Report on the Stake Family Support Group meetings now being held in our stake

4 February 2021

Bishops and Branch Presidents…

As you know, our stake began weekly Family Support Group meetings on Jan. 12 with the Stake Relief Society presidency providing oversight and former Stake Relief Society President Beth Newell serving as the facilitator. 

The emphasis of the meeting is to provide a haven for women with family members struggling with an addiction or other compulsive behaviors. They learn how the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring comfort and hope into their lives.

The group meets each Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm in the High Council room in the Sandy building, both in person and virtually. After four weeks, the class is averaging 6-7 attendees. 

We look forward to visiting more about this program in our virtual Bishopric Training meeting for you and your counselors this Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 7:00 pm. We will email you a Zoom link this Sunday or Monday.

Before meeting, we wanted to give you some feedback on how it’s gong so far. The following is a report shared this week from Sister Shannon Richards, our Stake Relief Society president:

I thought you'd appreciate hearing a bit of what we experienced at last night's mtg.  

The sister I had mentioned to you who was struggling so very much the previous week and who opened up to share her story came again this week.  As I walked in the room, she nearly jumped out of her seat to thank us for the counsel and words of encouragement we had given her last week.  The spirit had testified truths of the gospel to her and those truths were repeated in her mind throughout the week, enabling her to overcome many of her worries, stresses, and feelings of negativity and hopelessness.  We saw in her a complete change in countenance and the peace in her mind and heart was quite evident on her face and in her demeanor.  It was truly a blessing for me to see this transformation and to be reminded that the Lord encourages us to seek after and care for "the one."

I am honored and humbled by the experience to see the atonement working in people's lives in such a tangible, evident way.  I'm so grateful for Beth and her ability to draw upon the scriptures and doctrines of truth to help strengthen these women who are hurting and desperately seeking peace and understanding.  I am humbled to be a part of it and am excited to see how the Lord continues to work miracles in the lives of our dear sisters in the stake.

We hope this is helpful and encouraging as to how these Group meetings can bless sisters in your ward or branch.

We look forward to discussing this further with you on Tuesday evening.

Stake Presidency

P.S. Please consider sharing this email with your counselors and Relief Society presidencies.