Comments on: That Other Declaration http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/ Uplifting, edifying, and enriching reading by and for Latter-day Saint Women Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:17:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: A Prayer of Faith » Blog Archive » God’s Beloved Daughters http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-995 Sun, 04 Jun 2006 11:58:55 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-995 [...] The Relief Society Declaration (see my initial post here) begins with these words: We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. [...] […] The Relief Society Declaration (see my initial post here) begins with these words: We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. […]

]]> by: Tanya http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-948 Tue, 30 May 2006 20:02:28 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-948 That is the nice thing with how our young women's program is working in our stake. They are truly focusing on their theme and what it means to the girls. Every lesson has something to do with part of the theme. Every year they are working on learning the principles so they can understand how they are beloved daughters of God. It has become wonderful to stand and recite this with the young women in the ward as they meet with the RS. Then again, maybe it means more to me now that I have a daughter that is a YW so I can see how she has grown. Perspective does change at times doesn't it. That is the nice thing with how our young women’s program is working in our stake. They are truly focusing on their theme and what it means to the girls. Every lesson has something to do with part of the theme. Every year they are working on learning the principles so they can understand how they are beloved daughters of God. It has become wonderful to stand and recite this with the young women in the ward as they meet with the RS. Then again, maybe it means more to me now that I have a daughter that is a YW so I can see how she has grown. Perspective does change at times doesn’t it.

]]> by: Naiah http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-945 Tue, 30 May 2006 16:52:21 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-945 On the topic of reciting it. I'm actually not big on that. Reciting something is a semblance of knowledge. It's repeating words, even young toddlers can do that. What I wish is for sisters, all of us, to have a truer understanding of it--to really integrate it into our lives anf self-images. When the YW recite their thing (what is it called? I joined the church at 18 and was never in YW.), it always makes me vaguely uncomfortable, as it looks and feel slike a hollow observance. When talking to onw of their leaders, I once inadvertently referred to it as their "chant." The words in it are beautiful, and, man, if those girls could really some to a place of understanding what they mean and how they apply to them, they'd have a PROFOUND basis for rising above what modern teenagerhood has come to mean (years of grueling insecurity, sadness, and angst--aching for identitly). On the topic of reciting it. I’m actually not big on that. Reciting something is a semblance of knowledge. It’s repeating words, even young toddlers can do that. What I wish is for sisters, all of us, to have a truer understanding of it–to really integrate it into our lives anf self-images.

When the YW recite their thing (what is it called? I joined the church at 18 and was never in YW.), it always makes me vaguely uncomfortable, as it looks and feel slike a hollow observance. When talking to onw of their leaders, I once inadvertently referred to it as their “chant.” The words in it are beautiful, and, man, if those girls could really some to a place of understanding what they mean and how they apply to them, they’d have a PROFOUND basis for rising above what modern teenagerhood has come to mean (years of grueling insecurity, sadness, and angst–aching for identitly).

]]> by: Starfoxy http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-941 Tue, 30 May 2006 16:28:00 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-941 I was 16 when this came out, so I have no experience with a pre-declaration Relief Society. It hasn't been hanging in any RS room that I've attended meetings in (5 or so), and though I have a copy (framed even!) I know very few who do. In one of my singles wards we would stand and recite it once a month, (though many of the women didn't like it because it felt too much like Young Womens). It is beautiful, and I think lots of RS programs would benefit from pulling it into the consciousness of all the sisters. I was 16 when this came out, so I have no experience with a pre-declaration Relief Society. It hasn’t been hanging in any RS room that I’ve attended meetings in (5 or so), and though I have a copy (framed even!) I know very few who do. In one of my singles wards we would stand and recite it once a month, (though many of the women didn’t like it because it felt too much like Young Womens). It is beautiful, and I think lots of RS programs would benefit from pulling it into the consciousness of all the sisters.

]]> by: Jen http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-900 Sun, 28 May 2006 12:16:36 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-900 I've been in the primary or YW for a long time now. I remember hearing it though, perhaps at Enrichment. I haven't ever recieved a copy myself so I'm grateful to have come accross it in your post. I’ve been in the primary or YW for a long time now. I remember hearing it though, perhaps at Enrichment. I haven’t ever recieved a copy myself so I’m grateful to have come accross it in your post.

]]> by: Michelle http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-897 Sun, 28 May 2006 05:53:39 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-897 When I can, I try to send lesson notes to women in the auxilliaries so they can feel remembered and a little more included (this has become part of my calling on the compassionate service committee). You have motivated me to be more consistent with that, Tanya! When I can, I try to send lesson notes to women in the auxilliaries so they can feel remembered and a little more included (this has become part of my calling on the compassionate service committee). You have motivated me to be more consistent with that, Tanya!

]]> by: Tanya http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-896 Sun, 28 May 2006 02:40:08 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-896 We get the handouts in primary, and when I was in the nursery the secretary would come in. At one point they wanted me to do the roll for nursery and I told them they needed to come see the ladies. I think some of these changes are coming from our Stake Leaders, including the primary ones. I would imagine our ward will be due for a change soon, our RS president has been in nearly 3 years, and they change about that often here. She is also the wife of the Stake President, and very depressed herself. Her mother died last October and she hasn't been the same since. She is also going through empty nesting, her youngest has been away to school and leaves on his mission soon. So we shall see how it goes in the next little while. We get the handouts in primary, and when I was in the nursery the secretary would come in. At one point they wanted me to do the roll for nursery and I told them they needed to come see the ladies. I think some of these changes are coming from our Stake Leaders, including the primary ones.

