The Enrichment Cottage

All along the way (in an ideal world) Relief Society is there to bless our life and help us learn to function and grow and become.  It helped our Grandmothers.  They in turn helped our Mothers.  Now it is our turn to reach out and help the sisters in our circle of influence.  Some haven’t learned to juggle all of the different purses.  Some are just getting started on their Purse-onal Journey of life.  Heavenly Father has a divine plan to help each of us Purse-onally to return to Him having experienced life, “Up Close and Purse-onal.”  Tonight I’m going to talk about the Purse-onal ways that our lives are made better through Relief Society.  Relief Society can help us alter our Purse-onalities and become more like the Savior.

What I remember about Relief Society as a little girl is that workdays were held in the mornings, with potluck luncheons.  There was always a quilted quilt (not the tie quilts of today) to work on.  I remember the resin grapes that my Grandmother made, and the decorated sugar eggs that my mother made.  I also remember my grandmother and mom couldn’t wait for the R.S. magazine that came in the mail.  I remember that they had to pay dues.  I especially remember my grandmother being the chairman over the Bazaars and how much work she put into organizing it.  I remember it was open to the community and I remember how beautiful everything was.  I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to buy something, and then when I got old enough they didn’t have the bazaars any longer.  I remember going with my mother & grandmother to a mother daughter activity when I was about 9 or 10 years old.  They had several different pins that we could choose from and I got to make 2 pins.  I still have the pins that I made, and I brought them with me tonight, so that you could see them.

*NOTE – I brought everything that is in the parenthesis.  I had everything set up on two long tables with tablecloths covering everything.  Then as each purse or bag was talked about, I would uncover it for display so that I could easily pick it up and talk about it and it’s contents.

Little Girl Purse – Represents example of others, being taught honesty, respect, kindness in word and actions & etc.

(Purse, pins, grapes, quilt, etc.)

School Back Pack – Represents Education, continuing to learn, obedience, work, being respectful, doing your best, learning to be a friend, study, good books, responsibility, discipline, having good friends, learning to be prepared (homework), learning new skills.

(Back pack, slate, chalk, pencil, books, address book, sewing pattern, measuring cups & spoons.)

Make-up Bag – Represents inward and outward beauty, love ourselves for what we are, don’t try to be someone we’re not, appreciate the bodies we have, being kind to ourselves, being our best inside and out, seeing ourselves as a daughter of God.

(Make-up bag, make-up, mirror)
When I was a teen-ager, I can remember that there was a mother daughter fashion show.  They also included a class on make-up tips.  They gave out a handout with a quote from Pres. Kimball that I have never forgotten.

When President Kimball was asked about women wearing make-up he said, “Even an old barn looks better with a fresh coat of paint.”

Cute Purse for Prom – Represents dressing modestly, being morally clean, knowledge of who I am and what I want to become, following church standards, choosing good friends, wholesome entertainment, respect for Priesthood, good music, being a good example, law of chastity, stand for truth & righteousness, follow the Prophet, don’t lower your standards, don’t loose sight of your dreams.

(Purse, modest prom dress (on a hanger with purse on it), for the strength of youth booklet)

Temple Bag – Represents preparation, sacrifice, making and keeping covenants, living worthy, dressing modestly, higher knowledge.

(Temple bag, temple recommend, white hanky, tithing envelope)

Diaper Bag – Represents being prepared for the inevitable, willingness to have a family, being prepared to put family first, sacrifice, recognizing that you’re a partner w/Heavenly Father, compassionate service, charity, taking time to laugh and play, love and teach children, teach by example, learn homemaking skills, nutrition, taking care of self and health, don’t put children before father, don’t neglect husband, support priesthood, empathy, love and understanding for those who haven’t had the opportunity of being a mother, ability to nurture, love and teach children even when you haven’t had the opportunity to have children purse-onally.

Tell about the mother/baby statue, and what it represents in my life.

Tell about the washboard and how it represents having a visiting teacher that listened to me, and saw my needs (I had a washer but my hands were always sore from scrubbing formula stains out of baby clothes and I mentioned to my VT that sometimes I wished I had my mothers washboard.  Her next visit, she brought me one.)

