What would a holy woman do?

Here is my lesson outline from  “What would a Holy Women do?” and following this is part of the email I sent to the sisters to invite them to participate in the 3 day challenge. Thank you to Jamie Bailey for sharing her experience today. 

The words "House of the Lord, Holiness to the Lord" are found on every Mormon temple around the world. In November 2007 Elder Russell M Nelson was asked to rededicate the remolded Tonga Temple. Elder Nelson’s wife Wendy Watson Nelson was with him for this rededication.  She mentioned they did a close inspection walk through of the temple and all was as it should be.  While leavening the Temple  we noticed something was missing.  Something that would prevent the rededication of the Temple. Specific words are placed Upon every temple written in the Local language . The House of the Lord, Holiness to the Lord.” The omission was pointed out, remedied and the rededication went on as scheduled.

Holiness to the Lord without those words the temple the temple could not have been dedicated to the lord.  What does Holiness even mean?

According to the Bible Dictionary, holiness refers to one's 'moral character'.

The Dictionary defines HOLY as:

1.exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness

2.divine

3.devoted entirely to the deity or the work of the deity

Doctrine and Covenants 46:33 reads, "And ye must practice virtue and holiness before me continually."  The Lord commands us to practice holiness continually.  Does this sound like the Lord wants us to learn Holiness? He wants us to be more holy?  How can we do this? He did not intend for us to do this on our own.

The Lord commands us to practice holiness continually.  Is the last verse of section 46.  Preceding this in verses 7-12 command us to ask God for gifts of the spirit that can help us become more holy. Some one read 7,8 and 10.  Someone look up In verses 13-26 lists some of the gist of the spirit  which can help us in seeking holiness.  Other gifts of the Spirit are listed in Moroni 10 and in 1Corinthians 12-14. Are the gifts of the spirit listed in these three scriptural references all the gifts of the spirit available to help us?  Elder Bruce R McConkie taught us in Mormon Doctrine pg 315 And these are by no means all of the gifts. In the fullest sense, they are infinite in number and endless in their manifestations.

In D&C 60:7 last pat we read  …….. For I am able to make you holy. How comforting and encouraging is that?  What do we need to do, what is our part? We need to let the Lord know we are serious about becoming more Holy.    

**ELDER RUSSELL M. NELSON stated Inscribed on each temple are the words “Holiness to the Lord.” That statement designates both the temple and its purposes as holy. Those who enter the temple are also to bear the attribute of holiness. It may be easier to ascribe holiness to a building than it is to a people. We can acquire holiness only by enduring and persistent personal effort. April conf 2001

We know our own weakness we know what temptations are that keep tripping us up . If we are serious about becoming more holy, pray to know what particular spiritual gift would actually turn a weakness into a strength.

What gift would we pray for if we have a tendency to be negative with, children, friends or spouse?  Hope and optimism.

Temper with those you love. Mildness and understanding

If you have never been able to keep your home tidy and now want to do so – better time management the gift of discernment to know how to better mange time.

Easily discourage. Gift of persistence of endurance

Shy and not good at reaching out to others-  gift of listening

Hurt by others – gift of faith,  gift to be healed

Peace

Chearfulness

Forgivness

There are a lot of gifts to help make us holy…Gifts Plural. Study it out in your mind and Start by praying for one specific that will help you with one weakness. Then another gift for another weakness.

In sister Nelson’s Book What would a Holy Women do?  She wanted to explore the concept of Holiness. She asked some friends to take part in a three day What would a holy women do? Challenge.

I took on the three-day challenge, as did 5 other sisters in our ward.   I asked them to choose one activity they would normally do and do it as a holy woman would, ask themselves how would a holy women do this? I have asked them to journal their experience and tell us what they learned about become a more holy woman.

I chose some area of weakness as apposed to an activity.  I experienced many aha moments.

In my pursuit of overcoming procrastination, I was more productive, I did things I had put off waiting for the ever illusive perfect time to….. and was filled with peace instead of a ever looming feeling of guilt. More energy and productivity.

In being more organized and better discernment of how to spend my time, And not rushing around so much in the morning when getting ready to head out the door because I did prep work the night before and put things where they belonged right away after having used them. I had calmness about me and I felt I could get things done.

In communication I had some delightful conversations with people when I took the time to engage them in conversation. and I had a great recall of certain peoples situations to ask about how those were going. I learned that desiring to be holy brings change. And you do not have to be perfect to be holy.

If for just three days you took the Holy woman challenge, what would you learn?  If for three days you chose one activity and asked yourself, how would a holy woman do this, how different would your days be?

·       How would a holy woman start her day? 

·       What would be on her “to do” list? 

·       How would a holy woman approach a difficult assignment or a new overwhelming project? 