I would imagine our ward will be due for a change soon, our RS president has been in nearly 3 years, and they change about that often here. She is also the wife of the Stake President, and very depressed herself. Her mother died last October and she hasn’t been the same since. She is also going through empty nesting, her youngest has been away to school and leaves on his mission soon.

So we shall see how it goes in the next little while.

]]> by: Michelle http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-895 Sun, 28 May 2006 00:56:46 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-895 I realized that I don't remember my feelings when the RS Declaration came out, but I grew to love it most the year we focused on it. Our ward RS presidency used part of it for their monthly messages as was mentioned above, and we memorized it for our Stake RS meeting. I also sang in a choir for that stake meeting. We sang an awesome song called "Who We Are" which is based on the Declaration. (I heard it on the radio on Sunday. It gave me chills.) This post makes me want to pull out that music again (and find an MP3 to share with y'all, if I can!) and to memorize the Declaration again. I'm looking forward to this series. I like the idea of giving a copy to my VT sisters.... I realized that I don’t remember my feelings when the RS Declaration came out, but I grew to love it most the year we focused on it. Our ward RS presidency used part of it for their monthly messages as was mentioned above, and we memorized it for our Stake RS meeting. I also sang in a choir for that stake meeting. We sang an awesome song called “Who We Are” which is based on the Declaration. (I heard it on the radio on Sunday. It gave me chills.) This post makes me want to pull out that music again (and find an MP3 to share with y’all, if I can!) and to memorize the Declaration again. I’m looking forward to this series.

I like the idea of giving a copy to my VT sisters….

]]> by: Naiah http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-894 Sat, 27 May 2006 22:53:54 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-894 Tanya, I bet your RS President woudl love to hear how you would like to be better informed of what happens in RS. Our RS President has even taken to stopping by the nursery (where I serve) the first few minuted of Sunday School to check in on myself an dthe other sisters there. It's not so much that we need the checkign on, but the show of recognition that we are there (as opposed to in RS) has been *huge* for us. We do feel more connected to our Sisterhood than we otherwise would. A lot of wards also put together a clipboard with the handouts and announcements on it that gets taken to the primary, nursery, etc. We're getting one going again in our ward. I highly suggest suggesting it to your RS Pres. Remember, her calling is to serve the sisters, and the best way that she can do that is to know what the needs are! Tanya,
I bet your RS President woudl love to hear how you would like to be better informed of what happens in RS. Our RS President has even taken to stopping by the nursery (where I serve) the first few minuted of Sunday School to check in on myself an dthe other sisters there. It’s not so much that we need the checkign on, but the show of recognition that we are there (as opposed to in RS) has been *huge* for us. We do feel more connected to our Sisterhood than we otherwise would.

A lot of wards also put together a clipboard with the handouts and announcements on it that gets taken to the primary, nursery, etc. We’re getting one going again in our ward. I highly suggest suggesting it to your RS Pres. Remember, her calling is to serve the sisters, and the best way that she can do that is to know what the needs are!

]]> by: Tanya http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-892 Sat, 27 May 2006 20:24:31 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/05/27/rsd-revisited/#comment-892 Good topic. I taught a lesson in RS about a year and a half ago on sisterhood in the relief society and how we all belong to this organization and that we need to have a sense of that belonging. I have a copy of it but it is a book mark. I think I was given a better one by my children destroyed it before I could hang it up. A couple years ago our Relief Society Presidency taught their lessons based on this declaration. I wish as a RS we would recite it the way that the young women recite theirs. I know in our ward we meet with the Young Women for Opening Exercises and what a joy it would be to hear both themes every sunday. I know for me I don't feel much a part of the RS. They used to give the announcements in primary but not longer. I have found a greater disconnect between the women serving in auxillaries and those in the RS. I think this is sad. I love the distiguishment between Motherhood and Womanhood. They are not the same. All too often we define ourselves in roles of Mothers. I have seen women complain about not being mothers for various reasons, (including myself at times), and women that complain about their children. (Yes me too.) We are first and formost women, daughters of God, with much to give. Motherhood is a secondary role. I love being a mother, but first and formost I love being a woman. By finding that love for myself and who I am, I am a better person, a better mother, and a better wife. Perhaps not the anecdotal story you were looking for, but it is something I ponder frequently. Good topic. I taught a lesson in RS about a year and a half ago on sisterhood in the relief society and how we all belong to this organization and that we need to have a sense of that belonging. I have a copy of it but it is a book mark. I think I was given a better one by my children destroyed it before I could hang it up.

A couple years ago our Relief Society Presidency taught their lessons based on this declaration. I wish as a RS we would recite it the way that the young women recite theirs. I know in our ward we meet with the Young Women for Opening Exercises and what a joy it would be to hear both themes every sunday.

I know for me I don’t feel much a part of the RS. They used to give the announcements in primary but not longer. I have found a greater disconnect between the women serving in auxillaries and those in the RS. I think this is sad.

I love the distiguishment between Motherhood and Womanhood. They are not the same. All too often we define ourselves in roles of Mothers. I have seen women complain about not being mothers for various reasons, (including myself at times), and women that complain about their children. (Yes me too.) We are first and formost women, daughters of God, with much to give. Motherhood is a secondary role. I love being a mother, but first and formost I love being a woman. By finding that love for myself and who I am, I am a better person, a better mother, and a better wife.

Perhaps not the anecdotal story you were looking for, but it is something I ponder frequently.

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