it is just plain fun as well as being spiritually uplifting and testimony strengthening.  The first years I taught every other day from 7:35 - 8:50 but this year I've taught every day from 6:10 - 7.  That means I've been getting up at 4:45 a.m.  I have to admit that it has been hard but so worth it.

One of my last lessons was on David and Goliath.  The 9 foot tall Goliath I created 4 years ago was used again. Here he is with two of the tallest boys in the class.

 

And here with two of the shortest girls!

After attacking him with pencils and using a sling shot to shoot marshmallows at him.....

 

We had a really wonderful discussion about the Goliaths in our own lives, hulking giants with evil intent to destroy and weaken us.  How do we defeat them?  In the words of our last prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, "You need not fear if you have the slingshot of truth in your hands. You have been counseled and taught and advised.  You have the stones of virtue and honor and integrity to use against these enemies...when they challenge you, you can hit them between the eyes.  You can triumph over them by disciplining yourself to avoid them.  You can say to the whole lot of them as David said to Goliath, "Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, who thou hast defied". Victory will be yours.  There is not a person in this Church who needs to surrender to any of these forces.  You are a child of God. You have His power within you to sustain you.  You have the right to call upon God to protect you.  Do not let Goliath frighten you.  Stand your ground...and you will be triumphant. "

Can you think of a better way to start your day than with a discussion like that?

No calling lasts forever though.  

One of the quirks of the LDS church is that our wards or congregations are determined by geographical boundaries.  If you move across town, or around the world, you can figure out which 'Ward' you should attend.  Other times you might stay in the same house only to have the ward boundaries change around you and suddenly you are in a different 'ward'. One lady I know has been in the same house for 30 years and has been in 4 wards!  The 7 congregations in our area just experienced a boundary change.  Instead of 7 wards now there are 10!  And with that change came a new 'calling' for me!

I'm now the President of the Relief Society which is the organization for adult women in LDS wards.  To quote from Mormon.org

The Relief Society is the oldest and largest women's organization in the world. Relief Society was established in 1842 for women 18 years of age and older. Its purpose is to build faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and help those in need.

So it is goodbye to my 21 teenagers and hello to 126 adult women! My circle of love just expanded.  A few months ago I barely knew the kids in my seminary class.  But now I can honestly say that I love them.  I want to keep in touch with them and hear about their lives.  My love for them won't go away with a new calling.  They have a new teacher that will learn to love them and that they will learn to love.  And I'll learn to love the women in the Lakeridge Ward in a new way.   Love doesn't end when callings change. Love just expands.  It's funny that way!