Three general officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encouraged Latter-day Saints to become lifelong disciples of Christ during a ministering visit to Illinois and Iowa during the weekend of Oct. 13 to Oct. 15.
Primary General President Susan H. Porter; Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency; and Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, conducted in-person meetings across eight stakes in three stake centers spanning some 200 miles.
Elder Jeremiah J. Morgan, Area Seventy, and his wife, Rebecca Morgan, accompanied the general officers. “They connected over and over again with individual leaders and sisters throughout our eight stakes,” he said.
In Historic Nauvoo, the general officers toured some of the sites with the site leaders, Craig and Sandra Dalton, and enjoyed musical numbers by the Nauvoo performing missionaries after a devotional with site missionaries. This was followed by a brief visit to Carthage Jail, where rain punctuated the somber mood in the jail’s upper room where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed in 1844.
Sister Runia reflected on how Jesus Christ was the early Saints’ foundation that provided them with strength, relief and rest.
President Porter said it was a blessing “to be where so much of the early Church history is and to be reminded of the great faith and sacrifice of the Saints in building the temple despite persecution, receiving their temple covenants, and having the courage and strength in Christ to go forward.”
For each devotional and meeting with Latter-day Saints, local stake technology specialists streamed the proceedings for those who could not attend in person. That meant that the 250-plus members attending in person at each devotional were joined online by hundreds more.
At the end of each devotional, the leaders stayed to shake hands with all who wished to greet them. “They did exactly as Jesus Christ would do — spending time ministering one-on-one with sisters in our stakes,” Elder Morgan said.
Women attending or watching the Relief Society devotional broadcast from the Nauvoo Illinois Stake center were told that they are “enough” and should trust in the Lord that things will work out for good. While Sister Yee represented the general Relief Society presidency, all three women stood together to affirm that no matter where a woman serves in the Church, she is always part of the Relief Society, and she is always loved.
Sister Runia taught about the difference between being cured and being healed. A cure, she explained, returns us to a former state, whereas Christ’s healing takes us through and beyond the pain and to a better place.
Candice Warby, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, attended the Relief Society and Primary devotionals, as well as the organizational training for Young Women leaders. “I was very grateful for the hope that they brought and the focus on the Savior — and the love,” she said.
The Primary devotional was conducted by a 10-year-old, and children provided the prayers and musical numbers. All children participated in an exercise to consider how to help, learn, share and prepare. President Porter invited two children to the podium to play a xylophone and asked the audience to share what helped them recognize the tune they heard. Responses allowed President Porter to teach lessons for how Primary children can understand spiritual promptings.
Organizational breakout sessions included teachings about mentoring, ministering and helping all members become lifelong disciples of Christ.
Sister Yee encouraged Relief Society leaders to teach sections 3.5 and 3.6 of the General Handbook so sisters understand they can have priesthood power in their homes through their covenants. “Teach this,” she counseled, so that women understand they have access to guidance, gifts and inspiration throughout life. Covenants “unlock priesthood power” in one’s life, she said, urging sisters to study several of Church President Russell M. Nelson’s talks because “the more we understand God’s ways, the more we will love Him.”
President Porter urged Primary presidencies to invite teachers to be ministers to the children in their classes, even calling each parent to learn how to make Primary a good experience for their child. “Children are curious and creative,” she said. They need variety and they need love. Presidencies can use teacher councils to improve ministering in Primary, she said.
During a youth devotional, Sister Runia reminded young women and young men that their worth is unchanging because it is given to them by God and is not tied to their obedience or circumstances. “Obedience brings blessings,” she said, “but it doesn’t bring worth. You already have that. When you interact with other people, everything changes when you know your worth and the worth of others.” She encouraged youth to reach out to others who need the gospel message. “You are wired for inclusion. You know how to push past differences and invite others in.”
On Sunday morning, President Porter, Sister Yee and Sister Runia attended the Des Moines Mount Pisgah Stake Council and a sacrament meeting.
“The first Relief Society president, Emma Smith, described the Relief Society as doing extraordinary things,” Elder Morgan said. “We saw our sister leaders do those extraordinary things this weekend and are so grateful for the impact they had.”
President Porter said the leaders had been “very touched by the strength and faith of the current Saints who are here and who are a light in their community, and who are witnesses of Christ in every way. It’s been humbling.”
