Edified & Enlightened

The SJ Stake Relief Society planned a wonderful event for women in St. Johns and Eagar Stakes. Sis. Risa Udall made a plea that we be edified and enlightened during the opening prayer of the St. Johns and Eager Stakes Women's Conference on Saturday morning. The conference was held at the SJ Stake Center with the chapel filled to capacity, sitting shoulder to shoulder without the usual wide open spaces on the pews. The back curtains were opened and several rows of chairs set-up in the cultural hall were quickly and quietly filled as the program started.



Sister Helga Burgess spoke first and told the audience of her experiences as a young girl, with her Dear Muddy (German endearment for Mother), in war-torn Berlin during the Russian invasion and their escape into the countryside having only each other to survive. Sister Burgess told us of being invited to a church dance by a classmate some years later - a church dance? Who ever heard of such a thing? Thus, her introduction to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her experiences are inspiring and there just isn't any way a paragraph or two would do justice. We are grateful to Sis. Burgess for sharing her testimony of the Savior and her life experiences.

Sis. Burgess, shown with her huband in picture above, is a worker at the Snowflake Temple.

Following Sis. Burgess' talk, we were blessed by the combined musical talents of Sis. Berta Ann Rogers at the organ and Sis. Connee Jackson at the piano performing a duet, "O Divine Redeemer" by Charles Gounod. The rich tones echoed from the walls and overhead to embrace each of us and cause us to feel the words:

O Divine Redeemer! O Divine Redeemer!
I pray Thee, grant me pardon,
And remember not, remember not my sins!

Sister Chiako Okazaki then addressed the audience and we were captivated by her humor as she instructed us to stand up and shake around for a bit - to ensure we wouldn't fall asleep during her talk - and told us of her long journey to St. Johns, "Are we there yet?"

Sis. Okazaki told us of the questions and concerns that had been presented to her for addressing sisters in our area:

Understanding better God's plan of opposites/how to feel loved when your burdens feel so heavy.
Encouragement in their role as nurturers.
Reliance on the Spirit for daily guidance.
Consecration and the role it plays in preparation for the Second Coming.
Sifting out (good, better, & best) in order to have more time as families.
Building testimonies & filling spiritual reservoirs.
How to strengthen husband/wife relationships.
How do we as parents keep up with and filter out negative media influences?

She then taught us that we can find answers to these and other difficult questions by ensuring our efforts are for the right reasons and she gently guided us to ponder the questions:

What seekest thou?
Whom seekest thou?
Where seekest thou?
Why seekest thou?

Sis. Okazaki also touched upon home teaching (priesthood) and visiting teaching (relief society) and shared her testimony of these two opportunities to touch the lives of others. She posed the question, "Is any act of service too small?"

Hearts softened as Sis. Okazaki reflected on conversations with our beloved prophet Gordon B. Hinckley during his time on this earth and his firm committment to literacy throughout the world. She noted that Pres. Monson shares those views and reading literacy is still a valued effort throughout the church. Reading together as families and also individually is a priority but we should also strive to teach others to read; both adults and children.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7

Sis. Platt writes, "I am amazed at how beautifully she gave us that encouragement and hope, by pointing us toward the Savior and his saving principles."

Sis. Kaye Houser prepared a luncheon of chicken salad on croissants with a salad topped with her homemade citrus salad dressing. There was pound cake and sliced strawberries for dessert. So much work! And so tasty.

Several sisters throughout the stake provided centerpieces for table decorations and this is one of the many lovely arrangements.



Sis. Platt mentioned that she had a prayer in her heart that we, the sisters of SJ and Eagar Stakes, would receive answers on this day and we did. We did receive answers and inspiration - we were edified & enlightened - and are grateful these speakers and performers were able to share their talents through word and music with us on this day.

Pres. Broadbent of SJ Stake and Pres. Hunt of Eagar Stake presided on the meeting.