(Diaper bag w/diaper, bottle, blanket, change of clothes, quiet book, ceramic mother/baby statue, washboard, etc.)

Church Calling Bag – Represents service, preparation, magnifying our callings, giving of our time, accepting a calling, teaching by example, charity in heart, callings can bless our lives and build a strong testimony.

(Bag, lesson manual, note pad, pen etc.)

Brief Case – Represents work, job, employment, education, preparation, knowledge, skills, service, important things, willing to learn, expanding knowledge or skills.

(Brief case, file folder, college certificate, calculator, note pad, pens, could even use laptop.)

Travel Bag – Represents having a good map and directions, preparation, goals, enjoyment (enjoy the journey), straight and narrow path, travel w/companionship of the Holy Ghost, you can take R.S. with you wherever you go, don’t loose sight of final destination, President Hinckley said, “This life is an adventure.”

President Packer explained that as his adult children move far away from home it is comforting, as a father, to know that Relief Society sisters will be there to love and fellowship his children and grandchildren: “How consoling it is to know that no matter where they go, a Church family awaits them.  From the day they arrive, he will belong to a quorum of the priesthood and she will belong to Relief Society.”

(Bag, Road map, flashlight, compass, magnifying glass)

Missionary Bag – Represents sacrifice, preparation, every member a Missionary, living the gospel where we are, set example, be prepared to teach, have a sure testimony of Savior, listen to promptings, be willing to serve, fellowshipping.

Our Prophet, President Benson, has said, “The symbolism of the Good Shepherd is not without significant parallel in the Church today.”  The sheep need to be led by watchful shepherds.  “With a shepherd’s loving care, our members, and our new converts, will not be as inclined to wander.  And if they do, the crook of the shepherd’s staff, a loving arm, and an understanding heart will help to retrieve them.”

(Bag, scriptures, picture of Christ, shoes, sheep, candy cane)

Hobby Bag – Represents being creative w/hands & mind, developing talents, using time wisely, not being so consumed with hobby, that you neglect other important things, finding something that brings you joy, make time for the things you enjoy, being thrifty (hobbies can be expensive), service, beautifying our home, blessing the lives of others, gifts.

(Bag, knitting needles, yarn, crochet hook, paint & brushes, music book, hat loom, hat, lady w/sewing basket, a couple of crafts.)

Book Bag – Represents scriptures, Ensign, New Era, & Friend magazines (church magazines), education, journal, literature, knowledge, literacy program, learning, education, enjoyment, reading out of the best books.

To quote President Hinckley he said, “Turn off the T.V. and read a good book.”

(Bag, scriptures, Magazines, books)

Grocery Bag – Represents health, nutrition, preparation, cooking, eating a meal with family or friends, food storage, diversity of the sisters, each sister unique, without all of these different ingredients or purses in the journey of a relief society sister, the recipe of life wouldn’t be complete or well rounded and balanced, without RS, an ingredient is missing, R.S. is the spice of life.

(Grocery bag, food storage item, spaghetti, French bread, (leave sauce in bag until you explain the this meal isn’t balanced or well rounded without the sauce and g/beans), spaghetti sauce, green beans, spices, salad w/everything, salad w/just lettuce to show how boring life would be if we were all the same.)

Purse-onalities  (Judging each other)

Ask the sisters to hold up their purses.  Talk about how their purses are different sizes, shapes, colors, and contain different items, & etc.  Explain that the different purses represent our lives and how we shouldn’t judge each other, because we don’t know the different things that someone else has gone through that makes them who and what they are.  So we shouldn’t judge a purse-on by her purse.

Purse-onal Baggage  (Watch time on this, may need to cut some out) – Info from Sheri Dew’s book:  If Life were Easy, it wouldn’t be Hard.

How many of you have thought from time to time that you need to clean out your purse because it’s getting too heavy to carry?

The reason it is feeling heavier is because it has become loaded down with extra baggage.  When I speak of baggage, I’m not talking about burdens.  Burdens are part of the mortal experience—the burdens that come with unfulfilled expectations, with disappointment and heartache, with afflictions and wavering faith.  Loneliness can be a burden.  Emotional wounds can be burdens.  Heavy assignments from the Lord can feel like burdens.  And certainly, sin creates burdens.  But the Savior atoned precisely so we wouldn’t have to carry our burdens alone.  He knew they’d be too heavy for us.

