I was asked to give a workshop and part of the workshop was about how our families can be a place of support and a place to go to when we have problems. There are quite a few sets of sisters in our stake so I had two sets of sisters come up and we played a game which was a cross between Family Feud and Family Double Dare. Very fun!! But then I added that some of us in this group may not have families that we can turn to. They may not be members of the church and they may even be doing things in their lives that are directly opposed to what the church teaches us. I then related the allegory of the olive branch found in Jacob. The Lord takes good olive branches and places them in different spots. He takes poor olive branches and places them in different spots. And one good olive branch he places in a poor spot. I let the girls know that the olive branches represent all of us.

Then later when the Lord goes to check on all of the branches, a servant sees that he placed a good branch in a poor spot and questions why? I explained that maybe some of us in this group may feel like we have been placed in a poor spot as far as our families are concerned. But let me tell you what the Lord has to say about this!! Jacob 5:22 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time and thou beholdest that it has brought forth much fruit." So even though you may feel that you are in a poor spot, the Lord knows that you are there...he even placed you there and he has not forgotten about you and will nourish you and you can rise above your situation and be a person that produces good fruit!!

The next morning a beautiful young woman came up to me and thanked me for the talk and asked again for the scripture reference in Jacob. Later that night was testimony meeting and when she stood to bear hers, she related that she was the only member in family. Her mother had recently gotten divorced and things sounded ugly. So this YW was sent to live with her aunt and uncle in our stake. Aunt and Uncle are not members so when this YW expresses a desire to attend church or her YW meetings, she is met with STRONG opposition. Not only from Aunt and Uncle but also Mom. Oh how hard that must be!!!! I felt so impressed to speak about the story in Jacob and I think she was the reason why. How thankful I am for the scriptures!!

You know... when we want to talk to HF, we pray, and when we want to listen, we read the scriptures! Also how grateful I am for the promptings of the Holy Ghost! Camp was a wonderful experience and I hope that I am invited back next year!!!

Love to all
Deb

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Strengthening  Families

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