·       How would she read to a child, or exercise? 

·       How would she talk with a friend, shop, or play or pray, or do laundry?

·       How would a holy woman handle a conflict or avoid a conflict? 

·       What would she read, or say, or listen to, or watch, or wear? 

·       What would she do in really difficult situations?  If someone said something to you that was confusing, or hurtful, or demoralizing, how would a holy woman respond? 

·       What would she do?  If she were betrayed, or misunderstood, or falsely accused, what would a holy woman do?

·       How would a holy woman respond to her own success or failure?  How would she respond to the successes and failures of others? 

·       How would a holy woman use her time, energy, and money? 

·       How would she prepare to partake of the sacrament each Sunday?
 


I pray we will seek to be holy and ask our selves in different situations, what would a holy women do? I pray we will seek the spiritual gifts to increase our holiness. Through this we can become a little more holy today than yesterday and a little more holy tomorrow. And as we go to the temple and see the words Holiness to the lord, we can feel joy knowing we are doing our part to bring holiness to the house of the Lord.

                                    ********************

I was wondering if you would be willing to take part in a three day challenge/experiment (explained and outlined below) and share your experience in Relief Society on Sunday, March 23rd.

I was in Deseret Book at the first of the year and a book caught my eye; first it was the title then the size, as it was small and the scripture came to mind, “out of small things proceedeth  that which is great.”  I picked up the book and up, thumbed through it and I knew it was just what I needed to read.   The book is by Wendy Watson Nelson titled “What Would A Holy Woman Do?”

In short….The words "House of the Lord, Holiness to the Lord" are found on every Mormon Temple around the world. It was during the rededication of the Nuku’alofa Tonga Temple that those words had a profound impact on Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, wife of Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After much reflection and study upon the word "holiness," Sister Nelson initiated a three-day experiment with sisters in her Ward.  In her book "What Would a Holy Woman Do?" she outlines her experiment and shares the stories of women around the world who participated.

This is where you fit in. 

I’m wondering if for three days you would be willing to, just once each day, purposely choose one of your daily activities and try to “be holy” while doing it, or do it as a holy woman would do it. 

For example,

•   How would a holy woman start her day? 

•   What would be on her “to do” list? 

•   How would a holy woman approach a difficult assignment or a new overwhelming project? 

•   How would she read to a child, or exercise? 

•   How would she talk with a friend, shop, or play or pray, or do laundry?

•   How would a holy woman handle a conflict or avoid a conflict? 

•   What would she read, or say, or listen to, or watch, or wear? 

•   What would she do in really difficult situations?  If someone said something to you that was confusing, or hurtful, or demoralizing, how would a holy woman respond? 

•   What would she do?  If she were betrayed, or misunderstood, or falsely accused, what would a holy woman do?

•   How would a holy woman respond to her own success or failure?  How would she respond to the successes and failures of others? 

•   How would a holy woman use her time, energy, and money? 

•   How would she prepare to partake of the sacrament each Sunday?
 
 

Would you be willing to try this?  Choose one thing a day for three days—a different thing each day or the same thing—you can’t do this wrong.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Morningside Relief Society <rsmorningside@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 28, 2014 at 7:58 PM
Subject: 3-day Challenge "What would a Holy Woman Do?" And this Sunday's Lesson Prep
To: Morningside Relief Society <rsmorningside@gmail.com>

Hello Sisters,

Have any of you sisters taken on the 3-day challenge, “What would a Holy Women do?”  If so, what did you learn and did you journal your experience?  I will have an outline of my lesson for you on Sunday and it explains more about the challenge.  I will also send this out in an email so all can read up on it.  I want to thank Cindy Hafen, Claudia Pranter, Jamie Bailey, Leigh Gubler and Pam Slade, for accepting the 3-day challenge “What would a Holy Women do?” and for sharing their experiences with us.  I know they did not get to share all their experiences with us, so if you are curious how this brought about change in their lives, make sure you ask them to share their whole experience with you. And we look forward to Jamie Bailey sharing her experience with us this Sunday prior to Angie’s lesson.

Sisters we encourage you to read up on Sunday's Relief Society lesson prior to Church. Sunday, March 30^th, Angie Nelson will be leading a discussion  Strengthening Personal and Family Gospel Study She will be concentrating on “A Discussion on Scripture Study,” interview with President Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, July 2005, 22–26 and Thomas S. Monson, “The Lord’s Way,” Ensign, May 1990, 93)  

Angie has asked that you come prepared to share successes you have had with personal and or Family Gospel Study in your in your home and with teaching children, grandkids, nieces, nephew’s and even neighbors. What has worked for you, what has not, what has contributed to the success? 

Thank you,
Julie