Baggage, however, is another matter entirely.  Burdens have the potential to exalt us, but baggage just weighs us down and wears us out.  When we don’t repent, sin becomes baggage.  Worry, jealously, and guilt are baggage.  An unforgiving heart, anger, regret, and pride are baggage.  Resentment, the desire to retaliate, fear and insecurity create unbearable baggage.  We choose whether or not to pick up baggage, and Satan loves nothing more than loading us down like pack mules.   (Picture)

If we don’t fall for blatant tactics, however, Satan resorts to more subtle schemes, hoping to weigh us down with baggage that obscures our divine nature and causes us to buckle spiritually under the load.  He tries to get us to judge, gossip, envy, resent, and punish those we could otherwise be nurturing.  He is particularly fond of what could be called the Three C’s: competing, comparing, and categorizing.

Just like our pioneer forebears who made the trek across the plains, if we don’t want to carry any more than we have to through mortality, we’ve got to get rid of the baggage.  The best manuals on baggage disposal, as well as on learning how to cast our burdens upon the Lord, are the scriptures, which are filled with truth and light.

Charity is the antidote for every baggage-breeding behavior.  It is what lifts us above telestial living.  The Prophet Joseph declared that “It is natural for females to have feelings of charity—you are now placed in a situation where you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in you bosoms.”  He then promised, “If you live up to these principles…the angels cannot be restrain’d from being your associates.”

Our Father gifted His daughters in particular with the nature to nurture, encourage, and bear with one another, knowing that these gifts—this inclination toward charity—would be vital to all mankind.

Purse-onal Influence and Impact  (Grandma’s Purse)

Talk about Grandma Neff’s beaded purse that she made while she was in the Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Talk about the purse-onal influence and impact she had in my life.

Most of us are perhaps not in a position to lead a parade or have a public forum in which to speak out.  But we all have influence.  We have influence with husbands and wives; with children of our own or children we care about; with mothers and dads; with neighbors and friends; with the seventeen-year-olds we teach in Sunday School.  Whatever our circle of involvement happens to be; we all have influence to impact the life of someone.  We may never know the purse-onal influence or impact that we’ve had on another purse-on’s life.

President Packer affirmed: “Strong Relief Societies carry a powerful immunizing and healing influence for the mothers and daughters, for the single parent, for the single sisters, for the aging, for the infirm.”  Within the circle of sisters is a place for every daughter of God.  If we will only accept the invitation to come home to Relief Society, home to the arms of the Lord and to sisters who love and need us, we will find shelter form the purse-onal storms of life.

In closing, I would like to read you an essay by Marsha Jordan entitled: Purse Pursuit.

I know women (my older sister for one) who suffer from multiple “purse”inality.  They have a different purse to go with every outfit in the closet.  Not me.  I’m a one-purse woman.  When I get a new purse, I use it till the straps fall off; so it’s essential that I find exactly the RIGHT purse — and that is no easy task.  As a modern grandma on the go, I basically live in my car; so my purse must be a carry-all for everything I might need wherever I go.

In my purse I carry a supply of every medication in my cupboard along with cosmetics for touch ups; toiletries for use when I’m stranded overnight, books to read while waiting in line, and emergency snacks in case I need nourishment and can’t get to food right away.  I also stock my purse with plenty of quarters for video games (for my grandson,) a change of underwear (for both of us), some silverware, straws and napkins (those fast food places sometimes forget these).  And I can’t forget a sweater, umbrella and rain poncho for inclement weather.  My purse carries eye drops, ear drops and gum drops, nasal spray, hair spray, and pepper spray, a first aid kit, a sewing kit, a tool kit, and a pool repair kit.  Oh, and an inflatable raft (you never know when you might fall overboard).

After a tiring three-hour search in Wal-mart, I was pleased to finally find the perfect purse.  It has 327 compartments and it’s large enough to hold all my “necessities,” plus a liter of Dr. Pepper. After filling my “dream purse” with all my treasures, I sadly discovered that I don’t have the muscles to lug the thing around.  I’ve developed tennis elbow, low back pain, and a perpetual stiff neck from hoisting the sucker over my shoulder, and I think I might need a rotator cuff transplant. The only things this almost-ideal purse lacks are wheels to drag it along behind me.

