How the Church is Organized (Mormons)

Focus on Education in Mormonism

Sisterhood in the LDS church

lds.org

     Thoughts and experiences about the wonderful relationships between women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints…we do call each other Sister.

     “For me, the sisterhood within the church has been so inspiring. I didn't know people could still treat each other like family without the family ties or without even knowing each other a long time. 

     "The fact that such love exists between women without having to know each other all that well is incredibly powerful. Just knowing that we're all coming from that same place of being human, and of being a woman with a righteous heart is enough to bond us for life, even for eternity. I think it's the most powerful love of all; to sisters it doesn't matter who you are, we're all the same deep down and as sisters that's the mentality that were all similarly embracing. 

     "In sisterhood, women don't care about differences, it's just about love and forgiveness and compassion and empathy acknowledging that we're all not perfect and we're all going through this difficult human experience, yet with each other it becomes so much easier and the help and love we compassionately extend to each other can transform our experience here on earth and make it into so much more than it could ever be without each other. 

   "We make each other and we change each other's lives in the most dramatic and wonderful ways.”

 --------------------

     “I think an example of sisterhood is going to visit teach someone because you are assign to her and then discovering her as a friend for life!”

------------------

     “Well, I don't have any sisters so over my lifetime in the church, 40+ years, I have come to appreciate the love and sisterhood I have felt from my church sisters.  As a young convert, there were many women older and younger than I who helped me as I worked through gaining a testimony.  Others provided a listening and compassionate ear as we were raising children.  And now, I am enjoying the sisterhood of a fabulous group of Young Single Adult women who accept and love me even though there is a significant age difference.  I am not sure what I would have done in my life without the sisterhood of the women of the church.”

Missionaries serving in the Fukuoka Japan Mission

Sister Breksa is second from left - bending down a bit so the missionaries behind her can be seen.

If they are representative of some of the missionaries in other parts of the world and at different times in church history, there are those in this picture who, during the time they serve, face physical challenges, family members back home being very sick or dying or have died, scant resources, missing grandchildren's milestones, difficulty with the language, family members and friends that do not support them, missed schooling & sports opportunities, and homesickness.  

They make no money - in fact they pay their own way. Some missionaries have been saving money for their missions almost all their lives, have sold cars or collections, or parents have to take second jobs and sacrifice other things to support their missionaries. Some are partially or completely supported by other members of the church. They've left family businesses and farms, leaving their part of the work to be done by others. 

On their missions they will be cold, hot, hungry, elated, sad, tired, and enthused. They will be treated rudely and like sacred ministers.  They face physical dangers, threats of violence and welcomed into homes and fed the best the family has to offer. Dogs will chase and children will embrace the missionaries.

Why do they serve?

To bring the world His truth. 

Every person who has the privilege and blessing of meeting missionaries are being given the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to read the Book of Mormon, pray about it and the teachings of Christ - to know if they are true by the very real power of God - and then make changes in their lives to be baptized.

Then, they are further supported through an established church with programs designed to bring them close to Christ.  That through that strength and personal study and obedience - they can enter the temple of God and be sealed for eternity to their family…then continue to gain strength, study, and to obey that  when the world has gone away….they will be with their families and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ forever.

Quite a lot of blessings possible … and the potential that another child of God will hear and respond as outlined above … that is worth ALL of it.  

Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration

This video is an hour long.  Today, December 23rd is Joseph Smith's birthday.  I thought it would be nice to share a little about his life and work.  
The video is worth your time. 

LDS Church History

THE MORMON BATTALION

http://californiapioneer.org/historic-events/mormon-battalion

The artist of this painting, George Ottinger married into one of Sister Breksa's ancestor's family and traveled with his wife's family during the exodus to Utah.  

Another of George Ottinger's paintings is of the driving of the golden spike at Promotory Point, Utah - Another one of Sister Breksa's ancestors, Abraham Hunsaker, was at that event and was a member of the Mormon Battalion.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“In June of 1846, there were approximately 15,000 Latter-day Saints strung out across Iowa in about a half dozen makeshift encampments. They had been forced to leave their comfortable homes in the city they had built, Nauvoo, Illinois. They had endured a tragic exodus across Iowa. Many had died of starvation, exposure, and disease during the cold winter and wet springtime. They had no homes, no property, and no clothing except what they carried in their wagons or wore upon their backs. By crossing the Mississippi River, these pioneers had left the United States, and were moving west to a destination they knew not, where they hoped to live in peace.” 

(http://californiapioneer.org/historic-events/mormon-battalion)

Church leader Brigham Young sought a solution for the Saint’s dire financial problems. He sent a messenger to President Polk with a proposal. The Saints would ‘fortify and defend the West.' With the start of the Mexican-American War, President Polk responded with the offer to form a Mormon battalion of 500 men.

President Young agreed. 500 men volunteered. While they did not participate in a battle, the battalion completed the longest military march in US history. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LDS Teaching: The Central part of all that we stand for, teach, and live

"The Savior's suffering in Gethsemane and His agony on the cross redeem us from sin by satisfying the demands that justice has upon us. He extends mercy and pardons those who repent. The Atonement also satisfies the debt justice owes to us by healing and compensating us for any suffering we innocently endure."

—D. Todd Christofferson, "Redemption"

He Is Risen

The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane

General Conference information and scope

Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It seats over 100,000. (I typed 'people' but Sister Breksa's very smart younger sister asked, "well what else would be sitting there?") 

The prophet of the Lord, Thomas S. Monson (Center). On the right are his counselors - these three men hold the same positions as Peter, James and John when Christ established His church during His earthly Life.  "We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth."

Amazing!
This is the Lord's church and has an organization that no man-created organization could achieve. 

Watch the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - 

Saturday October 5 and Sunday October 6. 

There are two sessions (morning and afternoon) each day and each session lasts 2 hours.  

During the conference you will hear the word of God and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing praises to that same God.

You can also find archived General Conference Addresses to read, listen to or watch.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/conferences?lang=eng

Breksa Shimai

 Sister Breksa's Mormon Profile Picture.    http://mormon.org/people/find

From the ages of 11 - 18 Sister Breksa participated in leadership experiences and training.  A few years in a program called White Stag and 4 years in the Boy Scouts of America as a Venturer.  In this her senior picture you can see her scarf from the World Scout Jamboree, her Religious Square Knot.  Also attached to the uniform is her Venturing award. She completed both youth training (National Youth Leadership Training) and adult training (Wood Badge for the 20th Century). She served as youth staff of several scouting programs.

Her parents believe very strongly that the best education a child can have is to be a leader - a leader in groups, family, and in their own lives.

Her family can see the preparation these experiences and training are to her service as a missionary.  

Mormons: Global snapshot of Mormons