June 29, '97 - Sister Edmunds

My 7th Relief Society in the MTC.

Sister Mary Ellen Edmunds:
Hugs
The sisters going to Hong Kong will be the first missionaries in China -- let's pray for them and also Nigeria, where they're on the verge of miracles, and also Indonesia where several hundred are waiting for the gospel but we haven't been able to send missionaries for 20 years. I am in a meeting today that is unique in all the world. Thankfulness...
Theory of Relativity: when the children were covered in their sleep with boards, one awoke and said, "Mother, how nice this is -- I feel so bad for people who don't have boards to keep them warm." Or would we have said, "I'm gonna get splinters!"
Sisters with Attitude: we all have a lot of reasons to be happy... Sister Edmunds served in Nigeria, where she learned the theory of relativity by comparing her home, which she and her companion called sarcastically "The Palace" and the homes of their investigators.
In Indonesia, Sister Edmunds met a couple that had no children, or as they said, "We have no one to follow after us."
In 1977 there was a worldwide fast, some had too much water, some had not enough. Some had volcanoes and earthquakes, some were just lonely. "We need to view our own wants in light of others' needs." (Spencer W. Kimball)
It's possible we could go through our entire lifetime without being content. Advertising tries to make us discontent so that we'll buy their item to fulfill a need. Happiness is a state of being contented and satisfied. Try to need less... simplify...
"You can never get enough of what you don't need... because what you don't need doesn't satisfy."
The homeless women in the park are filled with thoughts in winter of the warm coats the rich women will give them come July.
"There there, little luxury, don't you cry -- you'll become a necessity by-and-by."
It's probably a greater blessing to want less than it is to have more.
If you had two homes, would you give one to someone in need? "Yes!"
If you had two cars, would you give one to someone in need? "Yes!"
If you had two televisions, would you give one to someone in need? "No!"
Why? What's the difference? "I do have two televisions!"

One of the promises that runs through the entire Book of Mormon is: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper..."
What does it mean to prosper? The Lord loves to bless his children and one of the things he asks is for us to be grateful. We are about to meet some of the richest people we will ever know -- and they may live in a cardboard box.
What shall we DO about the Theory of Relativity? "I want you to enjoy what I have given you -- the gospel, electricity, water, family, friends, temple, scriptures, sunsets... Then, thank me ... third, SHARE -- particularly, truth!" (Heavenly Father)
Bumper Sticker: Live Simply so others can Simply Live.
Decreasing our wants and needs is a get-rich-quick scheme! Be grateful for what we don't have rather than grumbling about what we don't have.
Hymn 241, verse 3: Money cannot buy your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
If money could buy it, I don't think I would want to be there anyways!