I was recently stopped by airline personnel and accused of trying to smuggle in carry-on baggage that was too large!  I refused to it give up, so my dog-house sized purse was permitted onboard — with the stipulation that I must hold it on my lap instead of squashing it into the overhead compartment.  Because the thing weighs more than I do, my legs were asleep during the entire flight!  Well, I found my dream purse — only to discover that it’s not so perfect after all.  Back to the drawing board — or should I say back to Wal-mart’s purse department?

I’m glad that God isn’t like me.  I search for a perfect purse.  He searches for imperfect people.  I want something to MEET MY NEEDS.  He wants someone whose needs HE WILL FILL.  And when we disappoint God, He doesn’t throw us back and start looking for something better.  God loves all of the imperfect “purse-ons” of this world, no matter what our size, shape, or color.  He doesn’t care how much we can carry or how organized we are.  It doesn’t matter if we can’t fill every need ourselves.  He loves us each for who and what we are.  And He makes up for what we lack.

Jeremiah 31:3 says: “I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.” Isn’t that great to know?

** Before I started, I explained that as I was preparing this lesson, I was surprised that one word was repeated in almost every purse.  I wanted them to listen and see if they could figure out what the word was.

On the chalk board, I wrote:  “Purse-onal Journey of a Relief Society Sister”

TAKES

Then I had:   __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  (preparation)

After the grocery bag, I asked if anyone could tell me what the word was.  Then explained that it takes preparation to:

Help each of us Purse-onally return to our Father in Heaven.

(I didn’t write that on the board, but I could/should have?)

Miscellaneous info. I could possibly use for my talk………..

When I was in Young Women’s, we did a Young Women’s in Excellence called “Purse”onal Progress.  It was a HUGE hit.  We talked about all of the many things that we fill our purses with – some good, some bad and how we should be careful what we fill our lives with because if we concentrate on the little things we won’t have room for the important things (scripture study, prayer, church, etc.).  We decorated with purses all around the room and found little porcelain purses to hand out to the girls.  We also found little purse bags at the dollar store that we filled with lipstick, mirror, and other fun items for the girls.  This idea, of course could be modified to fit RS.

One really neat demonstration that we had one girl do was to take a jar and have several golf balls and a bowl of rice.  Explain that the jar is your life and if we first fill it with small, trivial things (the rice) that there won’t be room for the important things (the golf balls).  You add the rice and golf balls in that order.  Then dump everything out and show that if we first fill our lives with the important things (golf balls) there is still room for the little things (rice).

Then we had a speaker (me). I talked about how when you get a new purse or clean out your purse, everything is so neat and organized, then as you go through your life you fill it with stuff, good stuff, but sometimes so much stuff that you can’t find what you need or have room for things that you need. Then I put a poster of a purse up and we added into that purse things in our every day lives – all good things, but sometimes we fill our lives with so much good that there is no room for the great. I shared the story that I was trying to find earlier then shared a portion of a talk from Sister Parkin about Mary and Martha.  Then I just used a portion of Elder Perry’s talk from the World Wide training on prioritizing our time.  (I have these in word file)

————

After the opening song and prayer, our President gave a short message using a print of the painting “Pioneers Arriving” by Minerva Teichert, that was also used by Sister Hughes in her talk “Blessing Our Families through Our Covenants” at the General RS Meeting in October of 2002.

Seasons of Women

A woman celebrates womanhood in many ways.  As Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, she may, “Rock a sobbing child without wondering if today’s world is passing [her] by, because [she knows she holds] tomorrow tightly in [her] arms.”  (Ensign, May 1978, p. 10.)

She may watch her toddler look longingly at the stairs he doesn’t yet know how to climb.  When he looks back eagerly for approval, her answer must be “no,” though the little one bursts into tears.  She is a teacher of tough love who understands the role of discipline in nurturing her children.

She is a Primary teacher who tastes the magic of childhood when she greets a proud seven-year-old wearer of a CTR ring who thrusts his fist forward and exclaims with happy courage, “See this CTR ring?   It throws out an invisible shield of protection all around me, and no evil force can break through!”

