i have spent the last few weeks putting together these journals to be handed out at our relief society christmas party this thursday... i am a member of a facebook group called "lds relief society presidencies" and about a month ago, one of the members shared these amazing printables that they had used this year, to continue the "light the world" program all year long. she had posted them with the hopes that they would benefit other ward relief societies around the world... and they are certainly going to do just that for us! we took the printables and went one step further to create something awesome!
i started with
these journals from kmart australia (just $2 each!) then printed all 13 of her printables (one for each month, plus a year at a glance page) and put them staggered along the edge into the pages to be used throughout the year.
here's a little bit of my spiel that i'll be delivering along with the journals:
"We have made the coming year as easy as possible for you sisters by making these diaries for your use throughout 2018. The light the world program was designed to allow us to become closer to Christ and we as a presidency felt it important to continue the “light the world” program throughout the year. Here you will find ways to light OUR world. There are topics (eg: September is: Jesus honoured his parents and so can you) to be focused on each month. There is a brief description of each, followed by ways that you can participate. These are easy things, things that you can incorporate into your days without too much trouble. Please take the time to become familiar with them, read the topics, think about what they meant to you… because we will refer to them often throughout the year.
With the curriculum changes happening as of January 2018, the first Sunday will now consist of a discussion, lead by a member of the presidency. When there is not a local or national need for something else to be discussed, this topic will be the one mentioned in your diaries. If you are familiar with it beforehand, you will find it much easier to participate.
Please use your diaries, they have been made with love for you all and hope you will use them, reading each months topic often. There is also an additional 9 blank pages in the back for you record your experiences throughout the year, as you participate in the “light our world” program.
As Visiting Teaching has also changed, there will no longer be a prepared message from the ensign for you to use each month when visiting. The new idea is to simply “do what she needs.”
Sister Bingham, Relief Society General President told the Church News, “We want to help sisters understand how to really care for and strengthen each sister.” “The Church handbook doesn’t talk about our responsibilities to teach a lesson. It talks about how ‘visiting teachers sincerely come to know and love each sister, help her strengthen her faith and give service. Visiting teachers seek personal inspiration to know how to respond to the spiritual and temporal needs of each sister they are assigned to visit.” The changes are meant to help visiting teachers look beyond a universal prepared message and figure out what the sister they visit personally needs. “What are we supposed to do?” asked Sister Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency.
“Do what she needs.”
For those of you who enjoy leaving a spiritual thought, you may also use the monthly “light our world” thoughts. Encourage the sisters you visit to become familiar with their journal, to participate along with us and to be an active participant of our ward relief society.
Remember as it says on the cover, 2018 is a year to shine. Shine with the light of the gospel and make it the best year yet."
thank you thank you thank you to the amazing heather taylor, who shared her idea and printables with the rs presidencies page. we are super grateful and absolutely love them, as we are sure the sisters in our ward will too! printables are available
here. i am so grateful for the church and the sisters who share their ideas to help others!