She is educated and able, preparing for her day of marriage that has not come, fully engaged in a professional world that needs the talent and training she offers.  Added to these gifts, her caring touch can soothe and heal, for “Charity Never Faileth,” even in the corporate business world.

She watches, as her teenage daughter is not asked to the prom, which brings back her own memories of not having been asked.  Her heartaches, but she tells her daughter, “My dear, not everyone in the world needs to fall in love with you.  It only takes one.”

She works patiently as a volunteer committed to nurturing the homeless; she cares lovingly for ten years for an invalid mother-in-law; she accepts the confidence shown by friends and neighbors to run for the state legislature. “Look what you did for our school through the PTA,” they say.  “We need you.”

She watches her son kneel across the altar from his bride in a temple sealing room and thinks of her own marriage in such a room, celebrating the sealing of eternal love.

She enters a hospital room where her first daughter-in-law gingerly sits up and, holding up her own first baby, greets her: “Isn’t she beautiful?  Would you like to hold her—Grandma?”

She rejoices in the seasons of a woman’s life, for each time and each season is worth its own celebration.  Spread over a lifetime, celebrating womanhood is a celebration of life.

Savoring the Seasons of Life

With much laughter, a Latter-day Saint mother and her grown daughter discuss the advantages of each other’s season of life.  They call it “trading wishes.”  The mother says, “I wish I were as agile as you are.”  The daughter answers, “I wish I were as wise as you are.”  “You have such opportunities,” continues the mother.  “You have such knowledge,” says the daughter.

How wise these women are!  Each helps the other to be grateful for the blessings of her time of life.  They focus on the opportunities, not the limitations, of each season.  They realize the truth that: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1).

Savoring the Joy of Each Season

Each season of life has rewards.  A sister in her twenties may feel heavily burdened supporting her family, finishing her schooling, or beginning employment; but she may also have the joys of nurturing children or expanding her knowledge or skills.  A middle-aged woman may face changes in her family, her work, and her physical health; but she may profit from the wisdom of experience.  An older woman may suffer a loss of mobility or the loss of loved ones; but she may appreciate life as never before.

A joyful outlook can be part of all of our seasons.  We invite each woman to value who she is and count the ways she can bless herself and others around her.

What are some of the blessings of your season of life?

A Time to Every Purpose

Not all things are possible in all seasons.  During a temple recommend interview, a mother of two small children told her stake president of her desire to attend the temple more often.  But time demands, distance, and expense had prevented her from attending as often as she desired.  The stake president told her, “Maria, I know you love the temple and look forward to a time when you can go often.  For now, go when you can, but remember that you serve in many other important ways.  The time will come when you can attend as often as you wish.”

Through prayer, each woman can find and follow her personal timetable.  She can set priorities and follow gospel principles in different ways through the varying seasons of her life.  A faithful woman knows that the Lord’s hand will always guide her: (”In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  Prov. 3:6).

What are some of the ways you can serve the Lord in your season of life?

Circle of Safety and Protection

Elder Packer repeatedly assured us that Relief Society can be a circle of safety and protection for sisters everywhere.  The Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints is “A protection for each of you and for your families.  The Relief Society might be likened to a refuge…You will be safe within it.”

President Packer explained that as his adult children move far away from home it is comforting, as a father, to know that Relief Society sisters will be there to love and fellowship his children and grandchildren: “How consoling it is to know that no matter where they go, a Church family awaits them.  From the day they arrive, he will belong to a quorum of the priesthood and she will belong to Relief Society.”

Similarly, he affirmed: “Strong Relief Societies carry a powerful immunizing and healing influence for the mothers and daughters, for the single parent, for the single sisters, for the aging, for the infirm.”  Within the circle of sisters is a place for every daughter of God.  If we will only accept the invitation to come home to Relief Society, home to the arms of the Lord and to sisters who love and need us, we will find shelter form the purse-onal storms of life.

Purse Game: We are going to have a list of items that we’ll use as our master. We’ll have slips of paper in a big Purse. The Emcee will pull out a slip of paper and read the name of the item. The sisters have to locate that item in their purse. The first one to show the item can hurry to another large purse to retrieve a small prize.

At the end, there will also be prizes for the heaviest purse, the lightest purse, the smallest purse, the largest (in circumference) purse. Also, the sister who had the most small prizes will win some bigger prize as well.

This afternoon I played with new lyrics to a hymn that might be a fun twist to this evening of fun. They are at the very bottom if you scroll down.

Prior to the party, the hostess makes up a list of things found in a women’s purse.

Objects such as:

a.. Lipstick
a.. Safety Pin
a.. Mirror
a.. Wallet
a.. Drivers License
a.. Piece of Candy
a.. Needle and Thread
a.. Five Dimes
a.. Three One Dollar Bills
a.. Address Book
a.. Gum
a.. breath mints
a.. receipt from Dillard’s
a.. grocery receipt
a.. restaurant receipt
a.. repair receipt
a.. gift card
a.. nail clippers
a.. bobby pin
a.. scissors
a.. hairspray or gel
a.. lotion
a.. chapstick
a.. safety pins
a.. candy bar
a.. wet wipes/moist towelette
a.. map
a.. Band-Aid
a.. nylons
a.. socks
a.. keys
a.. picture of family member
a.. letter
a.. a bill
a.. a prescription
a.. a student ID card
a.. comb
a.. brush
a.. mirror
a.. makeup
a.. something embarrassing
a.. a ticket
a.. a ticket issued by a policeman
a.. something to eat
a.. program from an event
a.. book
a.. PDA
a.. address book
a.. jewelry
a.. library card
a.. grocery store card
a.. newspaper clipping
a.. recipe
a.. stamps
a.. blank check
a.. check written out to you
a.. Sunday program from church
a.. scriptures
a.. airline ticket
a.. resume
a.. itinerary
a.. grocery list
a.. calendar
a.. a driver’s license,
a.. key ring with more than five keys on
a.. a key ring with more than ten keys on
a.. credit cards
a.. most items
a.. least items
a.. cell phone
a.. most unusual item
a.. something borrowed
a.. flashlight
a.. invitation
a.. thank you note
a.. DVD
a.. journal
a.. notebook
a.. pen
a.. calculator
a.. button
a.. tissues
a.. perfume
a.. checkbook
a.. glasses
a.. glass case
a.. envelope
a.. umbrella
a.. heaviest purse
a.. lightest purse

Items for the Purse Game
Find someone who….
can touch their nose with their tongue
is an only child
has green eyes
was born in another country
has lived here less than a year
has ridden in a hot air balloon
can play more than one musical instrument
has more than seven children in their family
can speak another language
can recite all the names of the men in the First Presidency and Quorum of
the 12
Knows the official name of this thing we usually just call “Enrichment”
was born in Utah
who is a grandmother
who loves asparagus
who has been a RS President
who has family living in Idaho
who has a birthday in September
who went on a mission
who is wearing green
who is a golfer
who has a preschooler
who has family living in California
who likes to quilt
who has a missionary out
who has been to Europe
who has their Doctorate
who does NOT have a cell phone
who has more than 3 pets
who is shorter that 5 foot tall
who loves chocolate
who has more than 5 kids
who has worked in Nursery
who has run a marathon
who is wearing yellow
who plays the piano

Here is the purse game.  For more information on this night by Colleen
Poole, go to this link!

http://www.enrichmentcottage.com/

Your Purse-onal Journey (tune: Count Your Blessings)

Rendition by Colleen Poole

When upon life’s journey you are lost and poor,
Do not be discouraged, you’ll not miss the store.
Count your many purses, every doubt will fly
You’ve been spending money as the days went by.

Are you ever burdened with a purse of care?
Does the purse seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many purses, every doubt will fly
And you will be singing as the sales go by.

When you look at others with their purses new
Think that life has promised more than that to you.
Count the many purses from which money did fly
You’re a busy woman with your goals set high!

So amid life’s stages whether old or young,
Think about each purse and how they made life fun.
Count your many purses, each has tales to tell.
Count your many purses, and your heart will swell.

Chorus:
Count your purses
Name them one by one
Count your purses
See what deeds you’ve done
Count your purses,
They make life more fun
Count your many purses
See what you have done.

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